It’s time to quit stalling and get uploading! 

Yes, that video you have held out from putting on YouTube for so long is ready for the world to see. But how do you make sure it has the best chance of being watched?

From Viewer to YouTube Creator: How to Make the Switch

For most creators, it's hard to feel perfectly satisfied by the first attempt at making a YouTube video. If that sounds familiar or you're going through the same thing, the best thing to do is 

 Give it a fair chance on YouTube, and then simply press publish.

In the video above, our expert Dan talks about all the things he wished he had known before starting a YouTube channel. Using his experience and our expertise, we'll help you create a first video that truly stands out.

Most creators start on YouTube either with a niche or a particular type of video in mind. So, for your very first video, try to stay as close to your original point of interest as possible. Replicating what has already worked on YouTube works well as long as you have your unique input to add.

Start by exploring your interests, trends within your niche, and questions your target audience might have. Use tools like Google Trends, YouTube itself, or 

 to gather ideas and inspiration. Finding out what has worked before is necessary to remove the guesswork from this process!

Identify who your videos are for. Are they beginners in your field, or are they looking for advanced techniques? Understanding your audience's needs and preferences is crucial for creating relevant and engaging content.

For your first video, the YouTube dashboard won't help you 

 or your audience’s preferences. That will come much later when you have dozens of videos posted and a few subscribers on your channel. Today, your best bet is to make a video that 

 would like to see and that attracts your target audience.

Once you've brainstormed and researched, choose a concept that excites you and meets your audience's needs. Pick an idea that has succeeded across multiple areas, because that means it works. Tools like vidIQ's outlier marker also make finding these outliers super easy.

As important as it is to get the content right, the way it's presented is equally important, if not more. The whole point of good packaging for your video is to reel in viewers and deliver on what you promised in the title and thumbnail. There are mainly three ways to do this: by designing a stunning thumbnail, crafting a good title, and writing an effective video hook.

Every YouTube video has a thumbnail, whether you create one from scratch or let the system pick a random frame to display. But because they're so good at attracting views, you should always aim to upload a custom thumbnail.

“Your thumbnail is that first peek into your content, the make-or-break moment. A killer thumbnail could literally be the difference between getting your big break on YouTube or going completely unnoticed,” Dan says.

Use high-contrast colors, readable fonts, and a clear image that represents the video's content to grab attention. Make your image pop out so that viewers can notice them.

How to Choose a Winning Thumbnail Style for Your YouTube Channel

 should be catchy yet descriptive. Look at titles that have worked for others in your niche or category, and adapt accordingly with keywords that fit your content.

Also, think of the actual brainstorming process. You might go through dozens of titles before landing on the perfect one, but that doesn't mean you should throw out the other ideas. Save the best ones just in case they lead you to a better idea.

“Make sure you have a preferred first, second, and third title, even extra thumbnails if you can,” Dan says.

The first 30 seconds of your video can almost decide the fate of the rest of your video, because this is where retention typically starts falling. So, whatever you’ve thus far promised with your title and thumbnail, must be paid off.

“At the very beginning of the video to minimize drop off you want to assure the viewer that their expectations are being met,” Dan says.

YouTube Intros: 8 Ways to Hook Viewers In the First 8 Seconds

A script that is well-structured and snappy

 is just what you need to guide your video's flow. That doesn’t necessarily mean you can't leave space for changes and ad-libs, though. Practice your script, but remember that you don't have to memorize it verbatim. The important thing is to understand how your content generates value.

The viewer that you’re trying to attract should get their proverbial "money’s worth" from your video. Try to create loops within your script to keep them hooked for answers and information. Use intrigue and creatively work your way toward the final payoff!

Let's be real here, the first few times are going to be a little awkward, especially if you’re not used to being in front of a camera. But everybody has to go through it, and you will too! Creators have started with all kinds of equipment, so make the best of what you have.

“You already know that in concept it doesn’t really matter what equipment you use. I promise people have created pretty amazing things with just the phone in their pocket,” Dan says.

Now it’s time to edit your video and kill your remaining darlings. This is where you may have to make some of the toughest decisions about your video’s final form. But what matters is that you cut out the fluff and deliver the goods as best as you can. Sloppy editing doesn't indicate a lack of special effects and transitions; most of the time, it's a sign of bad storytelling.

It’s important to learn certain techniques to enhance your video, but that will happen with time. And, if you ever want to make a viral video, 

If you haven't already, set up your YouTube channel with a clear, descriptive channel name. Use keywords in your title, description, and tags to improve your video's performance. 

