How to become a YouTuber: Online classes and equipment to get started

Australian content creator and brand identity designer Jeremy Mura offers a course on starting a YouTube channel from scratch on Skillshare. In YouTube for Beginners, Mura guides you through the logistics of how to set up a YouTube channel, researching trends for content, analytics and monetization, and tips for growing (and keeping) your audience.

In the discussion section of the class, Mura also provides personal constructive feedback for his students as they build their channels. Mura's course has 34 lessons, all of them 10 minutes or less. He also has helpful videos on his own YouTube channel, though they aren't as laser-focused on content creation as the ones offered on Skillshare. 

What it costs: Some online classes on Skillshare are free when you create an account, but most require a premium membership, which costs $99 annually or $19 a month. You can sign up for 14 free days of unlimited classes. The premium membership is also ad-free and lets you download classes to your mobile device and watch offline. 

There are a lot of people trying to make it on the internet. Something has to make you stand out from the crowd. What can your channel offer that's unique? 

Music composer Mikael Baggström teaches a course on Skillshare called YouTube: Use Branding to Grow Your Channel. The course has 16 lessons about the importance of branding, video style, catchphrases and logos to make your channel feel fresh and different -- and hopefully get more followers. 

What it costs: Some online classes on Skillshare are free when you create an account, but most require a premium membership, which costs $99 annually or $19 a month. You can sign up for 14 free days of unlimited classes. The premium membership is also ad-free and lets you download classes to your mobile device and watch offline. 

Subscribers and clicks are the lifeblood of internet content. While getting a social media shout-out from your favorite podcaster or YouTuber might help turn the tides, understanding marketing basics can give you more control over attracting and keeping viewers.

Brand strategist Sunny Lenarduzzi's Build a Fan Base on YouTube class on CreativeLive has 13 video lessons with information like choosing topics, writing scripts, understanding YouTube's algorithm and optimizing your content for search engines. 

If you're not quite ready to commit to classes, you can check out more of Lenarduzzi's videos for free on her YouTube channel.

What it costs: CreativeLive lets you purchase a Creator Pass for $39 a month or $149 annually. This gives you access to features like the site's entire library of over 1,500 classes and ways to track your goals with learning paths. You can also set up an account and purchase classes individually. For example, Lenarduzzi's course costs $29 while CreativeLive runs a spring sale. Otherwise, it costs $49. 

The right editing software is key when putting all your video clips together. Though it's not the only option, Apple Final Cut Pro X is a popular choice for video editing software. To learn how to use it, Abba Shapiro, an Apple master trainer, teaches Final Cut Pro X Bootcamp on CreativeLive. The class costs $79 on its own or $13 a month with a Creator Pass. You need to have a copy of Final Cut Pro X as well.

The course has 39 lessons that take a deep dive into the program and how to use it effectively. You'll learn the ins and outs of Final Cut, trimming, overwriting, importing and exporting media, setting up new projects, mixing audio, green screens and using multiple cameras. 

What it costs: CreativeLive lets you purchase a Creator Pass for $39 a month or $149 annually. This gives you access to features like the site's entire library of more than 1,500 classes and ways to track your goals with learning paths. You can also make an account and purchase classes individually. The class costs $79 on its own or $13 a month with a Creator Pass. You need to have a copy of Final Cut Pro X as well.

If you're pursuing a YouTube career, you should be comfortable in front of a camera. Even though some YouTube hosts are iconic for rarely showing their faces (ever seen Binging with Babbish?), it's typically a good idea to know some basics about hosting a video and honing your online personality. 

T.J. Walker, founder of Media Training Worldwide, teaches On-camera Charisma for YouTube Stars on Udemy. It's a two-hour crash course in speaking confidently on camera, connecting with viewers and finding flattering camera angles and time-saving techniques for recording and editing. Walker also offers a more in-depth 26-hour media training course on Udemy.

What it costs: Udemy's course prices are set by the individual instructors from a price tier, unless they choose to offer them for free. Walker's courses cost $70, for example. Depending on the class you pick in general, make sure you check the Requirements section before you pay for the course. For example, if you take the Adobe Illustrator CC Essentials Training course for $70, you also need to purchase Adobe Illustrator software on your own. Just be aware of any necessary course materials and what those might cost as well.