Introduction to YouTube
YouTube is the dominant platform for sharing videos, with many people coming on it every day to watch all kinds of things from educational lessons to fun and more. It started in 2005 and has made media consumption equal for everyone, giving a chance to anyone who can connect to the internet, create videos, put them up online and share them worldwide.
Types of Videos on YouTube
Long Form Video
Long Form videos, usually two minutes or more, are preferred for content that goes into detail like documentaries, tutorials or vlogs. These videos are recorded in the landscape mode which gives a wide view and is perfect for making movies as well as explaining things with lots of details.
Short Form Video
Short-form videos, under one minute in duration, are optimized for quick consumption and are often shot in portrait format. They cater to trends, quick updates, and engaging snippets that capture viewers’ attention in a brief span.
How to Upload a YouTube Video
Step 1: Sign in to your YouTube account.
Step 2: Click on your profile picture and select “YouTube Studio.”
Step 3: Click on the “Create” button and click on “Upload Videos”.
Step 4: Select your video file and upload it.
Subtitles on YouTube
What Are Subtitles?
Subtitles make it easier for people to understand videos by showing written versions of the spoken dialogue, sound effects and other audio parts. They help those who are deaf or have difficulty hearing, people not fluent in the video’s language and viewers in noisy settings.
How to Add Subtitles
Adding subtitles enhances accessibility and viewer engagement:
Step 1: Navigate to YouTube Studio.
Step 2: Select “Subtitles.”
Step 3: Edit or create subtitles for your video.
Step 4: Keep the cursor on published and edit option will appear
Step 5: Subtitles will appear and you can now publish the video
End Screen and Cards
End Screen
An End Screen appears during the final moments of a video, offering creators a canvas to promote other content, channels, or external websites. It acts as a strategic tool to support viewer involvement and keep the viewer engaged for a longer time.
Cards
YouTube Cards are interactive notifications that appear while watching a video. They guide viewers towards related content, playlists, polls, outside links or donation pages. These make the experience more engaging by giving extra context and chances for interaction with what they see on screen.
Text(Custom) Message: This is the text showing by default with the playlist link in the card. It gives a short and changeable description or call-to-action connected with a playlist.
Teaser Text: This is the playlist title which initially shows when the card shows up. It can be substituted with a more compelling reason for viewers to click, having 30 characters at most.
Types of Cards
- Video or Playlist Cards: These cards provide a link for viewers to another video or a carefully selected playlist, improving interaction by leading them towards more related materials, therefore growing both watching duration and content exploration.
- Channel Cards: These types of cards are used to advertise other YouTube channels. They can be useful for cross-promotion and working together with other creators, as they assist viewers in discovering related content or channels from the collaborating parties.
- Poll Cards: The introduction of poll cards helps creators to interact with viewers by posing questions and receiving responses, promoting engagement and acquiring knowledge about viewer likes.
- Link Cards: These cards can guide viewers to verified outside websites like merchandise stores or crowdfunding campaigns, including calls-to-action directly in the video. This option is only available if you are a part of the Youtube Partner Program.
- Donation Cards: These cards give the viewers a chance to donate money to non-profit organizations while watching the video. This makes supporting causes easier and improves involvement in the community.
YouTube Chapters
Introduction to Chapters
Chapters segment longer videos into searchable sections, making it easier for viewers to navigate and find specific content of interest. Each chapter is marked with a title and timestamp, facilitating direct access to relevant sections.
How to Add Chapters
To enhance navigability and viewer engagement:
- Upload your video to YouTube.
- Access YouTube Studio to edit video details.
- Include timestamps and titles in the video description, starting at 0:00 for the first chapter.
YouTube Premiere
Features of YouTube Premiere
YouTube Premiere blends the excitement of live events with the polish of pre-recorded videos:
- Schedule video releases to debut at specific times.
- Engage live with viewers through real-time chat.
- Build anticipation with a countdown timer before the premiere begins.
YouTube Hashtags
Using Hashtags
Hashtags on YouTube categorize content, making it easier for users to discover videos related to specific topics or trends:
- Add up to three hashtags in the video description for improved discoverability.
- Avoid excessive hashtag use (no more than 15) to maintain effectiveness.
Copyright and Licensing on YouTube
Understanding Copyright
The copyright law provides automatic protection to the creator of original content, giving them exclusive rights to copy, distribute and display their work. On YouTube, it’s very important to respect this copyright because following legal rules is crucial.
Understanding License
- Standard License: For all YouTube uploads, this license is given by default. It enables YouTube to show, spread and make money from your videos with advertisements.
- Creative Commons Licenses: This kind of license is useful when a creator wants their work to be available for others to reuse and remix, but with certain conditions like requiring attribution.
How to find Creative Common Licenses
Use search engines and YouTube filters to find content that has Creative Commons licenses. These permits encourage collaboration and sharing, keeping copyright rules in mind.
Step 1: Do a search and find the filters option
Step 2: Filter results
YouTube Partner Program (YPP)
Overview of YPP
The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) was initiated to enable eligible creators to monetize their content through ads, subscriptions, and merchandise sales:
- The requirements include 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months.
- Compliance with YouTube’s community guidelines and copyright rules is mandatory.
Conclusion
YouTube has always adapted and improved itself to be more useful for its users. The primary focus is not on just showing videos, but also learning from these videos, staying in touch with the people from different parts of the world, and giving creators the power to make their own mark on this big stage. To understand how you can use YouTube as a creator or viewer, learn about its features and apply them wisely so your videos get noticed by people who will respond positively – this would help you in building an audience base for future success in creating digital content via video format.