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When something goes amiss in the kitchen, it's important to understand what went wrong. When baking a cake, there are a lot of little things you can do to improve your odds of a winning finished product. Similarly, there are a lot of bad habits that can have equal influence on your recipe to negative effect. To help you on your quest to bake the perfect cake, here's a breakdown of important dos and don'ts:

The seven rules for baking a perfect cake

It's insurance that your cake will slide out cleanly after cooling.

Allow the oven to fully preheat first

The cakes needs to bake at the right temperature, no shortcuts.

Bake in the centre of the oven (unless otherwise specified)

If it doesn't specify otherwise, that's how the recipe was designed. Changes will alter your results.

Bake in the size of pan specified

Otherwise you're looking at uneven baking, which means an uneven cake.

Don't try to double the recipe

Cake recipes are more complex than that. Source out a recipe for a larger volume instead.

Use fresh ingredients

Old ingredients taste bad, and old leaveners (like baking soda) simply don't work.

No substitutions

With the exception of spices, don't substitute ingredients. Especially ones that have structural impact.

Six common baking-fails, and how they can be prevented

Your cake is too dense

A cake that is overly dense typically has too much liquid, too much sugar or too little leavening (not excess flour, as is commonly thought).

Solution: Make sure you're using wet measures for wet ingredients and dry measures for dry; check the freshness of your baking soda and powder, and check your oven temp to make sure it's hot enough. A cake that bakes too slowly takes longer to set and may fall, causing a dense texture.

There are holes and tunnels in your cake

Cakes that have holes are problematic, especially if you plan to slice them horizontally. Holes in cakes are caused by improper mixing (generally over-mixing). You can always fill the holes with frosting to cover them up, but of course preventing them in the first place is the better plan.

Solution: Consider what mixing method you're using.
If you have a recipe that calls for hand-mixing, yet you use a hand blender, you'll need to mix much less. Standing mixers are incredibly efficient, but will mix your cakes very quickly. Make sure your ingredients (eggs, liquid and dairy) are as close to room temperature as possible to encourage proper mixing.

Your cake is dry

The culprits for dry cake are ingredients that absorb moisture, such as flour or other starches, cocoa or any milk solids. A second, and equally damaging culprit, is over-baking.

Solution: Ensure that you're measuring your flour properly.
Spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level off evenly. Avoid dipping your measuring cup into the bag as this presses the flour into your cup and you'll end up with too much flour. Measure cocoa powder the same way. To avoid over baking, there are three indicators that you should look for to determine if your cake is done: The cake should be slightly pulling away from the side of the pan, a cake tester inserted into the deepest part of the cake comes out clean, and the cake should spring back when gently pressed.

Your cake is tough

Mixing is a tricky thing when it comes to cakes. You need to find the perfect speed, temperature and duration to form perfectly-sized little air cells to make the ideal texture. Toughness in cakes is caused by over-mixing, or the wrong type of flour.

Solution: Mix your cake according to the recipe.
There is a function to the order in which ingredients are added to create the right texture. As soon as you begin mixing flour with a liquid and a fat, gluten is developed. Gluten is not desirable in cakes, so mix thoroughly, but as little as possible. Make sure you're using the correct flour. If your recipe calls for a cake or pastry flour then an all-purpose flour or bread flour will be too hard, creating a tough crumb.

Your cake broke when you turned it out of the pan

A cake has gone through a lot over the last 30 minutes, not to mention turning from a liquid to a solid! It needs a minute or two to gain its composure once removed from the oven.

Solution: Line the bottoms of your pan with parchment paper.
Cakes should rest in their pans on a rack for 15 minutes after coming out of the oven. By lining the bottom of the pan with parchment, you give yourself some added insurance that the cake will slide out after cooling. (Running a sharp knife between the inside of the pan and the cake is a good idea, too.)

Your icing is full of crumbs

Crumbs are the cake-decorator's nemesis! They're inevitable if you build a layer cake and have to split the layers, but there is a fix to minimize these irritating little morsels.

Solution: Do a 'crumb coat' when frosting your cake.
Whether you're making the simplest of cakes or the most extravagant of gateaus, put a very thin layer of icing on the cake for starters. This layer glues down the crumbs. Chill the cake until that crumb coat is firm, then continue icing your cake. There shouldn't be a crumb in sight.
Originally published January 2015; Updated May 2019.

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7 Rules For Baking The Perfect Cake (And What To Do When You Mess Up)

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When something goes amiss in the kitchen, it's important to understand what went wrong. When baking a cake, there are a lot of little things you can do to improve your odds of a winning finished product. Similarly, there are a lot of bad habits that can have equal influence on your recipe to negative effect.

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Bakeries are a popular type of foodservice establishment, and they allow you to express your culinary creativity while also serving a unique market. Additionally, people with non-culinary backgrounds can get into the industry easily by opening a home bakery. Opening a bakery presents many unique challenges that are different from other types of businesses. We will take you through the process of opening a bakery from writing a business plan and getting funding to filing for permits and choosing the right equipment for your new bakery.

You can also use the links below to jump to specific sections of the bakery opening process.

Types of Bakeries

Before you can start planning and organizing your new bakery, you need to understand the different types of bakeries and what sort of customers they serve. There are two main types of bakeries: retail and wholesale. Although these two types of bakeries may make similar products, they have different needs and customer bases.

Retail Bakeries

Retail bakeries are the most common type of bakery, and they are the bakeries that sell baked goods and breads directly to customers. Retail bakeries come in many different forms, and many of them specialize in one type of baked good. They also need both front- and back-of-house space. Here are some specific types of retail bakeries:

Bakery cafe: This type of bakery is a combination of a bakery and cafe, and they typically sell baked goods like breads, pastries, cookies, and more, as well as coffee and tea. Bakery cafes typically have a dining space where customers can sit and eat.

Counter service: While counter service bakeries have a front-of-house, typically they do not have a dining space. Instead, they have a counter where guests can order freshly baked goods to take home.

Bakery food trucks: Rather than using a brick-and-mortar store, food truck bakeries sell their products from a mobile truck. Due to the small space, many bakery food trucks do not actually bake in their truck, instead opting to bake their products ahead of time in a commissary kitchen or home bakery.

Specialty bakeries: A specialty bakery typically focuses on one type of baked good, such as wedding cakes, cupcakes, or gluten-free items. This type of bakery can excel because they offer niche products that customers either cannot find elsewhere or that are better than the products they can get at other, less-specialized bakeries.

Home bakeries: This type of bakery is becoming more common, especially because you don't need a lot of startup capital or culinary experience to start a home bakery. Home bakeries typically market their products online and then deliver them through the mail. Many home bakeries are also very specific and offer twists on one type of baked good, such as cupcakes, cookies, or brownies.

Wholesale Bakeries

The other main type of bakery is wholesale bakeries. Rather than selling their products directly to customers, wholesale bakeries market their baked goods to businesses like grocery stores, restaurants, delis, and cafes.

Because wholesale bakeries have to meet the demands of commercial customers, they are typically larger than retail varieties. Additionally, because they don't serve a typical clientele, wholesale bakeries don't need to have a front-of-house or be located in a desirable, high-traffic area. But, they need to produce higher volumes of baked goods, so wholesale bakeries need a large space and lots of baking equipment, resulting in higher startup costs.

How to Start a Bakery

After you've decided what type of bakery you want to open and what sort of products you want to make, you can start getting into the details of starting a bakery. We broke down the process of opening a bakery into 9 simple steps that you can reference along the way as you design and open your new business.

