Everyone has to start somewhere…
If you’ve been considering making videos for a while and weighing up your options, here’s an idea: Do it.
We’ve compiled an essential list of reasons you should start making YouTube videos – whether you’ve been watching other YouTubers for a while or if you’ve just got your first camera – there’s no time like the present. Here’s why.
1. You’ll join the global village.
YouTube is accessible across the whole world (except in China, but we’ll leave that for another day). You have the potential to meet and befriend people from around the globe. You’re exposing yourself to new cultures, new ways of thought, new hobbies and most of all, new friends.
You take all of these ingredients and add them to your own personal concoction. Either by travelling or simply watching content from other parts of the world, that concoction begins to shape who you are as a person and your style of video content.
Travel vlogger Louis Cole started his channel in 2011 and has since taken his viewers with him on adventures across the world, many of which come as a result of his YouTube success. He explains: “I enjoy travelling the world with friends, making videos, having fun and inspiring others!”.
2. You’ll build confidence.
Many people start making videos because they are shy in real life. The process of making something and putting it online can often feel easier, for those less confident, than putting yourself in front of people.
Making videos and uploading them to YouTube is the first step to putting yourself out there, and potentially, being seen by way more people than you would originally think. Any number of people can watch your videos, so while you are only presenting a fraction of who you are on-camera, you’ll likely become more confident in other areas of your life as a result.
You have a voice, you have opinions and you want people to hear them. So, put yourself in front of a camera and it’ll inevitably become easier to contribute to real life situations.
3. It becomes a creative outlet.
First and foremost: You get to express yourself in a creative way when you make videos. Often you’re making things that would have never have existed without you. You’re a creator.
“YouTube is my ultimate creative outlet,” admits filmmaker Lucy Moon. “It gives me a degree of freedom I couldn’t have on most other platforms. It allows me to experiment with camera angles, textures and editing without any time constraints or expectations.”
There have been many scientific studies into the benefits of expressing yourself creatively, most of which revealed that in doing so, you become less stressed and more positive. We reckon everyone would like a reason to be happier, right?
4. You could gain opportunities.
If you were to ask your favourite YouTubers about the opportunities they’ve gained from being on the site you’ll probably hear some amazing stories. Many get to travel, go to press events, walk the red carpets, meet celebrities, get brand sponsorships, get sent free products and it doesn’t stop there. For some YouTube is the reason they got a career-changing job or met their best friends or significant other.
It’s safe to say, however, they didn’t expect any of that when they started out. No one can predict these things, and who knows, maybe you’ll be lucky enough to experience some great things and have wonderful opportunities presented to you. If you don’t try, you’ll never know.
5. You’ll develop new skills.
Making videos involves skills. Skills that over time you pick up and improve on without realising how much progress you’re making until you have. Whether it’s editing, lighting, camera operating, public speaking or the countless other abilities you could develop from making videos; you are learning something new, which might just grow into a passion or help you get a job in the future.
You wont be good right away; skills take time and effort to develop and this is often where a lot of people decide to quit. Stick at it and you’ll figure out what works for you in the end. Louise Pentland admits: “I’m not technically advanced. I try, I really do. I had studio lights but I struggled with them. So now, I just use the sunshine and iMovie – I’m okay with that.”
Elliot Gough spoke directly to new creators in his video To The Beginners. It’s a great source of inspiration and worth a watch.
6. Your voice will get heard.
Many content creators are often discouraged when something they’ve created ‘only’ gets 1,000 views. Especially when the big YouTubers are raking in the millions. But really, think about it: those 1,000 views came from real people!
Imagine standing in a room and talking to an audience of a thousand. It’s no small number. There are bands who would kill to have a thousand people at their shows, and you’ve reached that many from your bedroom. If you’ve got something you want to talk about or share with the world, YouTube is the place to get seen. You’ve got so much to gain, and really, what have you got to lose?
Next week we’ll be speaking to Charlie McDonnell about transitioning your content to different styles. If you’ve got any suggestions for topics we should be covering in The Creator Hub, drop us a Tweet to @TenEightyUK or send us a message to TenEighty UK on Facebook.
YouTube recently launched their Cards facility which allows creators to make easy end-cards. Looking to join an MCN? Read our Guide to Joining a Network or find out about the new @TeamYouTube support service.
