It’s not news that being a content creator can be big business. If you’re an aspiring creator, you don’t even need a video or content background to get started. However, you do need a solid arsenal of educational websites to help you do a few things right. There are over 31 million channels on YouTube. TikTok has no less than 3.1 million influencers and over 90 million users tuning in. Instagram, Twitch, Facebook, OnlyFans and more have become revenue generating opportunities. Before you jump in — or to elevate your content to the next level — spend some time on these websites to help you hone your skills. Whether you’ll be using a platform or starting your own website, you’ll create better videos. Then, you’ll have more marketable material to grow your audience.
Video training isn’t just for newbies
This is going to be a steep learning curve if you’re truly just getting started. It’s not impossible though. There are several websites dedicated to helping you learn to produce better videos. For a very detailed list and step-by-step, start with this Ultimate Guide to Creating Better Videos. Then, every time you run into a subject or step that you feel hesitant about, do a little research. Even if you’re not completely new to being a video creator, this is an important consideration. Maybe you have an understanding of content strategy but video editing isn’t your strong suit. Perhaps you’ve never created a storyboard. Everyone can benefit from a few refreshers and we all have a few skills that we need to develop.
Also, you don’t need to have the most expensive gear to make excellent videos that your audience looks forward to. In fact, you don’t even need much gear at all. Your work area can be a small dedicated corner of a room in your home or it can be an entire production set. The important thing is that you must know how to use what you’ve got to its fullest potential.
No matter how good you get, always challenge yourself to improve. Discover endless tutorials online educational websites such as No Film School, Video School and (of course) Videomaker.com. You can even go to video platforms like YouTube or Vimeo to find other creators creating videos about how to create videos.
Explore video sharing platforms
Obviously, YouTube is the most recognizable name in video-sharing websites. You can monetize ads, offer subscriptions and even sell merchandise directly from the platform. One of the downsides is the increasing number of ads that are injected into and between your videos. Additionally, many people are frustrated with the platform’s heavy regulations and arbitration processes.
The robust offering of the Pro level covers all the bases you’ll need to get started.
So if you’re looking for an alternative, try Vimeo. There is a free account level available with limits to access and storage. The robust offering of the Pro level covers all the bases you’ll need to get started. For around $240 annually, you’ll have a wide range of tools and metrics. The number of videos you can upload is unlimited. There is a 25 GB limit per video, but that should be enough to keep most creators busy. There are no advertisements to interrupt and monetization is Video on Demand revenue sharing. Plus, it allows you to easily share your videos across multiple social media platforms.
Marketing is often the X-factor
Once you’ve started your library of great content and your well-produced videos are uploaded to a platform, what you do next is critical. The truth is, there are millions of creators making consistently strong content every day. You can’t just wait to be discovered. Hoping for a little luck is not an effective strategy either. Marketing is the difference-maker. From planning your distribution to understanding how and when to promote yourself, you must become a marketing guru. There are dozens of educational websites covering online marketing and strategy. Check out Hootsuite’s blog collection on the subject. You can start with How to Create a Social Media Plan. Then, find related articles on setting goals, creating a marketing calendar and more.
Rinse and repeat
As a publication dedicated to helping creators create successful channels, we’d be remiss to leave ourselves out of the conversation. Be sure to regularly visit the How-To section of Creator Handbook. We cover topics like adding titles to your videos, building your audience, dealing with copyrights and using current trends to your advantage. With so many resources available, there’s no reason for bad videos to exist. If you have an idea for a video, you can make a good video. Moreover, if you have an idea for a whole channel full of videos, you can make a good channel. The more videos you create, the better they will be. Then, if you use some smart strategies and manage your channel with consistency, your chances of developing a loyal group of followers increases dramatically. Revisit the helpful resources you’ve found periodically to continue expanding your skills.