1. Write a Business Plan

The first step in opening your new establishment should be to write a bakery business plan. The business plan is an integral part of starting a new restaurant because it lays out what type of business you want to open, how it's going to be structured, what sort of products you're going to sell, marketing strategies, and financial projections. There are seven main sections to a bakery business plan:

1. Executive Summary

2. Company Overview and Description

3. Market Analysis

4. Business Offerings

5. Management Plan and Ownership Structure

6. Marketing and Advertising Strategy

7. Financial Projections

Your business plan serves as the foundation for your business, and a strong plan can help you get funding and make the process of opening a new bakery easy.

2. Obtain Loans and Startup Capital

When starting a bakery, there are many costs that you'll need to consider, such as leasing a commercial space, getting insurance, outfitting your space with equipment, hiring and training a staff, stocking your kitchen, and paying for utilities. As a result, you'll need to have a significant amount of money available to cover these costs. Additionally, it may take a few months after opening for your bakery to become profitable, so you'll need cash on hand to cover costs for several months after opening.

It is unlikely that you and your business partners will be able to fund your new bakery on your own, so you'll need to take out loans. There are three common ways business owners get funding: commercial loans, business lines of credit, and small business loans.

1. Traditional Commercial Loan: You can apply for a traditional commercial loan at any major or local bank. This type of loan has lower interest rates and access to large amounts of capital, but requires you to have a high credit score and wait potentially for months to access the money.

2. Business Line of Credit: A line of credit is similar to a credit card. You get approved to use up to a certain amount, but you're only charged for the amount you use. Additionally, as you pay off the balance, you can access more credit. But, a line of credit doesn't allow you to access as much money as other loan types and requires a higher lending standard.

3. Small Business Loan: Created by the Small Business Association, a small business loan is a type of loan that aims to protect small businesses and provide them with startup capital. Small business loans typically have lower interest rates and are available to people with borderline credit. But, they require collateral and may take longer to be approved than other loan types.

3. Leasing a Commercial Space

Once you've secured funding, you can start looking for a commercial space for your bakery. The type of commercial space you'll need will depend on the type of bakery that you're going to open. For example, if you're opening a food truck bakery, you'll need to purchase the truck and you may want to look into renting space in a commissary kitchen. Retail bakeries will want to look for a space in a central location close to their target demographic that also has a front-of-house area.

Because wholesale bakeries sell their products to businesses rather than customers, they can be located farther from the city center or populated areas. But, regardless of the type of bakery you're opening, there are some things you'll want to consider when looking for a commercial space:

Demographics

Accessibility

Proximity to Suppliers

Competition

Size and Space Requirements

Health Regulations and Zoning

Safety and Crime Rates

Once you've found a suitable location for your business, you can hire a lawyer to draw up and negotiate a lease with the landlord. To protect yourself from any potential issues when negotiating a lease, be sure to specify the length of the lease, any raises in rent that might be included, who will pay for any potential renovations, and any utilities that are covered.

4. Permits and Licenses

The foodservice industry is heavily regulated on a federal, state, and local level, and there are some permits and licenses that you'll need to obtain before opening your bakery. The types of permits you'll need will vary depending on your location, so be sure to check your local laws and regulations to see if there are any specific laws that apply to your new business.

5. Designing a Layout

After securing a location for your new bakery, you can begin planning what equipment you'll need and how to organize your kitchen. Additionally, if your bakery has a front-of-house area, you will need to design a floor plan.

Creating a Back-of-House Area Layout

There are many different ways that you can organize your kitchen and your equipment. But, there are four sections that every bakery kitchen will have: cleaning, storage, food preparation, and meal cooking, and you'll want to organize your kitchen so these four sections flow together. Plus, bakery cafes and bakeries with a front-of-house area will also have a service station, where they deliver the food to the customer.

You will want to lay out your kitchen based on the logical flow of food through the baking process. This starts with the storage area, and then goes to the food preparation and meal cooking sections. Once your baked goods have been prepared, you can serve them to your customers or package them. Finally, your dirty dishes, pots, and pans will end up at the cleaning station.

Your kitchen's layout will also depend heavily on the space that you lease and the placement of water and gas lines. You will also want to measure your space and ensure you have enough room for all of the necessary equipment before you finalize your kitchen plan.

Designing a Front-of-House Floor Plan

Some bakeries will have a front-of-house area where customers can browse their selection of baked goods. Creating an optimal layout in the front-of-house area can make your customers feel comfortable to browse and help facilitate purchases. There are four main bakery layouts, each with their own unique benefits.

1. Straight Floor Plan: Your display cases are organized in straight lines to make it easy for customers to browse.

2. Angular Floor Plan: This floor plan uses curved displays to create an upscale presentation.

3. Diagonal Floor Plan: A diagonal floor plan allows customers to flow through your bakery easily.

4. Mixed Floor Plan: You can also use a combination of all the floor types to maximize your space.

6. Ordering Equipment for Your Bakery

The equipment that your bakery will need depends on what type of baked goods you will be preparing. For example, you may need a range to prepare ganaches and jams for your cakes. But, if you're focusing on baking fresh bread, you may not need one. While the specific equipment may change depending on the size and type of your bakery, there are several purposes you need to fill:

Dough Preparation: This includes equipment like commercial mixers, work tables for kneading, dough dividers, dough sheeters, and dough scales. You may also need holding cabinets, proofing cabinets, retarder/proofer combos, and refrigerators to prepare your dough.

Storage: Storage is important for keeping your kitchen organized. Shelving and storage racks are essential for any bakery. If you're working with bulky bags of flour and sugar, you should invest in trucks, dollies, and carts to move large bags around your kitchen.

Baking Equipment: Convection ovens are a great all-purpose piece of bakery equipment because they provide a dry heat and bake evenly. If you're preparing a lot of artisan breads, you may want to choose a deck oven to give your products a crispy base. Wholesale bakeries may be looking for high-output ovens, such as roll-in rack ovens or revolving ovens.

Display and Sales: Choosing the right display cases for your baked goods can help boost your sales. You can choose self-service or full-service cases, and there are refrigerated and unrefrigerated options, depending on your needs. In addition to your display cases, be sure to also choose stylish boxes and packaging for your baked goods.

Cleaning and Warewashing: A 3 compartment sink should be the centerpiece of any cleaning station. But, be sure to order hand washing stations for your employees, disposable gloves, cleaning chemicals, sponges, scrubbers, and other essential cleaning items.

Bakery Smallwares

In addition to your large equipment, your bakery will also need to be stocked with smallwares, such as mixing bowls, storage boxes, whisks, bread knives, aprons, and more. We compiled a list of essential bakery equipment to ensure you don't forget anything.

You can download the PDF checklist below:

Download Checklist PDF

7. Hiring and Training Staff

The size of your staff will depend on your bakery's size and type. For example, a retail bakery will need to hire and train front-of-house staff to take orders and work the cash register. Most of your bakery staff will work in the back-of-house, though, preparing and baking your food.

Your bakery should have at least one or two employees that have formal training or bakery experience to oversee the actual baking process. Additionally, you may also want to hire some unskilled workers for washing dishes, mixing ingredients, packaging products, and doing other tasks that don't require previous experience or expertise.

Some bakeries will also need professional pastry chefs and personnel to complete delicate and specialized tasks. For example, bakeries that bake wedding cakes should look for experienced cake decorators. Bakeries that offer artisan breads should consider hiring someone who specializes in bread baking.

8. Marketing and Advertising Strategies

Before you open your bakery to the public, you need to conduct some marketing and advertising campaigns to get the word out and create buzz. You can break your bakery marketing strategy into five general steps:

1. Conduct market research: The first step in a marketing campaign is to conduct market research and determine your target market. This includes information like the demographics in your bakery's area, any competitors, and niche markets you can fill. Once you have an idea about who your target market is, you can begin coming up with strategies.

