🎬 YouTube Mastery

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If you've never experienced one of my Work Retreats, you've got to try it :) You'll find yourself in a calmly focused environment where you accomplish a lot... the power of group intention on joyful productivity. Attendees are getting a lot of good work done and they're enjoying the group! Click here for Work Retreats 😊 These work retreats are usually for my group coaching members only... but even if you're not a member, I'm inviting you for the next 2 months! No additional cost to you. Your access will expire in 2 months, so please make use of it while you can 🙏🏼 Click the button above to get started.

When you signed up for the course, you received a few months of live Q&A access: See the dates & sign up for the Q&A You can "mark as complete" below to acknowledge knowing about the Q&A calls :)

I do a lot of Q&A calls on various topics including: How to describe your offerings Creating authentic content Growing a true fan audience Joyful productivity tips Gentle Launches Recent Q&A video segments are located here: George Kao Bonus Q&A Segments Your access to those Q&A segments are only for the next 2 months. Enjoy them while you can :)

First of all, you need to setup your YouTube channel.  Here are my videos about that. Then, here is the simple way to upload videos to your channel...  1. Sign into your YouTube studio account. 2. Click the "Create" button on the upper right... and attach your video file. 3. Keep all the settings for the video as default (except for video title - just name it something relevant for now - we'll get better with titles later in the course).  At the last step, for visibility, select "Public" so that your video is searchable.  Click "Publish". You've uploaded your YouTube video! For more about the various settings during the video upload process, watch this video: How I upload YouTube videos

Click here for the video (This is publicly available.)

An unlisted youtube playlist about youtube playlist setup :) Click here for the playlist. Feel free to add any questions or comments under any of those videos.

If you discovered that you had set up an old YouTube account/channel that has the handle/username you now want, here's what to do: If you think you created your account before May of 2009 and haven't signed in since 2011, then here are the instructions. Otherwise, try these steps... 1. If you already have videos on that old channel, try commenting on one of the old videos, because it might send an email to that old account and you might then remember which email address you used. If there are no videos, or you don't get an email, then do this -- first sign out of youtube, then try to sign in again using that old account's credentials... using any combination of username/password that you can remember. 2. If that doesn't work, try https://accounts.google.com/signin/recovery  3. You can try contacting the YouTube team but you better sign into whatever YouTube account where you've uploaded the most videos. They don't allow any Youtuber to contact them, but you can try this link -- if you're allowed, you'll see a contact form. Otherwise you'll just see a bunch of help articles.  You can also try posting your question to the YouTube expert community and you might get some better answers. Don't share any private details if you make a post. If you have other tips, or were able to successfully recover an old YouTube account, definitely comment below! Thank you.

A warm welcome here! I see this course as a community... but it’s not just random comments from random people, but rather, focused and kind comments, from your fellow authentic YouTube creators, for the purpose of encouragement and learning.  The most important part of a community is its culture. I consider each of us to be culture-setters. We influence the culture with every interaction we have here.  A few values I recommend that we keep in mind...  Comment once, reply twice. For each comment that you make, look for 2 other people's comments (especially ones with few comments) and add a reply – with your encouragement and suggestions (if appropriate). This helps to balance the comment/reply ratio, and gives you practice in seeking and giving support in this community. Start with appreciation. Begin your comment about another person's video with your appreciation. Each person's energy signature is unique. It can be difficult to notice one's own, and easier to notice others'. Try to name something, however small, that you appreciate about their video. We all have a fear of being fully seen. Let’s help each other feel accepted and received. Offer suggestions with kindness. It can be hard to receive feedback, especially when someone is new to making video. We do like offering each other suggestions here -- it helps us improve -- however, be gentle/considerate in how you offer your suggestions to one another. Be generous with sharing tips. We are all learning about YouTube together, myself included! If you discover something that works, or hear about a great tip, please do share it with us. Go to lessons learned and choose the appropriate segment to comment on. Sharing will make this course better for all of us. Let me know below if these values are helpful, and if you have any suggestions. The values we embody together here is what makes this course experience amazing for each other 😊 (This is a preview segment. If you don't see any comments below, you might not be logged into the course, or perhaps not enrolled. If you haven't enrolled, you can do so here.)

My simple guidance (that I myself use!) for lighting, audio, and visuals on a budget: http://smpl.ro/VideoTools  (This is a preview segment. If you don't see any comments below, you might not be logged into the course, or perhaps not enrolled. If you haven't enrolled, you can do so here.)

Real examples (taken via screenshot today) -- And this one I didn't get a screenshot before excitedly clicking on it to like and comment...  ...this is from Elena Foucher one of our course participants! Besides the comments below (if any), also check out the live chats from zoom for this segment here. (This is a preview segment. If you don't see any comments below, you might not be logged into the course, or perhaps not enrolled. If you haven't enrolled, you can do so here.)

Here is Shoubhik's first ever YouTube video! Besides the comments below (if any), also check out the live chats from zoom for this segment here. (This is a preview segment. If you don't see any comments below, you might not be logged into the course, or perhaps not enrolled. If you haven't enrolled, you can do so here.)

Click here for my YT video about it

This is a public video: click here

Yes, change it here. However, be sure to also update everywhere you've mentioned or linked to that YT URL. Maybe google your YT URL and see where it's been mentioned.

