So true. I do simple walking tours, I walk hours even in the cold and spend hours editing (removing uninteresting parts etc). I can imagine the effort other creators pour especially those complicated videos. YT isn't easy as people think.
"I have my channel and feel the same way. You are the most honest of all. Thank you for helping me during this time of crisis when I am doubting myself. You are a true gem for me. Your line, 'TH-cam is a journey, not a race,' is life-saving for me, as it has been mentally affecting me these days."
@@Variemai56 You'll quit because it requires the mind of an entrepreneur which is something you luck. If you are not successful at the things outside TH-cam to prove you are an expert, you'll face a lot of difficulties here. So just quit and focus on solving problems first.
I totally resonate with everything you said. As a mom working long hours and managing everything that comes with it, I’ve reached a point where I started this journey to share what I love doing. It’s been challenging, but I’m committed to improving day by day and enjoying the process along the way. Your words are such a great reminder of why we keep pushing forward, and I’m excited to see where this journey takes me. Thank you for sharing this-it truly hit home! Thank you , Kevin!♥
As a dad myself, I truly think the effort and commitment we put into doing something like content creation is visible to our kids. You may not notice it but your kids will and they will understand the need for hard work and discipline if they want to achieve their own dreams. So, don't for once think it is wasted effort. Showing your kids how to overcome challenges is the best skillset you can teach them.
All you said were all correct! Im experiencing all of it. Sometimes I am really thinking if still worth it because im spending a lot of time to it. Even my time to rest im using it to create, edit and upload my content. But thank you so much for all the advice and motivation 👍🔔 keep it up
You'll need to find a way that suits you. I deliberately keep my videos simple with little to no edit because it works with my schedule. I have a system that works for me. I'm sure you can find 1 too. Feel free to reach out to me if you need some help.
Thank you for the real talk. I am just starting out and it is definitely a challenge. Lots of skills to learn - but I am enjoying learning and growing!
I spend about an hour for each minute of a video just in editing. I spend 5-10 hours coming up with ideas a week. In a recent video I had 15 hours of footage and 30 hours behind the scenes work(usually only film for 5-6 hours). It takes a lot of time but it's definitely worth it. TH-cam has been one of the hardest things I've done and I may only have 2k subscribers but it's still so worth it
Keep up the great work! My channel is a fitness channel and I have to do all my own training, as well as keep in shape, make fitness content for a wide audience, edit my videos, add music, repeat the same exercises to re-film, add thumbnails, titles, SEO…it’s exhausting 😅
Keep it up. 2000 subscribers is not nothing. And you worked for it. For me it ia also the case that 1 minute of video takes 1 hour in actually making it...editing, filming etc.
Very good advice. TH-cam is very complex, and different for everyone. I’m gonna use the video as motivation for future works! Thanks, and good luck everyone!
I have 5 channels one of them since 2018 and the other ones since 2020 and I was uploading twice a week nonstop, only one channel succeeded, kinda of. I quit recently , it's just not worth my time anymore, low views.
Good video. You were giving the truth about TH-cam. I really liked the point that you said we are competing against every channel on TH-cam because we have to realize people enjoy a variety of things so they watch a variety of things. Kudos to you my friend, New subscriber here.
Thanks my friend. Sometimes we get blindsided by the many content creators out there who tries to show TH-cam is easy. No offense to them but I don't enjoy giving people hope only to take it away.
@@KevinChee Exactly. Success is possible but not automatic. We need to do our best and thats what matters. I just truly enjoy filming content and I am not monetized but its a lot of fun for me.
I'm hooked on watching these videos. You're so down-to-earth and relatable! It feels like my goals become more tangible, and I feel prouder of myself for little milestones. Thank you!
These platforms are DESIGNED TO STEAL our lives if we're not mindful of how we engage on them. I like your honest manner of addressing this topic. I find I can't connect too much with larger TH-camrs giving advice but resonate with your content. I'm a single mom that started doing YT about 2 months ago. It's been slow growth since and I have just over 130 subs. It does take a lot of time and I'm being mindful of my approach to it. As I have other pursuits and time commitments in life. I've decided to drop overly edited videos, and apart from my vlogs and some shorts do talking head style mostly one-take videos. No long intro outro or any of the fluff. Just getting to the point. Because my entire life cannot be YT. I have to be a complete human being regardless of what the social media algorithms want us to be. Thanks for being genuine in your vids.
