26 Youtube Channel Ideas for Beginners

You are thinking of starting a Youtube channel but don’t know where to start. We can give you some inspiration along the way. If you are looking for Youtube channel ideas for beginners, we have made a comprehensive list of the best channel niches to get started with.

Competition is fierce, and vlogging is hard work, but if you have some filmmaking talents, understand marketing, and provide genuine value to your viewers, you can become very successful. Make sure to pick a youtube channel idea that is right for you.

If you are just starting out with vlogging, be sure to check out our Ultimate Vlogging Guide 2020.

Youtube Channel Ideas for Beginners

1. Personal Vlogging

One of the most common types of channels on youtube are vlogging channels. It is probably the easiest one to get started with too. And can lead to other kinds of content in the future.

As a personal vlogger, you simply record and share your daily life. You can share your thoughts, opinions, and feelings along the way, kind of writing a diary.

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Adsense
  • Merchandise
  • Patreon

2. Reaction Channel

With a reaction channel, you react to other videos on youtube, shows, and other content online. Reaction videos have grown in popularity in the last couple of years. Your personality is the main driving force in these videos. 

Always remember to add some interesting commentary or views to the video you are reacting to, make your video worthwhile for your audience. 

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Adsense
  • Sponsorships

3. Parody Channels

There are many ways to do parody videos on Youtube. If you have some great editing or acting skills, you could make some hilarious videos. 

You could do parodies on politics, famous shows, or even other youtube videos. This could be in the form of animations, musicals, or montages.

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Adsense
  • Patreon

4. Travel Vlogging

There are unlimited possibilities for travel vloggers. Traveling is a prevalent topic on youtube. To succeed will travel vlogging you want to make your audience feel they are going on journeys with you. Important is not only the locations but also your personality and style in your videos.

Travel Vlogging is a broad category with several sub-niches, like travel guide videos, travel food videos, and a combination of other niches. It can also be easily combined with personal vlogs as the personality is a driving force.

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Adsense
  • Patreon

5. Adventure Vlogging

Abandoned buildings, amusement parks, hikes, scuba diving, if you like adventures, you could consider starting an adventure vlogging channel. Just make sure you abide by the laws in your country and never risk hurting yourself. 

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Adsense
  • Patreon

6. Product Reviews

Product reviews are a very broad channel type. Your primary mission is to connect your audience with the best products or services in a particular field or niche, giving honest reviews and recommendations.

The key is to find products your audience is thinking of buying and helping them make an informed decision. This could be in any field or niche you have some knowledge in. You could also combine the review format with unboxings or tutorials on how to use the products. 

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Affiliate Links
  • Sponsorships
  • Adsense

7. Product Unboxings

Unlike Product Reviews, the audience is along for the ride while you open and use a product for the first time, sharing your first impressions and thoughts product.

Because unboxing channels are so popular, there is fierce competition. However, there is still a lot of opportunities here, especially in the sub-niches like toys, military food rations, and more.

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Affiliate Links
  • Sponsorships
  • Adsense

8. Gaming Channel

Content around gaming has grown into a multi-million dollar industry. If you are already a gamer, youtube can be a great opportunity for you. 

The potential gaming niches are endless; action games, strategy, horror, VR, shooter, online. Whatever you choose, there will be a massive audience. 

Gaming content is extremely competitive, though, and you need to remember that going in. It is important to niche down and create truly valuable content for your viewers.

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Adsense
  • Affiliate Links
  • Merchandise

9. Music Channel

If you have a talent for music, there is a lot of opportunity for you on Youtube. You could upload instrument tutorials, your own work, or even vlogs about the topic. 

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Adsense
  • Affiliate Links

10. Educational Channel

People love learning. Whatever interest or hobby you might have, there is a big chance that there is an audience out there wanting to learn about that subject. If there is something you are passionate about and an expert in, you could easily turn it into an educational channel.

These kinds of videos require a lot of planning, research, and writing to present the information in an educational way to the viewer. You could have your face in the video, alternatively use stock footage or animations. 

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Affiliate Links
  • Patreon
  • Online courses

11. Top x Lists

Top x lists are hugely popular on Youtube. There is just something about ranking stuff presented as a list. These videos are made to educate and entertain your viewers. 

Remember that top x Lists is a very competitive niche, and it will take truly great and valuable content to get views. 

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Adsense
  • Patreon

12. How-to Videos

People go to Youtube all the time for simple guides on everything from “how-to-tie a tie” to “how to build a PC.” 

How-to Videos educate the viewer on how to do a specific task. They are often short and right to the point. There are millions of people looking for answers to simple everyday things on Youtube. This could be an excellent opportunity for you.

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Adsense

13. Motivational/Inspirational Videos

Motivational videos are a powerful way to motivate people. You can combine different clips, music, and audio edited in a compelling way to create a powerful emotional reaction. 

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Adsense

14. Cooking Channel

There are endless cooking videos on Youtube. Videos are a great way to explain and show a cooking recipe. There are endless sub-niches you could get into, like your local cuisine, baking, or combining them with other forms of content.

