How to Become a High-Income YouTuber with Just a Smartphone

YouTube is one of the most popular and lucrative platforms for content creators. According to a report by Statista, YouTube had over 2.3 billion monthly active users as of January 2021 ¹ , making it the second most visited website in the world after Google ². YouTube also offers various ways for creators to monetize their videos, such as advertising, sponsorships, merchandise, and more.

However, becoming a successful YouTuber is not as easy as it may seem. It requires a lot of planning, creativity, consistency, and hard work. It also requires some investment in equipment and software to produce high-quality videos that can attract and retain viewers.

But what if you don’t have a lot of money to spend on fancy cameras, microphones, lighting, and editing software? Can you still become a high-income YouTuber with just a smartphone?

The answer is yes, you can. In fact, some of the most popular and influential YouTubers started their careers with nothing but their smartphones. For example, Casey Neistat, who has over 12 million subscribers and is known for his cinematic vlogs, used to film everything with his iPhone. Jenna Marbles, who has over 20 million subscribers and is one of the first female YouTubers to reach 1 billion views, also started with just her phone.

Of course, having a smartphone alone is not enough to become a high-income YouTuber. You also need to follow some best practices and tips to make the most out of your device and your content. Here are some of them:

1. Define your niche and target audience

Before you start creating videos, you need to have a clear idea of what kind of content you want to make and who you want to reach. This will help you stand out from the millions of other videos on YouTube and attract a loyal fan base.

To define your niche, think about your passions, skills, interests, and expertise. What topics are you knowledgeable or passionate about? What problems can you solve or questions can you answer for your audience? What value can you provide to them?

Some examples of popular niches on YouTube are gaming, beauty, comedy, education, music, travel, fitness, and more. You can also combine different niches to create your own unique sub-niche, such as vegan cooking, minimalist lifestyle, or DIY crafts.

To define your target audience, think about who would be interested in your niche and your content. What are their demographics, such as age, gender, location, and income? What are their psychographics, such as personality, values, attitudes, and interests? What are their pain points, needs, and goals?

You can use tools like Google Trends, YouTube Analytics, and YouTube Keyword Tool to research your niche and your audience. These tools can help you find out what topics are trending, what keywords are popular, and what kind of videos are getting the most views, likes, comments, and shares.

2. Create a YouTube channel

Once you have your niche and your audience, you need to create a YouTube channel to upload your videos. To do this, you need to have a Google account and a smartphone with the YouTube app installed.

To create a YouTube channel, follow these steps:

Open the YouTube app on your smartphone and sign in with your Google account.
Tap on your profile picture in the top right corner and select “Your channel”.
Tap on “Create a channel” and choose a name for your channel. You can use your own name, a brand name, or a catchy name related to your niche.
Tap on “Create” and customize your channel. You can add a profile picture, a banner image, a channel description, and links to your social media accounts or website.
Tap on “Save” and your channel is ready.

3. Plan your content schedule

To become a high-income YouTuber, you need to upload videos regularly and consistently. This will help you grow your audience, improve your ranking, and increase your revenue.

To plan your content schedule, you need to decide how often and when you will upload your videos. You can use a calendar app, a spreadsheet, or a planner to organize your schedule and keep track of your deadlines.

Some factors to consider when planning your content schedule are:

Your niche and your audience. Different niches and audiences may have different preferences and expectations for how often and when they want to watch your videos. For example, if your niche is gaming, you may want to upload more frequently and at peak hours, such as evenings and weekends, when gamers are more likely to be online. If your niche is education, you may want to upload less frequently and at off-peak hours, such as mornings and weekdays, when students are more likely to be studying.
Your goals and your resources. You also need to consider your own goals and resources when planning your content schedule. How many videos do you want to upload per week or per month? How much time and money do you have to produce your videos? How much quality and quantity can you balance? You don’t want to upload too many videos and compromise your quality, or upload too few videos and lose your audience’s interest.
Your competitors and your trends. You also need to keep an eye on your competitors and your trends when planning your content schedule. What are other YouTubers in your niche doing? How often and when are they uploading their videos? What topics are they covering? What feedback are they getting? You can use tools like Social Blade, VidIQ, and TubeBuddy to analyze your competitors and your trends. These tools can help you find out what keywords, tags, titles, thumbnails, and descriptions are working well for them, and what gaps and opportunities you can fill.

4. Invest in equipment and software

While you can use your smartphone to film and edit your videos, you may want to invest in some additional equipment and software to improve your video quality and efficiency. Some of the equipment and software you may need are:

A tripod. A tripod can help you stabilize your phone and avoid shaky footage. It can also help you adjust the height and angle of your phone to get the best shot. You can find many affordable and portable tripods online or in local stores.
A microphone. A microphone can help you improve your audio quality and reduce background noise. You can use the built-in microphone of your phone, or buy an external microphone that can plug into your phone’s headphone jack or connect via Bluetooth. You can find different types of microphones, such as lapel, shotgun, or condenser, depending on your needs and budget.
A lighting kit. A lighting kit can help you enhance your video quality and create different moods and effects. You can use natural light from windows or lamps, or buy an artificial lighting kit that can include ring lights, softboxes, or LED panels. You can find various lighting kits online or in local stores.
A video editing app. A video editing app can help you edit your videos on your phone and add transitions, effects, music, text, and more. You can use the built-in video editor of your phone, or download a free or paid video editing app from the app store. Some of the popular video editing apps for smartphones are InShot, Kinemaster, FilmoraGo, and Adobe Premiere Rush.