Sounds like the path I took as well. I have a family of my own, I can't be spending all my precious time editing videos, coming up with the next great idea, going out there to record breathtaking footage. The reason my videos is what it is is because it fits my busy schedule. The only thing that can stay consistent is the value we provide in the video. If you are truly speaking from the heart and genuine, people can feel it and your channel grows. It is slow, yes, but that's because it takes time for the TH-cam algorithm to understand as well, sometimes years. All the best to you.
Someone shared a statistic in another video that only 10% of people who upload youtube videos will make it to 1000 subscribers So if you have a couple hundred subscribers, don't give up! You are doing something right!
As someone who has done multiple youtube channels and failed at all of them, but finally found a very sub niche that I truly enjoy, I totally agree with all the points you made. It's a long grind. I'm not expecting to make a dollar for the first year, maybe even two, but that's just the mindset you gotta have. I have a back up plan though in terms of finances, which is important to have these days. Having multiple income streams is a must just to get by. But great video. If you can stick out the long term YT grind you are indeed tough. That's why it's so important to truly enjoy it. Otherwise chances of burning out are almost guaranteed.
Don't just grind, make sure you're also learning and trying little improvements in each video. Push yourself and test yourself a little, it goes a long way.
Everything you say is so true. Being a TH-cam creator is tiring and demoralizing at times. I will add that being an outdoorsy TH-camr means travelling to and from locations and a lot of physical effort. A 30-minute video may take all day to record, with two more days to edit and publish to TH-cam. I (for one) never set out to make money from my channel, so I soldier on, as I enjoy producing content for others to enjoy. 😉
Thank you so much for that advise. I have a small channel where I am very proud of being at 300 subscribers. I am practicing something new with each video. I have learned so much more about myself !!! I think my more of a mindset is that I am learning the fundamentals in my stage-- When I post that video, not only are you putting your heart and soul out for the public---how many will agree with you, trust you and follow you? Is the main question?
I have the answer and the answer is everything. Some agree, some disagree, some trust you, some don't, some follows you, some forgets you. The point here is, you can't satisfy everyone, just like life. What you can do instead is show what you believe in, what you stand for, be firm and attract like-minded audience. It may be a huge audience, it may be small but doing it this way builds up a strong community
Thanks for the video, it is discouraging to work hard on videos to upload and see bad results. I think developing an audience may be one of the most difficult parts of TH-cam. Still trying, hopefully I get it one day
Yeah, especially when you're starting out. It is just like any business, when you start, no one knows you, no one trusts you hence no one wants your service. But as you push on, you find new clients, you make new connections, you start to grow and all that hard work of yours pays off.
As someone who's considering starting a YT channel, this video was both helpful and yet discouraging at the same time. I'm ok with putting in the time and effort but now I'm a bit skeptical.
Discouraging is good, it puts you in a position to re-evaluate this journey. If you don't think this is for you, it is better to stop and use your precious time on what matters more.
Your most popular videos thumbnail is interesting. The title doesn't give it away but instead sparks curiosity. It's a curiosity fear based click. Keep doing that. Curiosity is king
@ thanks. That was just a one off. An art type thing. Vague alien threat. It didn’t render quite right. The videos I’m alway excited to post and share get no notice and less then a thousand impression total. Over like a month or more of being posted. I started this channel to share a book that I wrote. So sharing that narrative was the goal. I keep hearing that I should keep plugging away but yeah. It gets painful emotionally
@@ThePrimordialJunction niche down. It's 1000 times easier to get good at a single niche. This will draw more actual future consumers to your videos/products for sale
How about if someone posts the EXACT same thing with the exact same quality but their video gets 5,000 views and yours get nothing simply because Ytuber refuses to turn on your lights. Because basically most of the times, that is exactly what is happening. It has little to do with Quality as so many like to suggest but something entirely different.
