Being a YouTube Creator (and a results-oriented creator in any field) requires a do-it-now, go-get-’em attitude.
Recently, YouTube Creators, on its Twitter channel, asked for people to submit the best advice they’ve received about pursuing a career on YouTube.
And…that’s why I listed this first.
While I would like to give counterexamples to one thing in this tweet, I do like the last line of that advice: focus on making the best content possible. That should probably be the highest aim of any content creator, whether they’re a podcaster, a writer, a painter, a musician, or a graphic artist.
Before I offer my counterexample, I’d like to say that it requires some judgement as to the best course of action. The counterexample I’d like to offer has to do with analytics. The tweet says not to focus on the analytics, but there are some cases where focusing on the numbers is a prudent step toward deciding the topics you should cover.
For example, let’s consider a few YouTube metrics: # of views (per given amount of time), the ratio of likes to dislikes, and the number of comments. (You can also consider “popularity,” which isn’t a hard metric, but is something you can get a feel for.)
If you’ve made, say, 10 videos, and you find that 1 or 2 of them are especially popular, you may want to investigate what made those 1 or 2 popular. (It could be a number of factors, so it’s hard to make an apples-and-oranges type of comparison, but do what you can.)
That said, I do understand why some would advise against (or, at least minimize) analytics: some people let numbers take them down a dark hole, and they’re seemingly paralyzed by analysis.
I can go on and on about the trap that leads to that famous phrase, “paralysis by analysis,” but basically, I’d advise you to gather the best information you can, use your heart (or intuition, which is actually another source of information), and take action.
That can be one way of looking at it. Now, if you’re a business owner, you’ll definitely want to (or need to) turn a profit, but I’d say it’s much easier to do so if it’s something you enjoy.
And certainly, don’t look at it as a get-rich-quick scheme. That said, chances are, if you’re reading this, you already (or will) have a solid business model to follow.
Here’s one you wouldn’t expect:
Don’t do it, get a real job that gives back to society, unless you create actual content and don’t just sit there reacting to stuff or playing games, that is not a career.
— VJose32 (@vjose32) August 7, 2021
While I don’t take sides, I can understand this perspective.
You can create content that gives back to society. If you have a knack for learning certain subjects (or even better: explaining complex topics in ways that are easy to understand), there are probably people looking for what you have to say.
If piano teachers are hard to find, and you can put together a video that’s the virtual equivalent of a paid piano lesson, you’ve probably just given someone a chance to learn the piano. That person who may not have had the time, finances, or otherwise been capable of taking lessons.
If you’re a maturing person who’s learned some life lessons, and you’d like to pass them on to people who are just taking their first steps, then your message can be one that gives back.
If you’re a teacher who understands the school curriculum in your local area, there may be homeschooling parents or students who need extra tutoring. Maybe your videos can be what they’re looking for.
Here’s a piece of cautionary advice:
If you have a warning on your channel and delete the video that got you that strike, YouTube won't remove your strike so your stuck with it forever.
— Felixland (@Felixland3) August 7, 2021
Good job YouTube!
(But seriously YouTube that's messed up.)
That’s odd. It might be something YouTube needs to look at, but it’s good to keep in mind.
When making content, don’t rely on the AI to do the right thing. YouTube won’t hold vexatious copyright strikers accountable, so get an attorney to protect yourself as all your work could be gone just because someone doesn’t like you. Right @Schrodi14237806 ?
— Keeping It Criminal (@KIC_YT) August 7, 2021
As a person who creates what can potentially be called Intellectual Property (IP), it’s good that you know your rights. I wrote about the subject here, but basically, know what your rights are, what IP is, and how your content can be used.
This is encouraging:
Understand just how random and unpredictable the YT algorithm can be. Your channel can blow up out of nowhere because of a video you posted 4 months ago cuz YT suddenly started to recommend it to people.
— MrSmartyPants (@_MrSmartyPants) August 7, 2021
(based on an actual video of mine lol) pic.twitter.com/kLw0xvfJma
It seems that there’s a certain “critical mass” number of videos you may need to have before your channel jumps to the next level of popularity. No one knows what the critical mass is. It’s different for everyone, but I’m reminded of a saying I’ll paraphrase: luck comes from persistence.
The advice of these YouTube Creators touches on principles that apply to all content creation.
Source: YouTube Creators Twitter channel