YouTube has become one of the most popular platforms in the world, offering creators the opportunity to showcase their talent, grow an audience, and earn money online. Whether you want to become a gaming YouTuber, share educational content, or create vlogs, anyone can start a channel and grow with dedication and strategy.
This guide will teach you how to become a YouTuber, including tips for kids, beginners, and aspiring gaming creators, as well as strategies to grow subscribers, create engaging videos, and monetise your channel effectively.
Understand How YouTube Works
Before starting your channel, it’s important to understand how YouTube promotes content.
The YouTube algorithm focuses on:
- Watch time – how long viewers watch your videos
- Click-through rate (CTR) – how many people click on your video from the thumbnail
- Engagement – likes, comments, shares, and subscriptions
- Consistency – uploading videos regularly
Even if you are a beginner or a kid starting with parental guidance, YouTube rewards creators who post consistently and create videos that hold viewers’ attention.
Choose Your Niche
Choosing the right niche is one of the first steps to becoming a successful YouTuber. A clear niche helps attract a loyal audience and allows your channel to grow faster.
Popular niches include:
- Gaming – If you want to become a gaming YouTuber, focus on gameplay, reviews, or tutorials
- Education – Tutorials, DIY, and how-to videos
- Vlogs – Personal experiences and lifestyle content
- Tech & Reviews – Gadgets, apps, and software
- Entertainment & Comedy – Skits, challenges, and reactions
Choosing a niche you are passionate about will make it easier to produce content consistently and attract followers who engage with your videos.
Set Up and Optimise Your YouTube Channel
To grow your channel and become a successful YouTuber, your profile should look professional and inviting.
Tips for optimising your YouTube channel:
- Create a memorable channel name
- Use a professional profile picture and banner
- Write a clear and engaging About section
- Organise videos into playlists to improve watch time
- Add links to social media or websites for credibility
A well-optimised channel makes your content easier to discover and helps convert casual viewers into subscribers.
Create High-Quality Content
Content quality is crucial. Even if you are just starting out, you want to create videos that people enjoy watching.
Tips for creating engaging videos:
- Record with a decent camera or smartphone
- Use clear audio and good lighting
- Edit videos to maintain viewer attention
- Create eye-catching thumbnails and titles
- Use the best video format for YouTube (MP4 recommended)
Youtube prefers horizontal videos in MP4 format. If you record videos on an iPhone or a camera, they are often saved as MOV files. You can use a MOV to MP4 converter to ensure better compatibility, faster uploads, and smoother playback.
Post Consistently and Strategically
Consistency is key to growing on YouTube. Posting videos regularly signals to YouTube that your channel is active.
Recommendations:
- Upload at least 1–2 videos per week for beginners
- Maintain a consistent schedule so subscribers know when to expect new content
- Experiment with posting times to see when your audience is most active
Regular uploads also increase your chances of being recommended by YouTube to new viewers.
How to Grow Your YouTube Channel
Growing subscribers requires more than just posting videos. Engagement and community interaction play a big role.
Ways to grow your channel:
- Encourage viewers to like, comment, and subscribe
- Respond to comments to build community
- Collaborate with other YouTubers in your niche
- Use playlists to improve watch time
- Promote your videos on social media
Even kids can grow an audience safely by creating content under supervision and following YouTube’s child-friendly guidelines.
How to Make Money on YouTube (Payments, Thresholds & Ad Revenue)
Many creators wonder how to become a YouTuber and get paid. YouTube offers multiple monetisation methods, but income depends on subscribers, watch time, niche, engagement, and ad rates. Payments are processed monthly once minimum thresholds are met.
YouTube Partner Programme & Ad Revenue
The YouTube Partner Programme (YPP) allows creators to earn money from ads displayed on their videos.
Eligibility for full Ad Revenue:
- 1,000 subscribers
- 4,000 public watch hours in the past 12 months or 10 million Shorts views
- No active strikes on the channel
- Linked AdSense account for direct deposits
Creators earn revenue based on ad views and engagement. Payments are processed monthly once earnings reach $100, typically via EFT (electronic funds transfer) or wire transfer, depending on region.
Earnings:
- Long-form videos: roughly $2–$12 per 1,000 views
- Shorts: generally lower, as ad revenue is distributed differently
- Revenue varies widely depending on niche, audience demographics, and ad rates
Lower Tier / Fan Funding
Even smaller channels can monetise through Fan Funding features:
- 500 subscribers
- 3 public uploads in 90 days
- 3,000 watch hours or 3 million Shorts views in 90 days
Unlockable features include:
- Super Thanks (fans tipping creators on videos)
- Channel Memberships
- Other fan-funded options
This allows smaller creators, including kids under supervision, to start earning while growing their channel.
Other Monetisation Streams
In addition to YPP, creators can earn via:
- Brand deals and sponsorships – paid directly by companies
- Affiliate marketing – earning commissions on promoted products
- Merchandise sales – selling branded products
- Super Chat and Live Gifts – viewers pay during live streams
Combining multiple income streams often produces the most reliable earnings.
How to Receive Payments
Creators must link a valid AdSense account to their YouTube channel. Payments are processed once the account balance reaches $100. Payment options include:
- EFT / bank transfer
- Wire transfer (availability varies by country)
Creators must also provide tax information and identity verification to receive payments.
Summary of Earnings
- Small channels (Lower Tier): unlock fan funding features and memberships
- Established channels (Full Tier): earn $2–$12 per 1,000 views on long videos
- Shorts generate revenue differently and generally earn less
- Monthly payouts after hitting $100, with variations by niche, audience, and ad rates
With consistent content, audience engagement, and monetisation strategy, YouTube can become a significant income source.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Posting inconsistently
- Ignoring analytics and viewer feedback
- Poor video or audio quality
- Switching niches too frequently
- Focusing only on views instead of engagement
Avoiding these mistakes helps channels grow steadily and sustainably.
Conclusion
Learning how to become a YouTuber requires planning, consistency, and creativity. By understanding YouTube’s algorithm, selecting the right niche, posting high-quality videos, and engaging with your audience, you can grow subscribers and eventually monetise your content.
Whether you want to become a gaming YouTuber, a content creator as a kid, or a professional influencer, the steps are the same: create valuable content, stay consistent, and interact with your community.
