Being a YouTuber, if you haven’t yet tried reaction videos, you are missing out on a crucial opportunity to connect with your target audience. Reaction videos are extremely simple to make and quite helpful in attracting viewers to your YouTube channel. In this article, we will guide you through the exact steps of how to make a reaction video on YouTube.
What Is A Reaction Video?
A YouTube reaction video is an engaging and entertaining video where the YouTuber is recorded reacting to something. Typically, content creators react to everything from TV episodes, old music videos, Vlogs, and content from other creators. It often consists of a shot of the person’s face reflecting his reaction on one side of the video, and the original video being reacted to is present on the other side. The viewer watches the reaction and the original video simultaneously.
How To Make Reaction Videos On YouTube?
There are two major ways to create a reaction video on YouTube.
- Record yourself reacting to the original video and later edit the video in a video editor.
- Record yourself watching the original video and screen record at the same time using video editing tools.
Follow the steps below to create a YouTube reaction video for your channel.
Select what you wish to react to
Before making a reaction video, choose what you will react to. The multiple options that include
- Viral video reactions
- Meme videos
- TV show trailers
- Music videos
- Try not to laugh challenges
- Video Game reactions
- News/Event reactions
Choose your Preferred Reaction Style
As a creator, you can record a reaction video in a solo or group format. A solo format reaction video includes just you reacting to one video at a time. But, in a group reaction video, several creators react to one video together and share their opinions later, one by one.
Set up your recording equipment
Set up the external camera that frames your face from above the shoulders in a decent, clutter-free space. Keep the videos you selected in the queue that are ready to watch with your audience. Have a good microphone that records your voice, especially if you are reacting to a video with intense sound.
Introduce Yourself
Give a context upfront by introducing yourself before reacting to the video. Your viewers are aware of what they are about to see.
Use Picture-in-Picture mode for Best Results
This PiP mode helps you layer one video over another in the same frame. The smaller video frame shows your video with the reactions, while the larger frame shows the video to which you are reacting. It also makes your content easier to consume by your viewers.
Start recording your candid reactions
Be authentic and react naturally to what you are watching. Show your emotions, provide some funny commentary, or pause if needed. Your commentary should go beyond what’s happening on the screen. The idea is to capture reactions that don’t seem fake to the viewers.
Add your final thoughts or perspective
Now that you’ve shared your reaction, share your views. Your potential fans will love knowing your unique perspective on the reaction video. What was your favorite part that made you laugh out loud? Would you recommend it to others? This move will make your reaction video more engaging.
Edit your Reaction Video
Import the raw footage into your video editing software. Trim the dull sections where there’s not much reaction, add background effects if required, and include some lead-in time before displaying the main reaction. Keep it short but entertaining. Craft an intriguing title for your YouTube reaction video and an SEO-friendly description.
Follow YouTube’s Copyright Rules
Be mindful of YouTube’s copyright restrictions when creating reaction videos. You must be aware of YT’s fair use policy that allows you to use copyrighted material under certain conditions, such as commentary, criticism, or education. Avoid adding copyrighted audio to your reaction video unless it is essential.
Publish and Promote your Reaction Video
Publish the video on your YouTube channel once you complete its editing. Share its link on your social media handles to help it gain traction. You can also promote video on YouTube that allows you to reach your target audience faster.
Why Make A YouTube Reaction Video?
There are different purposes for creating a reaction video on YouTube. Sometimes, these videos offer a different perspective on the thing being reacted to. Here are a few compelling reasons why you should learn how to make reaction videos on YouTube.
1. These videos are easy and simple to make.
2. They don’t require much time and effort yet are effective in attracting traffic to your channel.
3. Reaction videos help to popularize your content by leveraging the existing trend.
4. There’s a wide range of subjects or topics to create entertaining reaction videos that put your brand at the center of YT trends.
What makes a reaction video successful?
The success of a reaction video varies from creator to creator. For some creators, the success of a reaction video hinges on its reach, engagement, and watch time. While for others, it could be as simple as wanting to have fun among their community. Depending on your reaction video goals, you can follow the steps below to make a reaction video successful.
