How to Be Different on YouTube

Explore this Article

IN THIS ARTICLE

1 Make the most of your talents.

2 Know who your audience is.

3 Find a role model or two.

4 Get creative.

5 Develop your personal brand.

6 Give the audience something that they need.

7 Write a description for your videos.

8 Pay attention to length.

9 Use social media sites to promote your work.

10 Add a personalized header and profile photo to your channel page.

11 Feature a channel trailer on your channel page.

12 Work hard.

+ Show 9 more...

- Show less...

Other Sections

Expert Q&A

Related Articles

Expert Interview

References

Co-authored by Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones and Madeleine Criglow

Last Updated: November 27, 2023 References

Standing out on YouTube may seem hard at first, but there’s something unique about each and every one of us, including you. Your YouTube channel is the perfect place to highlight what makes you special, and the only way to do that is to be a true individual. Try to look at being different on YouTube as a challenge to be as creative as possible. Think outside the box and don’t be afraid to be a little weird! If you’ve never seen anyone do it before, that means you may have come up with the next big trend. This article explores the many ways you can discover and ultimately showcase what makes you stellar. You’ll feel like a star in no time!

Steps

1

Make the most of your talents.

1. 
   What is it that makes you really special? Think about the things that make you different, whether it be your beautiful singing voice, your sense of humor, or your knack for finding a positive spin on each and everything in your life. These unique attributes of your personality will help you stand out as an individual among the crowd.

   • Let’s say you run a makeup tutorial. Maybe your hidden talent is that you know exactly how to recreate Angelina Jolie’s makeup in the movie Maleficent.
   • You may have video editing skills that rival the greatest of film editors! Use the editing to change the tone. For example, make your video a little more surreal through using the cross dissolve editing technique!
   Advertisement

2

Know who your audience is.

1. 
   Who are you making your videos for? As personal as making your videos may feel, you’re publishing them for the world to see. Who do you have in mind when you’re looking into the camera, and who do you think your content will appeal to the most? Making your work with your specific audience in mind can help strengthen your bond with your audience, draw in more viewers, and keep them coming back for more videos!

   • Maybe you run a music review channel. If you like reviewing rare recordings, your viewers are probably going to be interested in music history. Try to highlight the history of each album you cover!

3

Find a role model or two.

1. 
   What YouTubers made you realize you could start your own channel? There had to have been a few inspirations, and those are the people you can really learn from. Whether it's their confidence, their expertise in the genre, or their knack for choosing the coolest songs to cover on the acoustic guitar, review what initially motivated you to want to do what they do. Though you don’t want to copy them, their work is a great source of inspiration.

   • If you review books, check out what the most successful book critics on YouTube are doing. Maybe they’re focusing on a specific genres or taking a deep dive into trilogies like Lord of the Rings.
   • Think of ways you can make their ideas your own. Instead of covering trilogies, try rereading old children’s series like the Magic Tree House books and reviewing how they’ve stood the test of time.
   Advertisement

4

Get creative.

1. 
   Take your inspirations and do something new with them! A great way to gather a fanbase is to do something no one has ever done before. Think of the stars of our time that brought something entirely new to what they were doing. People like Lady Gaga and Prince wore shocking outfits, made surreal and one-of-a-kind music videos, and weren’t afraid of seeming a little weird. What can you do that others on YouTube aren’t doing?

   • Play eclectic music in the background of your videos or use found footage to give your film reviews a trippy spin! Don’t be afraid to try new things.
   • Check out the reactions in the comments to see if people are noticing. Odds are, what makes you different will be everyone’s favorite part!

5

Develop your personal brand.

1. 
   Ask yourself what is important to you. Maybe you are very passionate about serving your community, or you consider passions like sports and art to be the guiding forces of your life. Whatever these things are, they are what make up your values. Your personal brand is ultimately how you communicate those values to your audience. Think of it like a mission statement for your work that you communicate through your words and presentation.

   • Brainstorm what’s important to you. Write down everything you love about life, then think about how those things relate to your YouTube videos.
   • Determine how you can showcase those motivating factors in your videos. If you love being a part of your community, feature interviews with community members or highlight organizations that viewers can support.
   Advertisement

6

Give the audience something that they need.

