What to Spend on Gear When You’re Trying to Grow your Video Brand

As a content creator or online business owner, having the right gear can make a huge difference in the quality of your videos. However, it’s important to invest in gear that will help you grow your video brand, rather than just buying what’s popular or trendy. It’s important to remember that it’s not the gear that makes a successful channel or online business – it’s how you use it. In this post, I’ll share my thoughts on gear investments and provide tips on how to prioritize your spending for the best results.

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Invest in Audio

One of the most common mistakes I see new creators make is investing in expensive cameras and lighting setups before focusing on audio quality. But as I always say, audio is the most important element of your videos. If your audio quality is poor, viewers will tune out no matter how great your visuals are.

The good news is that investing in audio doesn’t have to break the bank. There are plenty of affordable external microphones on the market that can significantly improve your audio quality. Even if you don’t have a fancy microphone, you can use software like Adobe’s mic enhancement or audio enhancement to improve the sound of your videos. However, if you do have the budget to invest in a quality microphone, I highly recommend it. I’ve tried a bunch of different microphones such as the DJI Mic and the Audio Technica ATR 2100x. I have currently been using the Shure SM7dB, and I like it.

While you don’t necessarily need a $500 microphone, upgrading to an external microphone can make a big difference in your video’s audio quality. Just remember that investing in a new microphone won’t magically make your channel grow. It’s one tactic of many that can contribute to your success.

Prioritize Lighting Gear

Once you’ve invested in quality audio, the next gear investment you should consider is lighting. Good lighting can make a huge difference in the look and feel of your videos. It can also help to make you look your best on camera, which can be a significant confidence booster.

You don’t need to invest in expensive lighting setups to achieve good results. Natural light is always the best option, so try to set up your shooting space near a window. You can also invest in affordable LED lights like the ones from Elgato to supplement your natural light. I really like the Elgato Key Lights because they don’t take up a lot of space.

When it comes to lighting, it’s important to remember that it’s not just about brightness. The positioning of your lights can also make a big difference in the look of your video. Take the time to experiment with different lighting setups to find what works best for you.

Related: YouTube Studio Lighting Setup

Consider Your Camera and Lens

Finally, once you’ve invested in quality audio and lighting, it may be time to consider upgrading your camera and lens. While it’s true that the best camera is the one you have with you, a quality camera and lens can significantly improve the look of your videos.

When it comes to camera and lens upgrades, it’s important to remember that the lens is just as important as the camera itself. The right lens can make a huge difference in the quality of your footage. So don’t skimp on this important gear investment. I’ve already made several posts about my camera setup, but I am still using my Canon M50 Mark II and a Sigma 16 mm lens. And I have my Canon R10 set up kind of like webcam style over top of my monitor.

Teleprompters and Other Gear

There is a ton of other gear out there for content creators, like teleprompters, Stream Deck, and various lights. Do you really need all that stuff? Is it really going to make you more successful? Is it going to make your videos actually better? I’ve talked to a number of people who got the Elgato prompter, and then tried it out and then realized that they really don’t like reading from a teleprompter.

So if you’re considering a teleprompter, I would say just try reading from a script first. See if you sound natural, or if you come off sounding robotic. Maybe you just need more practice, but maybe reading from a teleprompter or script isn’t working for you. So don’t go out and spend a bunch of money on extra gear unless you know your strategy for using it.

Don’t Forget About Strategy

It’s important to remember that gear alone won’t make you successful on YouTube. Having a solid strategy that involves creating content consistently, growing your audience, and generating revenue is crucial for building a successful video brand. Investing in gear should always come after you’ve established a solid strategy for your channel.

Conclusion

Investing in gear for your YouTube channel can greatly improve the quality of your videos, but it’s important to prioritize the right gear that will help you grow your video brand. Start by investing in good audio and lighting, and if you have the budget, consider upgrading your camera and lens. But remember, just having all the gear won’t make you successful on YouTube. Because building a business as a content creator is more than just building a YouTube channel. It’s about building a video brand that establishes you as the go to person in your niche, or industry.

So if you want to hear more about this, check out my new podcast launching soon, but joining my Podcast Preview Crew to hear the very first episodes.