Along with its growing popularity comes the pressure to achieve and maintain a high standard of production and content. If you’ve ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes, and have some interest in creating your own online tutorial videos, here’s what you need to do.
Do your research
Gaining references and information from existing online videos is probably the most important element, as this will show you the standard of work and the types of topics covered. More specifically, researching the specific field of interest you plan on covering will provide insight on the way certain niche videos are compiled.
You might even get inspiration for video ideas, or interesting filming or editing techniques. Head over to
YouTube and use keywords that call up the types of videos you need inspiration from. Adding the word ‘tutorial’ to your keyword will produce a list of high rollers in tutorial creation for that field.
When viewing the videos you find, keep a notepad or phone with you to take down any important details that you notice across different people’s offerings. For instance, cooking tutorials often employ point-of-view videography, whereas makeup tutorials incorporate closeups.
Even though individuality is necessary, there are certain techniques and treatments that form part of the canon for a certain genre. Your videos won’t pull traffic if these standard techniques aren’t employed. Take time to go through as many videos as you can, and make exhaustive notes. At this point, if you’re thinking that this is a lot of work, hold onto your horses. Making
YouTube videos is a fulltime job.
Formulate original ideas
Now that you have a clear sense of the genre you’d like to enter, it’s time to come up with your own ideas for content, videography, and editing. Even though you’re familiar with the genre conventions now, try and put your own spin on it.
It’s never a good idea to simply recreate the videos you’ve seen. You don’t necessarily have to reinvent the wheel, but restyling the rims is a good place to start. Implement humorous elements or construct a persona that’s relatable and interesting. Many
YouTubers have gained success on the simple premise of good characterisation.
When formulating your ideas, keep your target audience in mind. Place yourself in the shoes of someone killing time at work, or midnight binge-watching, and ask yourself if you would click on the video you’re planning. Cover your bases by planning a few months’ worth of videos before you start. This will make your life easier later on while testing if your concept has longevity. If you can only come up with 10 ideas, you might need to revise your concept and angle.
Equip yourself
The next step is to make sure you have the right equipment. For a basic
YouTube tutorial, you’ll need a camera, a tripod, good lighting, possibly a backdrop, a working computer (for editing and uploading), and editing software. From there you can add extras to differentiate your videos or to adhere to the genre conventions.
For instance, a makeup vlogger will add mirrors, while a cooking vlogger will need a functioning (and presentable) kitchen. Your camera need not be state-of-the-art, but you do need one that captures video and that has options for add-on lighting and lenses. A very popular option for lighting is the 'ringlight' for confessional type videos.
These lights smooth out imperfections while providing that crisply lit feeling. An added bonus is the light rings around your pupils, leaving your eyes looking bright and rested. The use of a backdrop depends on the type of video you make. If you decide not to use one, make sure that your background is dressed and appropriate for the video content.
Now, let’s be real, all these things are wildly expensive. You always have the option of renting or borrowing equipment but, in the long run, you might need to invest in your own equipment. Check out possibilities for equipment finance, as you’ll ultimately produce an income with your channel, which will justify its business classification.
Like, comment, and subscribe
Your primary objective is generating traffic in the form of views, likes, comments, and subscriptions. In order to do that, you need to market your product on any and all social media platforms.
Start by sharing with friends and asking them to share it on their accounts. Create accounts on different social media platforms specifically for your channel or video persona. Once you reach a certain number of views weekly, you can sign an agreement with YouTube that essentially provides you with income for your videos.
In short, remember that you’re creating a brand and every post, along with the social media interactions around it, should be on brand. When your viewers see that you put some thought into it, that subscribe button will be worn out.
For more information, visit www.rogerwilco.co.za. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter.
Read more about successfully uploading video content onto social media in our article, A beginner’s guide to shooting video for social media.