2. Write a market analysis: Your market analysis is a summary of your market research, and it should go in your bakery's business plan. It should include information such as the average income level in your area, discretionary spending among your target market, and your competitor's prices.

3. Set goals for your marketing campaign: Create realistic goals for your bakery and your marketing and advertising campaign. For example, set goals for how many followers you want to gain on your social media accounts and how many sales you want to get in a month.

4. Determine how you want to advertise your business: There are many ways you can advertise your bakery and each has its own benefits. If you're in an urban area, using signs is a great and affordable option. You can also consider traditional advertising tactics, such as newspaper advertisements and flyers.

5. Create a social media presence: Social media marketing is a great way to interact with your customers, create buzz, and advertise your grand opening and other events. Additionally, many people will look for your bakery's website and social media accounts before deciding if they want to visit, so make sure that you have an active online presence.

Many of these tactics apply to retail bakeries, but marketing tactics will differ for wholesale bakeries. Wholesale bakeries instead should focus on competitor analysis and researching where local restaurants and grocery stores source their baked goods. Then, they can reach out and try to make a deal.

9. Hosting a Grand Opening

The final step in opening a bakery is to host your grand opening and welcome customers to your business. A successful grand opening can get your new bakery off to a good start and help create some loyal customers. You should advertise your grand opening to create interest and ensure that customers know when your bakery is opening.

One great way to get customers in your bakery on your grand opening is to offer discounts and specials. For example, you can offer discounts for the first 100 people to visit. Another option is to give customers who order a dozen cupcakes one cupcake for free. You can also offer free samples of your breads and other baked goods to help convince customers to make a purchase.

Starting a bakery presents many unique situations, and it is different than starting a traditional restaurant or other foodservice establishment. One of the best ways to ensure that opening your bakery goes smoothly is to stay organized and ensure you're being thorough. Creating a detailed business plan, following it precisely, and keeping your documents organized will help get your business off to a good start.

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Bakeries are a popular type of foodservice establishment, and they allow you to express your culinary creativity while also serving a unique market. Additionally, people with non-culinary backgrounds can get into the industry easily by opening a home bakery . Opening a bakery presents many unique challenges that are different from other types of businesses.

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In the Kitchen & On the Road with Cook's Country

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Dec 19, 2013 - Find articles about our test kitchen & our TV show, meet our cooks, and travel along as we search out the best American dishes and the people behind them.

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While most diners may not realize that the fresh bread on their table required a different set of skills than their entrée, aspiring culinarians and professional foodservice workers know that chefs and bakers are not interchangeable. The skills, tools, and talents associated with each path are quite different. Lets explore these unique sides of the kitchen!

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Chef or Baker? Infographic | CIA Culinary School

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While most diners may not realize that the fresh bread on their table required a different set of skills than their entrée, aspiring culinarians and professional foodservice workers know that chefs and bakers are not interchangeable. The skills, tools, and talents associated with each path are quite different.

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A pastry chef is a culinary professional who specializes in the creation of baked goods and desserts. Their daily activities take place in the pastry department or bakery station within a commercial kitchen. Pastry chefs often supervise the work of other cooks or bakers who are responsible for the preparation of ingredients or other aspects of the baking process, which makes strong communication and executive skills an important trait.

Follow These Basic Steps to Become a Pastry Chef

To succeed in the industry, most aspiring pastry chefs begin by enrolling in a formal culinary program to learn basic food preparation concepts and techniques and then seek work in a commercial kitchen to continue their development. To learn more about how to become a pastry chef, continue reading our summary of important steps below

1. Learn the Basics of Baking & Pastry Art

As the popularity of high-end restaurants increases, the demand for quality pastry chefs also increases. Combining a scientist's eye for detail with an artist's flair, pastry chefs create edible art as the crown jewel of every meal. Although pastry chefs do bake, a good part of their job is administrative. First and foremost, you're responsible for the pastry team in the restaurant. For example, many pastry chefs will bake individual orders, leaving the bulk work of bread and basic cakes to the baking team. A pastry chef's job is to oversee all baked goods prepared in a restaurant, including cakes, tortes, custards, and soufflés. They also supervise pastry cooks and prep cooks by preparing key ingredients that go into baked goods and desserts.

An executive pastry chef is responsible for creating new recipes and desserts for the restaurant. These recipes require extensive baking experience and a high degree of creativity and technique. It's been said that if cooking is art, baking is science. Since baking is so exact, pastry chefs must use exact measurements in their creations, recording all attempts and keeping clear records that others can follow.

It's also important that a restaurant's menu is harmonious. In that regard, a pastry chef will so work with the executive chef to create a dessert menu that complements the chef's main dishes offered each day. As a food executive, a pastry chef must also be food service and health manager, ensuring a high level of food safety and sanitation that meets safety standards for all diners. A pastry chef knows food safety laws and requirements and makes sure that all subordinate cooks are following the rules as well.

Administrative duties are a key part of every pastry chef's day. He or she must keep track of inventory, monitor equipment, scheduled maintenance, and manage the pastry staff. In larger kitchens, an executive pastry chef may manage a large team of pastry cooks, prep cooks, and dishwashers.

To become a pastry chef, you must have some native talent and the desire to work sometimes long hours in the culinary field. The job requires high attention to detail, an extensive knowledge of ingredients and an artistic background. Most pastry chefs complete professional training at a culinary school. Culinary chefs must also be in good health and have the stamina, as their workday can begin as early as 4:00 a.m.

2. Learn Advanced Concepts & Baking Techniques

All culinary schools teach the same basic skills to prospective pastry chefs. These are the talents that they'll rely on throughout their careers. Think of them as the foundation of a building on which the creative juices begin to flow. The most common basic skills for every pastry chef include identification of essential ingredients such as sugars, flours, and chocolates; culinary math, including weights and measures; food safety and sanitation; identification and use of basic baking tools; basic cake decorating skills; sugar cooking from caramel to hard candy; and creating frozen desserts.

Once the basics have been covered, all pastry chef students move on to more advanced techniques. It begins with bread and the theory of yeasted dough and includes the science of fermentation, which advances to lessons on cakes and other baked goods. In class, you'll learn about how to calculate recipe percentages which allow you to increase recipe size while keeping all chemical reactions working correctly. Once your ability to create bread is perfected, you'll move on to learn such topics as pastry doughs from phyllo to tart, cakes and their many forms, and finally the most creative of the baking topics, cake decoration. The final topic in most curriculum is chocolate making, which involves equal parts of scientific accuracy and creative flair.

Real-world experience might be offered during training or as a formal section after your classroom work. Externships are common, and you may work as a pastry cook for months before graduating to a pastry chef position. Some schools have restaurants as part of their campus where students work throughout their studies. This can give you a leg up on students from other schools without this added benefit.

3. Continue Developing Your Skills & Experience

A great resume takes time, and the least prestigious restaurant can be the most important stepping stone for building a career. The restaurant business is very unpredictable; reputations spread quickly, both good and bad. Once you get a label put on you in one restaurant, it's very difficult to shake it without moving to another town. Make a plan for moving up in the restaurant hierarchy in your city, then work that plan. Always know where your next step will be after your current job. Do excellent work for every restaurant, and impress every executive chef you work with. After all, they're the ones who will spread the word about your skills to other kitchens in town.

Your personal brand is a statement of your creativity as a pastry chef. Find what you're good at, then be better at it than anyone else in town. Restaurants will try to recruit you if you're known as the best at innovative desserts. Entire careers have been made on simple things like frozen desserts or creative local fruit usage. Find your thing and work it until it pays off.