A compelling description can also encourage more clicks from YouTube search pages. Choose the right category, add captions for accessibility, and select an engaging thumbnail. 

But once your video is uploaded, you have a new task ahead of you.

“The beginning of a video's life is critical for optimization. Be prepared to monitor closely the first 24-48 hours and make changes to underperforming elements like the title and thumbnail. Act quickly to maximize viewership and retention from the start,” Dan says.

man recording a cooking video in a kitchen

How do you start your first video on YouTube?

Begin with a clear idea of what you want to share. That makes it easier to plan your content, script, and recording setup. Be authentic and speak directly to your audience, focusing on delivering value.

How do you start as a beginner on YouTube?

Start by defining your niche and understanding your audience. Equip yourself with basic recording and editing tools, and don't be afraid to learn as you go. Consistency and passion are key. 

How can I improve my video's visibility on YouTube?

 by using relevant keywords in your title and description. Engage with your audience through comments and create content consistently.

Many of the things we talked about above are essential skills that require years to master. It’s unfair to hold yourself to massive standards as if you were a seasoned creator, so don't expect everything to go perfectly.

YouTube isn't easy, but the goal is to develop the right mindset for success!

Young woman holding a film clapperboard smiling against blue background with backpack

Step into the world of YouTube with confidence. From finding ideas to writing scripts to uploading your project, here's everything you need for your first YouTube video.

How to Make Your First YouTube Video Stand Out

There are plenty of myths about YouTube, especially those that have to do with growing a channel. Some people believe they need expensive equipment to start recording videos. Others think it’s impossible to make money with a small YouTube channel.

Dan, our in-house YouTube connoisseur, recently posted a video about YouTube myths. He talked about why they don’t serve your channel and the correct way to make videos in 2024.

If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s definitely worth a watch:

But if you’re short on time (or just really into skim-reading), here are 12 things you shouldn’t believe about YouTube.

1. Longer YouTube Videos Rank Higher than Shorter Ones

This is one of the oldest myths about YouTube. But no matter how believable it is, the facts remain — longer videos aren’t the bridge to more views or higher rankings.

The truth is that a one-minute video can be just as viral as a 20-minute video. The most important thing creators need to remember here is to get your point across regardless of how long you think your videos should be.

 is filled with dozens of short videos. By short, we mean only a couple of minutes long! But each one has millions of views because the content is satisfying, binge-worthy, and creates a positive experience for viewers.

2. People Only Click on Thumbnails that Have Text

This a myth, mostly because there’s more than one way to 

 Deciding to put text on your graphics (or not) depends on the type of content you’re creating.

If you’re a vlogger, you might not always need thumbnail text. Your videos usually have a loose storyline, and viewers aren’t expecting an exact overview before clicking. They’re coming along for the ride because they like watching you, so an engaging image (without or without text) will do.

On the flip side, a how-to creator should probably use thumbnail text. If a viewer is learning to take photos, invest their money, or something else, a few words can help them notice the best tutorial for that goal.

Here’s a great example from the vidIQ channel. The words “apply,” “accept,” and “review” indicate that you’re about to learn the monetization process on YouTube.

3. YouTube Tags Will Help Your Video Rank Higher

It’s easy to look at tags and subconsciously think of them as keywords. But YouTube has debunked this myth plenty of times. So, now, it’s best to accept that video tags won’t help anyone discover your videos; in fact, they do something else entirely.

“Tags can be useful if the content of your video is commonly misspelled. Otherwise, tags play a minimal role in your video's discovery,” YouTube states on its 

That said, if you still want to add tags—for example, to cover common misspellings or variations—you can save time by using an AI tool like 

 to automatically generate relevant tags for your content.

If we've learned one thing from last year, it's that AI is here to stay. And this is not new in the content ecosystem anyway. 

 has been serving consumers for years now and has gotten eerily good at it. But the skepticism creators may have about using AI is justified, especially since things aren't still set in stone.

Plus, YouTube is releasing AI tools tool help creators edit faster, create green screen backgrounds, and more. So, AI won't exactly ruin your channel. What matters more is how you use the technology. 

Can YouTube Automation Ruin Your Channel?

Many channels have leveraged AI audio for their content. Using these apps can save you loads of time but can also compromise your quality. However, using AI for video is a whole different discussion, with 

. So, be careful and mindful of YouTube's policies.

