Content Creation Secrets: 10 YouTube Channels You Should Follow

Let's be honest. Creating content isn't just about pressing the record and hoping for magic. It's an art, a science, and occasionally, a beautiful chaos. Every viral video, every engaging channel you've ever binged, started with one fundamental truth: someone was brave enough to start, learn, and keep pushing forward.

In this guide, we're pulling back the curtain on the YouTube creators who do more than just create content—they create creators. These experts transform aspiring beginners into skilled creators, elevate steady performers into trending sensations, and guide established channels to reach new heights of digital storytelling. So, let's look at ten channels that'll help you up your game, from Content Planning, Storytelling, Filming, and Editing to Growth & Monetisation.

Content Planning Strategy: A Blueprint for YouTube Success

Content planning involves strategically designing, scheduling, and organizing video ideas to meet your audience's needs, grow your channel, and achieve your goals. For YouTube creators, effective content planning ensures a steady flow of engaging videos, helps with audience retention, and improves discoverability through SEO. Better content planning should include:

• Research (Audience, Trends, Competitors, SEO Planning)
• Strategy (Content pillars, Formats, Calendar)
• Pre-production (Scripts, Storyboards, Resources)
• Distribution (Schedule, Promotion, Playlists) 
• Analytics (KPIs, Tracking, Performance Review)

Recommended YouTube channels for Content Planning

1. Vanessa Lau

Vanessa Lau is an online entrepreneur, social media educator, and content marketing expert. She teaches new entrepreneurs how to build their influence and scale their businesses using the power of social media. She is passionate about helping creators and entrepreneurs tap their full potential to monetize their expertise and create global impact.

Notable video: In this video, How to Create Consistent Content on Social Media (100 posts in 30 days!), you will learn three key aspects of social media content management: First, you will gain an understanding of content pillars, which form the foundational themes and categories for organizing their social media posts. Second, you will discover how to track and analyze content metrics to measure their performance. Third, you will be introduced to efficiency-enhancing tools and templates that streamline your content creation process. These elements help content creators develop a structured approach to producing consistent content.

2. Modern Millie

Modern Mille is a full-time Online Educator and YouTuber who teaches recent trends and the latest growth strategies for content creators. She teaches Content Creators how to build and establish their own online presence, scale on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, and profit from their dreams of creating. She also organizes free content strategy workshops to plan Four months of content in one hour.

Notable video: In this video, Plan out your content for the rest of the year, you will gain valuable insights into strategic content planning, including platform-specific posting strategies, optimal posting frequencies across different social media platforms, and a structured four-month roadmap for content development. This comprehensive approach would enable you to develop a more organized and efficient content strategy, maintaining consistency while maximizing your reach across multiple platforms.

“The problem is that not having a good strategy could put you at risk of getting stuck in a hamster wheel of content creation and burning out in the process.”
—MILLIE

Storytelling and Scripting: Crafting Compelling Narratives

Your audience isn't just watching content; they're experiencing a journey you've crafted.

The difference between a video that gets watched and one that gets remembered lies in its story structure and script execution. Structured stories and well-scripted hooks keep viewers watching until the end. A well-crafted story must have some of the components like:

• Engaging visuals that support the narrative
• Clear audio with background music
• Well-paced editing
• B-roll footage to illustrate points
• Relevant transitions

Recommended YouTube channels for Storytelling and Scripting

3. Think media

With a decade of proven expertise, Think Media has established itself as the world's leading YouTube strategy education platform. Their comprehensive courses and supportive community have empowered more than 12,000 content creators, from beginners to seasoned professionals, to achieve their YouTube goals. This track record demonstrates their deep understanding of what it takes to build and grow successful YouTube channels, making them the trusted choice for creators serious about YouTube's success.

Notable video: In this video, How to Write a Script for a YouTube Video (Made Easy), you will learn an easy way to write a compelling script for yourself. They break down their tested formula for crafting engaging scripts that capture and hold viewer attention. You will learn precisely which elements to include for maximum impact, helping your videos rank better and attract more views. Whether you are new to script writing or looking to enhance your process, this step-by-step method will transform your video content into viewer-friendly, high-performing material.

