Broadcast Yourself: A Guide to Youtube Stardom

Do you have an opinion you think needs to be shared with the world? A talent you want to show off? YouTube is a free service that allows anyone with a camera and an internet connection to post videos expressing themselves for all the world to see. Would you like to join the community of YouTubers? It's a free and simple process, and well worth a try.

The first step is to sign up for an account. This account will become your very identity in the world of YouTube, so take care in choosing your username. One choice is to simply use your full name, though you may have issues with divulging such information so easily on the internet. A simple, catchy name, perhaps one hinting at the type of content you post (i.e. derrickcomedy or davidchoimusic) will do. Avoid names with long strings of numbers (or any numbers, for that matter), as these are tedious to type and difficult for users to remember.

Designing your channel is an integral, though often-overlooked step. The channel is your place to share any personal information you choose. There are fields for your hometown, your interests, favorite books, movies, and TV shows. Of course, you may choose to leave these blank, though such information might allow a potential subscriber to identify with your work on a more personal level. The visual aspect of your channel is not to be ignored, either; a subtle, yet eye-pleasing background coupled with a well-designed color scheme can make your channel appear significantly more professional.

Now, of course, is the time to start thinking about the type of videos you would like to post. Do you have an especially interesting talent? Singers, dancers, directors, and comedians alike have all found some extent of fame on YouTube. If you consider yourself a gifted vocalist, try singing one of the top songs of the day for your fellow YouTubers; everyone enjoys a good cover song. Even better would be an original composition: would you care to share one of your own songs? Singer-songwriter David Choi began posting original songs three years ago, and is now one of the most subscribed musicians on YouTube, and one with a deal with Warner Brothers Records. Comedy groups such as Smosh and Derrickcomedy found an audience through their humorous sketch videos. Some, such as Human Giant and Whitest Kids U Know, graduated to network television, with shows on MTV and VH1.

Another popular form of video is the “vlog,” the term for a video weblog. Vlogs are regularly updated webcasts expressing the authors feelings, be they political arguments, personal (though public) diaries, or musings on the pop culture happenings of the day.

When considering your subject matter, it is very important to account for the popular trends of the time. Political videos flourish around election season, and parodies are best received immediately following the release of whatever movie/music video/event they are spoofing. Chances are that in the days leading up to, and immediately following the release of the next Twilight movie, there will be a surge in searches for trailers, interviews, and other videos related to the film on YouTube; consider taking advantage of this flood of fandom with a Twilight-themed video post.

It is at this point that it should be made clear that while there is no actual requirement, there is a certain standard of quality that should be maintained by a serious YouTuber. Cell phone cameras should generally be avoided, if possible; take the time to invest in a reasonably priced digital camera. Almost equally important is the tripod, which protects your work from having an unprofessional “shaky-cam” appearance. Should your video require camera movement, take the time to plot out your camera moves ahead of time, so as to prevent nausea-inducing jerks and jumps in the video.

The image is only half the experience. Take into consideration how your video is going to sound. High-quality microphones aren't necessary (though they certainly won't hurt), your camera's built-in microphone should do. Still, take care to ensure that the audio is properly synchronized to the video (few things ruin a video more effectively than lagging sound), and that any background music isn't drowning out the speaker.

While many post their videos uncut and straight from the camera, a bit of editing can add polish to your work. The movie editor that came with your computer should do. Fire up iMovie (or Windows Movie Maker), and start cleaning up the video you've shot. If you're posting a “vlog,” or video blog, be sure to edit out any awkward silences in your speech. Says technology blogger Chris Pirillo: “I can’t stress this enough. I’ve seen too many 10-minute videos of people rambling, stumbling over thoughts and spitting out random information...The average viewer has a very short attention span”.

Once your video is trimmed to perfection, export it from your video editor in a format recognizable by YouTube – .mpg, .mov, .avi, .flv, and several others – and get yourself to the YouTube Upload page. Here, you'll be asked to enter a title and short block of text describing your video. The title should be long enough to fully describe the video, though short enough for your viewers to remember. The descriptive text should elaborate on the content of the video, while leaving a bit to the imagination (after all, you'd like them to have a reason to watch the video). Below these fields is a box labeled “tags.” Here, you should place a few key words that you feel summarize your video. For example, a vlog about Apple's latest product might have the tags “apple ipad review steve jobs.” Adding these will help potential viewers find your video more easily.

If you simply upload your video and wait for views to come pouring in, chances are you're going to be disappointed. In what seems to be a YouTube paradox, only the videos with the most views appear in search results. How is a new video to be discovered, then? You need to take the initiative and market your own video. Send it to everyone you know: email your family and friends, post it to your Facebook and Twitter, and write about it in your blog. The more chances people have to see it, the faster your view count will climb.

Remember, YouTube is a community. Find other channels with topics similar to yours and post comments on their videos. Take advantage of YouTube's “video response” feature, and film a more personal response than a text comment can offer. Pirillo writes “I found that when I started commenting on others videos and channels, or simply added others as a friend, I began gaining more subscribers and views.” Make friends on YouTube, pass on their videos, and there's a chance that they'll return the favor.

If your video is entertaining or informative enough to hold people's interest, chances are you'll find yourself with a growing number of subscribers. These people are just waiting for you to post more videos! With your next video, you'll probably want to stay in the same vein as the first. If you're a musician, don't drastically change genres; likewise, comedians shouldn't suddenly branch into serious drama. Your viewers subscribed to you because they liked the videos you've posted, and expect you to continue posting similar videos. That said, there is certainly room to branch out, and there is always room for improvement.

Regular posting will keep your viewers loyal, and ensure a steadily (or exponentially, if you're lucky) growing fanbase. As previously stated, you'll want to stick to your strengths, though it's important to keep from getting stale. Viewers will quickly grow bored unless you offer something unique in each and every video. It is this balance between a recognizable theme across your videos and constant evolution that the most successful YouTubers have mastered.

Those satisfied with the knowledge that thousands of people around the world watch their videos every day can continue on this track happily. However, it should be made clear that your YouTube channel can indeed be monetized. YouTube launched the Partnership program in 2007, allowing more popular channels to apply for the chance to make some money off their work. Applicants must produce original content on a regular basis, and should have a significant viewer base. Once accepted to the partnership program, ads will be placed on all your videos. The catch: you receive a cut of the advertising money made by drawing in viewers with your videos.

YouTube is also a valuable marketing tool. Many colleges make use of the YouTube EDU program, which allows them to create an official channel for the school, where lectures and lessons can be posted. This channel is listed in a directory of other colleges, allowing it to be easily found by both current and potential students.

Armed with these tips, you're ready to begin your journey to YouTube stardom. Put together something you think people will want to watch, and try your hand at being a YouTuber. With any luck and/or talent, you'll find yourself with a steadily growing base of subscribers, and possibly a lucrative partnership.