5. YouTube Has Shadow Banned Your Channel 

Whether you’re a small or large creator, making bad videos is part of the journey. It happens when you’re just starting out and trying to learn how YouTube works. 

Sometimes, even your most loyal viewers might not be watching your latest uploads, and that can be confusing. Oftentimes, new creators think they've been "shadow-banned" by the platform, and most of the time it is a myth.

Remember the video at the beginning of this post? In it, Dan explains what shadow banning is (and isn't).

"Shadow banning doesn't mean that you're simply recommended less or shown less on YouTube. It means that your videos aren't seen by a single person on YouTube, it will no longer recommend them, and it will be a thing that the platform actively does to your videos," Dan says.

YouTube's complex algorithm considers everything: how many people are being shown your video, how many clicks it's receiving, and the watch time it's earning. So, if the numbers are low, it's usually explained by one of these metrics.

6. You Need Expensive Equipment to Make Viral Videos

This is a myth, especially when it's applied to every YouTube channel. The truth is that most channels can grow with basic smartphone footage. When you’re speaking to an audience that loves technology, 

It’s only natural that a cinematographer has crystal-clear footage from a high-end camera. It makes sense that a photographer shoots better photos with advanced technology.

So, rest assured. Unless you’re doing something technical, upgrading your equipment is an option, not a rule.

First, let’s reimagine the word clickbait. Many people think it’s a bad practice, but not all clickbait makes people feel cheated, played, or upset. Just like there’s bad clickbait on YouTube, 

 that delivers on the general promise or theme of a video.

: Promising something that never happens in the video. It essentially lies to the viewer.

t: Teasing something that does happen in the video, but with an exciting twist. That could mean reading a title that says "I Robbed a Bank," but the video itself is a robbery-themed challenge with a fake bank and fake props.

8. Posting YouTube Shorts Can Hurt Your Channel

This myth seems logical at first glance. If people came to see long-form videos, why would they suddenly watch your Shorts? And if they do, does it hurt your long-form audience?  

Well, we’re happy to reveal that Shorts will not hurt your channel. In fact, they could help you get more views on long-form videos, with the help of 

The important thing is to understand what you are actually getting from Shorts. Through YouTube Shorts, your content might reach viewers that it otherwise wouldn't have. They might not turn into dedicated viewers, but more eyeballs can improve your presence on the platform as a whole!

4 Tips to Grow Your Channel with YouTube Shorts

9. All YouTube Revenue Comes from Video Views

, and not all of them have to do with collecting advertising revenue through views.

: Selling exclusive content to super fans every month.

: Collecting revenue when a YouTube Premium subscriber watches your content.

Merchandise Shelf: Selling branded merchandise from your channel profile and watch pages.

: Collecting money from viewers when you go live.

: Accepting small “tips” on regular videos.

: Having brands pay you to advertise their services in your content.

Affiliate revenue: Receiving a sales commission when viewers make a purchase using your affiliate link.

10. Subscriber Count Has a Significant Impact on YouTube Revenue

make more money, it’s not always because they have more subscribers. What matters most is the topic someone covers on their channel — their 

Just like in the business world, certain industries command more money than others. Those areas tend to be investing, real estate, online marketing, health, insurance, business, and similar industries. Not much is different on YouTube.

 (cost per mille) and how it affects your revenue.

11. Small Channels Can’t Make Money on YouTube

This couldn’t be further from the truth.

, you can start making money right now. You don’t have to wait until you have 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time to qualify. There’s still the option to get brand deals, collect affiliate revenue, sell products outside of YouTube, and more.

You might make more money outside of the Partner Program anyway!

12. To Get on the YouTube Trending List, You Must Post at a Specific Time

This myth is harmful because it focuses on an imaginary concept. Realistically, there’s no set “window of time” where videos start trending. Fortunately, YouTube is savvier than that. 

The platform isn't looking at the video content once every 24 hours; it's more like every 15 minutes. So, you could post your video at any point in the day, and if it’s being picked up by a large audience, it could start to trend.

Let your audience be your north star, not the YouTube trending list. That way, you’ll post videos when your

subscribers are online and ready to watch videos.

Grow Your Channel by Serving Your Audience

How does it feel to know that one bad video won’t ruin your channel? Or that video length isn’t as critical as you once thought?

Ultimately, viewers just want the content they’re looking for. So, hopefully, you feel lighter after learning 12 myths you don’t need to focus on! 



And, here are four mistakes to avoid if you have a small YouTube channel.

