Do you need a reliable camera to start a YouTube channel? Absolutely. But that doesn’t mean you have to go to the store and purchase one. Most of us already have a camera worth using, and we can use it to record, edit, and upload to YouTube.

5 Cheap Ways to Film YouTube Videos on Your Phone

 about why smartphones can be the best cameras for YouTube. And he knows better than anyone. Josh built his entire channel using a phone and 

 in the process. He has more than 40,000 subscribers now, proving creators don’t need the fanciest YouTube equipment.

Need more convincing? Here are five reasons to pick up your phone and record awesome YouTube videos.

1. The Best Cheap Camera for YouTube Is Your Smartphone

You don’t have to splurge on a YouTube setup that costs hundreds of dollars. There are plenty of smartphones that shoot quality footage using high megapixel cameras. Two examples are the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and recent iPhone models.

Best of all, you probably have a smartphone in your pocket or purse right now. It’s either paid in full or about to become 

 phone and not your cell phone carrier’s (when you finish the payments). That makes it the most cost-effective camera you’ll ever use.

“In the comment section of my videos, I do get certain people saying, ‘I want to start a channel, but I don’t have this or that,’” Josh says. “They feel they need all this expensive equipment, and really, you don’t.”

 using a smartphone. He shares that journey in the video below, which is pretty inspirational!

When you start a YouTube channel using your phone, creating becomes amazingly simple. You’ll use one device to shoot video, edit your footage, make thumbnails, and upload to YouTube.

“I work a full-time job during the day,” Josh says. “Ten hours of my day are already shot from my job. So if I record a video at night while I’m taking my lunch break at work, I can just pull my phone out and start editing my video.”

Also, did you know there are dozens of free video editing apps for iPhone and Android?

3. Mobile YouTube Starter Kits Are Cheaper

Have you seen some of the YouTube starter kits online? The ones that include DSLR or mirrorless cameras aren’t cheap. They can cost $600-$1,000 – a bit pricey for starting a YouTube passion project.

Mobile kits are more affordable. The accessories cost less, plus you already own the most expensive piece of equipment: a phone with a quality camera.

 to create better YouTube videos. It costs less than $150 and is a massive win for creators on a budget.

4. The YouTube Studio App Has Everything You Need

We’ll be honest. The YouTube Studio is far superior when you log in using a desktop computer versus a smartphone. But that doesn’t mean the mobile app is useless or hard to navigate.

The YouTube Studio app provides a wealth of analytics:

So, don’t worry. The YouTube Studio app has all the data you need to track your progress and 

 is more popular than a traditional YouTube video. In the early days of Shorts, creators were undoubtedly getting more views with brief, vertical videos.

How This YouTube Creator Got 1.5 Billion Views In Just 80 Days

The only problem? Few creators filmed videos with the intention of making a YouTube Short. Some would shoot on a traditional camera, then change the aspect ratio of their video to make it “vertical.” They thought, 

Maybe I can use this segment of my video to make a YouTube Short.

There’s nothing wrong with that, of course. But sometimes, it’s hard to shoot horizontally and keep vital footage in the frame when you make everything vertical later. Filming vertically from the start (with your phone) allows for better composition. 

That’s another advantage of being a mobile-first creator. There's a good chance you'll create better YouTube Shorts automatically.

How to Make a YouTube Short In 2021 - The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide

If you’re a new creator, filming with a smartphone makes sense. It’s cheap, convenient, and extremely fast.

But what if you’re past that level and need to make advanced content? Here’s our guide for upgrading your YouTube equipment the right way.

Smiling man taking selfie with Tube Talk logo on dark background for video podcast.

Recording videos with your smartphone is a cost-effective way to start a YouTube channel. Here are five undeniable reasons why.

Need a YouTube Camera? 5 Reasons to Use Your Smartphone

Is 12 months enough time to get 40,000 YouTube subscribers?

Your first year on YouTube is about learning how to become a skillful creator, one who knows how to make great thumbnails, write awesome titles, and increase their views. That’s a lot to handle all at once. In the meantime, most creators are lucky to get just 10,000 subscribers.

How Long It Takes to Get 10,000 YouTube Subscribers

. In just a year, this Lego gaming creator managed to get 40,000 subscribers, proving that the right content strategy leads to YouTube success.

