MotionShineShort answer: If you can do it on your computer, you can make a video of it. The easiest YouTube video ideas for a screen recorder are tutorials ("how to do X in Y"), tool reviews, workflow walkthroughs, "before and after" projects and answers to questions you keep getting asked. Pick something you already know well, so you spend your time on clear steps and not on research.
The ideas below are grouped by type. They are suggestions from the way these formats work, not a list of proven winners. I have not measured views for any of them.
Tutorials: show one task from start to end
A tutorial is the simplest format. One task, one result.
- How to do [one job] in [an app you know]
- A shortcut list for [an app], with each shortcut shown live
- How to set up [a tool] from zero in one sitting
- How to fix [a common error], recorded while fixing it
- How to move from [old app] to [new app]
- A beginner's first hour in [an app]
Write the steps first. The tutorial video script template gives you a plan you can fill in.
Reviews and comparisons
- An honest review of one app after real use
- Two apps that do the same job, side by side on the same task
- Free vs paid: what you actually get
- "Is it worth it?" for a tool people ask about
Check any price or feature you mention on the maker's own page the day you publish. Prices change, and a wrong number hurts trust.
Workflows and process
- How I organize my files, notes or inbox, shown on screen
- My weekly routine in [an app]
- A full project, start to finish, sped up with commentary
- How I plan content, from idea to published
- A day of work, screen only, with a voice over
Projects people can follow
- Build a small website, a spreadsheet, a slide deck or an app from nothing
- Redesign a page and show before and after
- Learn a skill in public: week one, week two, week three
- A challenge with a limit, such as one hour or one tool
Answer-style videos
- The five questions you get asked most, one short video each
- "Why is my [thing] not working?" with the fix
- Myths about a tool, tested on screen
- What changed in the latest update
- A beginner mistake you made, and how to avoid it
- Tips and tricks few people know about [an app]
How to pick one
- Choose what you know. You will explain it faster and make fewer mistakes.
- Check that people search for it. Type the idea into YouTube's search bar and see what it suggests.
- Make it small. A narrow video that finishes beats a big one that does not.
- Look at what is already there. If the top videos are old, outdated or long-winded, you have a gap.
Make the recording easier to watch
A screen recording is easy to start and easy to make boring. A few habits fix most of it.
- Zoom in on the action. Small buttons are hard to read on a phone. Zoom when you click.
- Keep the cursor steady. A shaky cursor tires the eye.
- Cut the long pauses. Say the first sentence quickly. People decide in seconds.
- Add captions. Many people watch with the sound off.
MotionShine is made by the maker of this site. It is a free Mac screen recorder that zooms in on your clicks automatically, smooths the cursor and has an editor with text, pictures, music lanes, voice over and on-device captions. The free version exports up to 720p at 30 fps with no watermark and no time limit; Pro unlocks 1080p, 1440p and 4K. It is for Macs only. If you use Windows, it is not for you.
For more on the whole path, read how to start a YouTube channel with screen recordings and video editing tips for screen recordings. When the video is done, the free tools for titles, descriptions, chapters and thumbnails can help with the upload.
FAQ
What YouTube videos can I make with just a screen recorder?
Tutorials, app reviews, comparisons, workflow walkthroughs, project builds and answers to common questions. If it happens on your computer, you can record it.
Do I need to show my face?
No. Many screen-only channels use a voice over. A small camera bubble is optional.
How do I come up with video ideas that don't run out?
Keep a list of every question you are asked and every problem you solve at work. Each one is a video.
How long should a screen recording video be?
As long as the task needs and no longer. Cut anything that does not help the viewer finish the job.
What should I record first?
A short tutorial on something you do every week. It is easy to plan and easy to check.
Is the free MotionShine version enough for YouTube?
The free version exports up to 720p at 30 fps with no watermark. Pro unlocks 1080p, 1440p, 4K and 60 fps.
