I’ll be honest. I usually use YouTube to watch funny videos of pugs. That being said, I had no idea what a powerful medium YouTube is until I learned a shocking stat: it is the second-biggest search site after Google. Let that sink in for a second. Besides Google. YouTube is the number two place where people go to find out information about anything and everything.
More importantly, YouTube is not just media, it’s social media. When most people think social media, they think Twitter and Facebook, but YouTube is right there with ‘em. So, as a freakishly busy college student, why do you care? Why should you add YouTube to your typical world wide web routine? Let’s break it down.
These days, one of the best ways to get yourself out there is by creating a video. But let’s be real, the idea of creating your own YouTube channel is overwhelming. What would you make videos about? Make videos about yourself? That seems weird, even self-indulgent. But then I poked around YouTube and found some great examples of people that are doing it well.
The key is to make videos geared towards things you’re passionate and knowledgeable about. If you love romantic comedies, why not start a YouTube channel where once a week you talk about why you loved How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days but My Big Fat Greek Wedding made you want to tear your eyelashes out? If you’re a freaky-healthy vegetarian, make a cooking channel where you demo your bomb quinoa recipe or show the world that Tofu Parmesan is actually delicious.
Serious or light-hearted, creating a channel and posting regularly has the potential to make you an expert about something and gives you a platform that is easy for viewers to digest. Not to mention, you have the opportunity to create a portfolio that reflects your creativity and shows your personality better than any resume ever could.
The job market is getting more and more competitive, especially for creative positions. Being eloquent and witty in interviews is no longer enough. With a YouTube channel, you can give potential employers a window into your life, your talents and separate yourself from the crowd.
And lucky for you, technology has made it easier that ever to create videos with minimal effort. If you’ve got a newer MacBook or iPhone, the built-in camera puts you in business right away. You can use iMovie—which comes with all new Apple computers—as a simple editing tool to add titles and music. Or be minimalist and upload your clips directly. There are a ton of resources out there on getting started.
So, looks like you’re out of excuses. There’s no time like the present. Grab a camera and start filming!