Should I start a YouTube channel in 2023?
The short answer is… maybe??
If creating video is something you want to do, the good news is it’s not too late to start your channel.
My advice to offer is this: don’t start a channel just to do it. Start one because it makes sense for your business or you have a passion for it.
In this article you’re going to get two Dietitian’s perspectives on the benefits of a YouTube Channel for your business.
Additionally, if you weren’t already aware, YouTube is lowering the requirements to access monetization features, which is great news for smaller creators and even more incentive to start your channel if you haven’t already.
You can read about the 2023 Youtube monetization updates and how to monetize a YouTube channel in our article here.
Let’s start with some insights from Wan Na Chun, RD:
A Business YouTube Channel Enables You To:
Reach a Wider Audience
YouTube has over 2 billion monthly active users, making it one of the largest online platforms for video content.
As a visual learner, I love video because it’s a dynamic and engaging way to deliver information.
With YouTube, you can create visually appealing videos that combine visuals, audio, and graphics to effectively communicate complex nutrition concepts.
By starting a YouTube channel, you have the opportunity to reach a vast audience of viewers who are actively seeking information from experts (you!).
With the right content and strategies, you can connect with individuals from all walks of life and make a positive impact on their health and well-being.
Establish Credibility and Expertise
As a dietitian, sharing your knowledge through educational videos on YouTube allows you to establish yourself as an authority and expert in your field.
By consistently providing valuable and accurate information, you build credibility and trust with your viewers.
This can lead to increased recognition in the industry, potential collaborations, speaking opportunities, and even the chance to contribute to influential publications or media outlets.
Showcase Your Personality and Unique Approach
YouTube is a platform that thrives on authenticity and personality.
It allows you to showcase your unique style and personality in your videos.
Whether through storytelling, humor, or relatable anecdotes, you can create a genuine connection with your audience.
Viewers who resonate with your content can become subscribers, who will actively follow your updates and engage with your videos through comments, likes, and shares.
This sense of community allows you to foster meaningful connections with individuals who share similar interests and goals.
Monetization and Professional Opportunities
With a growing subscriber base and a dedicated audience, YouTube can open doors to monetization opportunities.
Through YouTube's Partner Program, you can earn revenue from advertisements, sponsorships, brand collaborations, and even merchandise sales.
Additionally, your YouTube channel can serve as a powerful portfolio, showcasing your content creation skills.
This can lead to professional opportunities such as speaking engagements, consulting gigs, book deals, or collaborations with other influential individuals or brands.
Now some thoughts from Sara Kerr, RDN, LD:
Benefits Of A YouTube Channel
What benefit does starting a YouTube Channel give my business?
That’s a great question to consider before diving in and creating a channel.
Wan Na covered many benefits so I’m going to expand on two main points:
1) YouTube is a way for your target audience to find you;
2) It offers many ways to add income streams to your business.
YouTube Is A Search Engine
Like Wan Na mentioned, YouTube gets a TON of viewers every single day so the platform offers a huge opportunity to get found for keywords and search terms.
Unless you have a large audience you can encourage to join you over on your new YouTube channel, you’ll probably need to employ a more strategic approach to getting found on YouTube.
When you’re first starting your channel, a great strategy to growing it is funneling in an audience from search-based queries.
If you’re already employing SEO techniques for a blog, a podcast, or on your website, use those same strategies to get found on YouTube. Research your niche and see what viewers are looking up on YouTube, then create content to fill gaps or expand on what other creators haven’t covered yet.
There is a chance one of your videos could go viral and explode overnight, but relying on “going viral” is (in my opinion) not a solid strategy, which is why I suggest focussing on keyword research and SEO.
SEO is your friend! Use it!
Multiple YouTube Income Streams
There are opportunities both through the YouTube platform itself to earn money, as well as other opportunities you can seek out yourself.
In the YouTube Partner Program, once you reach their thresholds, you can gain access to Super Chats, Super Thanks, Super Stickers, Memberships, YouTube Shopping, and Adsense.
You can also use your YouTube channel to attract brands to work with you and create partnerships where you create content in collaboration with them, or read ads during your videos, for example.
Your channel can also serve as a sample of your work that you could leverage to take on freelancing work as a creator, editor, or videographer.
There are lots of opportunities to consider, so I encourage you to evaluate your business funnel to determine what gaps a YouTube channel could fill.
Summary: Why Start a YouTube Channel for Your Business?
Employ SEO and reach a wider audience
Establish credibility and share your expertise
Showcase your personality and unique approach
Create multiple income streams
Lay the foundation for additional business and professional opportunities
Let us know what questions you have about starting a YouTube channel. If you’ve already started one, what challenges are you facing?
About the Authors
Wan Na is a registered dietitian and personal trainer. As a home-cook, she shares how to create nutrient-forward recipes that are flavorful and delicious on her YouTube channel (@onepotwellness) and blog (www.onepotwellness.com). She loves one-pot wonders, tropical fruits, and the smell of freshly roasted coffee beans.
Sara is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian, artist, writer, and video editor. She holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Nutrition from Oregon State University. In 2021 she founded The Kerrminator LLC, which specializes in creative services for Dietitians including video editing, graphic design, and content creation.
Are you interested in starting a side hustle and want to learn more about the potential of video for your business?
You should check out Sara's ebook, Embracing Video to Communicate Nutrition. It offers guidance for exploring your options and steps to get the ball rolling on your new venture.