Nowadays, creating a YouTube account is as easy as creating an email address and takes only a few minutes to complete a form. Combine this with easy access to equipment such as a camera and microphone through a smartphone that performs both functions, and video content production has been "democratized," which is generally positive. It is common, however, to see people online who have just created their first video, post any kind of content, and desperately seek partnerships, practically begging others on social media to subscribe and comment. The plain truth is that this does not work and has rarely ever worked. It annoys many people and wastes the creator's energy. Crossovers between YouTubers are useful only when a channel already has a defined audience and "solid" content. Otherwise, even if a massive channel promotes you, you are unlikely to see favorable returns unless you have established those traits. With that in mind, we at Epic Play selected some tips. They are not a "magic formula," but they may help you build a successful channel without spending much money.
1. Try to Create Something "Different"
YouTube Gaming, the platform's games section.
YouTube has several highly similar channels, popularly known as "generic." The question is: why would viewers visit your channel if it is just one more that talks about games? Zangado Games, BRKsEdu, and other popular channels already exist. Making similar material will simply be "more of the same."
Try to focus on something that does not yet exist on YouTube, or if it does, work to distinguish your version from what is already available. When discussing games, seek an unexplored niche. If it has already been explored, look for quality material about games that have not received enough attention on YouTube. Do you love a franchise but feel no one discusses it meaningfully or in the way you would expect? Why not try something? Your mantra could be: "You can find this only on my channel."
Let us mention Kane TV, which discusses retro games in general. What could have been "just another generic channel" ends up being different in its own way. Its delivery, editing, and style are innovative, creating something you see only on Kane TV.
Brazil has no large channels specializing in several famous game franchises, such as Final Fantasy, which may offer a light at the end of the tunnel.
2. Quality and Routine Go Together
Velberan is an excellent example of a channel with consistent, high-quality content.
Do you know the saying "haste makes waste"? Online, haste and perfection have made peace. The pace of publication is as important as content quality, and having videos consistently appear on a particular day of the week is fundamental. We recommend at least one per week, but the more consistently you post videos at a fixed time, the better. Quality is also fundamental, and even when people cannot explain why, they can feel whether something is good or bad. In other words, they will not know how to explain "why the video is boring" or "why the video is cool," but they understand the message. A microphone that produces crystal-clear audio, a camera with good image quality, and good lighting already provide positive—very positive—starting points. Polished video editing is also important, and the image should always "converse" with what you are saying.
3. Show Yourself
MrPoladoful is one example of someone who gained prominence after "showing himself."
Appearing in YouTube videos or having an image tied to you, even in the form of a drawing, will give you a better chance of succeeding on the platform. It is not a rule, because successful channels whose YouTubers do not appear do exist, but it is a tip worth considering for anyone who wants prominence on the platform.
Remember that your appearance or age does not matter, so set shyness aside. If you are going to appear in a non-caricatured way, in person and without masks, simply try to look presentable with ironed clothes, a shower, and combed hair. People cannot smell you, but it is generally easy to tell who takes care of themselves and who does not.
Appear, introduce yourself, and ask people to like and share the video. Remember, however, that the focus is the video's content. If you are presenting something more informative, the tip is to appear at the beginning and then show images of what you are discussing while your voice continues in the background. During a livestream, it is important for your camera feed to occupy less screen space than the game.
4. Develop an Identity and, Consequently, Charisma
The channel "Colônia Contra Ataca" is an example of charisma and identity.
People often think charisma is innate, but that is not entirely true: you can develop it along with your identity. The first step is to have a good sense of humor, especially for a gaming channel. After all, people already face problems in everyday life, and most will seek something related to their favorite game because they want to have fun.
Although controversy works for many channels—and let us be honest, almost everyone loves "drama"—notice that Brazil's most famous creators are those who, even when getting into disputes, deliver humorous content in the vast majority of their videos. After all, no one wants to see a guy on YouTube who is always bad-tempered and angry without any other apparent objective, such as entertaining someone. That is useful only at very specific moments involving discontent, such as in politics.
Another feature that helps a channel's identity and charisma is repeating the same "catchy" phrase. Notice that Planeta Sonic always begins with "Hello, friends of Planeta Sonic" and ends with the slogan "If you are a Sonic fan, you are a Planeta Sonic fan." BRKsEDU has the traditional "Heeey, everyone... how are yooou? Edu here," while Velberan closes with "See you in the next video... BYYYE!"
To complete the picture, value your accent, slang, mannerisms, and a style that is distinctly "yours," all of which give you and your channel even more identity. People from Rio speak with their characteristic hiss, while those from Minas Gerais say "uai," people from São Paulo say "pô meu," residents of the countryside roll their "R"—"porrrta"—and people from Rio Grande do Sul say "guri" and "tchê." Unlike television journalism, do not be afraid of your accent in the entertainment world; it can be an advantage.
5. "Notice Me, Senpai!"
The little "hearts" on YouTube.
In the distant past, the idea that a "celebrity" or "famous person" was an untouchable being with whom you had no kind of contact may have worked. The internet does not work that way, especially YouTube.
Interacting with the audience, responding to comments, or at least giving them a "heart" so people feel valued is important—see Master Alucard, the example in the image above. As your channel grows, you gain fans, and responding helps retain them. Once a channel becomes very large and receives many comments, responding to everyone is literally impossible. Still, the more you respond to your audience, answer questions, and treat them kindly, the better.