Building a network is an invaluable tool to advance in this career. The cooks and kitchen workers you've worked with are your best connections, especially if you've impressed them with your artistic abilities. Building good relationships with these people is the most solid step you can take toward a long and successful career. Pastry cooks won't always stay cooks. Even some dishwashers go on to own restaurants ten years down the line. Keep in touch with everyone you've worked with, if only on a casual basis. Having two dozen solid names you can put on a resume can be the item that pushes you ahead of your competition when looking to move up in the business.

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How to Become a Pastry Chef || The Art Career Project

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A pastry chef is a culinary professional who specializes in the creation of baked goods and desserts. Their daily activities take place in the pastry department or bakery station within a commercial kitchen.

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State of the Baking Industry Infographic

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State of the Baking Industry Infographic

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OrderNova | Bakery Order Management Software

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Sources:

Oni the Spokestronaut / About Author

I'm Oni, OrderNova's problem-solving Spokestronaut. I like all things bakery-related, including our cloud-based bakery order management software that is out of this world.

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State of the Baking Industry 2018 [Infographic]

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Sources: Oni the Spokestronaut / About Author I'm Oni, OrderNova's problem-solving Spokestronaut. I like all things bakery-related, including our cloud-based bakery order management software that is out of this world.

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Becoming a successful baker requires the right knowledge, practice and skills. Online pastry students will learn the skills necessary to make tasty treats. Here are a few important ones every baker should have:

Organization

When baking, all ingredients must be combined in the right way, at the right time. If you have to pause to chop your chocolate or wait for your butter to come to room temperature, not only is your recipe put on hold but it may not come together perfectly.

A baker's kitchen must be an organized one, The Balance Careers explained. Every ingredient and utensil should have a place so it's easy to find when needed. Additionally, bakers need to prepare all ingredients before beginning a recipe so there are no roadblocks that slow down the process.

Some forethought is also needed for good organization. Know which steps you'll need to take at all points throughout a recipe so you can be prepared. Also, recognize when you have a few slow moments so you can tidy up or prepare the next step while you're waiting for dough to rise or cookies to bake.

Communication

Bakers work in fast-paced environments with several other professionals working next to them. They must be able to communicate what they need from one another, whether it be another cup of flour or some space to roll out their dough.

Attention to detail

Baking is a science that relies on precise measurements and conditions. Ingredients need to be weighed and measured properly. If you're off by a few grams or your oven is 25 degrees too hot, your results could be underwhelming at best. Bakers need to have a keen eye for detail to ensure all creations come out consistently every time.

Composure under pressure

Because of that fast-paced environment, things can heat up quickly in the kitchen, and not just because the oven is turned up to 500 degrees. Bakers need to stay calm and collected under pressure, not letting the stress of a busy day distract them from making proper measurements or planning ahead for the next task.

Curiosity and creativity

A good baker can consistently create highly adored creations, but a fantastic baker can create surprising new crowd-pleasers. You probably won't invent the next big thing on a whim, though. It'll take some trial and error to find a combination of flavors and textures that wows your crowd. Bakers who are curious about interesting combinations and creative enough to try something new may be rewarded by coming up with a winning treat they (and their customers) love.

Patience and dedication

Some of the most important steps in a recipe are also some of the most time-consuming, Hummingbird Bakery noted. A sourdough might take half a day to rise properly, but cutting it short will result in a dense, unimpressive loaf. A beautiful meringue atop a cake or cookie adds a creative and airy touch, but whisking those egg whites will take patience and muscle (unless you're using electric beaters).

Long-term patience and dedication are important. Not all days working in a bakery will be the best ones. Some days will be long and tiring, and baked goods won't turn out as planned. Successful bakers need to overcome the challenges to experience a rewarding career overall. Additionally, some patience is needed as up-and-coming bakers improve their craft. No one is born a perfect baker. It takes practice, experience and a good education. Great bakers are made like great bread - with time.

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Becoming a successful baker requires the right knowledge, practice and skills. Online pastry students will learn the skills necessary to make tasty treats. Here are a few important ones every baker should have: When baking, all ingredients must be combined in the right way, at the right time.

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Read our profile of a professional baker.

Eugene Otto

Bakery Owner - San Francisco Street Bakery
Over 20 years in the field

How did you become interested in a baker job?

I was working in a white collar job where I felt unfulfilled.

My wife and I were starting a family, so I thought it might be a good time to change careers. I wanted to do something that I enjoyed doing, and I thought being a baker would work better with my family schedule. My great-grandfather was a baker in Ohio, and he'd done reasonably well with it. So I went to the baking program at Seattle Central Community College.

What was your first job after baking school?

The program hooked me up with a job making donuts in a mom-and-pop shop in Edmonds. I bounced around a couple of other places and then ended up in a small shop that was close to my house. The owners were nice, and I stayed there almost 2 years.

It didn't take long to figure out that I would be far better off being self-employed in the industry than working for other people. So when our kids were of school age, we looked for a bakery that we might be able to run. We really liked Olympia, and we stumbled upon a vacant bakery that had equipment and was within our reach. So we decided to take the plunge. We opened up the bakery and moved.

What's the hardest thing about being a baker?

The hours are the most difficult part-they're always bizarre. Mostly they're in the middle of the night. For years I got up at 2 a.m. and worked until noon; the hours tend to run long. Breaks are kept to a minimum. It's physically demanding.

So what are the good parts about baking?

There are success stories. We're one of them. We're well established and make a good living. The things that draw people to making food are hard to quantify. At the end of the day, you can see what you've done.

I get this absurd amount of respect because I'm the baker. I'm just making cookies and bread, but people hold that in high esteem. When people come to see the bakery, they're happy. It's a pleasant experience for them. The community made the bakery. It's a focal point for the neighborhood because people have made it that way. If they hadn't, we wouldn't be here.

What skills are most important in a baker job?

People come through the bakery with varying skill levels, but most food creation is an art. Some people without a culinary background have an innate touch with food. You have to be really stubborn and determined, because the food industry requires a lot of strange hours, hard work and physical endurance.

What's your favorite part of the day?

It's nice to come in when no one else is there, get a cup of coffee and get organized before you dive in for the day. It's amazing how awake you can be at three in the morning.

My favorite time is the morning, right after the retail folks have set up the front. All the bread is up; the bagels are in their bins; all the pastry is out. It's great to see the product up and have it ready for customers.

Any other advice about being a baker?

If you decide that you want to be a baker, it's not something to take lightly. You have to really struggle learning your craft for the first couple of years in situations that are not ideal. You have to be ready to fight your way through.

If you want to become a high-end pastry chef, get your education at the best school you can afford, apply yourself as intently as you can, and don't let anybody tell you that you can't do it. I can't tell you how many people told us that we can't do what we've been doing for the last 15 years.

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Interview: What is a Baker Job Really Like? | All Culinary Schools

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Read our profile of a professional baker. Bakery Owner - San Francisco Street BakeryOver 20 years in the field I was working in a white collar job where I felt unfulfilled. My wife and I were starting a family, so I thought it might be a good time to change careers.

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Become a Baker

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Step 1: Work as an Apprentice

Before becoming a professional, aspiring bakers must acquire experience. One option is to participate in an apprenticeship program to learn the skills, such as the best practices for measuring, preparing, and food safety, under professional supervision at restaurants, hotels or bakeries while also participating in more formal classes. While a college degree is generally not necessary, apprenticeship programs available through technical or community college programs often result in an associate degree or certificate.

Bakers often utilize industrial machines, including blenders and mixers, so it's a good idea to learn how to use such equipment while working with experienced bakers or by taking courses that cover the basics of commercial equipment operation.

