12
votes
How can I create better YouTube videos?
I've been trying to create youtube videos on a new channel (empty for now).
format
The video format I thought of was getting a few friends on a joint call, and just talking about a certain topic for that day in a socratic circle discussion.
topics discussed
Since i'm interested in Linux, one of my first topics will be about the argument of linux on the desktop. Would it benefit from more users? Is linux evangelism for good? can we get rid of the elitism stigma?
Is there anything I can do to refine this kind of video format, and actually gain an audience that can see and appreciate the content. My goal here isn't to make money, but to supply the site with good content.
Your format sounds relatively simple so I guess some of the main points would be:
For all of these things pretty similar precautions apply: don't overdo it, start small, improve incrementally. Try and find sources and guides speaking from professional experience and are geared towards increasing your understanding and helping you be better at recording, avoid the ones that immediately try and sell your products or are worded as 'hacks' to increase viewership. (but you probably knew that).
There are very few videos I watch that are not edited to make specific points. TED talks come to mind, but those are planned and rehearsed presentations. For a conversation like you are mentioning, editing out irrelevant and awkward parts will make it more enjoyable to watch.
One of the podcasts I listen too mentioned that they both record locally on good equipment and then one of them combines the files and makes the edits. That would be the ideal situation. To start you should at least make edits to your recording to improve the flow.
I've never done this so I may be completely mistaken.
I haven't watched them, but the guy behind Game Maker's Toolkit recently released a series of videos called "How to Edit a Video Essay" (they were previously for his Patreon patrons only). They might have some good advice for you.
I think the videos are unlisted, so you have to get to them through this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc38fcMFcV_vkxRSCN3zLlOGzNVAlEydG
Respect your viewer's time.
Typical podcast format doesn't get many views (if you even care) over a scripted video.
Due to the nature of a live conversation between different people there will be extra overhead for exchanging information between persons, which will result on longer run time. Retention rate goes down the longer the video is.
You can control how your audio sounds, but less so for others. So do some audio testing.
So if you insist on keeping this a podcast format (which I'd recommended against.):
Good luck