A fantastic platform for marketing your church, mission, belief system, or cause, YouTube is becoming more popular than ever with people hoping to get the word out about their church. If you’ve started a church or are already an experienced church leader and hope to take your congregation to the next level, here are a few things to think about as you contemplate starting a YouTube faith channel.
Creating a Great Set
While it’s possible to upload a low-quality video from any camera, phone, laptop, or tablet, the best creators know the importance of investing in a great lighting system, backdrop, and the technology you’ll need to show off a great set. For example, investing in production rentals from Double Down Lighting will mean the right lighting for any camera you use to create your videos. Long before uploading your first sermon or introduction video, you’ll want to make a list of the things you’ll need to create a set that adds to your overall credibility.
Many creators make videos from their homes, bedrooms, and even on the road. In designating a space where you create your videos, even if this is in your church, you’ll be able to focus on a high-quality set. Instead of filming in any old place around your home or church, taking the time to make your filming area meaningful will help draw viewers in. With that said, it’s important to think about less is more when it comes to your set. Too much clutter in the area can be distracting to potential subscribers.
Using Your Current Following
Having a successful YouTube is as simple as a quality set and frequent uploads. In fact, it takes most creators well over a year to even get the 1,000 views YouTube requires for monetization. To help make your channel show up to your potential target audience, it’s a good idea to bring in subscribers from other places. Maybe you have a large following on other platforms.
If you were a church leader for The Gathering, for example, it would be a good idea to use your website and other forms of social media to draw viewers to your channel. In fact, you don’t even need to have uploaded a video to start collecting subscribers. Advertising to your newsletter contacts, on blogs, and in your church bulletin could be a great way to build a core base of subscribers before you even upload your first video.
The Logistics
Starting a YouTube channel is simple when it comes to creating an actual channel. At the same time, if your long-term goal is to monetize your channel, you’ll want to apply for a Google AdSense account ahead of time. This will speed up payments when your channel has met YouTube’s requirement for monetization.
Graphic design is also critical when it comes to having a successful channel. Learning programs like Canva are a great way to practice making catchy thumbnails that will drive viewers and keep people interested in your content. Doing research ahead of time on the type of thumbnails appropriate for your niche now will pay off later.
In the end, you’ll be in a fantastic position to spread God’s word if you take advantage of YouTube and other social media platforms. As you work to build a channel for your church, take the time to look at other religious leaders and how they offer biblical teachings and spreading the message of the scriptures. Not only will this give you ideas, but it may show you what not to do with your faith channel. Best of luck to you in your plan to start a church YouTube channel.
