How to Become a YouTuber: The Ultimate Guide for 2023

In a world filled with 9-5 routines, becoming a YouTuber stands out as an exhilarating pursuit of passion. It brings with it the freedom to be your boss, create content on your terms, and reach millions worldwide from the comfort of your home. The universe of YouTube isn't just about uploading videos - it's about connecting, influencing, and creating a legacy.

But where do you begin? That's where we come in.

We at Maekersuite have designed this comprehensive guide to demystify the journey. We'll walk you step-by-step through how to become a YouTuber, covering everything from setting up your channel to soaring to new heights.

We used our extensive knowledge of YouTube to create a platform that streamlines content creation, management and analytics. It’ll help make your aspiration of becoming a successful YouTuber more accessible than ever before. Prepare to launch your journey into the world of YouTube with our ultimate guide, and let Maekersuite handle the technicalities so you can focus on creating. 

Let's get started!

What We'll Cover:

What is a YouTuber?

At its most basic, a YouTuber is an individual who creates, uploads and manages video content on the video-sharing platform YouTube. They range from independent vloggers to larger corporate channels and are spread across many genres, from education and entertainment to fitness, lifestyle, and beyond.

Here are some potential benefits of becoming a YouTuber:

• Creativity and Self-Expression: You can explore your creative side, whether through vlogs, how-tos, reviews, or any other type of content you're passionate about.
• Potential Earnings: Successful YouTubers can earn a substantial income through ad revenue, sponsorships, merchandise sales, and Patreon subscriptions.
• Community: You can build and interact with a community of viewers who share your interests.
• Personal Branding: YouTube can be a powerful platform for establishing and growing your personal brand.

Famous YouTubers serve as inspiring examples: PewDiePie, known for his Let's Play videos and comedic shows, and Marques Brownlee, renowned for tech reviews, have both turned their YouTube channels into highly successful careers. Everyone starts somewhere, and the next YouTube sensation could be you!

Understanding YouTube Monetization

YouTube monetization is a process by which content creators on YouTube can earn income from their videos. It offers an excellent opportunity for creators to be rewarded for their content while potentially allowing them to build a sustainable career out of their passion.

Understanding how YouTube monetization works is essential for any content creator looking to transform their YouTube channel into a profitable venture. 

Let's get into the details of YouTube monetization to provide you with the knowledge you need to start earning from your content. It involves knowing the various ways to earn money, the criteria for eligibility, and effectively navigating the policies and guidelines set by YouTube. 

How much do YouTubers make?

The income of YouTubers varies widely based on several factors; audience size, viewer demographics, content quality, and advertisers' demand. YouTubers can earn revenue primarily through ad views on their videos. 

Google's advertising program, AdSense, pays between $0.10 and $0.30 per ad view, with the average being about $0.018. Thus, a video receiving 1,000 ad views could earn a YouTuber approximately $18.

Not every view on a YouTube video results in an ad view; ads aren't displayed every time a video is watched. Furthermore, YouTubers are paid for ad views only when viewers watch at least 30 seconds of the ad or interact with it.

Top-tier YouTubers may earn even more. Forbes estimates a pay rate of $5 per 1,000 views for the platform's most successful creators. Therefore, a video with 1 million views could generate over $5,000. 

However, these figures are approximations. Actual earnings can vary significantly based on many factors, including ad quality, click-through rates, and viewer engagement.

How do YouTubers get paid?

YouTubers typically earn money in several ways, most commonly through ad revenue generated from Google AdSense. Advertisers pay to run ads on YouTube, and Google shares a portion of that revenue with YouTubers when their viewers watch these ads. To get paid through AdSense, YouTubers must first link their AdSense account to their YouTube channel.

YouTubers can also earn money through channel memberships, where subscribers pay a monthly fee for access to exclusive perks. Additionally, they can make money through Super Chat and Super Stickers, where viewers pay to have their messages highlighted during live chats. 

Another revenue stream is the YouTube Partner Program's merchandise shelf. It allows creators to showcase their official branded merchandise directly on their YouTube channel.

Furthermore, many YouTubers earn income from brand partnerships, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing. These sources of income are typically separate from YouTube and involve agreements directly between the YouTuber and the other parties involved.

What are the YouTube monetization eligibility criteria?

To be eligible for monetization through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), YouTubers must meet the following requirements:

1. Minimum of 1,000 YouTube subscribers: Channels must have at least 1,000 subscribers to qualify for monetization.
2. At Least 4,000 Hours of YouTube Watch Time: Along with the required subscriber count, channels also need 4,000 hours of watch time within the past 12 months to be eligible.
3. Live Where the YouTube Partner Program is Available: The YPP is not available in all countries, so creators must reside in a country where the program has been rolled out.
4. No Active Community Guidelines Strikes: YouTube has strict Community Guidelines that all channels must follow. Channels with active strikes against these guidelines are not eligible for monetization.
5. Linked AdSense Account: To receive payments, creators must link their AdSense account to their YouTube channel.
6. Two-Factor Authentication Enabled: This security feature makes it harder for someone to hack into a YouTube account. Enabling it is a requirement for monetization.

Remember, meeting these requirements doesn't guarantee acceptance into the YPP. YouTube also reviews channels for adherence to its policies and guidelines before approving them for monetization.

How to Become a Successful YouTuber?

YouTube offers a great platform to share your creativity, spread your message, and even build a profitable business. However, success on YouTube requires a thoughtful strategy, a lot of work, and patience. Here's everything you need to know about how to become a YouTuber.