, we chat with RuggedEagle about how he achieved such a feat.

Here are RuggedEagle's six tips for blowing up on YouTube – fast!

RuggedEagle says you need to post lots of videos to stand out as a new creator. It’s hard to come up with a specific number, though. Everyone’s YouTube journey is different, which means your output will vary compared to other creators.

But if you need a place to start, Rugged Eagle says 

“If you’re new to the scene and you’re making one video a week, it’s going to be hard to get an audience built,” he says. “So you need to have a bit of quantity at the start.”

Quantity Over Quality - The One Thing New YouTubers Should Focus On

Our co-host Vyyyper chimed in with an important point too: It’s less about the number of videos you create and more about how consistent you are. If you’re making three videos a week but can maintain that schedule, it will be hard to succeed on YouTube.

After all, increasing your subscribers is about:

2. Choose a YouTube Niche With Endless Depth

The last thing you want as a beginner creator is to 

. That’s why choosing the right YouTube niche is crucial. You want to pick a genre with endless depth – something you can make videos about for years to come.

How to Choose the Best Niche for Your YouTube Channel

RuggedEagle has the perfect YouTube niche in Lego gaming. Millions of people grew up playing those games, so there’s an audience just waiting to be found. Plus, there are 

 in existence. RuggedEagle could spend the next 10 years talking about them.

There’s also a nostalgic thrill because of all the brands associated with Lego.

“Targeting that nostalgia in people really did help me get that recognition on my channel,” RuggedEagle says. “It is a really good [niche], Lego games, because they’ve covered everything. You’ve got the Marvel audience, you’ve got DC, you’ve got Star Wars. You’ve literally got everything.”

3. Pick a YouTube Niche That Isn’t Overcrowded

If you choose a niche that’s too competitive, you may have to switch to a genre with less competition. Sometimes that's the best way to stand out on YouTube. In fact, RuggedEagle had to do the same thing before thousands of people subscribed to his channel.

“Before I actually started Lego, I did Minecraft 1.16,” RuggedEagle says. “I was covering that, and it did get really hard. Minecraft is a really hard one to target on search and stuff. There’s 

How to Start a Successful Minecraft YouTube Channel

We’re not saying it’s impossible to get 40,0000 subscribers in a saturated niche. But if you want to achieve that in just 12 months, find a path with less competition.

4. Make Unique Videos People Are Searching For

Once you choose the right niche – one that has depth and low competition – make videos people are searching for. This will require some 

. Knowing which phrases to target will increase your views, and by extension, improve the odds of earning more subscribers.

7 Ways to Rank #1 on YouTube with Keyword Research

Additionally, pay attention to what other creators are doing within your niche. RuggedEagle discovered that bigger channels were making a lot of the same Lego content. Knowing he couldn’t compete with them, he decided to do something different by covering Lego gaming news. And it paid off when his second video went from 200 views to 2,400 overnight – a big win for a new creator.

“I’m finding that smaller channels still break through with their little news updates,” he says.

Later, RuggedEagle discovered that views for the video came from one traffic source: YouTube search. That means people were actively searching for Lego gaming content. 

You can uncover valuable details like this by doing keyword research before you film.

5. Create YouTube Thumbnails That Truly Stand Out

Before a viewer clicks on a video, they will see a thumbnail. If it’s not intriguing or at least an accurate representation of the video’s value, the viewer will probably keep scrolling. And it only takes a couple of seconds for that scenario to play out.

Unless you have a thumbnail like this one:

What you’re seeing is a RuggedEagle thumbnail from the video, “

” Notice how it has a distinct style compared to this thumbnail from MojoPlays, which is paired with the video, “

Also, notice how RuggedEagle shows a dozen Lego characters in his thumbnail. The corresponding video is ranking 25 characters, so it makes sense to have a few of them in the image. These are things to think about when creating your own thumbnails.

 It will speed up the creation process and give your channel some unique branding.

6. Increase Your Audience Retention to Get More YouTube Subscribers

Is my YouTube content irresistible? Will I ever reach the point where viewers binge my videos and subscribe to my channel?

The answer is waiting for you in the YouTube Studio. All you have to do is find your channel’s audience retention, an indicator of how well you’re entertaining viewers.

Audience retention is easy to understand. If you post a 15-minute video, and viewers watch for 10 minutes on average, your audience retention rate is 66%.