Additionally, the way food is prepared is very important. If ingredients have gone bad, or if they're not handled properly, consumers can get sick. While working at an apprenticeship, potential bakers should take note of proper food handling methods. Students can also take a sanitation course, which could be useful when seeking certification.

Step 2: Learn to Operate a Business

Some bakers choose to open their own businesses. Some colleges and universities offer associate degree programs in small business or entrepreneurship that can teach students to operate their own businesses. Another option for prospective bakery owners is to take courses in small business management through a continuing education program. In these courses, students typically learn about marketing strategies, business plans and product costs. Aspiring business owners also need to know how to manage inventory and keep track of finances.

Step 3: Earn Certification

Certification is not required by most employers, but it can help bakers stand out from the competition. The Retail Bakers of America (RBA) offers certification options for different levels of bakers, including Certified Journey Baker (CJB), Certified Baker (CB) and Certified Master Baker (CMB). The CJB, Certified Journey Baker, is for those just starting out, the CB, Certified Baker, is for those who have some work experience, and the CMB, Certified Master Baker is intended for highly experienced bakers. Individuals seeking CB or higher credentials need to have completed a sanitation course. A Certified Decorator (CD) designation is also available for those who primarily work with sweet baked goods. The RBA notes that job prospects and income could be greater for certified bakers.

After four years of work experience, bakers are qualified to take the exam to become a CB, and after eight years of full-time work and professional development training, they can apply to become a CMB, Certified Master Baker. Bakers should keep on top of certification and move up to the next level after fulfilling minimum requirements in order to showcase their advanced skills.

Step 4: Acquire Additional Experience

The primary way to move up and advance as a baker is to gain work experience. Many bakers start off as baker's assistants and progress as they learn the techniques and skills necessary to manage a bakery or create high quality products.

Aspiring bakers need experience, often acquired through an apprenticeship, which might result in a certificate or an associate's degree.

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become a baker: career information and requirements

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Become a Baker: Career Information and Requirements

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Before becoming a professional, aspiring bakers must acquire experience. One option is to participate in an apprenticeship program to learn the skills, such as the best practices for measuring, preparing, and food safety, under professional supervision at restaurants, hotels or bakeries while also participating in more formal classes.

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Bakers: Career, Salary and Education Information

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Bakers: Career, Salary and Education Information

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Career, Salary and Education Information

What They Do: Bakers mix ingredients according to recipes in order to make breads, pastries, and other baked goods.

Work Environment: Most bakers work in retail or commercial bakeries (manufacturing facilities), grocery stores or wholesale club stores, and restaurants. Work shifts often include early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays.

How to Become One: Bakers typically learn their skills through long-term on-the-job training. Although no formal education is required, some learn through an apprenticeship program or by attending a technical or culinary school.

Salary: The median annual wage for bakers is $26,520.

Job Outlook: Employment of bakers is projected to grow 6 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Bakers with years of experience should have the best job opportunities, with employment driven by the growing demand for specialty baked products.

Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of bakers with similar occupations.

Following is everything you need to know about a career as a Baker with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:

Top 3 Baker Jobs

Overnight Baker- Nashua, NH -Panera Bread (PR Management Corp) -Nashua, NH
Come make a difference with Panera as a Baker today! Panera's essence of warmth and quality begins with baking. This is an opportunity to provide an unparalleled quality product to each of our guests

Baker Positions Available/Panadero -Hillstone -New York, NY
Baker positions are available. We are searching for friendly, energetic, highly-motivated individuals who will thrive in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment. * Health benefits are available

Baker Positions Available -Hillstone -New York, NY
The Baker role involves high-volume, made from scratch breads with a focus on baguettes, burger buns and rustic loaves. $17-$22/hr based on experience. We look forward to meeting you soon ...

See all Baker jobs

Bakers mix ingredients according to recipes in order to make breads, pastries, and other baked goods.

Duties of Bakers

Bakers typically do the following:

Check the quality of baking ingredients

Prepare equipment for baking

Measure and weigh flour and other ingredients

Combine measured ingredients in mixers or blenders

Knead, roll, cut, and shape dough

Place dough into pans, into molds, or onto baking sheets

Set oven temperatures and place items into ovens or onto grills

Bakers produce various types and quantities of breads, pastries, and other baked goods sold by grocers, wholesalers, restaurants, and institutional food services.

The following are examples of types of bakers:

Commercial bakers, also called production bakers, work in manufacturing facilities that produce breads, pastries, and other baked products. In these facilities, bakers use high-volume mixing machines, ovens, and other equipment, which may be automated, to mass-produce standardized baked goods. They carefully follow instructions for production schedules and recipes.

Retail bakers work primarily in grocery stores and specialty shops, including bakeries. In these settings, they produce smaller quantities of baked goods for people to eat in the shop or for sale as specialty baked goods. Retail bakers may take orders from customers, prepare baked products to order, and occasionally serve customers. Although the quantities prepared and sold in these stores are often small, they usually come in a wide variety of flavors and sizes. Most retail bakers are also responsible for cleaning their work area and equipment and unloading supplies.

Some retail bakers own bakery shops where they make and sell breads, pastries, pies, and other baked goods. In addition to preparing the baked goods and overseeing the entire baking process, they are also responsible for hiring, training, and supervising their staff. They must budget for and order supplies, set prices, and decide how much to produce each day.

Bakers hold about 191,900 jobs. The largest employers of bakers are as follows:

The work can be stressful because bakers follow time-sensitive baking procedures and often work under strict deadlines. For example, bakers must follow daily production schedules to bake products in sufficient quantities while maintaining consistent quality. In manufacturing facilities, they often work with other production workers, such as helpers and maintenance staff, so that equipment is cleaned and ready.

Bakers are exposed to high temperatures when working around hot ovens. They stand for hours at a time while observing the baking process, making the dough, or cleaning the baking equipment.

Injuries and Illnesses for Bakers

Bakeries, especially large manufacturing facilities, are filled with potential dangers such as hot ovens, mixing machines, and dough cutters. As a result, bakers have a higher rate of injuries and illnesses than the national average.

Although their work is generally safe, bakers may endure back strains caused by lifting or moving heavy bags of flour or other products. Other common risks include cuts, scrapes, and burns. To reduce these risks, bakers often wear back supports, aprons, and gloves.

Baker Work Schedules

Some bakers work part time.

Grocery stores and restaurants sell freshly baked goods throughout the day. As a result, bakers are often scheduled to work shifts during early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Bakers who work in commercial bakeries that bake continuously may have to work late evenings and weekends.

Get the education you need: Find schools for Bakers near you!

Long-term on-the-job training is the most common path to gain the skills necessary to become a baker. Some bakers start their careers through an apprenticeship program or by attending a technical or culinary school. No formal education is required.

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Education for Bakers

Although there are no formal education requirements to become a baker, some candidates attend a technical or culinary school. Programs generally last from 1 to 2 years and cover nutrition, food safety, and basic math. To enter these programs, candidates may be required to have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Training for Bakers

Most bakers learn their skills through long-term on-the-job training, typically lasting 1 to 3 years. Some employers may provide apprenticeship programs for aspiring bakers. Bakers in specialty bakery shops and grocery stores often start as apprentices or trainees and learn the basics of baking, icing, and decorating. They usually study topics such as nutrition, sanitation procedures, and basic baking. Some participate in correspondence study and may work toward a certificate in baking.

Other Experience for Bakers

Some bakers learn their skills through work experience related to baking. For example, they may start as a baker's assistant and progress into a full-fledged baker as they learn baking techniques.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations for Bakers

Certification is voluntary and shows that a baker has the skills and knowledge to work at a retail baking establishment.

