TLDR;
This YouTube course provides a roadmap for starting and growing a YouTube channel in 2026, even for complete beginners. It covers niche selection, content creation, understanding the YouTube algorithm, and using YouTube Studio. The course emphasizes practical steps and strategies to achieve success on YouTube.
- Starting a YouTube channel in 2026 is still a viable opportunity due to the platform's continued growth.
- Understanding the YouTube algorithm is crucial for getting your videos discovered.
- Selecting the right niche is essential for building a focused and engaged audience.
Intro [0:00]
The creator shares their early success on YouTube, achieving monetization and a significant subscriber base with just a few videos. They highlight that similar success is possible in 2026 with the right approach. The creator emphasizes their eight years of experience on YouTube and the importance of understanding the algorithm. The course aims to provide comprehensive knowledge for beginners to start, grow, and monetize a YouTube channel, covering essential topics like niche selection, viral video creation, and algorithm understanding.
Chapter 1: Why You Should Start YouTube in 2026 [1:47]
Starting a YouTube channel in 2026 is a great idea because the platform is continuously growing. Don't think you're too late; new creators will always emerge and find success. YouTube has a massive user base, with billions of monthly active users, including a significant number from India. YouTube offers a great way to make passive income because, unlike other social media platforms, content on YouTube can remain relevant for years. Videos continue to generate income as long as they attract views, even if you stop creating new content. Starting a YouTube channel also helps you learn valuable skills like video editing and improve your communication abilities.
Chapter 2: The YouTube Algorithm [4:20]
The YouTube algorithm is a complex system that shows viewers content matching their interests. It uses viewer signals (watch history, search history, subscriptions, likes, dislikes) and video signals (CTR, watch time, average view duration, likes, comments, shares, subscriber gain) to decide which videos to promote. CTR (click-through rate) indicates how appealing your video's title and thumbnail are. Watch time is the total time viewers spend watching your video, and a higher watch time is better. AVD (average view duration) shows how long people watch your videos on average. These signals influence a video's reach and views. Don't worry too much about minor algorithm changes; focus on the basics. Subscribe to the Creator Insider channel for official updates from YouTube employees.
Chapter 3: Niche [10:21]
Niche means the topic of your channel. Having a specific niche is important because viewers want to know what to expect from your channel, similar to how TV channels have specific content. Use the Three P Rule to find your niche: Passion, Proficiency, and Profit. Your niche should be at the intersection of these three. List topics you're passionate about, assess your knowledge and experience in those areas, and consider the growth and monetization potential of each niche. Avoid niches with limited growth or low RPM (revenue per thousand impressions).
Chapter 4: Market Research [13:26]
Market research is important for understanding your niche. Create a separate YouTube channel to subscribe to top creators in your niche. Watch their content and analyze their titles, thumbnails, video editing styles, and popular topics. Don't just copy; do things differently by adding your unique style and angle. Winners don't do different things; they do things differently. Follow paths that have already worked for successful creators, but add your own twist.
Chapter 5: Learning Content Creation [15:54]
Create a practice channel to experiment with content creation without the pressure of views and subscribers. Use ChatGPT to generate video ideas for your niche. Consistently create videos (1-2 long videos or 3-4 shorts per week) to improve your skills. Quantity leads to quality. Learn script writing, recording, and editing. For scripts, use either word-for-word or bullet-point formats. A basic script template includes an intro hook, main points, and outro. Decide whether to create facecam or faceless content. For facecam videos, use your phone camera and natural lighting or a ring light. For faceless videos, focus on good audio quality. Use free editing software like DaVinci Resolve (PC) or InShot (smartphone). Learn thumbnail design using Photopea or PixelLab.
Chapter 6: Channel Creation [23:48]
Create a fresh Gmail account for your YouTube channel for security and a professional inbox. In YouTube, click "Create a channel" and choose a logo, name, and handle. The handle is a unique identifier. If your desired handle is unavailable, add a suffix like "Official" or "TV." After creating the channel, set it up properly. In YouTube Studio, customize the channel with a banner image and logo. Write a channel description for the "About" section. In settings, set the currency to USD, select your country of residence, and add keywords related to your channel. In advanced settings, indicate whether your content is made for kids. Enable intermediate features by verifying your phone number. Enable advanced features through video verification. In upload defaults, set visibility to "Unlisted" and choose a category and video language.
Chapter 7: How to Make Your 1st Viral Video [29:05]
A viral video is one that gets more views than your channel's average. Use the formula: Viral Video = Viral Idea + Viral Packaging + Viral Intro. Find viral ideas by looking at outlier videos (videos that significantly outperform a channel's average). Use the VidIQ extension to find outlier scores. Analyze these videos and apply their format to your channel. For packaging, create curiosity with your title and thumbnail. Study what styles and formats work in your niche. For the intro, create a need or curiosity in the first 30 seconds. Use a three-step framework: mention the viewer's goal, highlight the problem in achieving it, and offer a solution. You can also set up an end reward to keep viewers engaged.
Chapter 8: YouTube Studio [37:57]
YouTube Studio is where you upload videos, manage your channel, monitor performance, and engage with your audience. The dashboard provides a quick overview of your channel. The content tab lets you manage your videos. In analytics, you can see views, watch time, subscriber gain, impressions, CTR, and traffic sources. Traffic sources include browse features, suggested videos, channel pages, YouTube search, and external sources. The engagement tab shows total watch time and average view duration. Audience retention shows the percentage of viewers who watch each moment of your video. The audience tab shows viewer demographics. Use the audio library for free music tracks. To upload a video, click "Create" and then "Upload videos."
