YouTube for the Average Joe

Founded in February 2005, YouTube allows billions of people to discover, watch, and share videos. You can connect with, inspire, and inform others from around the world through YouTube. From individual to large business content creators, the video platform is an endless source of content.

What To Watch. With endless amounts of content on every possible subject imaginable, where do you start? Pick a topic you are interested in and type that topic into the search bar at the top of YouTube’s home page. The more specific the topic you enter, the more detailed the search results will be.

Once you have your search results, you can then filter those results based on a list of details such as when the video was uploaded or the duration of the video. This is done by clicking the “Filters” button in the upper-left corner of the results page. There are options to sort your results by relevance, upload date, view count, or rating. These search result tools enable you to find the exact video you are looking for .

This One Looks Good. Once you’ve found a video you’d like to watch, click on the title of the video. You will be taken to that video's unique page. There you will be able to watch the video, see who uploaded it, read a detailed description, and read comments about the video or its subject matter.

Like It or Dislike It, Let ’em Know. Did you enjoy the video? Was it informative, enjoyable, or just plain awful? Let others know by clicking the "Like" or "Dislike" buttons in the lower right corner of the description box. These two buttons are easily recognizable by the "Thumbs Up" and "Thumbs Down" icons.

Join The Conversation. If you enjoyed the video or would like to add to the conversation in the comments section, do so just below the description box on the video's page. There you will see what other people have said and can reply to comments left by others, creating conversations with other users.

How To Subscribe. If you found something you really like and want to subscribe to that Author or Channel’s page, you can click the “Subscribe” button on the left just below the video you’re watching. Now when you log in to YouTube, videos from that user will be available right on the home page for easy access.

With these quick and easy steps, you can navigate millions of videos on YouTube in minutes. Find exactly what you're looking for: search, watch, share, and stay in touch all within a couple of clicks!

Ready To Share Your Video? Here’s How.

Uploading Your Video. The first step to sharing your videos with the world is to sign in to your YouTube account and upload your video. Once you are signed in, click the “Upload” button at the top of the page. You can select your file by clicking on the large arrow icon or by simply dragging and dropping the video on to the arrow. Your video will then begin to upload.

Video Settings. Once your video begins to upload you can give your video a title, provide a description, and tag the video with search words. Make sure your description has plenty of details about your video. You can choose to make the video public, unlisted, or private depending with whom you would like to share the video. These options are available on the right side of the page from a drop down menu.

Publish Your Video. Once the video is done uploading, click the “Publish” button. After the upload has completed, you will receive an email confirming its completion and processing. Your video is now ready to be viewed by millions of people on YouTube or just your friends depending on your privacy settings for the video.

Thinking of uploading a YouTube video? Try it out and post the link in the comments for us to view!