1. Decide on a good niche

The first step to becoming a successful YouTuber involves identifying a niche that you are passionate about and in which you can provide unique, engaging content. This could range from beauty tutorials, gaming walkthroughs, or cooking recipes to vlogging about your daily life. Choosing a niche is essential, as it attracts a specific audience and helps you focus your content creation efforts.

2. Set your goals

Setting clear and measurable goals can help guide your YouTube journey. This could include reaching a certain number of subscribers, creating a consistent posting schedule, or improving your video editing skills. These goals give you something concrete to work towards and can also help measure your success.

3. Analyze your competition

Understanding your competition is crucial in any industry. In the case of YouTube, this involves studying other creators within your niche. Pay attention to what works for them - their popular videos, interaction with fans, video format, etc. This research will help you distinguish your channel and find a unique space in the YouTube landscape.

4. Identify your target audience

Knowing your target audience helps you tailor your content to their interests, needs, and viewing habits. Consider demographics such as age, gender, location, and hobbies. When you understand your audience, you can create videos that resonate with them and keep them coming back for more.

5. Customize your channel page

A professional and attractive channel page can make a strong first impression. Customize your YouTube channel in the following ways: 

• Include an eye-catching banner
• Write a detailed section
• Create an upload schedule
• Try to create a unique thumbnail 

Make it easy for viewers to navigate and understand what your channel is about.

6. Brainstorm content ideas

Coming up with engaging content ideas helps you maintain a successful YouTube channel. Consider what your audience would find interesting, helpful, or entertaining. Don't hesitate to try new things and play around with various kinds of content. You can use tools like the video idea generator to help you generate ideas.

7. Develop a content strategy

A content strategy is a plan for what type of content you will create, when you will publish it, and how you will promote it. A content strategy ensures you have a steady stream of new videos and can help build a consistent brand image.

8. Invest in the right equipment

Quality is key on YouTube. Invest in good recording equipment, such as a quality camera, microphone, and lighting setup. Good editing software is also crucial. Remember, better video quality can lead to increased viewer retention.

9. Launch your first video

Once your channel is set up and your first video is ready, it's time to launch. Make sure your video is optimized with a good title, description, and tags to help it get discovered. Don't forget to include a clear call-to-action, like asking viewers to subscribe or comment. A good teleprompter app like Maekersuite's teleprompter app can be helpful during your video recording.

10. Establish your brand personality

Your brand personality is what sets you apart from other channels. It's your style, tone of voice, aesthetics, and values. Whether you're funny, educational, serious, or creative, ensure your brand personality shines through in all your videos and interactions.

11. Develop a content schedule

Consistency is the key to YouTube growth for almost all top content creators. So, you need to set a realistic content schedule to stick to. Whether it's once a week or once a month, regular uploads can help retain your audience and improve your channel's visibility.

12. Engage with your community

Talking with your viewers is key to having a loyal audience. There are lots of ways to do this, like:

• Responding to comments
• Hosting Q&A sessions
• Asking for viewer input on future content

Creating a sense of community can lead to increased engagement and viewer retention.

13. Monetize your channel

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Once your channel has gained traction, it's time to think about monetization. You can monetize your channel in several different ways, including: 

YouTube Partner Program

Joining the YouTube Partner Program allows you to earn money from ads displayed on your videos. To join, you must meet specific requirements, including having at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months.

Google AdSense

With Google AdSense, you earn money by displaying ads on your videos. The process involves creating an AdSense account and linking it to your YouTube channel. 

You make money each time someone clicks on an ad and a smaller sum when someone views an ad on your videos. However, these earnings accumulate over time. That's why it's crucial to have a large number of viewers.

YouTube Premium

YouTube Premium is a subscription service where subscribers pay for enhanced features and ad-free viewing. As a creator, you earn a share of the subscription fee when YouTube Premium members watch your content.

Sponsored Content

Brands may approach you to create sponsored content if your channel becomes popular. This typically involves promoting a product or service within your video in return for payment.

14. Learn and develop new techniques

As a YouTuber, it's essential to continuously learn and develop new techniques to keep your content fresh and engaging.

Promote your channel to other social media platforms

Promote your YouTube content on other social media platforms to reach a wider audience. This could include sharing video teasers on Instagram, tweeting about new content, or posting behind-the-scenes content on Snapchat.

Use call-to-actions (CTA)

CTAs are prompts that encourage viewers to take specific actions, like subscribing to your channel, liking your video, or leaving a comment. Effective use of CTAs can lead to higher engagement rates and audience growth.

Collaborate with other YouTubers

You can collaborate with other YouTubers so that you reach a wider audience. Choose to collaborate with creators with a similar audience to ensure the collaboration benefits both parties.

Learn YouTube SEO

YouTube SEO involves optimizing your channel in such a way that viewers can find you. Learn to use keywords effectively with keyword research, create engaging thumbnails, and write clear video descriptions to increase your video's visibility.

Monitor your performance

Monitoring your channel's performance helps you understand what's working and what's not. Use YouTube's built-in analytics to track view count, likes, comments, and other important metrics. Use these insights to improve your content and grow your channel.

Level Up Your Game

Starting your YouTube journey may seem daunting, but remember that every successful YouTuber started where you are now. Your enthusiasm, creativity, and persistence are powerful assets, so don't underestimate their value.

Hopefully, our guide on how to become a YouTuber is the perfect start. One way to level up your game is by using Maekersuite and our innovative tools tailored to enhance your content and expand your reach. These tools help streamline your content creation process and enable you to produce engaging and optimized content consistently.

Remember, having the right tools and services at your disposal can significantly impact your YouTube success. You have the potential and the passion. Combine these with the power of Maekersuite and watch your YouTube channel thrive.

Stay committed, keep creating, and never stop exploring new ways to enhance your YouTube game. Good luck!