Think of it this way -- you're essentially recording a podcast, except including your video as well. Become really aware of reverb/echoey sound in your audio, and adjust for it. Ideas to try: Bring your mic as close to your mouth as possible (well, not so close as to distort the sound.) Fewer hard surfaces around you where sound can bounce around -- cover it with soft material like clothing or blankets. Or sound tiles. Which can be pieces of art! Get a better mic :) my favorite are Earpods (the wired type) purchased direct from Apple (don't get the knockoffs from Amazon and many retailers) Comment below with mics that have great sound for you! (This is a preview segment. If you don't see any comments below, you might not be logged into the course, or perhaps not enrolled. If you haven't enrolled, you can do so here.)

Soft natural daylight is best – I face a large window in my office which is where I make most of my videos. The main point is to try not to have your face in the dark. When natural light is not possible, I recommend an Umbrella Lighting Kit (approx $40) -- that single lighting kit will suffice for home video recording.  Here is an example and another example using this lighting kit. Alternative: a softbox lighting kit. You do need about 2.5 feet (0.75 meters) of clearance for this lighting kit, placed behind the camera, facing you. The key is: don't be backlit.

Click here for my tips on that Additional tips re: stabilizing your video

Click here for my tutorial (This is public on YouTube and you can share it.) Click here for Kapwing (my affiliate link)

Newer phone cameras have video stabilization built into the software. Try walking and recording and see if the background looks smooth or bumpy. Example of video that is using stabilization software Example of video that uses selfie stick for less bumpiness Example of video that uses neither (thank goodness I was barely walking at all) Hardware that helps stabilize...  Selfie sticks (cheap option - good enough for most people)  Phone stabilizers (more expensive and pro) Cheapest: use your arm and it'll get stronger ;-) Or how about stand in one place and slowly pan around if the background is beautiful? Here again is the outdoors video I made about outdoors videos ;-)

Question: Where do you fit video-making fit in the overall business strategy/authentic business framework? Before I answer... ask yourself how you might answer this?  Add your comment below if you'd like. If no comments below and no ability to comment, first log into this course. my answer: Making videos helps you get clearer about the intersection / sweet spot between your interests and what the world wants from you, i.e. your calling ✨ As you lean more into uploading YT videos in that sweet spot, you'll naturally get more views and therefore, more opportunities for your business. Most importantly: making videos allows you to explore and express your energy signature, which helps you better understand your authentic self 😊 which makes your whole business strategy more aligned to your energies.

Share your experiences of YT "success" thus far... however you define it, whatever is motivating you! As I see your comments below, I'll add some of them here as examples...  Jill B -- "I’ve hit 1.1K views on my channel overall since the start of this program!" Simon Berkowitz -- 2k views within 5 days of uploading this video Mara Clear Spring Cook -- "I have 14 vids up now, and spontaneous positive feedback, and I even received a client booking."  Shoubhik Purkayastha: 1st video: 637 views in 33 days + tons of Heart-wrenching comments/ emails/ texts -- powerful healing in me (Unanticipated - seeing the healing in others)... 2nd video: 127 views in 5 days --> massively SURPRISED at the deep connection.. and how they are watching multiple times to go deeper.  See other examples from your fellow classmates in the comments below!  Not from this course but other examples I discovered recently: Erin Foley career coach (gets most of her many client inquiries) from this one unedited video from years ago Old mans advice -- 25 million views of this unedited video If you don't see comments below, or don't have the ability to comment, you need to be logged into this course.

Question: What’s the threshold # of videos before we say “we gotta change what we’re doing, something’s not working?” Answer: I would want to talk with someone after they've done 50 videos to help them assess the direction they should go in, based on the data of those videos. The first videos you upload (maybe 20 or so) are just practicing getting into the groove, e.g. getting the audio and lighting right, looking into the camera lens, getting less anxious talking to the camera, etc... while also trying to say something interesting... Then maybe videos # 21-50 are higher quality than the first batch, and you promoted it outside of Youtube. We can look at those analytics -- it'll signal what the audience seems to be suggesting in terms of their desired direction for your videos. So, come to my Q&A calls and let's look at your videos and stats together. If no comments below and no ability to comment, first log into this course.

How often is too much content? (click here) However -- for YouTube, if you have multiple videos to upload, it's better to schedule the publishing of a video up to once a day rather than publishing multiple videos on a day, then going silent for days or weeks...  If no comments below and no ability to comment, first log into this course.

Tutorial 1: what are YT Chapters and how to add them) Tutorial 2: How to use Google Gemini to create them

Add hyperlinks to YT descriptions? They seem to automatically turn normal links of -- YT videos, playlists, channels, and the major social links -- into hyperlinks. See example under this video.

No, don't wait. If you've had a few dozen viewers of your videos already (not subscribers, merely viewers), that may be enough data to get you some relevant keywords! Go back to the previous lesson to learn how to use the Research tab.

What are the pros & cons of YouTube Podcasts -- a new tool that makes it easy to distribute your audio podcasts or YT playlists onto YT Music/Podcast platform.  And how to set up a YT Playlist as a Podcast? See here: Watch my public video here