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Marques Brownlee.
- Marques Brownlee, known as MKBHD online, has 10 million YouTube subscribers.
- Brownlee is a tech YouTube creator, and he films videos like reviews on the latest smartphones, tech unboxing videos, and smartphone camera tests.
- Brownlee spoke to Business Insider about his tips for starting a successful YouTube channel and what equipment you need to get started.
- Click here for more BI Prime stories.
Marques Brownlee, known as MKBHD online, turned to YouTube 11 years ago when he wanted to figure out which computer he should buy for school.
"I was saving my allowance money and trying to figure out what new laptop to get," he told Business Insider. "When I got it, I ended up noticing a couple things that I didn't see in those first few videos. That was the point where it felt natural to turn the camera on myself."
Brownlee was in high school when he launched his YouTube channel. In 2009, he filmed his first tech review video of the media center remote that came with his new laptop. Now, 11 years later, his channel has become one of the top tech channels on YouTube with 10 million subscribers.
Brownlee's videos on YouTube range from reviews on the latest smartphones, to tech unboxing videos, to smartphone camera tests.
He recently launched a show with YouTube Originals (YouTube's scripted and unscripted series) called "Retro Tech" which features Brownlee unboxing, reviewing, and exploring vintage technology.
Brownlee spoke to Business Insider about his tips for starting a successful YouTube channel and what equipment you need to get started.
YouTube/MKBHD
Brownlee has 10 million subscribers on YouTube.
The equipment you need to start a YouTube channel
You don't need to spend a ton of money to start a successful YouTube channel. In general, it's best to use what you have, and just get started, Brownlee said.
It's likely you already have everything you need, and Brownlee added that he used the webcam on his laptop to film his first videos.
Most smartphones have a good-quality camera built-in, and it's likely that you already own one. Many come with a photo or video editor app, and there are a few others for free, or to purchase cheaply, that work well for editing on your phone, Brownlee said.
Other top YouTube creators have told Business Insider that they use the $29.99 LumaFusion app to edit clips on their phone.
These apps are good for starting out, since traditional video editing software, like Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro, will cost you a couple hundred dollars - plus the computer to use it on.
"That's already more than what I started with," Brownlee said, adding that you can use any computer, smartphone, or tablet to edit together footage.
Set your schedule and pick something you are passionate about
Since the internet never turns off, Brownlee said it's important to create your own schedule, with set hours like 9-to-5.
He said the best topics to film your YouTube videos on are the ones you are already passion about, and that way it won't really feel like work. Being passionate about the topic, rather than just sharing it with the goal of making money, will allow your content to build a genuine following, and help you come up with ideas.
"The strategy at its core has always been to make what I want to watch," he said. "It wouldn't even matter if you had the best gear because you would be interested in talking about it either way."
For more on how to become a successful influencer, according to YouTube and Instagram stars, check out these Business Insider Prime posts:
How to edit Instagram photos according to 'Tezza,' the professional influencer and creator of a photo app with over 3 million downloads: Instagram influencer Tessa "Tezza" Barton shared her tips with Business Insider on how to edit Instagram pictures so they will stand out.
- A rising YouTube star with 1.6 million subscribers uses her iPhone and a $30 app to make her videos: YouTube phenomenon Jennelle Eliana Long, who gained 1.6 million subscribers on YouTube within a month of posting her first video, on what equipment she uses.
- How to start a YouTube career without spending tons of money, according to a creator with millions of subscribers: We spoke to entrepreneur and YouTube creator Benji Travis who broke down four basic steps to starting an online career.
A college TikTok influencer with 1.6 million followers explains how much money she makes - and her 3 main sources of income: Cosette Rinab, a USC junior, shared the ways she earns money as a creator on TikTok with 1.6 million followers.