How to start a YouTube channel (setup + first 10 videos)
Set up a YouTube channel the right way — niche, branding, equipment, and the first 10-video plan that gets you to monetization fastest.
- A Google account
- A phone with a decent camera (it's enough to start)
Step by step
- 01
Pick a narrow niche
'Productivity for designers' beats 'productivity'. Narrow niches grow faster because YouTube's algorithm has a clear audience to target.
- 02
Create the channel
youtube.com → your avatar → Create a channel → Use a custom name. Pick a name you can grow with (your name or a brand).
- 03
Brand the channel
Profile picture (800×800 px), banner (2560×1440 px, safe zone in the middle 1546×423), and a channel trailer (60-90 sec).
- 04
Set up the equipment
Phone camera (iPhone 13+ or any modern Android) + a $30 lavalier mic + window light. That's it. Don't buy a Sony A7 before you've published 10 videos.
- 05
Plan the first 10 videos
All on closely related search topics ('how to do X in Figma'). Use TubeBuddy or vidIQ to find queries with high search volume and low competition. Search-led videos compound — vlogs don't.
- 06
Optimize every upload
Title under 60 chars with the main keyword. Custom thumbnail with a face + 3-word text. First line of description repeats the keyword. Tags for the obvious variants.
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