The Retail Bakers of America offers certification in four levels of competence, with a focus on several topics, including baking sanitation, management, retail sales, and staff training. Those who wish to become certified must satisfy a combination of education and experience requirements before taking an exam.

The education and experience requirements vary by the level of certification desired. For example, a Certified Journey Baker requires no education but must have at least 1 year of work experience. A Certified Baker must have 4 years of work experience and 30 hours of sanitation coursework, and a Certified Master Baker must have 8 years of work experience, 30 hours of sanitation coursework, and 30 hours of professional development education.

Important Qualities for Bakers

Communication skills. Bakers, especially retail bakers, must have good communication skills in order to deal effectively with customers.

Detail oriented. Bakers must closely monitor their products in the oven to keep them from burning. They also should have an eye for detail because many pastries and cakes require intricate decorations.

Math skills. Bakers must possess basic math skills, especially knowledge of fractions, in order to precisely mix recipes, weigh ingredients, or adjust mixes.

Physical stamina. Bakers stand on their feet for extended periods while they prepare dough, monitor baking, or package baked goods.

Physical strength. Bakers should be able to lift and carry heavy bags of flour and other ingredients, which may weigh up to 50 pounds.

The median annual wage for bakers is $26,520. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,880, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $40,350.

The median annual wages for bakers in the top industries in which they work are as follows:

Some bakers work part time.

Grocery stores and restaurants, sell freshly baked goods throughout the day. As a result, bakers are often scheduled to work shifts during early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Bakers who work in commercial bakeries that bake continuously may have to work late evenings and weekends.

Employment of bakers is projected to grow 6 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Population and income growth are expected to result in greater demand for specialty baked goods, such as cupcakes, pies, and cakes, from grocery stores, retail bakeries, and restaurants.

However, employment of bakers in food manufacturing may be limited as these facilities increasingly use automated machines and equipment to mass-produce baked goods.

Job Prospects for Bakers

Job opportunities are expected to be good because of the need to replace workers who leave the occupation every year.

*Some content used by permission of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.

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What They Do: Bakers mix ingredients according to recipes in order to make breads, pastries, and other baked goods. Work Environment: Most bakers work in retail or commercial bakeries (manufacturing facilities), grocery stores or wholesale club stores, and restaurants. Work shifts often include early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays.

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How to Become Popular on YouTube. Successful 'YouTubers' are some of the most glamorous people on the internet. Whether they are making videos about games, makeup, or everyday life (vlogs), these are some of the best known people on the...

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Ask any tween or teen what they want to be when they grow up and you may get some of the typical answers: athlete, veterinarian, and police officer. But one answer that you wouldn't have heard 20 years ago is "YouTube star."

With YouTube stars like Felix Kjellberg, better known as PewDiePie, making more than $12 million a year playing video games on their YouTube channel, it's no wonder that kids think it's the coolest job. A recent survey by British firm First Choice revealed that 34 percent of kids age 6-17 would like to be a YouTube personality, while one in five wished to start their own channel.

"I want to be a YouTube star because you get to play a lot of games and you make a lot of money," said 12-year-old Nathan Turner from Ellwood City, Pennsylvania.

Ten-year-old Joe O'Gara agrees. "If people like you a lot, then they will give you money for like ads and stuff," said O'Gara, from Ardmore, Pennsylvania.

But how safe and lasting is a career for a YouTube star? The cards are stacked against most people vying for that kind of income and stardom. In fact, 96.5 percent of all of those trying to become YouTubers won't make more than $16,800 per year, according to an analysis by Mathias Bärtl, a professor at Offenburg University. In order to make a decent living, a YouTuber would have to receive tens of millions of views per month, according to his research.

But what happens when they actually do hit YouTube stardom and are faced with the choice of college?

That's what Noah Taitano and Ryan Burton, aka Noah Boat and Rhino, of YouTube channel " Love Live Serve " faced in 2015. They achieved what many teens have only dreamed of: 3 million followers, 40 million average views per month, and income of more than six figures per year in ad revenue and brand deals.

However, after high school graduation, they faced a dilemma: go to college or choose the path of full-time YouTube stars.

Their parents pushed them into going to college because they wanted them to have a backup plan, although Taitano and Burton would rather be focusing on their YouTube videos full time. Friends since elementary school, they enrolled in Drexel University's film and video program, and take every class together. But managing both class work and YouTube channel comes at a cost.

"Sometimes we have to let the grades sacrifice, which means putting in a little bit less effort than the teachers probably expect from us," Taitano told NBC News. "That way we can spend more time doing the videos we know are going to get us instant feedback and we get paid for."

From thinking up ideas to writing, shooting, and editing, the duo estimates they spend about over 50 hours a week working on their YouTube channel. And they said they need to put in the effort now, since the lifespan of a YouTuber blasting inappropriate songs in the library (20M views) and doing impressions of Drake singing (10M views) isn't forever.

"I think Noah and I go until we are 30, I would say maybe even 32," Burton projected. "The lifespan of a YouTuber is very short if you don't play your cards right and if you're not smart and you don't have a good work ethic, because you can fall off pretty quickly if your fans get tired of you."

Damian Salas, Assistant Dean of Drexel University's Entrepreneurship Programs, said he has seen a few students come in to the school with income-producing YouTube channels. Salas doesn't see a career on YouTube as a passing fad; in fact he sees it as a legitimate business, but still believes a college degree is necessary.

"There's the business side of the YouTube model that students need to have more education about," Salas told NBC News. "Sure, you can create a YouTube channel, but to grow the YouTube channel, to scale it, and to really understand all the aspects of having a business that is centered around a YouTube channel is something that students and individuals need to understand."

Taitano and Burton believe that YouTube is not for everyone and that stars-cum-students really need to be sure they can handle the workload.

"Noah and I spent two years working every single day making videos that made no money," Burton told NBC News. "So if you think you are going to hop on and make a lot of money really quickly - it's just not realistic."

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YouTube career or college? The new question facing teens

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Ask any tween or teen what they want to be when they grow up and you may get some of the typical answers: athlete, veterinarian, and police officer. But one answer that you wouldn't have heard 20 years ago is "YouTube star."

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A teenage YouTuber is someone who uploads videos to YouTube on a regular basis and in return, earns money for it. There are YouTubers in so many different areas that it may be difficult to decide what your channel should be about. Some YouTubers focus on video games, funny stuff, beauty, and there's even people who make tiny meals with tiny objects. Regardless of the focus of your channel, when people click on the ads on the video, YouTube will pay the YouTuber money. YouTubers are self-employed, so they can work at their own pace, but their revenue is also determined by their own hard work. They are responsible for researching video topics, recording videos, editing videos, and engaging their subscribers.

How Much Does a Teenage YouTuber Get Paid?

A teenage YouTuber won't earn much money in the early stages of their YouTube career. This is because you won't have much of a following and not many people will click on the ads on your videos. On the other hand, popular YouTubers earn a lot of money, because their videos get a lot of views and many people click on the ads. This is the biggest problem with becoming a YouTuber. Many people jump into doing YouTube as a quick way to earn money, but as they find out after a few months of hard work, they don't earn much money in the beginning so they quit. But people who truly enjoy doing what they are doing won't care about the money and will just keep making videos, and eventually they'll become successful and make good money. You need to be willing to not earn much money for at least 6-12 months if you decide you want to be a YouTuber.

How Can I Get Started as a Teenage YouTuber?

