November 3, 2018

HOW TO START AND GROW YOUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

how to start your youtube channel how to grow your youtube channel Brianna k bitsofbri youtuber mom

After hitting 100k subscribers on YouTube, I’ve gotten tons of questions lately about how to start a channel. Here are my tips, advice, and things to consider if you dream of being a professional YouTuber.

Your Channel Name + Brand: If you aren’t dead set on a very specific niche (i.e. all Harry Potter related videos), I think it’s better for the longevity of your channel to stick with your name. For privacy, you might consider using a nickname or just your first name. Do some google searching, and see if you can get your domain name, an instagram and twitter handle, and YouTube Channel all in the same name. This is ideal, as it will help overall as your name and your brand gain popularity.
Figure Out Your Niche: What topics are you an expert in? What makes you different? How can you work that into every video you make? YouTube is incredibly saturated with content, so you should set yourself and your channel apart.
Equipment To Invest In: When I started my channel, it was completely for fun and for my own personal memories and home videos that I wanted to edit together because I needed a creative outlet. If you just want to make sure you enjoy vlogging before you invest, cell phone camera quality these days is amazing, especially the new iPhone XS. Just make sure it’s turned landscape if you’re filming on your cell phone. However, if I was doing this professionally from the beginning, I would invest in a vlogging camera. My personal favorite is the Canon G7X, because you can flip the screen out and make sure everything you need is in the shot if you’re filming yourself solo on a tripod, (which is how almost all of my cleaning videos are made), and it’s super easy to touch the screen to focus on your face or objects. I edit my videos in iMovie on my MacBook Pro. Get extra memory cards and extra batteries for long filming days. Also, invest in an external hard drive to store your videos once uploaded, so they’re not taking up space on your computer and especially if you want to save them for years to go back on. What made a total difference in the quality of my videos is when Adam got me professional lighting for Christmas- this ring light makes sit down videos look so much better, and pop up lights help filming on cloudy days or at night. For making my thumbnails, I use the Adobe Spark website (free), but I downloaded the Lightroom CC app for my desktop and my phone, and I use these Mommy Blogger presets to enhance the quality of all my images from my blog, to my instagram feed, to my thumbnails.
Make a Good First Impression: Make a channel banner and use a good thumbnail picture so you make a professional, on brand impression. Pick a color scheme, fonts, and use those in your thumbnails so everything looks cohesive.
Commit To A Schedule: As soon as I committed to M/W/F at 8 AM ET, and not just random uploads, my channel started growing. If I could go back in time, I would have committed to this from the beginning, even if it was just one video a week.
Engage With Your Audience: I’ve always considered my subscribers my friends, and it has been amazing to be on this journey and connect with others in the same boat. I learn as much from my subscribers sharing things in the comments as I do on any other blog or channel. I try to set aside time the first hour after posting and every night to respond as much as I can. If someone is taking the time to watch your videos, the least you can do is show them some love back!
Share Your Videos: Get as much traffic as you can to your videos. Share them across all of your socials!
Data Doesn’t Lie: After a few weeks or months, do a data dive. Listen to the feedback you get from others about what you’re good at in the comments, and what videos have the most views, comments, and likes, and figure out how to keep making videos that play to your channel’s strengths.
Make Friends: When you find other channels you connect to or enjoy watching, subscribe and comment on their videos. Engaging with others and making friends with fellow creators is one of the coolest parts of being a YouTuber. I’ve met so many incredible boss moms from collabs and even went on a trip with a group of YouTube moms (and we text each other every single day still), so don’t keep to yourself. Like any other business or profession, it’s so helpful to hear the professional advice of others, so don’t be afraid to network or even find a YouTube mentor.
Have Fun! YouTube is an incredible community, and you should enjoy doing videos. It’s pretty unlikely that unless you already have a large audience on another platform that your videos in the beginning are going to get loads of views, so don’t be afraid to mess up. Learn from the mistakes and the failures you have in the beginning, and it will make you a better creator in the long run.

