Are you a fan of true crime documentaries and shows? Do you constantly look up new cases and murders to learn more about them? If so, you may be thinking about starting a true crime Youtube channel.
But before you take the plunge, you should know a few things about true crime YouTubers. I’ll cover everything from finding your niche to setting up your channel and growing your audience in this blog post. So, whether you’re a total Youtube beginner or just curious about the topic, keep reading for some essential advice on starting a successful true-crime Youtube channel.
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Finding Your True Crime Youtube Channel Niche
Before you start your true crime youtube channel, think about what type of true crime content you want to focus on. Do you want to specialize in unsolved murders? Crimes committed by serial killers? Cases that have been turned into movies or tv shows? Or maybe you want to do shorter videos on lighter topics like urban legends or unsolved mysteries.
No matter what niche you choose, research and ensure enough interest in that topic to sustain a successful channel. After all, you don’t want to put in all the hard work only to find that no viewers are interested in your content.
Use SEMrush to find the search volume and cost-per-click value of a keyword or niche topic to evaluate the money-making possibilities.
Analyze the Competition
Once you’ve picked a niche for your true crime Youtube channel, it’s time to analyze the competition. Do a Google search for keywords related to your niche and look at the results of the best true crime youtube channels. How many videos are there? What type of content do they cover? Are they amateur or professional?
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel when making true crime content. If there are already successful channels covering the same topic, try to find out what makes them successful and see if you can emulate their success.
VidIQ is a great tool for analyzing the competition for Youtube.
Setting Up Your True Crime Youtube Channel
Once you’ve decided on your niche, it’s time to set up your true crime Youtube channel. This process is relatively simple, and Youtube has several helpful guides on its website. The most important thing is ensuring that your channel is correctly labeled so viewers can easily find it.
Name Your Channel: The name of your true crime Youtube channel is one of the most important things to get right. It needs to be catchy and interesting enough to make people want to click on it, but it also needs to accurately reflect the content you’re producing. So, if you’re doing videos on unsolved murders, don’t call your channel “Cooking with Grandma.”
“Using your first and last name as your Channel Name is the most straightforward approach. And it works particularly well if you plan on being the ‘face’ of your channel.” – Backlinko.
Create a Channel Banner: You’ll also want to create a catchy channel name and banner. This is your opportunity to make a good first impression, so be sure to choose something that intrigues viewers and makes them want to learn more about your channel.
Use Canva to create your Youtube channel banner. I also use Canva to create captivating Youtube thumbnails.
Create Your Channel Trailer: Your Youtube channel trailer is a short video that introduces viewers to your channel and tells them what type of content they can expect. This is a great opportunity to hook viewers and convince them to subscribe.
You can create your channel trailer using any video editing software, or you can use Youtube’s own tools. Just be sure to include a brief introduction to your channel, some footage of your best content, and a call to action at the end.
Set Your Channel Defaults: You’ll want to set a few settings on your true crime Youtube channel that will make it easier for viewers to find and watch your content. Under the “Channel” tab, fill out the “About” section with accurate information about your channel, and add a link to your website or social media pages.
Youtube Equipment
While you don’t need to overinvest in equipment when building a Youtube Channel, you should consider a few things before shooting your videos.
Camera: If you’re starting out, we recommend using your phone’s camera to record your videos. This will help keep your production costs low and allow you to easily shoot and edit videos on the go.
Microphone: A good quality microphone is essential for capturing high-quality audio. You can either use an external microphone or invest in a phone with a good-quality microphone. We use the Blue Yeti.
Lighting: Good lighting is key for making your videos look professional and helping to keep your viewers engaged. If you don’t have access to proper lighting, try shooting near a window or using a lamp to create some natural light. I use the NEEWER panel lights, which I can control from my phone.
Editing Software: You’ll need some video editing software to edit your videos. I use Camtasia.
Uploading Your True Crime Videos
Once your videos are shot and edited, it’s time to upload them to your true crime Youtube channel. This process is relatively simple, and Youtube has many helpful guides on its website.
Label your videos correctly so that viewers can easily find them. In addition, you’ll also want to create a catchy title and description to help attract viewers.
Optimizing Your Video and Channel
VidIQ is a great tool that optimizes your true crime Youtube channel and videos for better search ranking and increased viewership. It’s a free tool with paid upgrades, but it’s worth the investment if you want to grow your channel.
When I first started, I lived by the Youtube upload checklists. It helps you upload your video with best practices, including the title, description, tags, thumbnail, playlists, etc.
You might also like this article about how much Youtubers make.
Growing Your True Crime Youtube Channel
Once your true crime Youtube channel is up and running, the next step is building an audience. This can be challenging, but there are a few things you can do to help promote your videos.
Share your videos on social media: This is the easiest way to reach a broad audience. Post links to your videos on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Submit your videos to crime websites and blogs: Some several websites and blogs focus on crime news and documentaries. Submit your videos to these sites, and you may be able to get some extra exposure.
Join crime-related forums and communities: Some many online forums and communities focus on crime news and documentaries. Join these communities and share your true crime youtube channel videos with the members.
Use Pinterest: Pinterest is a great way to reach a female demographic who may be interested in true crime content. Create boards for your videos and pins them to your profile.
Focus on Search: Creating videos with search-friendly titles and topics is a great way to attract viewers interested in learning more about specific crimes. You might appear on their search results page when they search Google or Youtube for your case. In fact, most of my Youtube videos are found through search.
How to Research True Crime Cases
Given the information on the internet, researching real crime cases has become easier than ever. However, it is still important to approach this research with care and caution. Not everything you read online is true, and some sites may provide inaccurate or biased information.
When researching a particular case, look for reputable sources that offer detailed accounts of the events in question. News articles, court transcripts, and police reports can all be valuable sources of information.
Once you have gathered as much information as possible, you can begin to piece together the story of what happened. However, it is important to remember that no two accounts will ever agree, and there will always be some mystery to even the most well-known cases.
Monetizing Your True Crime Channel
Once your true crime Youtube channel has a decent following, you may want to consider monetizing your content. This can be done in several ways, including advertising, sponsorships, and product placement.
The key is to find a way to partner with brands and organizations aligned with your channel’s tone and message. If you can do this, you may be able to increase your income and grow your channel even more.
Once you reach 1000 subscribers and 4000 watch time hours within 12 months, you can apply to Youtube’s Partner Program. This will give you additional monetization options, such as paid sponsorships and advertising.
Creating a successful true-crime Youtube channel takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Still, if you’re passionate about the topic and creating videos on youtube, it can be a very rewarding experience. So, if you’re ready to start sharing your love of true crime with the world, follow these tips and create a successful channel.
