How to Make a YouTube Video That Gets Views: A Beginner’s Guide

In today’s digital world, YouTube is more than just a platform for entertainment—it’s a powerful space for creators, educators, business owners, and influencers to reach millions. However, making a YouTube video that actually gets views isn’t as simple as pressing record and uploading. It takes thoughtful planning, creativity, and a good understanding of what works.

If you’re a beginner wondering how to start and succeed on YouTube, this guide is designed to walk you through the process step by step. From brainstorming your first idea to publishing a polished video, here’s everything you need to know to create videos that truly connect with your audience and earn those valuable views.

Find the Right Video Topic

Before you pick up a camera, you need to start with the right idea. Your video should solve a problem, entertain the viewer, or teach them something new. The goal is to create content that people are actively searching for. You can explore video ideas by typing keywords into YouTube’s search bar to see what autocomplete suggests, checking what’s trending in your niche, or using tools like Google Trends to find what people care about. Picking a focused, interesting topic gives your video a better chance to stand out.

Research and Understand Your Audience

A great video begins with understanding who you are talking to. Many beginners try to appeal to everyone, but successful videos often speak directly to a specific group of people. Think about your target audience—their age, interests, problems, and preferences. Are they students, professionals, gamers, or hobbyists? Once you understand who you’re making videos for, you can craft your content, tone, and visuals to match their expectations. This makes it easier to keep them watching and coming back for more.

Write a Simple Yet Engaging Script

Even if you’re confident on camera, having a script or a loose outline can help you stay on track and deliver your message clearly. Start with a strong hook in the first few seconds to grab attention. This might be a bold statement, a question, or a preview of what the viewer will learn. After the hook, introduce yourself and explain what the video is about. Then move into the body of your video where you share your main content. End with a call to action, such as encouraging viewers to like, comment, or subscribe, or directing them to watch another video on your channel.

Set Up a Simple Recording Space

You don’t need an expensive studio to get started. A quiet room, a clean background, and decent lighting are enough. Most smartphones today are capable of recording in high definition. Natural light from a window can make your video look professional, and an affordable clip-on microphone can dramatically improve your audio quality. The background should be tidy and free from distractions. Even a plain wall or a shelf with a few decorations can work well. The goal is to keep the focus on you and your message.

Record With Confidence

When it’s time to record, speak clearly and with energy. Look directly into the camera lens to create a connection with your viewer. Don’t worry about small mistakes—you can edit them out later. What matters most is that you sound genuine. People are more likely to watch and trust someone who feels real and relatable. If you’re feeling nervous, try recording a few practice takes to warm up. Confidence improves naturally with time and repetition.

Edit Your Video to Keep It Engaging

Editing is where you bring everything together. Even a basic edit can turn raw footage into something polished and enjoyable to watch. Use beginner-friendly editing software like iMovie, Clipchamp, or CapCut to trim long pauses, remove mistakes, and tighten your delivery. You can also add simple text overlays to emphasize important points, use background music to enhance mood, and include transitions to make the video flow smoothly. Just be careful not to overdo it. Clean, focused editing helps keep your viewers’ attention from start to finish.

Create a Scroll-Stopping Thumbnail

Your thumbnail is the first thing potential viewers see—and often the reason they choose whether to click or not. Make sure your thumbnail is visually appealing and clearly shows what the video is about. Use bright colors, strong contrast, and easy-to-read text. If you're in the video, use an expressive facial expression to add emotion. The thumbnail should complement your video title and make people curious to learn more. Tools like Canva or Adobe Express are great for designing professional-looking thumbnails for free.

Write a Strong Title and Description

A well-crafted title helps your video get discovered and clicked. Your title should be specific, use keywords naturally, and clearly explain the benefit to the viewer. Avoid vague titles like “My First YouTube Video” and go for something like “How to Make a YouTube Video That Gets Views: A Beginner’s Guide.” The description is also important. Use it to summarize the video, include any relevant links or resources, and add a few hashtags and keywords. This helps YouTube’s algorithm understand your content and show it to the right audience.

Use Tags and Add to a Playlist

While tags aren’t as powerful as they once were, they still provide context to your video and can help with discoverability, especially when your channel is new. Add tags related to your topic and keywords. If you have multiple videos in a similar category, group them into a playlist. This encourages viewers to watch more of your content, increasing your watch time, which can lead to better rankings and visibility on YouTube.

Promote Your Video

Once your video is live, don’t just sit back and wait. Share your video on your social media accounts, relevant Facebook groups, WhatsApp chats, and other online communities. Embed it on your blog or website if you have one. Send it to friends and ask for feedback or support. Getting views early on boosts your video’s performance in YouTube’s recommendation system. Active promotion can help give your video the momentum it needs to reach more people.

Be Consistent and Keep Improving

You’re unlikely to go viral with your first video—and that’s completely normal. The key to success on YouTube is consistency. Set a schedule that works for you, whether it’s one video per week or two per month, and stick with it. Over time, your skills in scripting, recording, and editing will improve. Watch your YouTube analytics to see which videos perform best, and use those insights to refine your content. Every video is a learning experience.

Conclusion

Creating a YouTube video that gets views as a beginner may feel challenging at first, but it’s entirely achievable with the right approach. By choosing the right topic, understanding your audience, and focusing on quality content, you set yourself up for success. Combine that with consistent posting and steady improvement, and you'll start to build a channel that grows over time. Remember, every successful YouTuber started with zero views. Your journey starts now—hit record, publish, and keep going.