A few other closing thoughts and words to the wise. Do not start a YouTube Channel with the intention that you will make a ton of money, especially in the beginning. However, once your audience grows, it will gain the attention of businesses who will offer sponsorships. Know your worth! Social Bluebook is a great way to gauge what you should be quoting. Stay firm. And please, please, please- do not do ads for free. There are billions of dollars put into advertising budgets for YouTubers and bloggers. I don’t want this to get taken the wrong way, like it’s all about the money, because it’s not. It’s about your professional reputation. If you are an influencer with an audience that trusts you, that is incredible! Advertisers seek you out because it is the best form of advertising (fun fact, about 90% of people believe the recommendation of a friend or someone they trust). So, know your moral compass. My personal rule is I never work with a brand I don’t already know and love without enough time to test it out myself. I would never want to falsely advertise something and have my friends and followers spend hard-earned money on something I don’t truly recommend. Figure out your standards. And remember, the end product might look easy, but a lot of hard work goes into taking pictures or shooting and editing videos, and I don’t think any influencer with a loyal following should do that work for free.

Similarly, know what your personal and professional boundaries are. What are you comfortable sharing or filming of yourself and your family? What information will your share or not share about yourself? Figure out your boundaries.

And finally, do not get competitive and do not compare. YouTube algorithms change all the time, so you might have some slower months growth-wise on your channel and someone else might be skyrocketing. If you are producing quality videos, with good thumbnails and titles, staying true to yourself and engaging with your audience, collab with others, and are focusing on your strengths and enjoying the creative process, you will keep growing as a creator.

Wishing you tons of success if you decide to start a YouTube channel of your own! Please let us know the name of your channel in the comments and what kind of videos you make so others can check you out!

Check out my corresponding YouTube video for more advice and info about how to grow your channel and what it’s like behind-the-scenes as a YouTuber!

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32 comments so far.

32 responses to “HOW TO START AND GROW YOUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL”

Heather carr says:

November 3, 2018 at 10:59 am

Hey everyone,
I have just started my YouTube channel this month!! I am loving it so far!! It has always been something I have wanted to do!! I would love to have all of you Boss ladies over on my channel!! My channel is Heather Carr Lifestyle https://youtu.be/-2rIGZbDScE
Please come and check out y channel and subscribe while you are there!!8 upload every Tuesday and Saturday!
- Simply Samantha says:
  
  November 6, 2018 at 11:19 am
  
  Just subscribed 🙂
Tiziana says:

November 3, 2018 at 11:44 am

Thanks Brianna!
Heather says:

November 3, 2018 at 11:46 am

Hello,
Thanks for the inspiration!! I just started my YouTube channel last month!! I would love to have you Boss ladies over at my channel!! Please come and check it out and don’t forget to subscribe!!
Heather carr says:

November 3, 2018 at 11:48 am

Hello,
Thanks for the inspiration!! I newly started my chapter last month!! I love it ! I would love to have you Boss ladies over on my channel!! Please come and check it out and don’t forget to subscribe!!
https://youtu.be/v1qtLYor83I
Thebeautyreviewer says:

November 3, 2018 at 2:31 pm

I have a beauty and lifestyle channel! I am a new youtuber and I would love if you could check it out!! 🙂 💛
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgKvRKboYicAYKVtL_CeotA?view=
Thebeautyreviewer says:

November 3, 2018 at 2:33 pm

I am a beauty + lifestyle channel! I would love if you could check it out! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgKvRKboYicAYKVtL_CeotA?view=
Brittany kenedy says:

November 3, 2018 at 10:30 pm

This so helpful! Thank you so much Bri! I started my channel in March of this year I didn’t know what I was doing at first but now I am trying to post more frequently like you said ! I work 4 days a week as well so trying to find the balance in it all! I post motherhood and lifestyle videos and decor videos too ! That’s why I love your channel so much we are similar ! Thanks for the tips again!!! Here is my channel 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzpjfZUFzDS038KpQNruMA
Christine b says:

November 3, 2018 at 11:12 pm

Thanks for all the tips Brianna! I’ve been creating videos since Sept 2018, my YouTube channel is Our Home Sweet Life. I share this channel with my husband and our channel is about our struggle with infertility and our journey to starting a family. I also do decorate with me, home finance videos, etc. I also live in Cleveland, (well a suburb of Cleveland).
Dani says:

November 4, 2018 at 2:19 am

Thanks for sharing all these great tips Bri! I have recently started my YouTube channel last month focused on sharing my boys’ journey in correcting their club feet! I have watched you since I found out I was pregnant with my first who is now 14 months and I am so thankful for all the great information I have received! You are such an inspiration and I’m so happy you hit 100k! If you get a chance I would love for you to check out my channel! It’s just Dani Lawrence!

