How to Make a YouTube video

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By Henry
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (202 Ratings)

Want to get into the world of video podcasting? Have some home movies that you want the world to see? Want to market a product? Are you an unabashed exhibitionist? YouTube is your place.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

A digital camera
A YouTube account

Step 1

Make a movie using a digital camera, web cam, or cell phone. An old VHS will only work if you transfer it to a digital file-you'll need a digital converter to plug an older camcorder into the computer. You can upload a YouTube movie directly from a phone if you set up a Mobile Profile in YouTube. With a high speed connection, it should generally take a few minutes, give or take.
Step 2

Edit your movie. Programs such as Mac's iMovie or Windows' MovieMaker are both good-add titles, effects, cut out a bad take, etc.
Step 3

Resize the video so it looks best in YouTube. The site accepts QuickTime .MOV, Windows .AVI, or .MPG files at 340x240 resolution. There's a 100MB size and 10 minute length limit.
Step 4

Create a YouTube account. Click on Upload Videos in the upper right corner of the home page.
Step 5

Create a title, description, tags, category, and set language. The more information the better to help people find the video.

Tips & Warnings

You can also use the Quick Capture feature to upload to YouTube straight from a webcam. No uploading needed.
Once you've got a video ready, upload it to other sites, like Google Video.
Market the video: post it on blogs, message boards, social networking sites, and email it.
Don't post anything that's copyrighted or libelous. Check the Terms of Service.

Comments

changingtables said

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on 12/24/2009 Thanks for the article. Just starting to make YouTube videos. Also good responses regarding the other sites to post for a more niche audience.

on 12/7/2009 I also wanted your readers to know that there are plenty of video sites out there outside of YouTube (a lot of people only think of youtube)... Other sites have focus communities or purposes. For example Vimeo is a great place to post creative thought, the comments aren't like YouTube with meaningless critique (they try to create a place with constructive criticism)... Vidli is a place you can license your videos for sale or rent! Google search "video sharing sites" to find many others...

tjtyrrell said

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on 12/7/2009 Great article... my comments keep disappearing so I am trying again!

erva said

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on 8/13/2009 First of all I want to say that the article it's very usefull, Second I would like some help in making a video for YouTube from a mp3 file, Can anyone help me? (Sorry for my bad english, if so).