If your channel gets big enough, you could easily monetize through affiliate links with cooking utensils and equipment. 

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Affiliate links
  • Sponsorships
  • Adsense

15. Health & Fitness

If you have some experience or expertise in health and fitness to share through videos, you could reach massive audiences on Youtube. Many people go to this platform when they want to learn about new diets, tips, workouts, or motivation for their health and fitness routines.

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Affiliate links
  • Own Products
  • Courses

16. Food/Restaurant Reviews

Many people love learning about food. Youtube is a great place to review different restaurants and local dishes. You don’t even have to travel so far to make an exciting food review video, as you likely have several restaurants to choose from in your area.

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Adsense

17. Gadgets & Tech

Before you buy any piece of tech or gadget, you always want to check reviews about want you are about to buy. A lot of people go to Youtube to do just that. Video is the ideal way to review a gadget or piece of tech as you can both explain and show something visually. It is a competitive space, but with several sub-niches and opportunity for a content creator.

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Affiliate links
  • Sponsorships
  • Adsense

18. Lifehacks

Lifehack channels have become very popular on youtube as people love to find ways to save time and money; they can also be quite entertaining to watch.

Like most channel types, lifehack videos are a lot of work, as you have to come up with new ideas and builds regularly. Videos have to be released consistently and frequently, but most are not very long, usually less than 10 minutes in length.

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Adsense

19. Compilation Videos

There are endless compilation videos on Youtube. They can be in many different niches like memes, pet videos, news, and a lot more. When using other people’s videos and work, it is important to respect copyright and fair use. You don’t want to risk youtube taking down your channel.

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Adsense

20. Beauty Channel

Video is ideal for makeup beauty tutorials. So it has naturally grown to become a big part of Youtube. If you have a talent for beauty or makeup, you could easily share your experience and skills with other people on this platform.

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Affiliate Links
  • Own products
  • Sponsorships

21. Comedy Channel

Comedy videos have been around since the dawn of youtube. Video is a very engaging way to make people laugh and be entertained. Funny skits, spoofs, or pranks are very popular and are often some of the top-ranking videos on trending.

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Adsense

22. Sports Channel

People love their sports. Creating content around certain sports or games could make for a very successful youtube channel. 

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Affiliate Links
  • Adsense

23. DIY Builds/Crafts

If you love building stuff, remember that there are millions of people who love to do the same. There are countless things you could build yourself at home; if you have some skill experience in DIY building, you could make a great youtube channel out of it.

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Adsense

24. News Channel

As the name suggests, a news channel on youtube informs the viewer about what is happing around the world. 

Because of fierce competition from other youtube channels and other news media, you should niche down in a particular topic—for example, news from the food community, politics, or sports world. The news channel niche opportunities are endless. 

With this channel type, in particular, it is very important to present news in a clear and engaging way to the viewer. And you should always check your sources to avoid misinformation. It could just be yourself, or you could have a discussion panel to bring in different views and opinions on the stories.

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Adsense
  • Sponsorships

25. Pets Channel

Do you have a funny pet at home? People love watching funny animal videos. It could be dogs, cats, parrots, or really any other animal. You could include useful tips and educate your viewers about the animal and how to take care of it.

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Adsense
  • Merchandise

26. Short Films

If you have a flair in filmmaking, you could share your work on Youtube in the form of short films. Keep them short and sweet, and avoid overcomplicated storylines. 

Primary Monetization Method: 

  • Adsense
  • Sponsorships

What channel idea do I pick?

Double Niching – (Combining Two or More Ideas/Niches)

It is very common to combine two niches to when creating a youtube channel. You could, for example, mix travel vlogging and food vlogging, personal vlogging with adventure, comedy with cooking, etc. 

Coming up with unique and exciting combinations can make for very entertaining videos for people to watch. It could be how you differentiate from your competition. 

Provide Value

In the end, what kind of vlog channel you pick should come down to where you think you could provide the most value to other people. If you are just doing something solely for monetary gain or because it is quick or easy, it won’t work. 

People need a reason to choose your channel among hundreds of other channels in the same niche. Why should they watch you? What unique value are you offering to them? What are you doing differently than your competition?

Choose a channel type that you can provide the most value in; this could be through your expertise in something, your voice, personality, information, or something else. 

Any Topic can become a Youtube Channel

The fact today is that, even if you have some obscure hobby or passion you think nobody is interested in, it probably has a reasonably big audience on Youtube. The internet connects millions of people, and because of the sheer number of viewers on Youtube, almost any hobby, interest, or passion can have viewership and could make you a full-time income. As a matter of fact, a lesser-known topic could mean less competition and, therefore, better chances for success.

In Conclusion

We hope you got some inspiration out of this extensive list of Youtube channel ideas for beginners.

If you are still not sure where to start, just try a few ideas and see how they feel. It might be challenging to know exactly what kind of youtube channel you want to start if you have not tried anything before. By trying a few things, you will find one idea you like. Just make sure that you stick with it.