Xx
Dani💕
Ourhomesweetlife says:

November 4, 2018 at 6:54 am

Thanks for the tips Brianna! Here is the link to my channel, Our Home Sweet Life:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFY3yymyP5s1Lxsxi3ZgXBg

I share my channel with my husband and we share our journey to becoming parents. I also do other videos like home decor, home finance videos and much more!
Jess says:

November 5, 2018 at 10:30 am

Hi there! I actually just asked this question on one of your videos yesterday. 🙂 Thank you. This is probably one of the most helpful posts out there on how to start a YouTube channel that I have found to date. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this.
Kayla says:

November 5, 2018 at 5:46 pm

Thanks so much for the great advice on starting a YouTube channel!! I have been a subscriber on your YouTube channel for almost a year now and I get so much inspiration from your videos. I started a mommy/lifestyle channel and that wasn’t doing too well so I decided to niche down. I have a crafting channel using my cricut machine (a cutting machine) and I have grown pretty quickly on that channel. I’m getting close to 1000 subscribers and I’m really enjoy it! https://www.youtube.com/c/kaylascricutcreations
- bitsofbri says:
  
  November 6, 2018 at 5:10 pm
  
  ahhh Kayla that is amazing! I always wanted to use one of those! they look so cool!!! 🙂
Simply Samantha says:

November 6, 2018 at 11:03 am

Hey everyone! I just started my channel about 2 months ago! This post has really helped me and I actually just placed an order for my ring light! If anyone is interested in viewing my channel, I’ll leave the link below. I have a lifestyle channel where I do hauls, favs, vlogs, etc. I would love to collab with any other new YouTuber or connect via social media! Good luck to everyone!
xoxo
Simply Samantha

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjpHhCQTYxeSzS_n_UaIe_w

Instagram: simplysamantha93
Aimee Jayy says:

November 6, 2018 at 7:24 pm

Hello!
Thank you so much for all your tips and advice. I honestly get discouraged from time to time, but I love creating content!! My channel is about motherhood (I have 2 children with developmental delays and one of which who recently was diagnosed with ASD), lifestyle (I love saving money and couponing), and beauty! You and Jordan Cheyenne are my motivation!!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aimeejayy_/

Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/c/lifewithaye
Emiey Locey says:

November 8, 2018 at 10:46 am

Thank you Brianna for the great advice! I absolutly adore you and your precious family and have loved watching your channel. You are such an inspiration for other mommas who work hard to have something fun and creative for themselves, like a YouTube side hustle. I have watched YouTube for years and gotten so much great advise and felt a part of a community of boss moms, that my husband and Rachel Hollis encouraged me to start my own channel. I have been on YouTube for about 2 months and love it so much. There is so much love and support from other mommas and I hope to continue making fun content for years! Thanks again!!

My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2ilsgM3BDQKJNolU73UEXw?view_as=subscriber
Suz and The Crew says:

November 8, 2018 at 12:04 pm

Totally agree about the blurred lines between work time and down time. So far, its been difficult for me to find the right balance but I just keep chugging along. Thanks for the useful tips. Love your channel! I just got started last month with my own Mommy/family vlogging channel.https://bit.ly/2OcuRqm
Simone nieuwenhuys says:

November 8, 2018 at 1:34 pm

Hi everyone!!! I started my youtube channel in July this year!
I am from South Africa… please come and check me out!!! 🙂
Simone Nieuwenhuys – youtube & instagram!
Simone nieuwenhuys says:

November 8, 2018 at 2:46 pm

Hi everyone!!!

