So you want to make YouTube videos but the thought of being on camera makes you cringe? Good news—you don't have to be.

People are building entire channels now without ever showing their face or recording their own voice. And honestly, it's gotten pretty easy. Here's how it works.

First: Figure Out What You Want to Make

Think about what you actually enjoy talking about. Could be anything:

• Teaching people stuff (phone tips, productivity hacks)
• Making lists (best budget travel destinations, weird facts)
• Explaining interesting topics (why do we dream? how does Bitcoin work?)
• Telling motivational stories

Pick something you won't get bored of after three videos.

Get Your Script Together

Just open ChatGPT and tell it what you need. Something like: "Write me a simple 2-minute script explaining why people put things off until the last minute."

When you get the script back, read it like you're talking to a friend. If it sounds too formal or weird, just rewrite the awkward parts yourself. Doesn't need to be perfect.

Let AI Do the Talking

This part's cool. Tools like ElevenLabs or Play.ht will read your script out loud, and they sound surprisingly real now. Not like those old robotic voices.

Just pick a voice that doesn't annoy you. Done.

Now You Need Something to Look At

You've got options here, and they're all pretty straightforward:

If you want AI to make video clips: Try Runway or Pika Labs. You basically describe what you want and it generates a short video. It's not perfect but it's getting better every month.

If you want to keep it simple: Just grab free videos from Pexels or Pixabay. Nobody cares if you're using stock footage as long as your content is good.

If you like pictures more: Use Midjourney to make images and show them while your voiceover plays. Works fine for certain topics.

Throw Everything Into an Editor

CapCut is free and pretty easy to figure out. Here's what you do:

Drop in your voiceover first. Then add your videos or images on top so they match what's being said. Throw some background music underneath (make sure it's copyright-free or you'll get a strike). And add text on screen—most people watch videos on mute anyway.

Mess around with it until it looks decent. You'll get faster each time.

A Few Things That Actually Matter

Your thumbnail is probably more important than the video itself. Make it bright and clear. Use Canva if you're not a designer.

Post regularly. Doesn't have to be daily, but pick a schedule you can stick to.

And please, don't just copy what everyone else is doing. Add something—your take, better research, a different angle. Whatever makes it yours.

What About Making Money?

YouTube will pay you if your videos are original enough. That means writing your own scripts and not recycling the same footage in every video. If you're basically just reuploading stock clips with a robot voice, you probably won't get monetized.

But if you're creating something useful or entertaining? You're good.

Just Start

Look, the tools are there. They're mostly free or cheap. You don't need to be a video expert or own fancy equipment.

The real trick is just making that first video and uploading it. It'll probably be rough. That's normal. Your tenth video will be way better than your first.

So pick a topic, spend an hour putting something together, and post it. See what happens.