Life skills · YouTube & book
Dad, How Do I?
Rob Kenney
Filmed the simple things a dad would teach, like tying a tie, and found millions of viewers.
youtube.com ↗START A YOUTUBE CHANNEL
How to start a YouTube channel teaching what you know.
Some of the best-loved channels are run by people who simply know how to do something well, and show it.
Find your thing →free · about 5 minutes
THE SHORT ANSWER
To start a YouTube channel that teaches, pick one specific topic, plan ten videos that each answer one question people search for, and film them with a phone, good light and a clip-on microphone. Post on a steady schedule, answer comments, and add paid offers like courses or memberships as your audience grows.
WHY YOUR EXPERIENCE COUNTS
Viewers trust experience.
People don’t come to how-to videos for polish. They come for someone who clearly knows what they’re doing and explains it plainly. Decades of experience show on camera.
YouTube is also a search engine. Every video that answers a real question keeps getting found for years, long after you post it.
You can start with the phone in your pocket. The people in our Library started simply and improved as they went.
IDEAS THAT FIT
Teaching video formats that work
| Idea | Format | Effort to start | How it earns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step-by-step how-tos | Start-to-finish demos | Medium | Ads, courses, products |
| Real jobs, filmed as they happen | Fly-on-the-wall | Medium | Memberships, sponsors |
| Common mistakes and fixes | Short explainers | Low | Ads, consulting leads |
| Tool and gear reviews | Honest recommendations | Low | Affiliate links, disclosed |
| Stories from experience | Talking to camera | Low | Builds loyal viewers |
| Live Q&A sessions | Livestream | Low | Memberships, tips |
PEOPLE WHO DID IT
Real people, real knowledge, real second acts.
Car repair · YouTube
South Main Auto
Eric Obrochta
Films real diagnostics on real customer cars, supported by channel memberships.
youtube.com ↗
Cooking · YouTube & store
Chef Jean-Pierre
Jean-Pierre Bréhier
Relaunched his YouTube channel in his late sixties after decades in restaurants.
chefjeanpierre.com ↗
Building & trades · YouTube
Essential Craftsman
Scott Wadsworth
Started filming shop lessons with his son to pass on hard-won knowledge.
youtube.com ↗HOW TO START
Five steps, one at a time.
- 01
Know
List ten questions people ask about your topic. Each one is a video.
- 02
Find
Search YouTube for those questions and note what’s missing from existing videos.
- 03
Tell
Film your first three videos with a phone, side light and a clip-on mic.
- 04
Build
Edit simply, write clear titles that match the question, and post on a schedule.
- 05
Grow
Answer comments, make the videos people ask for, and add a newsletter or course.
FIND YOUR THING
Get a plan made for what you know.
Answer six quick questions and the free Know + Tell Business Builder suggests your best first thing, who it’s for and which tools to use. Your first answer is already filled in.
TOOLS FOR YOUR FIRST STEP
Start with these.
Descript ↗Edit videos by editing the transcript, and cut the dead air.YouTube ↗Host your videos where people already search for how-tos.Claude ↗Plan a video series, outline scripts and write titles and descriptions.
Know + Tell is free. Some tool links pay us a commission; here’s how we choose.
QUESTIONS PEOPLE ASK
Questions people ask.
Am I too old to start a YouTube channel?
No. Experience is part of the appeal, and several of the most-watched teaching channels are hosted by people in their sixties and seventies.
What equipment do I need?
A recent phone, a tripod, a clip-on microphone and good light are enough to start.
How often should I post?
Choose a pace you can keep, such as one video a week or two a month. Consistency matters more than volume.
How do YouTube channels make money?
Through a mix of ad revenue once eligible, sponsors, memberships, affiliate links and the courses or products videos lead to.
Do I have to show my face?
No. Many teaching channels focus on hands, tools or a screen. Showing your face can help viewers connect, but it’s your choice.
KEEP GOING