Parenting is hard work, but also a source of great joy. The many triumphs and tribulations along the way teach you essential life lessons. And if you’re keen on sharing all this knowledge with new mums in the digital age, a YouTube channel may be the answer. These seven mummy vlogger tips for starting a YouTube channel will help you get started.
Invest in Good Equipment
You’ll want to invest in high-quality equipment because high-quality video and audio are crucial for viewer engagement and retention. But while that is something to aim for as your channel grows, you’ll need some basic equipment to get started.
Your budget might not allow you to make big purchases and professional microphones, cameras, and lights can be expensive. If you’re not ready to purchase new gear just yet look for budget-friendly options, and upgrade as your channel grows.
Look for affordable second-hand options online. Or consider renting your equipment from reputable businesses like Sugarland, who offer top-quality camera hire in London. It will allow you to deliver professional vlogs without the hefty price tag.
Find Your Niche
Before you start vlogging, you must find your niche. Define what makes your story unique. If you’re uncertain of your niche, research popular mummy vloggers and identify gaps in what’s available on YouTube.
For example, you might have moved with your family to another country. You could show your viewers how you balance work and life as a mum in a new home. Does your family travel often? You may want to cover topics related to travel with small children.
Narrowing down your focus like this helps you to curate content and also helps build a dedicated viewership. But keep your niche true to you. You will speak more confidently about an issue you have personal experience of.
Plan Your Content
What do you plan to share with your viewers? It’s important to have a content plan, to attract and retain viewers. That does not mean you may never veer off course and address other topics. But having a basic plan of what you’ll be doing on your channel is helpful.
You could even include ‘get ready with me’ routines showing how to get kids ready for school in the morning. Do your research, and check how many views different types of content receive. Examples of popular content choices include baby and toddler parenting tips, and childcare product reviews.
But regardless of how exciting your content is, irregular postings will do you no favours. You risk losing fans’ loyal viewing without a regular schedule. Whatever content you intend to create it will be simpler with a content calendar. This will make sticking to a regular content schedule much easier.
Learn Basic Editing Skills
Learn basic editing skills to avoid an amateurish ‘home movie’ look. Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to cost you a thing. Popular YouTubers use various editing techniques like filters, transitions, audio overlay, and more to keep their content entertaining. You’ll find many tutorials on YouTube and other platforms.
User-friendly editing software can give your vlogs a more professional touch. Once again, countless affordable or free video editing software options are available. This will add the polish and finishing touches that make viewers want to return to your channel.
Elements like a unique intro and greeting, outro jingle, music, and captions (for the hearing impaired) will make your channel even more engaging. Your editing skills will improve with time, and you will eventually find the best formula.
Be Authentic and Relatable
Sharing your real-life experiences and challenges makes you appear more authentic and relatable. For instance, you could share your frustrations while choosing the right preschool for your child. This will help to build trust in your audience.
Just be yourself, and your down-to-earth approach will resonate with viewers. However, you don’t have to share every personal moment of your life, nor should you. Some things are best kept private for your family’s privacy and safety.
This calls for a balance between sharing and oversharing. It’s possible to share relatable stories without divulging too much personal information. Remember to respect the privacy of your friends and family. Always discuss what you’ll be sharing, with other members of your household, beforehand.
Engage with Your Audience
Discussions around more sensitive parenting topics are undoubtedly easier now. Indeed, the sheer volume of parenting-centred online content over the past few years has people worldwide jokingly asking if mums existed before social media!
Jokes aside, parents across the world face the same challenges. Your content can help them feel less alone. Engage them and make them a part of the greater conversation, by encouraging feedback. And don’t forget to respond to as many comments and messages as possible.
This will show your audience that you value their participation. Create a community they can interact with, through live chats, Q&A sessions, and social media posts.
Promote Your Channel
As your channel becomes more widely known its fanbase will grow and your vlog views will increase. That, in turn, can lead to sponsored videos and ad revenue for your channel. However, that won’t happen overnight. As an unknown vlogger, you must put in the initial effort to market yourself.
Promote your channel on parenting forums and social media platforms. Collaborate with other mummy vloggers or with channels that review children’s products.
Leverage SEO practices to optimise your videos, and reach a wider audience. Using relevant keywords in your video titles and descriptions will sway the almighty algorithm in your favour and improve your visibility on YouTube.