Tips for Making a Successful Video on Youtube

I'm sure everyone has heard of Youtube and there are probably many readers on Associated Content that visit and also upload videos on this popular site. What I am going to discuss are some tips for making a presentable video that people will want to watch.

Obviously, the first thing you will need is an idea. I make music on my computer. What I do is I record the screen with my program running and playing my music, and then I simply upload it. Doesn't sound like much, but it gets the job done.

For other ideas, whether it's showing off a car or video taping a review, there are many things to consider. The first and most important is quality. I cannot say enough about this. What I absolutely hate is if I come across a video and the quality is poor. For example, camera phones are the number one thing that takes videos with horrible quality. Why do people insist on uploading these files when you can hardly tell what is going on? I wouldn't mind seeing a rule of some sort that sets forth a minimum quality. This doesn't just refer to the picture, but also sound. Cell phone cameras produce very low quality sound as well, making it hard to listen to. If you want to make videos for Youtube, do yourself a favor and buy at least a digital camera with a video option.

If you are going to be talking in the video, make sure the camera picks up your voice well. Take a couple of practice runs and check the video; if it sounds good then go on, if not speak louder or bring the camera closer. Lighting is also important. I hate stumbling upon a video where it's completely dark and you can't see anything.

A lot of people like to get fancy with introductions. Unless you're making a full length movie, I wouldn't suggest it. Keep it short and simple and under 20 seconds or so. A long introduction might scare away viewers, especially if the overall video is short. Having, for example, a four minute video with a one and a half minute intro is something you want to avoid.

Once you think you have a good video, it's time to upload.

The upload process is very simple, so I have only one tip: write a meaningful description. A paragraph won't hurt, and it will provide more background information on the video. Leaving a couple words is what I cannot stand. I'd rather read a few sentences to get a better idea of the video.

Once everything is done and your video is available for watching, you want to spread it around. Doing this can be done in a few ways that work really well. One is to simply leave comments on other people's videos. Eventually someone will read it and decide to click on your name to see if you have anything uploaded. You can also post the video in a forum. Forums are great for spreading around videos. Threads can reach thousands of views very easily depending on the forum itself. If you constantly upload material (or at least on a regular basis like every couple weeks or so) then people will keep coming back to check out your new stuff.

To conclude, making a video for Youtube is easier than people think. Remember to have good quality, to speak loud enough for the camera, have good lighting and a short introduction. What are you waiting for? Go make a video!