I am Simone from South Africa!! I started my youtube channel in July, please go check it out!! (Simone Nieuwenhuys -youtube & instagram)

I loved these tips !!! 🙂
elli says:

November 9, 2018 at 10:58 pm

Brianna, thanks so much for this post and the Youtube video. Its soooo helpful and reassuring for new creators like myself. I am literally hours away from posting my VERY FIRST VIDEO! Eek! Anyone, please come check it out. I’d love it if you did. Also Bri, thanks for opening up the comments to us like this… I was trying to search for fellow Ohio or really new Youtubers last night and having zero luck. So big thanks as I now have a list of future collaborators! Congrats on 100k!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYwjske7LzgQz8163hWfCQQ
Zenda Browne says:

November 10, 2018 at 8:00 pm

Hi Brianna, thank you so much for the information on starting a YouTube Channel. It’s a lot to process but I know the end result will be worth it. Have a great weekend. Xoxo ❤️
Trisha says:

November 10, 2018 at 10:48 pm

I just started my own YouTube channel in October. My name is Trisha Joy. Just starting out and getting the hang of it, but I love it!! Editing is tricky! Any tips on that would be appreciated! Hope you’ll stop by my channel!
tia Senna says:

November 12, 2018 at 5:55 pm

I absolutely loved this Bri!!! I really appreciate you taking the time to sit down and write this!! It actually is very helpful! I hope my channel grows like yours someday! I have a mommy-, travel, disney, cleaning, motivation, baby hauls, mom chats orr rants ,and daily vlogging channel too and try to share all tips and tricks with other moms and give them the motivation that I know I lack sometimes! I really enjoyed this though and hope to start a blog too! Can you share all your tips on how you got your blog started? Love you so much Bri you are very creative and inspiring! I can tell you started this for the right reasons Mom to MOM I admire you girlfriend! xoxo! if anyone wants to check out my mommy channel it is https;//youtube.com/c/tiasenna
Colleen says:

November 13, 2018 at 12:15 am

Can you do one on growing and keeping Instagram followers?!
Amanda Little says:

December 4, 2018 at 7:53 pm

This is a great post with a ton of great info! I am a mom of two, and I’ve wanted to start a YouTube channel for quite a while. I decided to JUST DO IT after I had my daughter three months ago. It has been so much fun and I love that we will have these memories. My channel is “Amanda Little” and I post Mom & Lifestyle videos 4 times a week! 🙂
Jessica says:

June 10, 2019 at 11:15 pm

Hey Bri,

This is an amazing blog post. A little over a month ago I created my YouTube channel At Home with Jessie. I mainly post cleaning and organization videos, and some motherhood content. I’m a first time momma to a beautiful 4 month baby girl named Hailee. I would love for any advice for my videos or channel.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVzzIP8sxPsbrLzKhNSV-pw
Susy says:

June 11, 2019 at 12:11 am

Love this information Brianna!! I have a channel of my own and have really enjoyed it as I am a sham I feel that connecting with others makes me feel more human. Plus it lets me put my creativity out there and really test myself. I do a lot of DIY’s along with cleaning, cooking and some vlogs here and there.

You were one of the inspirations for starting a channel of my own. And I am so happy I did! Watching you and other women succeed in this business is phenomenal!! Gives others inspiration to fight for what they dream off.

Thank you again for the wonderful advice ❤️
Ashley wicker says:

June 11, 2019 at 12:58 pm

Thank you so much for this! I feel a lot of YouTubers like to keep their secrets to themselves which is totally fine but it shows such a passion for people when you share the wealth of knowledge! I recently started my channel as a creative outlet. I post cleaning videos as well as meal ideas and motherhood related videos. ❤️ Ashley Wicker
Kiara E says:

September 30, 2019 at 8:38 pm

Thank you so much Brianna I’ve been thinking of starting a YouTube channel for awhile and finally decided to get one going especially now that I have two year old as well as one in the way. This has made it so clear. If anyone is interested I will be posting day in the life as well as cleaning and lots of mommy videos. I love being a mom so is I hope you will join my journey with me. YouTube channel name Kiaraslife
ASK BRIANNA OCTOBER 2019| ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS FROM INSTAGRAM @BITSOFBRI says:

October 4, 2019 at 1:37 pm

[…] How long did it take for your YouTube channel to take off? I was not posting consistently until I had Presley, so my channel has always been slow to grow. I saw a lot more growth when I posted 3x a week consistently. If you want to read my post with advice on how to start a channel, here is the link. […]
Alexandra Crisp says:

November 13, 2019 at 12:29 am

Thank you for sharing. I look forward to your print out list and such.