4. Life of Riza

Life of Riza is a YouTube channel owned by Kariza Santos, a Canadian YouTuber. She is known for her videos, which often deal with ordinary life. The unique thing is that she relies on storytelling to hook the viewer. There are no flashy transitions or crazy cuts; you just feel this incredibly warm feeling while watching her videos as she talks about her successes, failures, etc. Each video is a new episode of the documentary. She is one of the best examples of what ideal storytelling should look like.

Though she doesn't explicitly teach storytelling techniques, you can learn from her approach to structuring narratives, creating engaging hooks, and connecting with her audience through authentic emotional resonance and genuine relatability.

“It’s ok to be the side character sometimes.”
—Kariza Santos

Notable video: In this video, The Art of Showing Up, she describes a marathon event very engagingly. Here, you can learn how she integrates multiple narrative layers - weaving individual participant stories into the more significant event. Her meticulous attention to emotional touchpoints, particularly in capturing pivotal moments from dawn to finish line, demonstrates how timing and observation skills can transform standard event coverage into powerful stories.

Filming: For better engagement

Think of filming like cooking—you can have the best ingredients (your unique ideas), but if you don't know how to put them together (filming techniques), you might end up with something that looks like Monday's leftovers!

Good filming turns your raw ideas into a feast for the eyes. High-quality visuals and smooth filming techniques create a professional look, helping attract and retain viewers. Some technical considerations for filming include:

• Camera (quality device, tripod, composition)
• Lighting (3-point setup, diffusers)
• Audio (external mic, sound isolation) 
• Environment (clean background, acoustics),
• Editing Software
• Proper Resolution (1080p+)
• Stable Shots, Frame Rate Settings, and Color Grading Tools.

Recommended YouTube channels for Filming

5. DSLR Video Shooter

DSLR Video Shooter is owned by Caleb Pike. You must check out this channel if you are searching for the best but budget-friendly filming tools. Here, he provides reviews and tutorials for cameras, lighting, microphones, and lenses best suited for YouTube video creation.

Notable Video: This video, Entire Youtube Studio Setup ON ONE DESK!, demonstrates how you can build a modular, affordable, and space-saving desk setup. You'll gain comprehensive strategies for optimizing your YouTube content creation workspace and learning how to integrate essential tools while maintaining professional standards efficiently—including camera, lighting, and audio equipment using a desk-mounted arm system that maintains functionality while minimizing spatial footprint.

6. Full Time Filmmaker

Full Time Filmmaker is a valuable YouTube channel owned by Parker Walback. His channel provides many tutorials and reviews for different filmmaking tools. He also gives guidance from his experience about filmmaking's do’s and don’ts, including how to use a camera, shoot a video using an iPhone, incorporate better music, etc.

Notable video: If you are shooting your videos from your smartphone, then in this video, How To Film A Travel Video w/ iPhone, you will discover how to leverage your iPhone's capabilities to produce professional-quality travel content. The video offers instruction on maximizing mobile photography capabilities, including specific camera angles and optimal iPhone settings tailored for travel documentation. You would gain expertise in professional videography techniques specifically adapted for smartphone filming, demonstrating that high-caliber content can be produced without professional camera equipment.

Editing: The Netflix Touch

Great editing shouldn't scream, "Look at me!" It should whisper, "Stay with me."

Editing is not about the fanciest effects—it's about making your story flow so naturally that viewers can't look away! A well-edited video grabs your audience’s attention, maintains engagement, and builds a unique style. While editing, your focus should be on:

• Audio mixing and enhancement
• Title and text overlays
• B-roll insertion
• Thumbnail creation
• Sound effects and music
• Motion graphics
• Gathering footage
• VBR (Variable Bit Rate) vs. CBR (Constant Bit Rate)
• Metadata inclusion for SEO optimization
• Pacing and Flow Management

Recommended YouTube channels for Editing

7. Finzar

Finzar focuses on trending editing styles, teaches the psychology behind editing, has a comprehensive video editing course, and provides creative inspiration. This channel positions itself as a specialized educational channel that approaches video editing instruction through both technical and psychological frameworks. The channel distinguishes itself by focusing on contemporary editing techniques while exploring the underlying principles that make certain editing styles effective.

