6 YouTube Recording Tips to Simplify the Process and (Finally!) Stay Consistent
Putting off recording your YouTube videos? It’s time to get back to business, my friend.
We’ve all been there, and when you aren’t sure how to do something, it makes actually doing it pretty freakin’ difficult. But I’m about to change all of that for you. No more procrastinating!
In this video, I’m sharing some of my BEST tips for creating quality YouTube videos week after week. With these tips in your back pocket, you’ll be able to fine-tune the YouTube recording process for more clarity and simplicity, so you can feel motivated to get up and get them knocked out!
Ready to dig in? Let’s go!
YouTube recording tip #1: Plan your videos ahead of time
Recording your YouTube videos doesn’t start when you hit that record button. It doesn’t even start when you’re setting the scene. The first thing I always do when creating a video is to plan it out well in advance!
I plan out my videos so that they are full of content my audience wants to see, and also push toward my overall business goals. That could include something like a launch, being on vacation, or getting a pulse on what my audience is thinking.
That’s the true first step. You can’t record good videos until you know where you’re going!
I actually just did a video about this, so if you want to learn more about the oh-so-important planning phase, watch the video or read the notes here!
YouTube recording tip #2: Keep the setup simple
Once I’ve got my YouTube game plan ready to go, I get everything set up to record. But don’t worry, it’s not a snazzy “lights, camera, action” type of setup. It’s much more simple!
To record my YouTube videos, the only pieces of equipment I use are:
Natural light (yes…from the windows!)
Optional: Blankets on the floor to help block sound
Yes…that’s really it! Because here’s the thing: the key to being consistent on YouTube is being consistent. You want to keep things as simple as possible so you don’t give yourself another reason not to do it!
For example, I’ve had a fancier camera in the past. But it was a headache to setup so I always defaulted back to my Sony VZ1. It’s not fancy, but it doesn’t need to be because it keeps me recording on time with no headache!
So keep it simple — that’s the way to go!
YouTube recording tip #3: Stop checking recording time
The video will be how long it will be. I never plan out the timing on my videos, and I don’t set timers when I record either.
We’re looking for quality over quantity.
Your focus should be on providing the most value with your content. It doesn’t matter if it’s a five, ten, or forty-five-minute video. If your audience is craving that content and finds it helpful, they will watch it!
YouTube recording tip #4: Use scripts
I am very much against using a teleprompter to record my videos! It doesn’t sound natural and feels too stiff, and I don’t know about you, but it always makes me stumble over my words. Something about those scrolling lines of text with no pause button makes me nervous!
Listen, you don’t need to be a one-shot wonder here. You don’t have to get all of your footage in one take.
Instead of putting unnecessary pressure on yourself, use a script. Try to memorize what you can, and keep the script out while you’re recording. Read over and memorize a few lines at a time while keeping the camera rolling. You can always cut out the fluff later.
YouTube recording tip #5: Get your thumbnail pictures during recording
Thumbnails are SUCH an important part of your video. But if you want to cut back on the time you spend creating them, take your thumbnail photos immediately after filming.
This will keep you from having an “oh shoot!’ moment later in the editing process. You won’t have to scramble to get one at the last minute, instead it will be there in your footage folder, ready to use!
I know this seems like a small step, but trust me, when you’re trying to simplify the process, it’s these little things that help!
YouTube recording tip #6: Keep editing to a minimum
The good news is that YouTube is favoring minimally edited videos right now. It prefers that all-natural look! In fact, some of my most recent videos that have been doing well have taken me less than an hour to edit — record speed!
So to keep it simple, here’s what I recommend using:
iMovie: This is totally free and I’ve used iMovie for a long time until I leveled up with Final Cut Pro.
Final Cut Pro: What’s great about this software is that (for mac users) you pay for it once. Also, I found it to be easier to use versus other editing softwares.
Descript: I don’t use this one, but many of my clients do, and they say they love it and how much it speeds up their editing process.
I also edit my videos in two takes to eliminate the pressure of doing it all (and catching all of my mistakes) in one sitting.
In the first round, I’ll check the audio levels to make sure I can hear myself in the recording, and that there’s no background noise. I’ll also watch all the footage and cut out any obvious mistakes.
Round two is when I add the pizazz! I’ll create the visuals, add in things like gifs, pop-up text, and B-roll, and create the title and thumbnail. I’ll also go back and watch it one more time to catch any mistakes I didn’t see before.
Overall, don’t overthink it. I know that’s easier said than done, but the most important thing is that you’re delivering valuable content to your audience. If you can do that, there’s no need to worry about a few small mistakes or hiccups. Really!