That’s pretty high, though. Most creators struggle to reach 50%. 

But if you can figure out how, it creates a domino effect of more likes, views, and subscriptions. That’s because YouTube’s algorithm favors videos with high Watch Time, among other things. The platform might suggest highly-watched videos to more viewers, which gives you a chance to get more subscribers.

How to Increase Audience Retention on Every YouTube Video

RuggedEagle’s retention rate is well over 50%, which is how he was able to gain 40,000 subscribers in just 12 months.

How many subscribers do you have today? If you’re still working toward your first 10,000, here are five tips to achieve that milestone in THREE months.

Tube Talk logo with gradient play button and red-purple stylized eagle inside triangle icon

Want to gain 40,000 subscribers on YouTube? Here’s how one creator revamped his channel to see outstanding growth in just 12 months.

Gaining 40,000 YouTube Subscribers: 6 Tips to Get There In 12 Months

Before you can make awesome videos, you need irresistible ideas. It’s one of the tougher challenges of being a YouTube creator, which requires so many things already: outstanding thumbnails, excellent titles, and consistent uploads, to name a few.

But video ideas aren’t that hard to find. If they don’t come to you quickly, it’s helpful to take a step back and ask, 

4 Honest Reasons Why You're Running Out of YouTube Video Ideas

This post will help you find your creativity again. Keep reading to discover seven ways to come up with video ideas, no matter what.

1. Turn Unanswered Questions Into YouTube Videos

People watch videos for many reasons, but one of the biggest is to learn something new. That’s why the best YouTube ideas come from simple questions – how to crush a job interview, where to find farmland, 

Do any of these statements sound familiar?

 but Google isn’t showing helpful results.”

“I want to install a product I just purchased,

 but there are no video tutorials to show me how.”

“I need to see step-by-step instructions,

Chances are, you’ve been in this position before. And so have your viewers.

It’s time to put yourself in the audience’s shoes. Start by reserving an hour each week to think of questions your viewers are asking.

“This is how dozens of creators had breakout content this year showing people how to get 

 invites,” Rob Wilson, vidIQ YouTuber-in-residence, says. “A knowledgeable few took advantage of a sudden demand for crucial information.”

When you’re out of video ideas, you can play what we call the comparison game. Take a look at your YouTube niche and ask, 

What are some things viewers are interested in comparing?

Gamers might wonder whether Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Genshin Impact is more fun to play. A foreign exchange student might want to know why Duolingo, not Babbel, is the best app for learning English.

“When you take two popular things from your video topic and pit them against each other, it forces the viewer to make a choice,” Rob says. “And it divides opinion, which creates intrigue.”

“YouTube vs. Twitch: Which One Is Better For You?”

Want to get at least 10 video ideas in less than five seconds?

Go to YouTube and find the search bar at the top of the page.

Start typing a topic within your niche. It could be a product, a type of tree, a supercar, or anything your viewers enjoy.

Now type the word “vs.” YouTube will autocomplete your search, showing some of the most popular searches for comparison videos.

3. Generate YouTube Ideas with the Help of Artificial Intelligence

Do you need video ideas as a beginner on YouTube? If so, time-saving technology is your best bet. Look for apps or programs that can generate video ideas for you.

Daily Ideas from vidIQ - More Video Ideas to Spark Your YouTube Success

But that’s not the only benefit of an idea generator; it can also help you close the experience gap on YouTube. You can skip the confusion of wondering which videos to make and simply start filming like a seasoned creator.

, to get your wheels turning. It uses the power of artificial intelligence to study your channel and suggest new video ideas every day. 

4. Follow the Idea Formula: Adjective + Topic = YouTube Video

 for discovering YouTube video ideas? It's pretty straightforward. All you have to do is consider the way video titles are constructed and then work backward to brainstorm ideas.

Don’t worry about the last item just yet. You only need adjectives and topics to come up with video ideas.

Keep the list going if you can. When you have 10-15 adjectives, ask yourself, 

Which topics lend themselves well to these adjectives?

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Complete this exercise to find new, relevant ideas for your YouTube channel.

5. Use Your Knowledge to Create List Videos

This tip builds upon the previous one. If you can follow the idea formula (adjective + topic = YouTube video), you can expand any idea to 

Better known as listicles, these videos cover various aspects of one topic. You could film something like “10 Destinations to See Fall Foliage In America. By Train!”

