I’ve heard many times to create the thumbnail in the beginning of the process but I’ve found that I like to do it once the video is completed and it’s a quick visual summation or highlights the main point of the video. Here’s my process: - 1-Concept - 2-Create thumbnail or cover shot - 3-Decide in format-short/long, talking head, b-roll w/text on screen a/voice over, interview, quick location shot, etc. - 4-Script outline in notes app - 5-Elaborate on the script - 6-Storyboard/shot list - 7-Find b-roll shots or shoot content - 8-Edit shots in CapCut - 9-Add music - 10-Add text on screen - 11-Create thumbnail or cover shot When I go through my process, I skip over doing it early on, so I added it at the end of my process. I’ll erase one of the thumbnail steps, once I make a solid decision on when to do it. I’m wondering when everyone else does theirs in their process. I’m trying to understand if there’s something I’m missing and if there’s a big benefit that would result if I should push myself to get it done at the beginning stage.

Since I began posting on YouTube, I have told maybe two people about it, and they're supportive and subscribe to the channel. Sometime during Vlogmas, an old friend (I haven't heard from him in years) found my videos. Instead of being happy, he asked why I didn't tell him about starting a channel. He felt I didn't run it by him like I needed his permission. I robbed him of the chance to talk me out of being a YouTuber. I told him point-blank that he wasn't my target audience, which made him mad. He sent me a long diatribe via text that I haven't answered. Has anyone experienced this? I wrote a blog post about it: https://www.szadventures.com/2025/02/24/this-happened-when-i-began-my-youtube-journey/ I reshot the video because the SD card got corrupted for some strange reason. https://youtu.be/9SHzcSIEAU0

How do you vet your niche? One thing I saw said to see what others in the same niche are doing/check their views, etc., but I don’t see anyone with the same one that I have.

From our lovely tribe, Shirlee join us January 9th as special guest to speak about camera confidence and more! National TV correspondent-turned-entrepreneur Shirlee Engel helps you get CAMERA READY and VISIBLE. Shirlee scaled her first business to 6 figures in the first year by leaning into her magnetic video presence, landing TV, podcast, and stage gigs that built credibility and influence. She's now on a mission to inspire other entrepreneurs to discover the celebrity within. https://www.youtube.com/@be.camera.confident https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirlee-engel/

video#2 Are you guys using teleprompters?!?! During my 60 days of prep between deciding to start a YouTube channel and uploading my first video, one of the things I bought was a teleprompter. Of course, all the videos I watched on the subject said, “Don’t use a teleprompter—just ramble on because it’s more natural.” I thought, Okay, I’ll just try to memorize the script or use notes. For my first video, I ended up using notes and tried to remember what I wanted to say. This week, I decided to try the teleprompter. It took about a day to set it up on my camera, practice with it, and get comfortable using the remote and the app. But once I was ready—OMG. Game. Changer. I still need to work on adjusting the speed of the text scrolling, but I’m so happy with how much information I was able to deliver and how smoothly I delivered it. This opens up so many possibilities. And the EDITING! THE EDITING is so much faster now. All I had to do this time was cut out a few pauses where I got ahead of the teleprompter. I’m saving time on memorizing scripts, saving time on recording, and saving time on editing! If you want to see the difference between my first video (without the teleprompter) and my second video (with the teleprompter), please check it out. If you’re considering buying a teleprompter, I got mine for $40 on Amazon, and it came with a remote for the app. Again, all of you people are amazing. Thank you, everyone in this community for all of the positive encouragement that I see on everybody's posts.