1. Before you begin, you'll want to get the necessary equipment to become a YouTuber. If you are becoming a gaming YouTuber, this step will be even more important so your games can be recorded and run with the best quality. Even if you're not planning to become a gamer, you still want a good laptop so that the uploading speed of your video won't take long. To get a good computer, you can try to search up the best gaming laptops, as gaming computers will be the top of the line when it comes to the specifications and power of the computer. You will also want to get a good microphone. This will let you record commentary for your videos, as viewers like people who talk genuinely with their voice. Finally, you'll want to get a recording software, or hardware. For gaming, you'll want to get a screen recorder to record your games and for anyone else, you'll probably want a good camera to record.

2. Determine the topic of your YouTube channel. When thinking about this, try to make the focus of your channel something that you like and enjoy doing. Being a YouTuber shouldn't be a chore, but rather doing something you love while getting paid. So, you want to focus on something you love. But at the same time, you want to make sure that other people love this topic too, as they will be your target audience. Make sure your topic is specific, but broad enough to be able to make a lot of videos.

3. Start recording videos. When recording, just be yourself. You will get more viewers if you come off as a genuine person that is relatable. All of the current popular YouTubers have videos that seem genuine and completely non-scripted. If you come off as an unnatural YouTuber, you will be more like a TV show produced in a studio than a YouTuber and that isn't really ideal if you are starting your own channel.

4. Congrats, you're officially a YouTuber. You might not have many fans right now, but the number of fans you have will continue to grow if you post regularly. If you do well as a YouTuber, you are bound to get noticed by the community and you will get more viewers and subscribers. Remember, all of the current YouTubers started somewhere and the best way for you to grow is to stay consistent and work hard.

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Become a Teenage YouTuber | Jobs For Teens HQ

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A teenage YouTuber is someone who uploads videos to YouTube on a regular basis and in return, earns money for it. There are YouTubers in so many different areas that it may be difficult to decide what your channel should be about.

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10 Things You Need to Do When Getting Started on YouTube 

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10 Things You Need to Do When Getting Started on YouTube 

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The most important thing you'll need for a successful YouTube channel is something you most likely already have - an understanding of who your audience is, as well as what kinds of things they may find valuable. For example, if you run a pet store you know that your audience is mainly comprised of pet owners and that they find animal-related tips and tricks, such as "how to train a dog to sit" or "tips for leash-training a cat," valuable. Taking note of your audience and their interests will help you determine where to focus your efforts when creating content for YouTube.

Video content can reinforce your branding efforts and show off your business expertise. However, it's also a great way to entertain, educate, and connect with people.

In order to truly make the most of the opportunity, here are 10 things you'll need to do when you're first getting started on YouTube:

1. Define your goals

Before you do anything, it's important to consider what you're hoping to get out of YouTube. This will help you decide what kind of videos you want to create and define the right audience for your content.

Again, this is likely strongly connected with your small business or organization's audience. If you run a makeup company, posting tutorials on how to get ready for a night out make sense. However, your subscribers may find it odd if you're giving tips on unrelated topics, such as gardening or yoga.

It is also important to keep in mind why you want to be on YouTube to begin with. Are you looking to spread the word on your organization's mission? Do you want to increase sales to your brick-and-mortar store?

Having a goal in mind from the start means you'll be better able to create content that your audience will want to subscribe to, comment on, and share. If you focus on content that is useful to your audience, particularly if it's something you are an expert in, your viewers will see you as a trusted resource for information.

2. Create a channel

To create a YouTube channel, you will need a Google account. You can either use an existing Google account or create a new one for your business.

Once you have created your account and navigated to YouTube, you will be asked to name your channel. We suggest using the name of your business, as it will be the most recognizable. You want to make it easy for your target audience to find you! Remember, YouTube is basically a search engine (and is powered/owned by the world's largest search engine - Google). Consider specifically how people would search to find what your business offers.

Next, you will answer a couple of questions and agree to the terms. Then - voila - you are the proud owner of a brand new YouTube channel.

It's important to do a little bit of housekeeping before you start promoting your new page. After all, you want to make sure you make a good first impression!

Here are a few quick things you should focus on:

Your channel art sis at the very top of your profile, while your channel icon is displayed next to your name and alongside every video you post.

Channel Icon

Channel Art

Be mindful when choosing your channel art. We suggest using a simple design or pattern that is consistent with your company's branding, or an image that accurately represents your business, because it gets cropped to a very small portion of a larger image.

About Section

3. Begin making and uploading videos

Now, it's time for the fun part!

Gather all the equipment you have and go shoot some video footage. Don't have a ton of recording equipment lying around? No worries. Even if you're only working with your smartphone, you can still make a really great video as long as it's useful to your audience.

Remember to be confident and have fun. Great videos always have good energy; if you're not having fun making the video, your audience probably won't have fun watching it!

Here are a few helpful resources to help you get started:

In addition to the above resources, keep in mind that you are just starting out. You can always upgrade to more advanced equipment later. When it comes to editing videos, make sure to choose a simple editing software that won't be too overwhelming. YouTube even offers up some built-in editing tools you can take advantage of after you upload.

4. Create playlists

Once you've created a few videos, group them together into playlists on your channel. Even if you only have a few videos, it's a good idea to put them together on a playlist to help your subscribers easily sort through your content. This is an important step as the title you choose for your playlist can also help you rank higher in Google search results.

Playlists will also encourage people to watch more of your videos because they'll see a list of the rest of your videos in the series, which makes your content more episodic. Autoplays do a good job of engaging viewers to watch multiple videos, with no effort on their part.

YouTube also allows you to feature playlists on your YouTube channel page. This is a great option because you are able to organize and categorize your content while also highlighting the videos you want to draw the most attention to. For example, on the Constant Contact YouTube channel, we feature our how-to videos and webinars on our channel in order to make our educational content highly accessible.

While your videos will likely get some traffic through organic search alone, don't hesitate to promote your videos through your other online channels, such as your website.

The people who have already connected with you on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest are likely to appreciate your new videos as well.

And don't forget about email ! Including a video in your next email is a great way to engage your subscribers and drive traffic to your YouTube page.

6. Analyze your data

Once you've started putting your videos out there, it's important to take note of how people are interacting with them.

Check out this blog post for more information on YouTube Analytics and how to take full advantage of the features.

7. Stay engaged with your audience

Check in every once in a while to see if people are engaging with your video. Responding to people's questions or comments can create conversations that help your audience learn more about your company and add even more value to your video.

Not only can they learn from you, but you can learn from them! Take feedback into consideration and use it to adjust your videos, better catering to your audience's needs. Every comment you receive on a video is an opportunity to create a deeper conversation and connection.

8. Make your videos accessible

By adding subtitles and closed captions to your YouTube videos, you can open up your content to a larger audience, including deaf or hard of hearing viewers. This also allows for international viewers to take advantage of your content, as they may speak a different language than the one spoken in your video.

9. Decide who should have access to your channel

If you are going to be the only person contributing to your YouTube channel, you can go ahead and skip this part.

However, if you are managing a small marketing team or want to give one of your employees access to the account in order to respond to viewer comments or upload videos, you will want to understand how channel owners and managers work on YouTube.

You should always make sure you are the primary owner of the account. This way, if an employee leaves or changes roles, you will be able to remove or edit their access. This also prevents any ex-employees from being able to control the account after they're gone.

You can learn more about channel roles and how to add people to your account here.

10. Consider going live

Live video is more popular than ever. Going live is a great way to build trust and loyalty as it is an authentic way to communicate with your audience. It's also a great way to introduce yourself and your brand new YouTube account!

YouTube Live can be enabled on any YouTube. However, only accounts with at least 1,000 subscribers are able to live stream on mobile. In order to verified enable live streaming simply go to YouTube's Creator Studio tools and click on the Live Streaming tab.

