How to Make a YouTube Video: A Step-by-Step Guide to Viral Content Creation

Since its inception on February 14, 2005, YouTube has revolutionized the way we consume video content.?

Fast forward to 2024, and it's clear that learning how to make a YouTube video is an invaluable skill.?

With The Social Shepherd citing a staggering 2.7 billion active monthly users as of 2024, YouTube's expansive reach is undeniable.

For aspiring content creators and businesses, YouTube now stands as a bustling digital avenue with a huge potential to build a loyal audience.?

The surge in video content popularity means that establishing a presence on YouTube can significantly elevate your competitive edge in any niche.

In other words, learning how to make a YouTube video isn’t an option anymore, it’s quite literally a necessity if you want your business to get noticed in today’s competitive digital world.

So, how does one navigate this vast, dynamic platform??

How can new creators embark on the journey of making their YouTube videos in 2024??

This article is your comprehensive roadmap on how to make a YouTube video.?

It details every step from initial keyword research to the final touches of SEO optimization to ensure your videos stand out in today’s crowded YouTube landscape.

If you're brimming with ideas but unsure where to begin, let this step-by-step guide simplify the dynamic process of how to make a YouTube video for you.

But before you dive headfirst into the creative process, it's crucial to understand the foundations of video creation.?

Let’s explore these foundational aspects of making a YouTube video further in our upcoming section.

How to Make a YouTube Video: Step-by-Step

Pre-Production

1. Research Video Topic

Before you hit the record button, it's crucial to thoroughly research your video topic.?

Start by identifying your niche and understanding what your audience is interested in.?

Look for trending topics or frequently asked questions in your field.?

Use tools like Google Trends, Exploding Topics, or YouTube's search bar to see what people are searching for.?

If you’re researching your video topic using YouTube search, try doing so in incognito mode as it gives a more accurate glimpse into YouTube search results.

Make a list of keywords that other people are searching for on YouTube and study essential keyword metrics like keyword search volume and SEO difficulty.

A well-researched topic ensures that your video is relevant and has the potential to attract the right viewers to your channel.

2. Observe Similar Videos Covering Your Video Topic

Once you've settled on a topic, spend time watching similar videos.?

Observing what others have done gives you insight into what works and what doesn't.?

Note the video length, style, and anything that helped such similar videos receive high engagement.?

Most importantly, see the content that these similar videos are covering and set a baseline for what you will cover in your video.

In other words, you need to cover all the topics that these videos cover and give it your own take to not only make it unique but to also outrank those similar videos.

Also, make a note of the target keywords they are using in their title and description. This will play a major role during your keyword research process.

This step isn't about copying others but rather understanding the landscape of what people are watching in your niche and finding a unique angle for your video.

3. Write Video Script

A good video script is your video's backbone. It guides your narrative and ensures you cover all necessary points clearly and concisely.?

Start with an outline, breaking down your video into an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Try breaking down your video into short sections or chapters during this scripting phase.

This will subsequently help viewers easily navigate through your video (more on this in our section on writing an SEO-friendly description).

This can also help you identify opportunities to repurpose your video as short clips which can then be uploaded as YouTube Shorts or Instagram reels to get more traffic to your video.

We discuss this in detail in our section on sharing your video to social media.

Write conversationally, as if you're talking to a friend, keeping sentences short and to the point to maintain viewer engagement.

4. Keyword Research and Title

Keywords are crucial for discoverability on YouTube.?

There are two methods to find relevant and trending keywords for your video.

Using YouTube’s search engine or using various online keyword research tools.

To find relevant keywords for your video topic manually, open YouTube in incognito mode.

From the previous step on observing similar videos covering your video topic, take out the list of keywords you made when watching those videos.

Search those keywords on YouTube and choose the keyword which gives results most relevant to your video topic.

The second method includes using keyword research tools like vidIQ and TubeBuddy for more advanced and detailed keyword research using metrics like search volume and SEO strength.

This video from VidIQ’s YouTube channel elaborates further on the importance of keyword research for YouTube.

Once you have a keyword, it’s time to craft an engaging title with that keyword.

Ensure the target keyword comes first in the title and is clear and concise so viewers know exactly what your video is about.

