So you want to be a YouTube star?

MANILA, Philippines - A few things surprised us at the first YouTube pop-up workshop in the Philippines — a crash course in viral video-making held last Feb. 27 at the Mind Museum, featuring YouTube sensations Jamich, Bogart the Explorer, and Mikey Bustos.

First, we were pleasantly surprised by the insights coming from YouTube’s team of marketers and developers (e.g. YouTube gets a billion hits from different users/gadgets every month). But most of all, we were baffled by the earnings of popular YouTube stars (which, for their safety’s sake, we won’t print).

Take our word for it. If you knew how much those guys earned from their YouTube channels, you would start filming every wild idea, rant, musical rendition or whatever trick you could pull out of a hat. So we’ve made you an easily digestible list of how to become the next YouTube sensation, with insights that come straight from the mouths of Jamich, Bogart the Explorer, and Mikey Bustos

1. First thing’s first: This is serious business. Take it seriously.

While an average webcam will do, it helps to place it on a steady base and feed it with ample lighting. And while your sheer talent and adlib might suffice, it also helps to have a ready script in hand (or at least an outline). The main idea is that you should have an idea; viewers should come out of your video feeling like they gained something from watching and listening to you. Make an interesting point for discussion. Bring up something that’s never been brought up before.

2. This is an exercise in branding.

If you’re gonna earn from it, you better know what you’re doing. This is no different from any branding exercise. That means you should have a value proposition and a complete YOU experience.

This simply means that you should: 1) Modify your channel’s banner; 2) Change that avatar regularly; 3) Think about the persona you want to create online and what he/she stands for and how he/she wants to send that message out.

Even more simplified: This is serious business only you can do. In Mikey Bustos’ own words, “Do it as a service — a greater purpose to entertain people.”

3. Make the first 15 seconds count.

Studies show that most users online have very short attention spans. Everyone claims to have ADHD these days (seriously, you don’t) and it’s not going to help to have a lengthy introduction to your video. In line with this, you should write a short but attention-grabbing title to your post.

It can’t be emphasized enough — make a good first impression. It’s very easy to switch from one video to another. You’re competing with a dancing octogenarian and Charley Bit Me (Again!), you better have something worth your viewer’s time. (This also goes for online advertisers: it’s also very easy to click the “Skip Ad” button after five seconds, just in case you didn’t know.)

4. Explore everything YouTube has to offer. Use those annotations that appear over your video.

YouTube is constantly evolving as a medium. One thing content uploaders often take for granted is the part where they describe their video. Describing their content helps put tags and introduce the video, making searching and organizing much easier. Lead your viewer to your next video by adding annotations to your video.

And the nice thing about YouTube is that you have a complete feedback loop right in the palm of your hands. Check your viewers’ comments and understand the analytic tools YouTube and Google give you.

And after all’s been said and done, don’t forget to thank your viewers.

5. Remember that this is not TV.

Think international. Think seasonal. Think collabs with other YouTube content creators. Use other social media outlets to promote your page.

6. Consistency is key. Keep uploading.

Mikey Bustos, the YouTube star responsible for the Filipino Accent Tutorial video, took awhile appearing on YouTube before he hit the mark with his first viral video — his 156th upload. Before that, he was using YouTube to promote his geekery about ant life and anthills. Before that, he was singing cover songs. Before that, he even tried out for a talent show in Canada.

The morning after he did the video tutorial on the Pinoy accent, he woke up to notifications flooding his phone. That moment, he knew he had gone viral. “Going viral kind of gives you an idea how big the world is,” he said. And we’d like you to do just that — explore just how big your world can get online.

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Tweet the author @sarhentosilly.