Looking for live streaming tips? We recommend using a network with high-speed internet and setting up in a location where there is minimal background noise or distraction. Read more of our live streaming tips and best practices.

Creating a successful YouTube channel and engaged community of subscribers may seem like a lot of work, but the reward is worth it

Video content can help you become a trusted authority in your industry, as well as a personable source of entertainment.

You don't have to be a filmmaker or a professional editor to be successful on YouTube. All you need is to figure out how you can offer your audience something of value. This way, they'll appreciate your effort, engage with your content, and come back to visit your page again and again.

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How to Create a YouTube Channel for Business | Constant Contact

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The most important thing you'll need for a successful YouTube channel is something you most likely already have - an understanding of who your audience is, as well as what kinds of things they may find valuable.

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With 400 hours of video content uploaded to YouTube every minute, YouTube continues to grow faster than anyone can keep up with. The power of video continues to be validated by these shocking statistics about YouTube. There is no shortage of content on YouTube and it doesn't seem to be slowing.

We found a great infographic that combined the 2018 YouTube statistics for us:

2018 YouTube Statistics Infographic

Source: Vlogging Guides - Amazing Stats & Facts about YouTube

Here are some of the 2018 YouTube statistics fun facts and highlights.

What are the top videos on YouTube?

The most viewed video on YouTube is Luis Fonsi - Despacito with 4.8 billion views.

Fastest video to 1 billion views on YouTube is Adele - Hello in 87 days.

YouTube channel with the most subscribers is PewDiePie with 61 million subscribers.

What are the current user statistics on YouTube?

YouTube has 1.5 billion regular monthly users.

400 Hours of video content is uploaded to YouTube every minute.

There are over 5,000 YouTube channels with over 1 million subscribers.

There are approximately 5 million YouTube channels.

YouTube continues to be the 2nd highest ranking online search engine.

51% of U.S. marketers advertise on YouTube.

55% of YouTuber users are male.

20% of the top 100 YouTube channels focus on gaming.

Who are the highest paid YouTubers?

Aspiring YouTubers have Dan Middleton and Evan Fong to thank for opening up endless opportunities and showing that creativity and humor go a long way. They're both video game reviewers and are quite funny. They each have their own channels, but collectively earned $32 million dollars in 2017 from their YouTube channels. The top ten YouTubers racked in $127 million dollars.
Here are the highest paid YouTubers in 2017:

1. Dan Middleton (Dan TDM) - $16.5 million

2. Evan Fong (VanossGaming) - $15.5 million

3. Dude Perfect - $14 million

4. Logan Paul - $12.5 million

5. Mark Fischbach (Markiplier) - $12.5 million

6. Felix Kjellberg (PewDiePie) - $12.5 million

7. Jake Paul - $11.5 million

8. Smosh - $11 million

9. Ryan ToysReview - $11 million

10. Lilly Singh - $10.5 million

How do I get a million video views on YouTube?

If you're feeling behind in achieving a million video views, you're not alone. But that's okay, this might not be the right measure of success for you. At DigiVid360, when we talk to our clients about video, we ask these questions before anything else:

What is the objective of the video?

Who is the audience?

Where is this video going to live?

The answers to these questions not only help us understand the video's message and tone but also where we will be engaging with our audience. It also helps us understand what the real objective might be. As savvy digital marketers, achieving a number of video views is rarely the objective.

Most B2B marketers have a goal of driving more traffic to their website. Yet many feel that placing the video on YouTube or even embedding the YouTube video player on your webpage will help accomplish this goal. Many are surprised that this is not the case. At best, it will drive traffic to the video on YouTube. And less than 1.5% of viewers will click from YouTube to a landing page (this will be 0% if a URL is not included in the first three lines of the YouTube description or in a clickable link in the video). This is not an effective way to increase traffic to a website. You can read more about Why your website needs a YouTube alternative in this blog article. This will help you to reach your goal to increase traffic to your website using video.

For more YouTube optimization tips, download our complete guide to YouTube Channel Optimization.

If you want to be the next big thing on YouTube and have heavy traffic to your YouTube channel, we would love to help you take it to the next level.

If you want help creating a video to explain a complex idea or to connect an emotion to a service/product, we would love to help you share your story.

We can also help you with the marketing strategy to reach your objectives. Most video production companies just make the video, hand over the video file and wish you best of luck. We love to strategize. We are fully vested in each project and it only makes sense to give you advice on how to deploy it for maximum success.

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With 400 hours of video content uploaded to YouTube every minute, YouTube continues to grow faster than anyone can keep up with. The power of video continues to be validated by these shocking statistics about YouTube. There is no shortage of content on YouTube and it doesn't seem to be slowing.

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How to Create a Successful YouTube Channel Infographic

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How to Create a Successful YouTube Channel Infographic

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YouTube is no longer just a website to share and watch videos on, it's an industry full of fame, celebrities, careers and awards. It has made rich people out of the girls and guys next door. Who says you can't be one of them! Take a look at this infographic-guide, created by WeAreTop10, on how to turn your dreams into reality.

Key takeaways from above visual:

Start with asking yourself some basic question:

Before even thinking about getting going, you need to ask yourself:
* Who will watch my videos?
* What type of content will I create?
* When have people done this before in the past?
* Why do I start? Am I passionate about this topic?
* Where do I want this adventure to lead me?
* How will I keep making my content better with time?

Pick a channel name you won't hate later:

You need a catchy name that holds a strong brand and identity, something unique that people will remember and be insatiably attracted to.

Setup profiles:

To grow a sustainable fan-base, you need to be active on multiple social media platforms. In other words, make sure you username of choice is available on all of them.

Register your domain:

If you really want to create a lifestyle of glitz and glam, you'll need a professional website with a registered domain name. All of the biggest YouTube stars do it, and so should you. You don't want ugly trolls claiming your unique name, do you?

Invest in Equipment:

If you're still filming with your Mom's home video camera from the 80s, then you need to make a new plan ASAP. No one enjoys watching videos on 360p forever.

Produce content:

There are a lot of YouTubers out there, and we get that being unique is hard... but it's certainly not impossible. To increase your view counts and fan base, you need to follow several rules religiously:

Stay Keyword Focused: Try and create content that is relevant and up-to-date; something that people will highly likely be searching for.

Interesting Titles: What would you rather click on? "My Grandma's Weekend" ... or... "Fearless Granny Jumps Out Of A Plane." ... Exactly.

Collaboration: This is a great way to build a large following, especially if you collaborate with someone who has a lot more subscribers than you. It builds a fun and healthy environment that more people can relate to.

Monetize: Did you know that you can get paid anywhere from $0.10 to $6 per 1000 views? The YouTube partner program is very popular, and if your channel starts to gain serious momentum, so can your bank account. Other ways to bring home the bacon include brand sponsorships merchandise deals, clothing sales, fan funding, product reviews and more.

Success Tips:

We all want to succeed, but some succeed more than others because they adhere to a few simple guidelines.

Plan Your Content: Decide on a style and stick to it. No one will subscribe to a channel that changes more than Donald Trump tie.
Post regularly: If you go weeks without uploading anything, the chances of you losing subscribers are very high. Fans appreciate loyalty and dedication, so make sure you set aside a day of the week for uploading videos, and let your viewers know about it.

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digital information world: how to create a successful youtube channel - infographic

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YouTube is no longer just a website to share and watch videos on, it's an industry full of fame, celebrities, careers and awards. It has made rich people out of the girls and guys next door. Who says you can't be one of them!

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11 Steps to Become a Successful You Tuber

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11 Steps to Become a Successful You Tuber

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