Make These 4 YouTube Videos to Get Your First 1,000 Subscribers

“The real fun begins when you assign a number to the listicle because it triggers two things,” Rob says. “It sets a certain expectation in the viewer’s mind, but it also has the capacity to challenge that…. If you’re able to do a longer list than anyone else on YouTube, that has appeal in itself. But what if you could do, say, the top 10 of a listicle in three minutes? That’s nice, bite-sized, compact. That might be another reason to convince the viewer to click.”

6. Share Your Personal Story, Routine, or Experience

YouTube videos don’t always have to teach or inform – at least not directly. Sometimes you can achieve the same result by sharing a personal story.

Storytime videos are a life-saver when you’re out of content ideas. It’s easier to recite something you already know than film a complex video.

You can use any of the following formats:

 Going From a Janitor to a Wall Street Banker

That last one was a bit wonky, but you get the idea. When ideas are escaping you, use a personal story to get back on track.

Want to find the best YouTube video ideas? Here’s a simple fix: Follow current events and ongoing discussions within your niche.

Here are a few ways to keep up with trending topics:

that represents your niche. Not only are the discussions filled with potential video ideas, but sometimes group members will share trending news.

, and get relevant news sent to your inbox.

Need more advice on finding video ideas? Learn more about the seven tips in this post, plus practical ways to use them below:

If you choose the right YouTube niche, good video ideas are (almost) automatic. Here’s how to determine the best niche for your YouTube channel.

Red silhouette with YouTube play icon in head pointing to code background, vidIQ logo visible.

Are you good at crafting ideas for YouTube videos? If your brainstorming could use some work, here are 7 tips to come up with irresistible ideas.

7 Tips to Craft Irresistible Video Ideas on YouTube

Running out of video ideas is a typical yet frustrating thing for YouTube creators. 

You want to stay consistent on YouTube, publishing at least once a week or even multiple times each week. But everyone hits a creative wall sometimes. And it's hard to refocus when the brain takes a sudden, unannounced vacation.

, we chat with YouTube educator Nate Black of 

 about why good ideas are hard to find. You might remember Nate from a previous episode, in which he 

. Now he’s back with even more realness about what’s stifling your creativity. Hint: It has a lot to do with burnout.

According to Nate, creators run out of video ideas for four reasons. Keep reading to discover what they are, plus tips to circumvent such roadblocks.

1. Out of YouTube Ideas? Maybe Your Niche Is Too Narrow

We usually tell creators to have a very specific niche on YouTube. That’s because a channel with random videos – hiking, sports, and movie reviews at the same time, for example – is too broad to capture an engaged audience. Viewers don’t want a hodgepodge of content; they want to see the topics they enjoy.

Don’t get us wrong; niching down is excellent advice for aspiring creators. But in some cases, it’s possible to have a niche that’s 

 narrow. The boundaries are so tight that it's hard to think of good video ideas routinely.

Nate says you can solve this problem by zooming out and thinking bigger. If you review water bottles, for example, 

think of ideas that overlap with that niche.

 You could review hydration packs, mugs, or water barrels for long-term storage. In this case, anything that holds water is within your niche and could be a great idea for your channel.

2. You Haven’t Immersed Yourself In Your Niche

The secret to brainstorming ideas isn’t a secret at all. It’s actually a personality trait most creators have. Unfortunately, that hidden superpower is easy to miss when you’re churning out content.

 The more passionate you are, the easier it is to discover YouTube ideas.

And by passion, we don’t mean feeling excited to record videos.

Nate says it’s about being curious. It’s the feeling of being obsessed with a topic and wanting to know everything about it.

“What are different aspects of this niche?” Nate asks. “What are the different angles I could make this gaming video? What’s something I’ve never seen on YouTube? Let me just try it.”

Starting a YouTube Career - 7 Steps to Monetize Your Passion

Think of it this way: The more questions you have about a topic, the more videos you can make by attempting to 

Imagine that each question equals one video idea. You would need 15 powerful questions to make 15 YouTube videos. You can achieve that volume every month by being curious and exploring your niche to no end.

After grinding for months to make click-worthy videos, even the most creative mind gets fatigued. When that happens, it’s not easy to think of YouTube ideas. You’re tired, burnt out, and in desperate need of rest.

