Right, first of all, I am aware that there is a sticky post with a guide to having a successful YouTube channel. This is good, however I believe I can make a much simpler guide using my own experience as a YouTube Partner with over 1,000 subscribers.

I've noticed that many people approach YouTube drastically wrong and I am happy to use my experience and knowledge to give you guys some advice!

Please remember that YouTube is not easy and is not for everyone, it involves hard work and stress but is really enjoyable if you are approaching it correctly!

I'll do it in 5 fairly short steps that you can "tick off" like a checklist.
So, let's go!

Step 1) Creating your channel

The first thing to remember is to have a focus for your channel. Whether it's gaming, vlogs, comedy etc. that's all up to you!
Have a name that people can remember, make it catchy! But don't focus it too much on your content eg. "MinecraftVideos247". At the same time don't choose a bland username such as "joe3527".
The name is rather important, how often do you see a name like "joe3527" or "MinecraftVideos247" flying high? Not often. I would recommend spending time on this as it's a key aspect of your channel and it's how subscribers and viewers will remember you.

Having a nice logo and banner on your channel can be very eye-catching for potential subscribers too! It gives a professional feel to your content and does have a large impact on whether or not someone chooses to subscribe to you or not. So keep that in mind!


Step 2) Equipment

This step is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT and is often where people go wrong in YouTube.
Before you make ANY videos you need to ensure you have top quality equipment. It's a must in the community. This is the barrier where i'd say if you're not prepared to invest in your channel then you're extremely unlikely to reap any rewards at all and YouTube probably isn't for you.
Nobody wants to watch standard definition content anymore, it was different a few years ago, but now? Everything needs to be high definition. Even if you had the funniest videos in the universe you'd struggle to captivate a loyal audience with bad/standard quality.

I for example have spent around 900 on my current recording and editing setup. You don't need to spend that much BUT you do need to spend a little on equipment. Many people are unsure of what equipment to buy for gaming videos so I can give my recommendations here:

- HD Capture Card:
Console: HD PVR, HD PVR 2 and the Elgato.
PC: Fraps or Xsplit

- HD Microphone: Blue Snowball, Blue Yeti are great.
Some headsets such as Turtle Beaches have great quality microphones too! Just experiment, you don't have to break the bank to ensure great quality.

- Editing Software:
Windows: Sony Vegas is the only way to go really, I can't think of a better alternative.
Mac: iMovie is a little tacky, Final Cut Pro is a more professional alternative.

That's all you really need to start out, I would recommend upgrading any other equipment over time.

Step 3) Make good videos!!

Now that you have your channel and your equipment it's time to make videos!
Many people are clueless of how to start here, I would recommend making some sort of one off video to start. For example "FIFA Trading Tips" or some sort of sketch. Whatever it is, make it relevant to your content!! Don't make a FIFA video when you plan on doing COD commentaries as you would attract the wrong audience and any subscribers would become inactive, you don't want those. Introducing yourself and what you aim to post is always a good start!

Now that you have your first video make sure you don't spam your channel through messages and comments! THIS NEVER EVER WORKS trust me. If people like your videos they will subscribe. That's how it works, and although it maybe difficult to gain views at the start, it only gets better in the future!
Just make sure your videos are top quality. By this I mean: Unique, HD, engaging and that you take your time perfectly crafting each video.
Don't expect that you can just throw any old video out there and get subscribers, because you can't. There's no secret formula to this unfortunately, but if you're not getting views then spend more time on your videos and truly aim to craft something that's unique and awesome! Trust me, it works!

Step 4) Collaborate

It's always great to have friends in the community that are in the same boat as you! Why not make a video with them? This can be really helpful!
Not only does it give your videos a fresh appeal, but it can bring subscribers from their audience too. It's a win win situation really!


Step 5) Don't do any of these things!

- Don't use copyrighted music! This can give you a strike and will mean you will NEVER be eligible for partnership! There are plenty of channels that can give you copyright free music, just make sure that you credit the artist in the description and you're good to go!

- Don't SUB4SUB.. this is honestly one of the worst things you could ever do! The subscribers are dead and inactive, it's honestly pointless and NEVER EVER works.

- Don't spam! It's disrespectful and doesn't actually work anyway.

- Don't monetize your videos! EVER. This will mean that Google disables your ad sense making you ineligible for partnership. Just wait to apply for partnership and the network will explain the process it uses to monetize your videos. Until then, steer clear from anything like that.

- Don't give up! Stick with it! If you give up you've wasted time and money. Go out there make the best videos you can and just enjoy it! If you enjoy making the videos, your audience will enjoy watching them!

Thanks!

That's it! Simple right? Well, it's all you need! There's no secret formula to YouTube and that's honestly the best advice I can give, it got me Partnered and going strong with 1,000 + active subscribers.

If you need further assistance then you can just contact me and i'd be happy to help!

Please leave your opinions and questions below! Don't forget to click "Thanks" if this guide helped!

Thanks alot guys! And good luck with YouTube!
- Mantle