Are you passionate about a certain topic and want to share your knowledge with the world? Or maybe you’re just looking for a new way to market your business?
If so, starting an educational YouTube channel might be the perfect solution for you! With around 70% of US internet users across all age groups using YouTube, you’ll be able to reach a wide audience with your educational content.
In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how to start an educational YouTube channel. We’ll break down the steps to take, what to focus on, and the many benefits of using YouTube as a platform. So, what are you waiting for? Get started today!
Skip ahead:
- Why should you start an educational YouTube channel?
- How do you start an educational YouTube channel?
- Best practices for your educational YouTube channel
- The benefits of creating an educational YouTube channel
- Elevate your content with Thinkific
- Creating an educational YouTube channel
Why should you start an educational YouTube channel?
Starting an educational YouTube channel can be incredibly rewarding. By creating content related to the topics you’re passionate about, you’ll be able to help others learn and grow. You’ll also have the chance to become a leader in your field and build a loyal following.
Plus, creating videos for YouTube is an effective way to market yourself or your business. People are more likely to remember information when it’s presented in an entertaining way, and videos provide the perfect opportunity for this. If you’re new to YouTube channel creation, check out our beginner’s guide to understanding YouTube channels.
How do you start an educational YouTube channel?
Creating a successful educational YouTube channel is no easy task, but with some dedication and hard work, you can make your mark on the platform. Here are some steps you can take to get started. Once you’re ready to start, check out our step-by-step guide to easily create your YouTube channel.
Choose a topic
The first step in starting an educational YouTube channel is deciding on your content’s focus. What topics are you passionate about? Are there any areas of expertise that you can draw from? Choose one topic or several related ones and stick to them when creating your videos. This will help you build up a dedicated audience over time and make it easier for people to find your content.
For example, if you’re passionate about cooking and want to create educational videos, focus on creating content related to cooking rather than branching into other topics like gardening or interior design. If you love astrology, create videos related to astrology and not about tarot or numerology.
Create quality content
Now that you’ve chosen a focus, it’s time to start creating content. Quality is key here, so ensure the videos you create are informative, entertaining, and professional-looking. Investing in good audio and video equipment will pay off in the long run — after all, viewers won’t stick around for long if your videos are grainy or the audio isn’t clear.
Some tech accessories to think about investing in include professional lighting, a good microphone, and video editing software.
Incorporate SEO
You’ll need to incorporate Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to get the most out of your educational YouTube channel. This means optimizing your videos and descriptions with relevant keywords, so they show up in search results. Doing this will help you get more views and attract potential leads.
Best practices for your educational YouTube channel
Once you’ve created your educational YouTube channel and have a few videos under your belt, you can start to implement some best practices. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your channel.
Keep lessons short and sweet
Most viewers are looking for quick and easy-to-digest content. Try to keep your videos under 5 minutes long, as this will help you maintain viewers’ attention and maximize the retention of information.
Be consistent
Consistency is key when it comes to YouTube channels. Posting regular content will help you build an audience and keep them engaged. Aim to post at least one video weekly, and consider setting up an editorial calendar to help you stay on track.
Add captions or subtitles
Captions and subtitles make your videos more accessible to people with hearing impairments or those who don’t understand the language. They can also help viewers find your videos, as search engines can index them.
Turn PowerPoint lessons into videos
If you’re delivering a lecture or presentation, don’t just post the slides on YouTube. Turn them into videos by recording your screen and adding narration to each slide. This will help make your content more engaging and easier to follow.
Use thumbnails
Use attractive, eye-catching thumbnails on all of your videos. This will help draw attention to your content and encourage viewers to click on it. Be sure our video has a text overlay as the cover photo, so it’s obvious to the reader as they scroll through.
Leverage playlists
Grouping related videos together in a playlist is a great way to keep viewers engaged and make it easier for them to find more of your content. Playlists can also help you build a following, as they show up in YouTube’s search engine.
Promote your videos everywhere
Don’t forget to promote your videos on social media and other platforms. This will help you reach a wider audience and get more views. You never know who is looking for help in your area of expertise, so make sure to share your videos as much as possible. You can even create a promo video for your online courses to make it easier for your audience to share.
Engage with your audience
Make sure to engage with your audience. Respond to comments and questions, create polls and surveys, and ask viewers for feedback on what kind of content they’d like to see in the future. This will help you build relationships with your viewers and keep them coming back for more.
Be a human being
Above all, make sure to show your personality in your videos. Viewers want to connect with real people, so don’t be afraid to be yourself and share stories or anecdotes that make you relatable.
Focus on the quality of your audience
You don’t need a lot of followers on YouTube to make money. What’s more important is having a loyal audience who engages with your content. So focus on creating quality content that educates, entertains, and inspires your viewers.
The benefits of creating an educational YouTube channel
Creating an educational YouTube channel comes with a range of benefits. Not only can it help you reach more students and teach them valuable skills, but it also has the potential to generate income.
Monetize your videos
You can monetize your videos on YouTube and make money from advertisements. This is a great way to supplement your income or even create a full-time job. You’ll need to apply for the YouTube Partner Program and meet their eligibility requirements to get started.
Read more: When Do You Start Getting Paid on YouTube?
Share your knowledge
Creating an educational YouTube channel is a great way to share your knowledge with the world. You can help students learn new skills, build confidence, and empower them to pursue their goals.
Build an online presence
Having an educational YouTube channel can also help you establish yourself as an expert in your niche. You’ll be able to connect with other educators, showcase your work, and build a powerful online presence.
Sell digital products
Once you have an audience, you can start selling digital products such as ebooks, worksheets, video seminars, and more. This is a great way to monetize your channel and make money while helping people learn. You don’t need a large audience to do this, either. Not sure what you want to sell? Check out this list of 21 digital products you can sell online.
Upsell with a strong platform
YouTube is by far the most popular platform for educational content. Not only does it have a large user base, but it’s also incredibly user-friendly and has features like live streaming which can be used to reach an even wider audience. But what if you’re looking for a platform that will help you build, market, and sell online courses? Where else can these courses live besides YouTube? That’s where Thinkific comes in.
Elevate your content with Thinkific
Thinkific gives you the power to create, market, and sell online courses from a single platform. You can add videos from YouTube (and other sources), upload documents and presentations, embed assessments, and even set up an automated payment system so that students can purchase your course without any manual intervention.
Thinkific makes it easy to market your course, too. You can create landing pages with custom themes, add opt-in forms to capture leads, and communicate with students via email or SMS notifications. Plus, you can track user progress and generate reports to see how effective your content is.
So if you’re looking for a powerful platform that can help you take your educational YouTube channel to the next level, Thinkific is definitely worth considering!
(Discover how Brian Gordon did just that using Thinkific for his educational program, Exam Success.)
Creating an educational YouTube channel
Starting an educational YouTube channel can be a rewarding experience, but it requires dedication and hard work. Follow the steps outlined in this article, and you’ll be well on your way to creating content that engages viewers and helps them learn something new.
So what are you waiting for? Start creating great educational content today, and watch your channel grow!
Make money from your video content (without the cost or loss of control)
Sign up for Thinkific’s free plan to share your knowledge and generate revenue from your video content — all from a single platform that you control.