A bunch of YouTube icons clustered together

Pile of white square blocks with red YouTube play button icons on a white background

YouTube advice typically falls into three categories: Great suggestions, OK suggestions, and flat-out myths. Of all the myths that could hurt your channel, these 12 have the most impact — in a negative way.

12 YouTube Myths that Distract You from Getting More Views

As a small creator, you’ll quickly learn that 

. At this point, you’re probably facing the biggest challenge, which is struggling to get views when no one knows who you are.

But don’t worry: You can beat the odds with a little advice and hard work. The first step is understanding the most common YouTube mistakes. With that information, you can fix costly errors and focus on 

Fortunately, Dan Carson, senior executive producer at vidIQ, knows how to grow a small channel. In the video below, he lists the top mistakes holding creators back (and how to fix them).

But if you want a quick summary of all the tips, keep reading to see what’s stalling your progress.

1. Believing YouTube Owes You Views and Subscribers

Wouldn’t it be great if YouTube rewarded every channel equally? In that case, you could relax while collecting hundreds of views and subscribers, even if your videos don’t engage anyone. You would simply press publish and wait for good things to happen.

That’s not how YouTube works, of course. But many creators wish it 

 is believing YouTube owes you any form of success. While it’s time-consuming to research, 

, shoot videos, and edit a bunch of clips together, Dan says that’s the cost of becoming a successful YouTuber. All of that experience builds you up to make better content!

“Before you can take that footage, put it onto YouTube, and expect a bunch of views and subscribers, you need to first provide value — value to viewers and value to YouTube as a platform,” he says.

2. Ignoring the Power of First Impressions

They say first impressions are everything, and that’s also true for YouTube videos. After all, viewers don't click on the first video they see; 

 before finding something interesting to watch. And there's a lot competition!

For example, what happens when you compare these thumbnails for 

 Which of the two is more appealing, and which one is easier to understand?

Now imagine that each viewer is going through

 How would you tweak your thumbnails to help them notice your content first?

12 Types of YouTube Thumbnails People Love to Click On

“Try to keep them from being too complex,” Dan says. “Use minimal, clear, and readable text. Use bright colors. The foreground should be brighter than the background so everything stands out a lot nicer…. The thumbnail should relate to the content you made and the people who see it.”

Overall, whatever time you spend on titles and thumbnails, 

, but you can grow it by “decorating” your videos and attracting more viewers.

3. Not Enhancing the First 30 Seconds of a Video

After the first 30 seconds, many people abandon the video they’re watching in search of a new one. But don’t panic! 

This is a common and well-known habit on YouTube.

Just look at the retention graph for most YouTube videos. You’ll notice the viewership line falls sharply after 30 seconds and keeps declining.

Audience retention graph for a YouTube video

You can’t stop this 100%, but you can slow it down by getting to the point faster. Think about it this way: You’ve already sold viewers on the value of your content with a compelling title and thumbnail. Now all you need to do is 

“Jump right into the topic,” Dan says. “Give them 

, and then maybe ask an intriguing question that encourages them to engage with you in the comments.”

But the other stuff — asking viewers to subscribe, introducing yourself — should come at the end, not the beginning, Dan clarifies. This allows you to give people what they want up-front, which is whatever you promised in the title and thumbnail.

Giving people what they want ASAP typically leads to 

. That sends a positive signal to the YouTube algorithm, which means the system could 

 to more people. Eventually, that gives you a shot at more YouTube views!

From the start, creators are trained to focus on specific metrics if they want to enter the YouTube Partner Program, such as:

But these numbers take time to reach, and this is where smaller creators lose heart. So, try to look at these metric in a new light.

Consider a new channel that has only uploaded a couple of videos. Because YouTube doesn’t know much about the channel or the content, the videos will probably have low impressions on the platform, which might result in fewer views. But if the video has a high click-through rate, it’s capable of generating enough 

in the first place — and that is a huge positive for a small creator. So, depending on how you look at it, metrics can inform you differently.

Narrow it down to the things that matter. Make sure your average view duration and audience retention are steadily increasing with each upload. Keep an eye out for returning viewers and the videos that keep bringing them back. Following this data over time will give you actionable areas to work on.

How to Get Subscriber Feedback from a YouTube Analytics Deep Dive

If you’ve made a few mistakes on your channel, remember that it’s never too late to turn things around. Embrace the lessons, then chart a new course of action!

Here are five things you can do right now:

Instead of focusing on views and subscribers, 

. Find your target audience and cater to their specific interests.

Don’t prioritize video tags and descriptions before everything else; put your time, energy, and resources into 

Create titles and thumbnails that complement one another instead of copying each other. For example, don’t turn the video title into thumbnail text; choose unique words that add context to the video.

 to include a quick hook and your video’s main topic.

To sum it all up in a single word, the differentiating factor that your channel needs is 

 Maybe the content you want to upload has already been done by larger creators, but that's OK. Tap into your creativity and find a way to stand out or add something new to the conversation.

In one of our recent videos, popular personal finance YouTuber 

 describes how he achieved this exact feat despite being a small creator in a competitive niche. Watch his journey below and maybe you'll find inspiration to do the same!

Have you fixed these basic mistakes on your channel? That means you're ready for the next step: 

using emotional triggers to get more views

YouTube logo with a muted or disabled sound icon on a dark digital background

Do you need help growing a small YouTube channel? Here's some advice to get you back on track while avoiding the most common YouTube mistakes.

4 Mistakes to Avoid if You Have a Small YouTube Channel

Creating tutorials is an awesome (yet sneaky) way to grow a YouTube channel. For one, it makes you look more authoritative because you're solving problems for viewers, one video at a time. Not to mention, teaching what you know is a whole lot easier now that 

The only question is, how do you make a YouTube tutorial? First, know that instructional content, no matter how cut and dry, is still 

. Tutorials are fiercely competing with each other just like pranks and memes face off on YouTube.

That means every tutorial could use a little razzle-dazzle to stand out. You need to get viewers' attention, solve their problems, and make sure they leave the video feeling satisfied. It's art, science, and personal flair.

Whether you're into cooking, tech tips, or DIY projects, here's how to film the best YouTube tutorial.

The main purpose of a video tutorial is to teach viewers how to do something. These videos explain how to perform a task, use a product, or understand a concept. Tutorials are popular because they help people accomplish their goals, like training a young puppy or building a bookcase. Also, YouTube says 

"how to" videos are the most attention-grabbing format

Best of all, most channels will benefit from having a few tutorials. That's because any tutorial you make will involve your channel's main topic — nothing more, nothing less.


Keep reading to learn exactly how it's done!

Before you start recording, choose a topic that's in demand and worth filming on your channel. For example, few people want someone else to show them how to skip a rock across a lake. And we know this because "skip a rock" is searched less than 2,000 times a month on YouTube, according to vidIQ.

vidIQ shows a low search volume for "skip a rock"

Compare that to the mysterious yet intriguing phrase, "lasagna soup." YouTube viewers type it into the search bar 

. vidIQ tells us the topic isn't competitive, which means a "lasagna soup tutorial" 

vidIQ shows a medium search volume for lasagna soup

So, before you start creating, always look for high demand. And remember that a good tutorial video fits into your niche

YouTube was launched in 2005, so there's a good chance the video you're planning already exists. That's not a bad thing, though. You just have to see which tutorials are out there and try to make something that's 10 times better.

Typing your topic into the YouTube search bar (using the phrase "how to)

Watching the top three videos on the search page.

Noticing which information isn't included (and adding that to your version).

A well-crafted script is the backbone of any good tutorial. It guides your delivery, ensuring that you cover the key points clearly and concisely. 

But writing scripts is hard work, so don't do it from scratch. Instead, use a 

 to push your ideas in the right direction.

Once you have a script, spruce it up by indicating what will appear on the screen while you're talking. That way, you know exactly what's happening visually and textually.

For instructional videos, it also helps to 

. This helps you visually imagine how you'll break down a complex topic, scene by scene.

What makes a good video tutorial? Here's everything you need to know, from choosing a topic to adding the best visual elements for instruction.

YouTube Tips & Tricks

How to Make Your First YouTube Video Stand Out

12 YouTube Myths that Distract You from Getting More Views

4 Mistakes to Avoid if You Have a Small YouTube Channel

How to Create a YouTube Tutorial Video: Full Guide

Starting a YouTube Channel? 9 Videos to Make Right Now

How to Pick a Good YouTube Channel Name

YouTube Skills: How to Become a Pro at Speaking on Camera

6 Popular Apps to Promote Your YouTube Channel

How to Get More YouTube Likes [and Influence the Algorithm]

How to Change Your YouTube Icon [Mobile and Desktop Guide]

40 Faceless YouTube Channel Ideas That Actually Work in 2025

11 Ways to Write Exciting YouTube Titles for Your Videos