The viewership of videos has increased significantly over the years. People prefer video content over other forms of media. YouTube serves the staple platform for all types of content. News, music, videogames — you name it! It also means that many individuals are likely to consider joining the forum and becoming a creator. Therefore, here is a list of tools and software to guide you for becoming a better YouTuber.
YouTube Studio
A necessity for devoted content creators; YouTube Studio makes channel management possible on your mobile devices. Supervising a YouTube channel is preferred to be done on a computer. However, with access to the essential tools of channel management and monitoring, you can deal with all your tasks on the go.
YouTube Studio enables creators to view the performance and analytics of their channels. Furthermore, you can also interact with your followers by engaging them in the comment section. The app will also serve as a means for notifying you with alerts and push notifications. Additionally, it allows you to regulate monetization, planning, changing thumbnails as well as other features.
Video Transcription
Video transcription is the written representation of the verbal content in videos. Transcriptions have several uses, mainly focused on creating captions for the audio of YouTube videos. The textual representation allows the content to be available for people with hearing problems. Moreover, it enables users to view video content in environments where the auditory factor cannot be satisfied.
Video transcripts boost the SEO ranking of the content. The transcripts also offer viewers the option to scan through the text for keywords. While transcripts can be downloaded straight from YouTube, the quality of content can easily be compromised. Therefore, using the right YouTube transcription tool is imperative.
Video Editing Software
The number of tools and software available for video editing are limitless. The editing of a video truly breathes life into the content a creator is willing to deliver. The features offered by the editing tools considerably vary from one another. Rudimentary template-based software to complex professional software, all editing software have their uses and audience to serve.
There is no ‘best’ option when it comes to video editing. Hence, the following are popular software, alongside the targeted audience:
- Adobe Premiere Pro — Unparalleled customization features. Preferred for PC users;
- Final Cut Pro X — Well-optimized and flexible macOS software, very expensive;
- Blender — Used for 3D renders, powerful tool, available on all computer OS for free;
- Adobe Premiere Rush — Fast and easy to use, lacks professional features, targeted for mobile users.
Streamlabs OBS
In recent years, content streaming has become quite popular. The complexity of streaming and setting up a live-streaming setup is little to none compared to video editing. Therefore, if video editing is not your cup of tea, then focusing more on streaming and live content could work in your favor. The go-to option for most YouTubers and Twitch streamers is Streamlabs.
Streamlabs OBS is a tool that takes the simplicity of streaming to a whole other level. After the installation of the software, Streamlabs’ quick start guide will ask you a few questions and will direct you through the layout. It will also tutor you on how to begin the stream and how to improve the quality. Furthermore, the features it offers include automated chatbot texts for notifications, themes, emojis, and much more. Although the tool is free and user-friendly, the beauty of OBS lies in its technical nature. You can throw in as many complexities as you may wish, but OBS will still deliver.
Thumbnail Creation Tools
The YouTube audience looks for either of these two things when picking to watch a video — the title or an enticing thumbnail. Although the title is considered significant, the thumbnail is what truly makes or breaks a video. From just browsing the platform, every individual can distinguish quality content from one glance at the thumbnail. A common question by many content creators, “But isn’t thumbnail creation difficult to pull off?”. The answer —no.
There are several applications and web API to create thumbnails for your video. Professionals may use photoshop for their edits, but lacking photoshop skills will get you nowhere. Thus, relying on more straightforward and time-efficient methods is recommended. Canva is one such thumbnail creation tool, allowing users to create captivating thumbnails. It is also capable of designing the intro and outro screen for your videos.
TubeBuddy
Lastly, but most importantly, TubeBuddy is a tool that cannot be endorsed enough. It is a free-to-use browser extension for all mainstream browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. Most, if not all, YouTubers use the extension religiously. TubeBuddy fully optimizes your videos for higher ranking on the platform. It provides numerous features to view what additions and revisions you may need to make for improved ranking and viewership.
The extension also enables you to monitor other users and the tags, stats of their content. A simple way of boosting your clicks and viewership is by copying and inputting the tags used by successful creators.
Conclusion
The vast majority think of YouTube as an easy means of getting rich. The assumption is utterly incorrect. Content creation, especially on YouTube, is similar to a business. It requires the vigilance and patience of a saint. While few YouTubers have become popular and turned their lives around in weeks, it does not apply to over 99% of the creators. Therefore, do not lose hope if things don’t work out for you right away. Patience and hard work is the key to success.