5. Create high-quality videos

To create high-quality videos with your smartphone, you need to follow some best practices and tips, such as:

Use the back camera of your phone. The back camera of your phone usually has a higher resolution and quality than the front camera. It can also capture more details and colors. If you need to see yourself while filming, you can use a mirror or a monitor to check your framing and focus.
Film in landscape mode. Landscape mode is the horizontal orientation of your phone, which can fit better on YouTube’s widescreen format. It can also give you more space and flexibility to compose your shots and show more elements in your scene.
Film in high resolution. High resolution is the number of pixels in your video, which can affect the clarity and sharpness of your image. The higher the resolution, the better the quality. You can adjust the resolution of your phone’s camera in the settings, and choose the highest option available, such as 1080p or 4K.
Film in good lighting. Good lighting is essential for creating high-quality videos, as it can affect the brightness, contrast, and color of your image. You can use natural or artificial lighting, or a combination of both, to illuminate your subject and your background. You can also use different lighting techniques, such as three-point lighting, to create different effects and moods.
Film with good audio. Good audio is also important for creating high-quality videos, as it can affect the clarity and volume of your voice and sound. You can use the built-in or external microphone of your phone, and make sure to place it close to your mouth or your sound source. You can also use a pop filter, a windscreen, or a foam cover to reduce unwanted noises, such as pops, hisses, or wind.
Film with a good script. A good script is the backbone of your video, as it can help you structure your content, deliver your message, and engage your audience. You can write your own script, or use a tool like Descript to transcribe your audio, edit your text, and generate captions. You can also use a teleprompter app, such as Bigvu or PromptSmart, to read your script while filming.

6. Optimize your videos for YouTube

To optimize your videos for YouTube, you need to follow some best practices and tips to make them more visible, searchable, and clickable on the platform. Some of the things you need to optimize are:

Your title. Your title is the first thing that your potential viewers will see when they search for or browse your videos. It should be catchy, clear, and relevant to your content. It should also include your main keyword, which is the word or phrase that your audience is likely to use to find your video. You can use tools like YouTube Keyword Tool, TubeBuddy, or VidIQ to find and analyze your keywords and optimize your title.
Your thumbnail. Your thumbnail is the small image that represents your video on YouTube. It should be eye-catching, high-quality, and consistent with your title and content. It should also include some text, such as your title, your logo, or a teaser, to entice your viewers to click on your video. You can use tools like Canva, Adobe Spark, or Snappa to create and edit your thumbnails.
Your description. Your description is the text that appears below your video on YouTube. It should provide a brief summary of your content, your main keyword, and a call to action, such as asking your viewers to like, comment, share, or subscribe. It should also include some relevant hashtags, links, and timestamps to help your viewers navigate your video and find more information. You can use tools like Descript, TubeBuddy, or VidIQ to write and optimize your description.
Your tags. Your tags are the words or phrases that describe your video on YouTube. They help YouTube understand what your video is about and show it to the right audience. They should include your main keyword, some related keywords, and some specific keywords that match your niche and your content. You can use tools like YouTube Keyword Tool, TubeBuddy, or VidIQ to find and add your tags.
Your subtitles. Your subtitles are the text that appears on the screen as you speak in your video. They help your viewers understand your content, especially if they have hearing difficulties, speak a different language, or watch your video in a noisy environment. They also help YouTube index your video and rank it higher on search results. You can use tools like YouTube Studio, Descript, or Kapwing to create and edit your subtitles.

7. Promote your videos and grow your audience

To promote your videos and grow your audience, you need to follow some best practices and tips, such as:

Share your videos on social media. Social media is a great way to reach more people and drive traffic to your YouTube channel. You can share your videos on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and more. You can also join groups, communities, and forums related to your niche and your content, and share your videos with them. You can use tools like Buffer, Hootsuite, or Later to schedule and manage your social media posts.
Collaborate with other YouTubers. Collaborating with other YouTubers is a great way to cross-promote your channels, expand your reach, and create more value for your audience. You can collaborate with YouTubers in your niche or in related niches, and create videos that feature both of you, such as interviews, challenges, reviews, or tutorials. You can use tools like FameBit, Grapevine, or AspireIQ to find and connect with potential collaborators.
Engage with your audience. Engaging with your audience is a great way to build trust, loyalty, and community with your viewers. You can engage with your audience by responding to their comments, asking for their feedback, answering their questions, or hosting live streams, Q&A sessions, or giveaways. You can use tools like YouTube Studio, StreamYard, or Gleam to manage and enhance your engagement.
Analyze your performance. Analyzing your performance is a great way to measure your progress, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and improve your strategy. You can analyze your performance by using YouTube Analytics, which can provide you with various metrics and insights, such as views, watch time, subscribers, revenue, retention, traffic sources, audience demographics, and more. You can use tools like Google Data Studio, Dasheroo, or Supermetrics to create and visualize your reports and dashboards.

Conclusion

Becoming a high-income YouTuber with just a smartphone is possible, but it requires a lot of planning, creativity, consistency, and hard work. You also need to follow some best practices and tips to make the most out of your device and your content. By doing so, you can create high-quality videos that can attract and retain viewers, optimize your videos for YouTube, promote your videos and grow your audience, and ultimately, earn money from your passion.