Creating quality and exclusive video content can not only garner a lot of subscribers, name and fame but also good traffic which gets you heavy monetary returns. Ravijot Singh tells you more about this emerging career option
With ever evolving online platform, available internet speed and more flexibility in social media, we see more and more video blogging (Vlogging) happening all over the world. The fact that people want to read less and listen or see more to get information or get entertainment is also boosting this side of eco-system. Established YouTubers are paid in lakhs every month for their viral videos.
So, if you are also hooked to video blogging and seriously thinking about starting your channel, you need to get the following things right:
Camera: Any camera that shoots in HD will do. Almost all of the high end mobile phones these days shoot in HD. So, one can even shoot the video on their phone to start with, provided you have good lighting.
Always, see the frame you are creating before shooting the final footage. Avoid shadows and if you don’t have any idea about artificial lighting, it is recommended to shoot in natural light. However, still see from where light is coming. Do not shoot opposite of the light. The way our eyes see the light and camera sees them is whole lot of difference.
Good mike: The video blogging ironically is more about listening than watching. Nothing can ruin your video and your audience retention more than a bad audio. It’s annoying when the audience can’t hear properly what you are saying. So, get a decent mike.
Editing: You will require to either have a basic knowledge of editing, which you can do through software like Final Cut Pro (for Mac only), Adobe Premier or these days YouTube also allows you to edit the video on their site. But FCP or Premier are preferable.
If you don’t have any idea what editing is, you’ll need to find a partner who does have!
Ambience: You wouldn’t want to shoot in a noisy place or in a place where your voice echoes. A good background always help. But again, you need to have a sense of color combination of the cloths you are wearing and the background you are shooting against.
Content: Content is the king! Your videos will not get good or even sometime any traction if you content is not good. Always think from an audience perspective before you go and create something. Ask yourself what kind of stuff you like to see and whyIJ Your answer will always lie on the content. It is the alternative narrative that is giving social media video blogging so much of boost. Because, people want to see some real different content which is not being produced in main stream TV or movies because of less risk taking abilities or sensor problems or lack of understating what the audience really craving for!
Team: Unless you are doing video monologues, you will require a team. If you are short of funds, find likeminded people, mostly from your friend circle. Stick together and see how things go.
Unique Selling Point (USP): With so many YouTube bloggers and channels doing all sorts of stuff already, only those will standout who are doing something out of the box. A very recent example is of Chutki and Shopkeeper of Gaurav Gera was also rage last year. Again, the concept was fresh which these guys kept building on with good content.
MONETIsATION
Though money shouldn’t be your first preference, you should know how to reach the point where your YouTube channel allows you to monetise your content. And that point will be reached only when you have good traffic which will come when you understand what content your audience like and how you can make them craving for more with your each video.
Once YouTube gives your monetisation option in your channel, you’ll also need to setup a Google Adsense account and integrate both (YouTube and Adsense) so that your monthly earning can be transferred to Adsense through YouTube and then to the bank account you’ve setup in Adsense.
Prevention measures
One should be very clear on not using any copyright material, content or sound in your video as it will not make your channel’s standing down. YouTube can take down the video if they found the copyright violations to be true or worst they can suspend your account as well.
Always take care of what are your channel’s standings are and what all YouTube have enabled your channel to do. YouTube will automatically enable features for you once you start getting more traffic. YouTube wants you to create good content so that you and them, both can earn.
First year, don’t expect too much unless you become super viral and each and every video of yours become a rage and getting lakhs of view every time. Always, remember the chain — good content will give you traffic and subscribers and good traffic will give you money. There is no other way.
However, once you start getting subscribers which means returning audience, it becomes easier with every new video to reach more people. But then again content is the king. Even if your channels have reached one million mark and you upload a bad video, you’ll not get that much traction to that video.
Enhancing your channel is a journey of understanding and interacting with your audience as much as you can. If you can stick with your channel with good content for one year, you’ll get good rewards surely come your way next year onwards.
Research
Research is another mantra to success. Do a lot of research on the kind of work you want to do, for tips and tricks, success stories, failure stories. Self-learning would be the most valuable learning in any new venture you undertake, after all!
(The writer is well-known video blogger)