The reaction must be bold but not too Visual
It is crucial that your reactions are genuine and your personality shines through in your reaction videos. But don’t overreact. For instance, if you are making a reaction video where you are screaming while reacting to some cute animal video, viewers will realise that you are faking your reactions. Indulge in a way that feels natural to you.
Leverage Contrast Effects
Be creative in your approach of reacting in a reaction video on YouTube. Surprise the viewer with something unexpected to keep them engaged. Leveraging contrast effects refers to reacting in a contrasting manner to the content and seeing if it is working for you.
Keep the Reaction Content Fresh
Viewers want to see honest reactions vs scripted ones. Your initial reaction captures your honest feelings and keeps the content fresh for the viewers because the video doesn’t feel scripted, since the viewer isn’t aware of what’s coming next.
Choose the reaction video content wisely
The topic of your reaction videos must be something that captures your audience’s attention right away. What purpose do you want your reaction video to serve? Why will your viewers watch you reacting to some other content? Answering these questions will help your reaction videos reach a significantly larger audience and get more views to your videos on YouTube.
Keep your Audio Levels Sharp
The audio and video must be well-balanced to make a successful reaction video. It’s crucial that your voice is heard over the original audio, but it shouldn’t overpower it. A good-quality audio is essential to keep your viewers hooked on your reaction video on YouTube.
Be Mindful of the rules for reaction videos on YouTube
Learning how to make reaction videos on YouTube is a great way to engage your audience and expand your subscriber base. If you are not careful in your approach to creating reaction videos, you may end up attracting copyright claims and strikes.
Fair Use
The content material that you use must fall under a copyrighted category for commentary, education, or criticism.
No Harmful Content
Your reaction video must not contain hate speech, harassment, or violent content, as it is against the platform’s policies.
Credits and Attribution
It is necessary that you give credit to the original creator whose content you’re using in your reaction video. You can provide them with credit in the video and its description.
Respecting Community Standards
While learning how to make reaction videos on YouTube, ensure that your video content complies with YouTube’s community standards and guidelines.
Obtain Permission
In case you are unsure of whether the content you are about to use is up for fair use, it is always better to seek permission from the original creator to use it in your reaction video.
Keep Clips Brief
Reaction videos work best when they are presented briefly. Focus on short clips that highlight the specific parts to which you’re reacting.
Do Reaction Videos get Monetized?
Now that you know how to make reaction videos, coming to the most important question; do reaction videos make money on YouTube? It depends. A reaction video is made by using someone else’s work to create your content. There are certain content creators who will claim that your reaction video does not align with fair use and can initiate copyright claim action. Others may not care, and let your reaction video expand its reach. You can make money through ads on reaction videos only if no one reports your video for content misuse.
Conclusion
This was all about the nuances of how to make a reaction video on YouTube. You must edit the video keeping the viewer’s perspective in mind. Don’t underestimate the power of reaction videos since you never know which one could take off and garner extreme popularity for your channel. Kickstart your efforts to make a series of reaction videos and grow your audience on YouTube. You can also use the top YouTube keyword research tools to discover ideas for your YouTube videos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can I Make A Reaction Video Without Copyright Claims?
You cannot make a YouTube reaction video without using some other content. Hence, it is a good practice to reach out to other creators and ask for explicit permission or credit the original creators to avoid copyright claims in the future.
Q2. Can you make money on YouTube with reaction videos?
Yes. You can make money on YouTube by publishing reaction videos. However, the amount earned depends on multiple factors, such as the type of content, your channel’s performance, and YouTube’s channel monetization policies.
Q3. Are Reaction Videos Legal?
The legality of reaction videos depends on how they are created and portrayed according to copyright laws. If you have given due credit and used limited copyrighted material, your reaction videos are completely safe and legal.
Q4. What are the rules for reaction videos?
Your reaction video should evoke something creative and transformative for your viewers. It should not be merely a copy of the original video.