You can either come up with a title manually or use tools like ChatGPT or other online YouTube title generators to craft an engaging title with your target keyword.

A well-chosen title improves your video's chances of being found by the right audience and TubeBuddy shows how you can do that in this video.

5. Design an Eye-Catching Thumbnail

The video thumbnail data by Lemonlight found that 90% of the best-performing videos on YouTube have custom thumbnails.

Your thumbnail is the first thing viewers notice, so it's important to make it count.

To make your thumbnail visually appealing, use high-quality images and bold, readable text to convey what your video is about.

As an example, here’s the thumbnail we made for a video for one of our clients, Evergy , a company specializing in fleet electrification.

Notice how we use bright colors, expressive faces, and clear contrasts in the thumbnail.?

Using such design elements ensures it accurately reflects the content you’re covering and also grabs the attention of your target audience.

While Adobe Photoshop is the most popular design tool used to make custom thumbnails, free alternatives like Canva and GIMP can also be used.

But if you’re new to making custom thumbnails, this video by Think Media shows you how to make a thumbnail in less than 3 minutes!

Now that you have the basics right, it’s time to make the video.

It involves steps ranging from planning out your video sequence to picking the right video editing software even before you press record.

We cover all these steps in detail in the next section.

Production

6. Plan Out The Sequence for Your Video

Before recording, plan the sequence of your video. This means deciding the order of scenes and what you'll say or show in each part.?

Think of it like a roadmap guiding your video's flow. A clear plan helps prevent mistakes and ensures your video is structured and coherent.

Using techniques like storyboarding can significantly simplify this process and help you visualize your video sequence with ease.

7. Setup Recording Space

Choose a quiet, well-lit area for recording. Ensure the background is tidy and relevant to your video's theme.?

Good lighting is crucial, so either use natural light or invest in some basic lighting equipment.?

The space should be consistent with the tone and style of your video, whether it's professional, casual, or creative.

If you’re into animated video production, then having a recording space isn’t necessarily required, which can save you a lot of resources.

8. Pick Necessary Recording Equipment

Your equipment doesn't have to be expensive, but it should be adequate.?

At a minimum, you'll need a camera or a smartphone with a good-quality camera, a microphone, and a tripod or stable surface to place your camera.

Good audio is as important as good video, so consider using an external microphone if your camera's built-in mic isn't great.

Using good audio software like Audacity or Adobe Audition can help you record and edit your voiceovers for your video with ease.

Last but not least, a computer that has the necessary specifications to run video editing and audio recording software.

This video by Think Media can help you pick the right recording equipment for your YouTube videos with their comprehensive checklist to guide you.

For animated videos, a good microphone for voiceovers and a computer that can run animation software like Adobe After Effects or Blender will do the job.

9. Pick the Right Video Editing Software

Choose a video editing software that suits your skill level and needs.?

Many free and paid options are available, ranging from simple to professional-grade.?

Look for software with a user-friendly interface and the necessary features like cutting, adding text, and adjusting audio so you can get started immediately and get a feel for the editing software.?

Popular choices include Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and Davinci Resolve (just to name a few).

Here’s a video from the YouTube channel, Howfinity that breaks down some of the most popular video editing software for beginners and advanced users.

10. Shoot Your Video

With everything in place, it's time to record your video.?

Stick to your script and sequence plan, but don't be afraid to add spontaneous elements if they feel right.?

Keep your energy up, and remember to speak clearly and at a moderate pace.?

Record multiple takes if necessary, so you have options when editing.?

With the end of the production phase, you’re halfway through making your YouTube video.

It’s time to piece everything together in the post-production phase, ranging from importing all the clips and video assets into your video editing software to finally exporting the video.

Not to mention, simply uploading your video to YouTube isn’t really enough and requires optimizing it for sustained reach and engagement in the long run.

We cover these crucial steps on our blog where we look into the post-production and video optimization phase of making your YouTube video.

But there is a way to skip some of these steps and produce your YouTube videos faster.

How? With the help of animation.

Contact us today for a FREE video consultation and let Broadcast2World take your YouTube videos to the next level with the power of video animation.