Is it worth starting a YouTube channel?

Having a presence on social media is no longer just about having a Facebook page or Twitter profile. It’s now about creating content on YouTube, Instagram, and other platforms that are most likely to appeal to your target audience.

If you’re thinking of starting a YouTube channel, you’re not alone. According to Statista, more than 300 million users visit the video-sharing site every month, making it one of the most popular online destinations in the world. If you plan to start a channel as an influencer or brand, here are some questions you need to answer first.

What is your channel about?

There are many types of content you can create for your channel, but the first thing you need to decide is what type of videos you want to upload.
You could create a mix of live streams, tutorials, product reviews, ‘unboxings’, interviews with industry experts, behind-the-scenes footage from events and conferences, live Q&A sessions, or even just general content that’s meant to inspire and motivate viewers to take action.
You can also make use of ‘crowd-sourced’ videos where you ask viewers for ideas for future videos or topics you should cover.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to building a successful channel, but the more you know about your target audience, the easier it’ll be to identify what type of content you’ll need to create.

How much time and money are you willing to invest?

Creating a successful YouTube channel requires a significant investment of time, energy and money. Before you decide to start one, you need to be realistic about how much time you’ll be able to spend on it. Is this something you’re willing to invest a few hours a week in? What about money? Are you willing to invest in the right equipment? Or perhaps in hiring a professional camera crew or editor?
While you don’t need to break the bank to start a channel, you do need to be willing to commit to putting in the effort required to make it a success.

Who’ll manage your channel?

Whichever route you decide to take when it comes to creating content for your channel, you need to decide who’ll be managing it. This is particularly important when it comes to live streams. You’ll likely want to be in the frame for these, but you’ll also need to have someone who can monitor the chat feed and respond to comments and questions as they come in.

Who you choose to work with will depend on the type of content you decide to create, but it’s important to find people who have the relevant skills and experience to help you achieve your goals. Whether you decide to hire a professional team or rely on family and friends, you need to make sure they understand your objectives and are willing to commit to the same standards of professionalism and quality that you expect from yourself.

Is YouTube still relevant in 2018?

No matter what some people might try to tell you, YouTube is still a thriving and relevant platform. In fact, many would argue that it’s getting better with each passing year.
Are you worried that people have stopped watching videos on YouTube, or that social media is eclipsing it in general? If so, you need to do some research to find out why.
You may find that it’s not YouTube or social media that’s changed, but the way people consume content and the types of videos that are most popular.
You might also find that people are watching more videos now than ever before. After all, YouTube is an evergreen platform. It continues to grow each year, with more and more people discovering it as time goes on.

Should you build a following before launching your channel?

If you’re looking to grow a significant online presence, you may be tempted to begin building a following before you actually start creating content.
It’s certainly possible to do this, but before you jump in, you need to ask yourself a few questions.
How are you going to build your following? Are you using ads? Social media? Paid courses? Guest posts? Influencer marketing?
How much time and money are you willing to invest to grow your followers?
When do you plan on starting your channel? Will you have enough time to build a significant following before then?
It’s worth bearing in mind that it can take anywhere from six months to a year to grow a significant following.

How can you find out whether there’s demand for your content?

Before you start creating videos and building a following, you need to be confident that there’s a demand for them.
If you’re looking to start a business or create a product, you may already have some data to indicate how much demand there is for it. If this applies to you, you should use those figures to help inform your decision around creating a YouTube channel.
If you don’t have any data, you can use a tool like Quora to get an idea for how many people are asking questions about the type of content you want to create. You can also use Google Trends to see how many people have been searching for terms related to your content.

Creating a successful YouTube channel is no easy task, but it can be incredibly rewarding. Before you decide to start one, make sure you understand its potential for growth and what it’ll take to make it succeed.
You don’t need to be a famous YouTuber to succeed, but you do need to be committed to creating high-quality content that appeals to your audience and inspires them to take action.

If you’re serious about building a channel and want to make sure that your content is as engaging as possible, you should use attention-grabbing title tags. They are the text that shows up as a preview when someone is searching for videos related to your channel.