That’s the side of video making some people don’t see. Growing a YouTube channel is fun, but it challenges creators at all experience levels.

“YouTube is work,” Nate says. “It can often take a toll mentally.”

You don’t have to stay in a rut, though. There are steps you can take to identify what’s causing your burnout and come up with solutions.

 from start to finish. Include everything: keyword research, filming, editing, making thumbnails, uploading, etc.

. Any of these could be the source of your burnout.

Think of ways to alleviate those burdens.

 Maybe you can hire a video editor or use a 

. Whatever is stressing you out, start looking for solutions.

Once you’ve unburdened yourself, you’ll have the energy to find new ideas for your YouTube channel.

4. You Aren’t Using a YouTube Ideas Generator

Let’s face it. As a creator, you have one brain that’s responsible for all your YouTube tasks. Sometimes it’s in the zone, and sometimes it’s not. That's normal and 100% expected.

 video ideas, it’s time to seek help and restore your creativity.

, an idea generator to save you time and energy on YouTube. The cool thing is that it shares

 personalized video suggestions based on your channel.

So whether you make videos about gardening or exotic supercars, Daily Ideas will suggest the right content for your audience. Plus, each idea is ranked by view potential: very high, high, medium, or low.

Nate created a video using Daily Ideas, and for a while, he said it ranked number one in his YouTube niche. That video is called “

.” It has the exact title suggested by Daily Ideas, and as I write this, the video has 67,000 views.

Watch Nate explain those incredible results and how he used Daily Ideas to rank higher on YouTube:

As you can see, getting video ideas from an Al tool is super helpful. It's one of the first steps to never running out of YouTube ideas.

“I’ve gone through the Daily Ideas process and thought, ‘Oh my goodness. That’s actually a cool approach. That’s a new angle. That’s [an idea] I wouldn’t have thought of on my own,’” Nate says.

 and let the YouTube suggestions roll in.

Once you have solid ideas, the next thing to settle is the type of videos you’ll make. If you’re a beginner, here are four types of videos to help you reach 1,000 subscribers and beyond.

Man in blue shirt next to Tube Talk logo on dark background for video podcast.

Do you have enough video ideas to grow a YouTube channel? If not, here are four things that might be holding you back, plus tips to restore your creativity.

Are you struggling to come up with video ideas for your YouTube channel? After a long day of filming, do you find yourself wondering, 

Maybe what you need – and what every creator needs – is a little inspiration to create that next viral hit.

Running Out of YouTube Video Ideas? Here Are 4 Honest Reasons Why

, the first AI-powered ideation tool for YouTube creators. Seven days a week, it suggests video ideas based on your channel so you can focus on what you love – creating awesome content.

vidIQ’s Daily Ideas: How Our YouTube Ideas Generator Works

Daily Ideas uses machine learning to surface relevant ideas for your channel. Think of it as your AI co-pilot. With zero work on your end, Daily Ideas will study your channel and reveal creative opportunities on YouTube. They’re fully fleshed out to give you a headstart on content creation.

We built this tool for busy creators everywhere. We know you work hard to create videos and that you spend hours researching, filming, and editing. With Daily Ideas, you get a portion of that time back.

In the meantime, our AI-powered tool will suggest new video ideas for you, based on your channel niche and what we know will generate views.

Watch the video below to see Daily Ideas in action.

How Daily Ideas Fuels Your YouTube Growth

Daily Ideas is your YouTube creator coach with tons of benefits.

Now’s your chance to get YouTube ideas from vidIQ. Using the power of artificial intelligence, Daily Ideas will study your channel, suggest new videos to create, and help you succeed on YouTube. 

Lydia Sweatt

Posts Written By Lydia Sweatt

Need a YouTube Camera? 5 Reasons to Use Your Smartphone

Gaining 40,000 YouTube Subscribers: 6 Tips to Get There In 12 Months

7 Tips to Craft Irresistible Video Ideas on YouTube

4 Honest Reasons Why You're Running Out of YouTube Video Ideas

Daily Ideas from vidIQ: More Video Ideas to Spark Your YouTube Success

5 Amazing Tips to Get 10,000 YouTube Subscribers – Fast

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3 Uncommon Ways to Grow Your YouTube Channel

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