before the upload – an artist's guide to YouTube

before the upload

Edition1 2024

– an artist's guide to YouTube.

Introduction YouTube is a platform often overlooked by artists as means for gaining exposure, and potentially generating revenue.

Less saturated with artists fighting for attention than other social media platforms, it allows creators to share their processes as long-form videos. This enables viewers to better experience the creation of an artwork and form a deeper bond between artist and audience.

Based on carefully collected and considered data, this handbook offers valuable information and recommendations specifically for the artist on YouTube.

1Video Content005 2Making the video011 3Uploading the video015 4Consistency023 5Income027

1 Video Content

1 Video Content

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1 Video Content

What type of video can you make?007 What art medium performs best?009

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007

1 Video Content

What type of video can you make?

E

ducation. Tutorials and ‘How-to’ videos, that aim to teach the viewer a skill.

Educational videos generate quick and consistent views, even a long time after they have been uploaded. They enable growing a quick following.

Viewers, however, are less likely to extend their interest further than their original query, and to care about personal content.

E

ntertainment. Videos, such as art challenges, in which entertaining the viewer is more important than the quality of the artwork created.

Being a channel focused on Entertainment videos is hard to get right. On top of making the artwork, one has the challenge of entertaining people through humour or suspense. If you are able to do it, though, it can pay off, as some of the most famous Art YouTubers are Entertainmentfocused.

1 Video Content

D

008

ocumentation. Simply filming the process of creating an artwork.

Documentation-focused videos attract a more personal, calm, and loyal audience. Growth, however, can be slower than with other video categories.

Creating a few educational videos early on can be helpful to boost viewership and build an initial following!

L

ifestyle. Videos, such as art-supply hauls, that surround the life of an artist, but don’t include the creation of an actual artwork.

Lifestyle videos are best incorporated sporadically when a regular viewership has been established. They perform well, and take less time and effort. Use them to take a break from making videos about the creation of an artwork.

009

upload what you love.

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010

What art medium performs best?

Good news! The art medium and style you choose matters little – so just make the art you want to make!

But beware!

Viewers get attached!

Once you’ve chosen a medium to make videos about, try to largely

stick to it. A video with a drastically different art medium and style is likely to underperform!

1 Video Content

2 Making the video

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1 Video Content

What length should a video be?013 What pacing should a video have?014

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013

2 Making the video

What length should a video be?

5 to

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10minutes are perfect

!

are

ok .

014

2 Making the video

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What pacing should a video have?

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Keep it quick! A fast-paced video

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3 Uploading the video

000 1 Video Content

1 Video Content

What should you know about thumbnail and title?017 How can you promote a video?021

000

017

3 Uploading the video

What should you know about thumbnail and title?

It doesn’t matter how good your video is, if no one sees it.

Thumbnails are what make viewers click on your video, so make sure it’s a good one.

First and foremost,

you’re delivering on a promise. Your thumbnail should reflect the tone and subject matter of the video.

3 Uploading the video

people do judge books by their covers.

018

019

3 Uploading the video

Visual Tips: Bright, single-coloured backgrounds work well. Only use one simple foreground element, such as an illustration.

Text within the thumbnail is an opportunity to clearly communicate what the video is about!

Within the TITLE, try using s words, to attract the EYE!

3 Uploading the video

some CAPITALISED

020

021

3 Uploading the video

How can you promote a video?

Focus on YouTube!

Engage in conversation in the comments, and remind your subscribers that you’ve uploaded with a post in the Community Tab!

022

3 Uploading the video

Promotion on other platforms is less effective.

People are unlikely to leave a platform

for

another!

Traffic

through promotion on other social media is therefore slow.

When promoting outside of YouTube, make every post/story different. People don’t mind seeing multiple reminders as long as they’re unique.

1 Video Content

4 Consistency

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1 Video Content

How often should you upload?025

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025

4 Consistency

How often should you upload?

The more frequent the upload, the faster the growth! If you upload once a week, you will grow quickly.

But, more importantly... ...Longevity! A high frequency doesn’t help, if you can’t keep it up.

If you can upload consistently for a number of years, even at a lower frequency, you will get there!

4 Consistency

026

longevity is key.

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5 Income

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1 Video Content

How can you make money through YouTube?029 When can you make a living?031

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029

5 Income

How can you make money through YouTube?

There are many ways an artist on YouTube can generate revenue. It is up to the creator to find the right constellation for income sources for them.

YouTube Partner Program. Receiving money from YouTube through ad-revenue.

Product and service sales. Selling goods, such as merchandise, or services, such as taking commissions for custom artwork.

Sponsorship deals. Being paid by brands in return for dedicating a segment of a video to advertising their product.

Donations. Receiving (1) monthly subscription-based donations through sites such as patreon.com, or (2) small, one-off donations through sites such as ko-fi.com.

Affiliate Marketing. Using affiliate links to earn a small percentage of the sale of a product.

030

5 Income

Pros.

Cons.

No additional work required;

Requires reaching 1000 subscribers, and

directly through YouTube;

4000 public watch hours in the past year;

passive income

control lies with YouTube

Most lucrative; most popular

Requires separate skill-sets; time and

amongst viewers; control lies with the artist Potential for longer-term income; potential for large sums of money

Low effort; passive income

Least amount of effort; passive income

potentially money investments; high effort

Requires being approached by a company; only likely with a large following

Less popular with viewers; less lucrative

Least lucrative

031

5 Income

When can you make a living?

200k subscribers* A number to aim for is

*

b

a

5 Income

032

*This might vary significantly,

based on use of income methods and own expectations.

Remember to take care!

YouTube isn’t a stable source of income. Make sure to think ahead, and have a plan to fall back on!

Good luck.