6. Haters Help You, and You Will Have Them
T-shirt on Amazon.
Do you know the phrase "even Jesus did not please everyone, so how could I?" It applies perfectly here. The subject does not matter: you could have a channel about poetry, but inevitably, some people will not like you. It may be because they disagree with your proposed content, because you stand out more than they do in the same field—envy—or simply because they do not like your face.
That is no reason to be shaken. On the contrary, be happy when they appear, because haters are a "barometer" of your success and can be an excellent promotional tool. They will comment on your channel with hateful phrases, often create edited images or show screenshots out of context, share your video in an attempt to ridicule you, or try in every way to start "drama" with you. This is a key moment for more people to discover your work, and if it is well made and coherent, those same haters will promote you.
If a negative comment appears on a video and you can respond by politely "putting the person in their place" with class and preferably good humor, you will gain more fans, and people who already like you will like you even more. Be careful, however, because sometimes you may be "hot-headed" and give an excessive, furious response that drives people away, which is not the objective. The key lies in the right dose and common sense while maintaining your composure.
7. From Most Important to Least Important
Yours truly, doing a livestream on Planeta Sonic. :)
The first seconds of a video are crucial for making someone "stop" and watch it in full, so get the person interested as soon as possible. Notice that Planeta Sonic's video reviews—such as its Sonic Unleashed review—are among the channel's most popular shows. The videos have a "teaser" with background music and several "catchphrases" related to the game being reviewed.
These introductions deliberately exist to draw people into the video and create that sense of excitement and the thought, "this video is going to be good!" If you create informative content, try using the "inverted pyramid" technique, placing the most attention-grabbing material right at the beginning and then moving toward less important information. In an Agatha Christie book, we learn the killer's identity on the final line of the final page; in informative videos, placing the killer's name in the first part of the script may be preferable. Get straight to the point.
8. Thumbnails, Intros, and Titles Matter Too
Sonic 2 XL + obese Sonic training for a race.
Avoid using YouTube's automatically generated thumbnail whenever possible. If you can use an eye-catching image related to the video's proposed subject, that is better. If you can customize the thumbnail with a layout of your own by editing it in Photoshop, that is better still. This is another opportunity to give your channel an identity, and the KaneTV video above demonstrates this by using the name Sonic 2 XL—XL meaning eXtra Large—with an obese Sonic. Speaking of which, the title is also important for attracting the audience's attention. Writing "GAME X — Video Review" would not attract as many clicks on a lesser-known channel as "GAME X — By Far the Most Unfairly Treated Game in the Industry!" or another catchphrase. Finally, an intro for your channel is also important. It does not need to be lavishly produced and 100% professional, but it helps strengthen the identity. Just five seconds is enough.
9. Video Narration
Zangado Games, an excellent example of video narration.
Another important point is the clarity of your words when conveying information. You do not need a broadcaster's voice or a course to do well on YouTube. The key tip is to pronounce every syllable of each word. Zangado's channel, in the video above, is an excellent example of narration. Notice that he expresses himself clearly, at an excellent pace, and pronounces every syllable. In colloquial speech, people tend to say the equivalent of "The 'Tube channel's goin' live." Speak every syllable: "The YouTube channel is going live." You have your own way of expressing yourself, but not speaking too quickly is also good: pronounce words correctly and do not appear anxious. Do not speak too slowly either, because that can make many people sleepy.
10. Value What Is Shown
GWENT: The Witcher Card Game.
Avoid using only photographs or audio on the platform. On YouTube, giving prominence to recorded video content, such as footage of the game itself, is important for making it more appealing.
Obviously, depending on the content, using only videos is impossible because the information comes from images. If you need to choose among a photograph, audio clip, or video that conveys the same information, however, always favor the video. Joeveno is an example of someone who values videos and uses photos only when no other option exists.
11. Convey Feelings
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition.
In addition to informing, it is important to consider what you want people to "feel" when they watch the video. What feeling do you want to convey? Do you want the person to laugh? Feel a rush of adrenaline? Cry?
After selecting the feeling you want to convey, the next question is: "what can I do to convey that feeling?" Planeta Sonic's Super Mario Bros. Z video is an excellent example of a video that is exciting at the beginning but leaves many people sad at the end. Notice that to move the audience, the video's ending uses slow motion and black and white, combined with sad music and the YouTuber speaking in a calmer voice than at the beginning.
12. Spend Little Money Talking About What You Like
Today, gameplay and livestreams can be recorded directly on consoles.
No less important than the other points, and obvious as it may seem, doing what you enjoy is essential. After all, your YouTube channel will lose its meaning even to you if you do not create something your "feelings" call for, which can reduce productivity.
If your goal is money and popularity, the same principle applies, especially because relatively high monetization remains distant for most YouTubers. As you become successful and your channel grows, however, various opportunities will emerge. With work done well, you significantly expand your network, and a company executive may see your content and say, "I want him working with me" or "I want him promoting our brand."
You may also find partnerships in which stores send products; you could be invited to speak at events about your experience, often with travel expenses paid, meeting people, making new friends, and ultimately gaining several other kinds of "wealth" beyond the plain money some people think they will earn by doing what is "popular."
Persistence, dedication, routine, good humor, and quality content are the keywords for helping your channel perform well. The core of everything, for both a gaming channel and channels in general, lies in one small phrase: Be entertaining for both yourself and the people watching you.
