You already know how to create a YouTube channel from an earlier post. Here’s a quick tutorial on how to make a video for your channel.
- Obtain a video camera. Your computer, laptop or cellphone has a primitive camera, but the quality is going to be lower than if you spend a few dollars and get an actual camera. You can get a decent one for less than $100 if you shop around. Make sure it has an SD card so you can easily transfer the images to your computer.
- Consider purchasing a microphone. Like the cameras in your computer or cellphone, the microphone in a video camera often isn’t as good as it could be, so think about getting a dedicated microphone to hook up to the camera.
- Pick a topic. There are lots of different topics you can choose from. Some of the most popular include video blogs (vlogs – short videos of you talking about whatever is on your mind; keep it under 10 minutes and update regularly), tutorials (“how to” videos on any subject you feel you can teach), montages (images or video clips set to music), and reviews (if you can give a snarky or sardonic review, you’ll attract more viewers, too).
- Write a script. Don’t try to “wing it” until you’re really experienced – and even then, a script will keep you on track, focused, and make sure you don’t forget anything you wanted to get across to your viewers.
- Make sure you have plenty of light. If you’re recording yourself, you should face the light source. Think about filming during daylight hours when you don’t have to worry so much about extra lighting.
- Wear appropriate clothing. If your background is dark, wear something light colored. If your background is predominantly red, avoid wearing a red shirt. Avoid “busy” patterns that would detract from your video.
- Keep your background clean. A cluttered background distracts the viewer and detracts from the overall video.
- Film as many “takes” as you need. It’s normal to need more than one run-through, especially when you’re just beginning. Also, record more than you think you’ll need – you can always edit the film after it’s recorded.
- Speak loudly, clearly, and slowly. If you’ve got a dedicated microphone speak directly into it.
- Be sure to hit “stop.” This should be self-explanatory, but it often isn’t. Be sure to end your recording – this should also auto-save it.
- Transfer the video to your computer if needed. Most computers nowadays have an SD slot, but if yours doesn’t, you can always pick up a USB card reader.
Edit the video as you wish, then you’re ready to upload it. Stay tuned to learn how easy that can be!