1. 
   Don’t just make videos for the sake of making them. Be conscious of how you can improve people’s lives with your videos and what lack you can fill through your work. Whether it be making people laugh, providing helpful instruction, or well-researched recommendations, you want your videos to serve a helpful purpose.

   • Maybe you possess unique talents when it comes to gardening tips. Sure, there are already gardening videos out there, but if you possess accessible communication skills, that could be really helpful to beginners.

7

Write a description for your videos.

1. 
   Make the effort to give more information to your viewers. Through taking the time to provide background information or additional resources, you will communicate to viewers that you are credible, professional, and trustworthy. Your extra work will make you stand out, as not everyone out there takes the time to give their viewers everything they need to know. In fact, your fleshed out descriptions will have you looking like the expert in your genre.
   Advertisement

8

Pay attention to length.

1. 
   Make every minute of your video count! A video that is too short or too long may cause your message to get lost to the viewer. The perfect length depends on the content of your video, as a music video will have a different ideal length than a gaming tutorial. As you film and edit your video, make sure there is no wasted time or unanswered questions. Keeping this in mind can help you edit your videos so that the length feels just right.

   • A video in which every moment counts will stand out to the viewer, as your content and message will be clear and as strong as it can be!

9

Use social media sites to promote your work.

1. 
   Social media is a great way to attract more viewers. Anytime you’ve got a new video, let your followers on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms know! This helps expand your following from simply those on YouTube, and will make you stand out as a creator on social media.

   • Post video highlights on your Instagram, link to new videos on your twitter page, and keep your most updated content in your bio for quick access!
   • Link to your social media platforms on YouTube so that viewers can follow and get updates there, too.
   Advertisement

10

Add a personalized header and profile photo to your channel page.

1. 
   Customize your settings so that your channel page is unique to you. Include a headshot as your profile photo so that viewers will recognize who you are, or a relevant image to your videos if you’d rather your work take center stage.

   • Go one step further and add a header image as well. This will make your channel look more visually appealing and complete!

11

Feature a channel trailer on your channel page.

1. 
   A channel trailer is a lot like a movie trailer. It is a brief video that lets viewers know the kind of content you make, what videos they can check out on your page, and encourages viewers to subscribe to learn more! This can be a great means to appeal to viewers, as it makes learning about your content a lot easier than channels who may not let the viewers know this information right off the bat.

   • Alternatively, you can add a featured video. Pick a video that showcases what kind of content you make. Pick your best work, as this will be viewers’ first impression of your channel!
   Advertisement

12

Work hard.

1. 
   It may be the least fun of all the steps, but it’s necessary to stand out. In order to get what you want in a competitive field like YouTube, you’ll have to apply yourself and do your absolute best to work hard. Hone your skills through constant practice, plan out your videos in advance, and stay up to date on new aspects of your field and even take classes to stay sharp.

   • If you make film reviews, become a film expert! Watch every movie you can and read up on film history. Viewers will appreciate the time you've taken to make your channel as good as it can be.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

• Question

  How do I pick or choose my YouTube name?

  

  Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones
  Social Media Marketing Expert

  Anyah Gilmore-Jones is a Social Media Marketing Expert based in Nashville, Tennessee. An innovative experiential and social media marketer, Anyah is skilled at creating engaging brand experiences and leverages her passion for connecting people and ideas to drive organic growth for purpose-driven brands. As the founder of GROW by Gilmore, a social media strategy company, Anyah develops data-driven social media strategies focused on authentic community building. She has over 4 years of experience spearheading viral campaigns and producing content for brands like HBCU Buzz, Black & Scholared, SHEIN, and Project Art Collective. She received her BA from Howard University in Political Science and Government.

  

  Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones

  Social Media Marketing Expert

  Expert Answer

  When selecting a YouTube name, it's crucial to think about its long-term viability, drawing from my own experiences and insights gained on YouTube. Planning for the future is essential. Many people base their names on a specific niche, making it easier to establish a recognizable brand identity over the long term. By aligning your name with a niche or topic, you not only enhance recognition but also build credibility and professionalism for sustained success.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement