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Before you can make awesome videos, you need irresistible ideas. It’s one of the tougher challenges of being a YouTube creator, which requires so many things already: outstanding thumbnails, excellent titles, and consistent uploads, to name a few.
But video ideas aren’t that hard to find. If they don’t come to you quickly, it’s helpful to take a step back and ask, What am I overlooking?
Read More: 4 Honest Reasons Why You're Running Out of YouTube Video Ideas
This post will help you find your creativity again. Keep reading to discover seven ways to come up with video ideas, no matter what.
People watch videos for many reasons, but one of the biggest is to learn something new. That’s why the best YouTube ideas come from simple questions – how to crush a job interview, where to find farmland, anything.
Do any of these statements sound familiar?
Chances are, you’ve been in this position before. And so have your viewers.
It’s time to put yourself in the audience’s shoes. Start by reserving an hour each week to think of questions your viewers are asking.
“This is how dozens of creators had breakout content this year showing people how to get Clubhouse invites,” Rob Wilson, vidIQ YouTuber-in-residence, says. “A knowledgeable few took advantage of a sudden demand for crucial information.”
When you’re out of video ideas, you can play what we call the comparison game. Take a look at your YouTube niche and ask, What are some things viewers are interested in comparing?
Gamers might wonder whether Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Genshin Impact is more fun to play. A foreign exchange student might want to know why Duolingo, not Babbel, is the best app for learning English.
“When you take two popular things from your video topic and pit them against each other, it forces the viewer to make a choice,” Rob says. “And it divides opinion, which creates intrigue.”
Here’s a great example: “YouTube vs. Twitch: Which One Is Better For You?”
Want to get at least 10 video ideas in less than five seconds? Use this technique:
Do you need video ideas as a beginner on YouTube? If so, time-saving technology is your best bet. Look for apps or programs that can generate video ideas for you.
Read More: Daily Ideas from vidIQ - More Video Ideas to Spark Your YouTube Success
But that’s not the only benefit of an idea generator; it can also help you close the experience gap on YouTube. You can skip the confusion of wondering which videos to make and simply start filming like a seasoned creator.
Check out our latest tool, Daily Ideas, to get your wheels turning. It uses the power of artificial intelligence to study your channel and suggest new video ideas every day.
Did you know there’s a formula for discovering YouTube video ideas? It's pretty straightforward. All you have to do is consider the way video titles are constructed and then work backward to brainstorm ideas.
A good video title includes:
Don’t worry about the last item just yet. You only need adjectives and topics to come up with video ideas.
So let’s think of adjectives first:
Keep the list going if you can. When you have 10-15 adjectives, ask yourself, Which topics lend themselves well to these adjectives?
Could you brainstorm something like...
Complete this exercise to find new, relevant ideas for your YouTube channel.
This tip builds upon the previous one. If you can follow the idea formula (adjective + topic = YouTube video), you can expand any idea to create a list video.
Better known as listicles, these videos cover various aspects of one topic. You could film something like “10 Destinations to See Fall Foliage In America. By Train!”
Read More: Make These 4 YouTube Videos to Get Your First 1,000 Subscribers
“The real fun begins when you assign a number to the listicle because it triggers two things,” Rob says. “It sets a certain expectation in the viewer’s mind, but it also has the capacity to challenge that…. If you’re able to do a longer list than anyone else on YouTube, that has appeal in itself. But what if you could do, say, the top 10 of a listicle in three minutes? That’s nice, bite-sized, compact. That might be another reason to convince the viewer to click.”
YouTube videos don’t always have to teach or inform – at least not directly. Sometimes you can achieve the same result by sharing a personal story.
Storytime videos are a life-saver when you’re out of content ideas. It’s easier to recite something you already know than film a complex video.
You can use any of the following formats:
That last one was a bit wonky, but you get the idea. When ideas are escaping you, use a personal story to get back on track.
Want to find the best YouTube video ideas? Here’s a simple fix: Follow current events and ongoing discussions within your niche.
Here are a few ways to keep up with trending topics:
Need more advice on finding video ideas? Learn more about the seven tips in this post, plus practical ways to use them below:
Lydia Sweatt is a writer who loves balancing her article/blog time indoors with a healthy dose of nature. She bikes, hikes, and identifies edible plants along the way.
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