What I Wish I'd Known Before Starting YouTube as a Small Business Owner

📖 Milly's Studio School
🎥 YouTube • Small Business • Content Creation
⏰ Reading time: 5 minutes

Back in January 2023, I uploaded my first proper studio vlog.

At the time, I had absolutely no idea where YouTube would take me. I wasn't thinking about subscribers, views or growing a channel. I simply wanted a way to document my small business journey and share a little more of what happened behind the scenes.

If I'm honest, I was terrified...

I worried about whether anyone would watch, whether I'd have enough interesting things to film and whether I'd feel completely awkward talking to a camera. Looking back now, I can see how much time I spent overthinking things that really didn't matter.

After creating videos consistently for the past few years and growing an engaged audience of 16.8k subscribers, there are a few things I wish someone had sat me down and told me before I got started. I break it all down in this YouTube video, or you can carry on reading this post if you'd prefer!

You Don't Need Fancy Equipment

One of the biggest things that held me back in the beginning was the idea that I needed better equipment before I could take YouTube seriously.

It's so easy to look at creators online and assume that the camera is the reason their videos are successful. You start convincing yourself that if you just had that lens, that microphone or that lighting setup, everything would suddenly click into place.

The reality is that people are watching because of the person behind the camera, not the camera itself.

Of course good equipment can make things easier, but it isn't what makes somebody want to come back and watch your videos week after week. People come back because they enjoy your personality, your story and what you're sharing.

If I could go back and tell myself one thing, it would be to stop worrying so much about equipment and put that energy into actually creating.

Nobody Likes Being On Camera At First

I don't think I've ever met anyone who genuinely enjoyed watching themselves back on camera when they first started.

I certainly didn't!

I hated hearing my own voice, I felt awkward talking to the camera and I was convinced everybody would notice every tiny thing I was insecure about.

The funny thing is that viewers rarely notice the things you're worrying about. They're not analysing your voice, your expressions or whether you stumbled over a sentence. They're simply watching your video.

The confidence you're hoping to feel before you start doesn't magically appear one day. It comes from doing it.

Every video makes the next one a little easier. Eventually you stop focusing on how strange it feels and start focusing on what you're actually trying to share.

You Already Have More Content Ideas Than You Think

This is probably the question I get asked most often... "what do I actually film?"

The answer is usually a lot more than you think.

As small business owners, we spend so much time immersed in our businesses that we forget how interesting parts of it can be to other people. Things that feel completely ordinary to you, like designing a new product, preparing for a market, packing orders or solving a problem in your business, can be fascinating to somebody watching from the outside.

I think a lot of people imagine they need exciting events happening every day in order to make YouTube videos. The truth is that some of my favourite videos to film have been the most ordinary.

People don't just connect with the highlights. They connect with the process.

Your First Videos Don't Need To Be Perfect

I am so grateful that I didn't wait until I felt ready. If I had, I probably still wouldn't have started.

When I watch my early videos now, there are plenty of things I'd change. The filming is different, my editing style has evolved and I'm much more comfortable talking to the camera. But that's exactly the point. Those videos weren't supposed to be as good as the ones I'm creating now. They were supposed to help me learn.

Every creator starts somewhere, and every creator improves by making videos, not by endlessly researching how to make videos. Your first upload isn't a final exam. It's the first lesson.

YouTube Is About So Much More Than Views

When people think about YouTube success, they usually think about subscriber counts and view numbers.

While those things can be exciting, they've never been the biggest benefit for me.

Some of my favourite moments have happened away from the analytics dashboard.

I've had people come up to me at markets and tell me they've been watching my videos for years. I've had customers place orders because they felt connected to the story behind the products. I've had viewers follow along with launches, celebrate milestones and become part of the journey.

That's something really special.

YouTube gives people the opportunity to get to know the person behind the business, and that kind of connection is incredibly difficult to create anywhere else.

The Best Time To Start Is Before You Feel Ready

If there's one thing I hope you take away from this post, it's that you don't need to have everything figured out before you begin.

You don't need the perfect camera. You don't need a content plan for the next twelve months. You don't need to know exactly where your channel is going. You simply need to start!

I know that's easier said than done, but if I hadn't uploaded that first vlog back in January 2023, my channel wouldn't be where it is today. Every opportunity, every connection and every lesson I've gained from YouTube started with that one video. And yours will too.

Want More Help Getting Started?

Because I've been asked so many questions about YouTube over the years, I've recently put everything I've learned into a brand new ebook: A Guide to YouTube for Small Business Owners.

Inside, I share my exact setup, filming workflow, editing process, thumbnail creation process, content planning tips and a practical 90-day action plan to help you get started.

My goal wasn't to create another generic guide about YouTube growth. I wanted to create the resource I wish I'd had when I was sitting there wondering whether I should upload my first video.

If you'd like to learn more, you can find the ebook here.

And if you're still wondering whether you should start a YouTube channel?

Take this as your sign.