Starting a YouTube channel in Kenya is one of the easiest ways to make money, but it’s also relatively new. So if you are thinking about starting your YouTuber career, here are some steps for beginners.
How To Start A Youtube Channel In Kenya
Step 1: Create a Google account
Google is YouTube’s parent company. Therefore, you must create a Google account before you open your YouTube channel. However, if you have a Gmail account, you can skip to Step 2.
To create a Google account:
- Go to the Google Accounts page
- Click the “Create Account” option
- Fill in your details and select a password
The account you have created allows you to access all Google services such as YouTube and Gmail. At this point, you can use your YouTube account and upload videos. However, for visibility and monetization, follow the subsequent steps.
Step 2: Customise your channel
Customization helps your channel to stand out. If you used your real name to create a Google account, you need to create a separate channel to give your new brand autonomy. Depending on your needs, you can either use your name as a brand or pick your preferred brand name for your channel.
To customize your channel:
- On your browser, click YouTube
- Log in using your Google Account’s details
- Go to the Channels page
- Create a new brand channel
When creating a new channel, the name you choose should reflect what you are offering. However, you can still use your real name if you do not have a brand name.
Step 3: Polish up your profile
Your channel’s icon, profile pic, and banner play a huge role in viewership. Therefore, you must tweak these details and make your channel stand out from the rest. You can hire the services of a graphic designer to create a good logo and banner or you can do it yourself.
To polish up your channel’s profile:
- Go to YouTube
- Tap your profile’s icon
- Select the “Your Channel” option
- Click “Customise Channel”
- Edit your channel’s icon by uploading a different picture
- Change the “Channel Art” by uploading your preferred image
You can only edit Step 3 on your computer. Also, only use high-quality pictures to avoid a pixelated profile and unattractive channel art.
Step 4: Create a channel trailer
The trailer allows you to create a good impression of the channel. While you can use the trailer’s slot to highlight a new video, using it to introduce yourself to potential subscribers helps in growing your channel.
If you are uncertain about your creative direction as a YouTuber, using this slot to highlight your most recent project is advisable. Also, the channel’s trailer is not permanent. You can easily re-do it in the future if you wish.
Step 5: Organise your channel
Once you have uploaded some videos, you should create the channel’s structure. While YouTube allows newer videos to show first, the structure may make it hard to navigate the channel, especially for potential subscribers.
Therefore, you should create a navigation structure by classifying videos in playlists. If you are a tech reviewer, you should have different playlists for different gadgets. YouTube allows you to create as many playlists as possible.
To create YouTube playlists on your channel:
- On your channel’s page
- Click the “Customise Channel” option.
- Click “Add a section.”
- Using the drop-down menu, select “Single Playlist” to add videos.
- After adding videos, confirm by clicking ‘Done.’