Popular playlist: One highly recommended playlist on Finzar's YouTube channel for creators to watch is the Ultimate Editing Playlist. It focuses on step-by-step guides for mastering Adobe Premiere Pro. Here, you would develop proficiency in industry-standard editing software while learning practical post-production methods that enhance your content quality. This carefully curated educational content enables creators to master fundamental and advanced editing capabilities, empowering you to produce more polished and engaging content using Adobe Premiere Pro's professional toolset.

8. Primal video

Primal Video establishes itself as a comprehensive educational resource in the video production space. It specializes in delivering practical video editing instruction across multiple editing platforms and offers a balanced curriculum catering to beginners and professional content creators.

By making professional video production techniques accessible while maintaining a strong focus on time-saving workflows, the channel is an invaluable resource for content creators.

Notable playlist: The playlist, How To Edit Videos Faster, is packed with practical tips, tricks, and step-by-step guides for beginners and more advanced editors. Here, you would gain comprehensive knowledge in optimizing your video editing workflow through traditional and AI-enhanced methods. This educational content would equip creators with advanced time-saving techniques to accelerate post-production processes. Additionally, you would master editing software that will significantly reduce editing time while maintaining quality standards.

Growth and monetization

Growth without monetization is just a hobby, and monetization without growth is impossible.

Growth and monetization are the two fundamental pillars of a successful YouTube channel's business model. Channel growth refers to consistently expanding your audience base by increasing subscriber counts, view metrics, and engagement rates.

Monetization encompasses the various revenue-generating strategies that transform this audience engagement into sustainable income streams. You need both! Here are some key elements you should consider.

Recommended YouTube channels for Growth and Monetization

9. Think Media

Think Media features again in our list of 10 for its comprehensive approach to growth and monetization. It consistently delivers clear-cut strategies, algorithm insights, and community-focused methods without unnecessary filler content, making complex concepts accessible and actionable for content creators.

Recommended video: In this video, The Fastest Way to Get MONETIZED on YouTube, you will learn a strategic framework to accelerate your path to YouTube monetization. The video outlines a systematic nine-step approach that enables you to understand and implement the specific requirements and best practices necessary to qualify for YouTube's Partner Program. This comprehensive guide would help you transform your channel into potential revenue streams while adhering to YouTube guidelines in the shortest possible timeframe.

​10. VidIQ

VidIQ provides a range of strategies and tools focused on optimizing video performance, boosting views, increasing subscribers, and maximizing revenue. Its channel growth tips include effective keyword research, trends, and audience engagement techniques. They cover various approaches to monetization, such as driving revenue through YouTube ads, affiliate marketing, and brand deals.​

Notable playlist: In this video, The NEW Way to Grow on YouTube in 2024 (Algorithm Changes), you will gain crucial insights into YouTube's updated algorithmic framework for 2024, specifically on components that influence video performance. This knowledge would enable you to adapt your content strategy to align with the platform's latest technological changes and optimization requirements. Understanding these fundamental aspects of YouTube's algorithm would allow you to make informed decisions about content creation and distribution, potentially leading to improved channel visibility and growth in the current digital landscape.

“Competing against the big channels in your niche can feel intimidating because you believe these big channels have all of the unfair advantages that YouTube blows on them, but there’s good news! YouTube does not discriminate.”
—VidIQ

Next Steps

Creating content on YouTube is a thrilling mix of creativity, strategy, and persistence. To truly stand out, you need more than just inspiration. From content planning and storytelling to filming techniques and editing mastery, each resource provides actionable insights that can help transform your vision into compelling videos. So, take the plunge, learn, experiment, and refine your craft—your next breakthrough could be just around the corner!