This post covers the strategies I used to go from 0 subscribers on YouTube in September 2018 to over 73,000 subscribers as of today.

YouTube has been one of the most challenging things I’ve ever tried out, even more so than freelancing. It’s a constant mental, physical, and emotional grind to grow and create content that performs well.

With that being said, starting a YouTube channel is one of the best decisions that you can make.

It provides a consistent stream of income that’s “somewhat” passive. You have to put in the up-front work, but videos can get views for years.

One of my best-performing videos (Top 10 by views this month) was uploaded in December 2018. Almost 3 years later, and it’s still bringing in ad revenue. That’s the power of YouTube.

Over 2 billion hours are watched on YouTube every single day and there are so many YouTubers earning well over six figures per year in ad revenue alone. You need to take action on this massive opportunity.

Start Now

The best tip for starting a YouTube channel is to start right now. The sooner you start the better. You’re never going to feel fully ready or have all the equipment that you may need.

I started with a cheap ($60) Logitech 1080p webcam and horrible inconsistent lighting. You can get started using just an iPhone and upgrade your equipment over time.

The quality of the first videos on my channel is horrible, to say the least. However, a lot of those videos have thousands of views. You will get better and better with each video, so be patient.

Stop the procrastination and START NOW. You will learn most of the things after starting.

Choose a Niche

The very first step is narrowing down the type of content that you want to create. It doesn’t have to be set in stone, but it should be something you enjoy tremendously.

As I mentioned, YouTube is extremely demanding and a constant struggle. If you don’t truly love the content, you will burn out. It’s that simple.

So how do you choose a niche? Think about the type of content that you want to create. What interests you? Enjoying the content that you create is much more important than anything else.

What would I do if I went back to the beginning? I would create content for freelancing and personal finance. Why? Because I love both, there’s a lot of search volume on YouTube for both topics, and both monetize very well.

Creating content that you’re passionate about is the most important. However, if you have big financial goals for YouTube and want to become a full-time YouTuber, then you need to choose a niche that’s proven and profitable.

Money isn’t everything, but it’s a fuel that feeds the fire. It will allow you to create another stream of income and build a profitable business. Your goal on YouTube should be to create a business and a strong personal brand.

Keyword Research for New Channels

I recommend installing vidIQ. I use it to research search term volume to determine how many times keywords are searched for per month on YouTube and identify the competition as well.

For example, Upwork as a search term is great because it has high search volume and low competition on YouTube (see screenshot below).

Choose a Channel Name

My best tip is to create a channel around your name. Your interests may change over time, you may switch gears and create different content, and this could be very bad if your channel name is something like “Freelance Pro Tips”.

You want to niche down to build a strong dialed-in community, but you also don’t want to drive your channel into a dead end.

That’s why I chose Josh Burns Tech. It includes my name and “tech” which means I can create tons of content without confusing my viewers.

Choose the Right Equipment – YouTube Gear for Beginners

I want to make it clear that you can start with just an iPhone. However, here are some great beginner gear options that you can use as a new YouTuber. Most of the links below are from my setup.

Camera

Microphone

I highly recommend that you don’t “cheap out” on audio. It’s critical to have great audio if you want to keep the viewer’s attention. Bad audio is a great way to lose viewer attention quickly.

Lighting

Video Editing Software

I started free with Shotcut, then upgraded to Adobe Premiere Pro. From experience, I would personally recommend getting Adobe Premiere Pro from the beginning.

It’s well worth the investment and will save you TONS of time.

Complete Gear List

Be Consistent

I recommend that you commit to one video per week for the next year. This will give you 52  videos to help you identify what works best for you, the content you love, and allow you to build momentum as well.

I’ve been creating one video per week since 2018. Of course, there have been a few instances where I went on vacation and took a couple of weeks off in between videos. However, for the most part, I’ve uploaded one video every single week.

Video Scripting

I write and create outlines for all my videos. It helps me focus on the content, have better flow, and prevents rambling. Some people are great at talking without much preparation. Well, I am not one of those people.

Researching topics and creating scripted outlines are things that I enjoy doing. If you notice in my videos, I am always looking at the camera.

I never read directly from the script. So how do I use it? I have it open beside me on a laptop and I memorize 2-3 sentences at a time. Or read over a few sentences to get my mind focused on what I need to say.

Focus on Search for Your First Videos

After you choose a niche, then research search terms using vidIQ to identify search terms. People typically don’t care who’s creating the video, as long as it gives them what they need.

For example, based on my research using vidIQ I found that the search term “Upwork Tutorial for Beginners” had a high search volume with low competition.

I also found similar videos which had a great performance and thought of ways that I could create something similar, but better.

The result? The following video has over 200,000 views and makes around $200-$300 per month in YouTube ad revenue.

Create Digestible Content

If I could go back to the beginning, I would focus on creating content that’s entertaining and gets straight to the point. At the end of your videos, your audience should be changed. Either emotionally or filled with new knowledge.

Great YouTubers think about the viewer and focus on creating content that helps them. If you upload a video full of random content that doesn’t provide any value, then it’s likely not going to perform well.

When people watch my content, I want them to leave with new knowledge that can help them. Don’t make a video with no purpose.

Be Patient

Finally, you need to be patient and understand that you’re building something that has massive long-term potential to change your life.

It took around 9 months for my YouTube channel to become monetized. That means I consistently uploaded one video per week for 9 months before I started earning ad revenue.

Why did I keep going then? Because I love the process of creating content and I knew that long term I would start making money.

Fast forward to 2021, my YouTube channel has earned over $30,000 in ad revenue. My personal goal is to generate $100,000 per year solely in ad revenue, which I know that I will accomplish.

Change Your Life

Get over your fear of judgment and start today. You will look back a few years from now and realize it was one of the best decisions of your life.

My goal with my freelance content is for you to become so successful that you don’t need my content anymore because you are so busy making money, working with tons of clients around the world.

Need more help on Upwork? Join my Patreon today which includes benefits like:

  • Upwork mentoring
  • Private discord server
  • Direct line of communication with me
  • Engage and grow with like-minded individuals
  • Exclusive content

Join Today: Josh Burns Tech Patreon

What’s your biggest struggle on Upwork? I want to help, so let me know in the comments below.

Also, take a second to follow me on Instagram and Twitter for more freelance help, insight into my daily work ethic and grind, and see all other things that I enjoy most in life.

Disclaimer

The post contains referral links and I earn a small commission if you choose to use them at no additional cost to you. In some cases, I have locked in exclusive deals for you as well.