So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and join the ranks of YouTube tutorial makers!
Right now, you are probably experiencing an understandable blend of nerves and excitement, as you face the prospect of creating your very own video content and sharing it with the world. On the face of it, it may seem like a rather daunting task – but the good news is that, by following some simple steps, you can create engaging and enjoyable video tutorials from the comfort of your own home.
Here are some helpful tips to get you started and kickstart your brand-new channel.
Think About Your Target Audience
The first and arguably most important step you need to take on your video tutorial journey is to take some time to reflect on your target demographic. In other words, you need to consider who you will be aiming your video content at, and what kind of content they will most want to watch. After all, it’s no use wasting time on creating tutorials that your target audience has little interest in or will not benefit from. That’s a surefire way to kill your channel before it’s even got off the ground.
To help you come up with compelling tutorials that your audience will be keen to view, then, you will need to ask yourself what common problems they may want answers to, and how you can give them the solution in a clear, informative, and engaging way. You also need to think about the length of your tutorial – generally, shorter videos are preferable, as if a video goes on for too long then people may get bored or frustrated and move on to a YouTuber with pithier content.
Create A Script And Storyline
To help ensure that you’re creating tutorials that are slick, snappy, and educational, it’s a good idea to map them out the same way you would if you were directing a short film. This means coming up with a general structure – or ‘storyline’ – for your tutorial and writing a script.
Preparing a script is particularly useful as it will lend coherence to your tutorial and ensure you cover all of the important points without getting stuck, lost, or meandering off-topic. It will also help you to feel more confident as you create your video, as you won’t need to worry about what you need to say next. Simply memorise your script, practice it a number of times until you’re confident with your material, and start recording!
Mastering Screen Recording
When it comes to actually creating the tutorial, it’s advisable to record the audio element first – in other words, your narration – and then focus on the visuals.
As for the nuts and bolts of recording, you can either use a video camera or you can opt for screen recording. If you use a camera, make sure that you perfect the set-up – including the lighting – for the best possible result. On the other hand, if you’ve decided to go with screen recording, download software that you find easy and intuitive to use, as this will give you added confidence.
To make things even simpler, you can opt for ‘floating recording’, where you can choose to record a particular window on your screen. For example, if you’re using a MacBook, here is a detailed guide on how to quickly record a specific window on a Mac. It might sound complex, but it’s actually simple, highly convenient, and flexible, which will make your tutorial recording even easier.
Editing Your Videos
Once you have recorded your tutorial to your satisfaction, it’s time to edit it so it becomes a slick and polished finished product, ready to be shared with the masses.
If you’re a bit worried about this part of the process, you can always opt to have your tutorials professionally edited. This removes any stress and ensures a professional-looking video.
However, if budget constraints mean you need to do this part yourself, then it’s important to be patient with yourself as you work on honing your editing skills. No one becomes an exceptional video editor overnight, so give yourself a break if you encounter a few hiccups and teething problems along the way.
When it comes to the content that you’re editing, the most important thing to focus on is to get rid of any awkward pauses or mistakes in the content – for instance, any sudden silences or ‘hemming and hawing’. Once you are happy that any unnecessary material has been stripped away, you can finish off by overlaying the video content with your narrative, for a sleek and stylish video that will hopefully prove helpful to your audience.
Start Sharing!
Congratulations, you’ve done it – your very first YouTube tutorial, created by your own hands from start to finish. There’s only one thing left to do now, and that’s to share it with what will hopefully become your new and devoted circle of subscribers! And then, of course, it’s on to your next video…