I make a lot of things that work out like that. Most likely, the content is too novel, youtube barely works if the content is unknown. (There's no audience pulling that content....hence little to no impressions) . FYI: books, even from reasonably known people, don't do well on youtube based personal experience and what I've seen from others. However, I see building a channel like a library and possibly something future will cause that content to pick up or I can drive an audience to it in the future. Since everything is dynamic you never know exactly what is going to land. Sometime though, you have to choose to follow your interest or follow an audience.
I also don’t think most viewers get that if you make a 10 min video, people are prob only watching a couple minutes of it on average! Getting good retention is really really hard.
The echo is probably from the room you're doing your recording. I'm using blue yeti nano. I just have it in cardioid mode and speak to it in an enclosed room.
Yep. Very True. Despite All The Hardships & Difficulties, I Have Been Keep Going For Almost 5 Years With Not Much Results. Most People Would Already Quit Or Think I'm Crazy At This Point, Or Why I keep going. But The Only Reason I Keep Going Doing TH-cam Is Because I Found Something I Truly Love And Crazily Obssess Doing It Consistently, Which Most People Don't Have, Obssession. That's Why Most People Can't Or Don't Turn Their Hobbies Into A Job. It Takes A Crazy Amount Of Work, Passion And Obssesion To Turn Something You Love Into A Job. I don't think everyone should be a content creator, entreprenuer, or a youtuber because it is extremely difficult and time consuming. You have to mental toughness like iron steel and infinite perseverance. Good luck to everyone who's trying to make it big on TH-cam.
Well, if you see this is a hobby then yes, it shouldn't turn into a job. A hobby should remain as a hobby - fun and entertaining. However, if you're like me and see content creation as a business then the motivation is different. The amount of effort, work, entrepreneurship, it will all make sense.
Nice video. Not sure whether this the right question for you, but I try. Do you know anything about keywords in channel settings? Or have some video about it?
Keywords in channel settings doesn't do much as far as I know. Just have rich keywords in 1 or 2 sentences to give an overview of what your channel is about. That's about it really.
Schedule is important. I used to be more consistent and I got more views over certain period of time. Lately I slowed down and views dropped because of less consistency. Ironically these videos (within same filming format and editing) in the past are worse than the videos I am making now. So that's why consistency is important and what made the difference for more views, especially for smaller creators.
It really seems like you are "rewarded" when you post at least once every week. Unfortunately I am in the same boat and that schedule is not feasible at this time.
I went from one upload a week to upload whenever the video is ready. I cannot keep up with once a week. I need to jeapordise my quality then. Resulting in less and infrequent uploads. I think my channel took a hits from that inconaistancy too. It is bitter sweet. If you juat upload a video a week of less quality it will do better than when you upload a video when it is done and if better quality. Unsure if that is true, feels for me it is.
If I were to be honest with you, my channel right now is sustained by only 1 video. But that 1 video made a huge difference long term. The way I see it, its just about creating and creating until you get a few videos that consistently give you views. Of course, you will have to improve in every video as well.
You know, Kevin, I looked back on my analytics over 2 years, and we (unfortunately) moved 4 times in 2 years. So every time I had to move, right during the move my video production went down. I can see how the algorithm curve was doing great & picking up, then another move, a lack of posting, and down it went. I think maybe when you let this happen, you're kind of undoing your own success. I find consistency absolutely brutal. But I like putting out high quality. Perhaps ever 2 weeks would keep that algorithm happy.
What I tend to do is if I know I am moving then I will batch all my contents together. Maybe get 2-3 videos ready before I move then launch 1 every fortnight. 3 videos pretty much covers 1.5 months if done this way.
Gracias por otro vídeo Kevin , TH-cam es una montaña rusa de emociones , aveces pienso que no es lo mío , I'm afraid of not meeting the expectations of the people who leave me positive comments.
Kevin.... This was awesome. A pre-requisite for anyone considering starting a channel with the intent of earning an income. Don`t need an income - there`s a place for you too without the potential stressors referenced.
Precisely. Some are motivated by the income and will come up with a different strategy. Those that don't, well, they have different things to worry (or not worry) about.
TH-cam definitely isn't for everyone, I've seen my favourite creators drop off like flies, and they made some really good and decent content, they made cocktails, for me, I restarted my whole journey again on this new channel because I kept screwing around on my previous 2, 4 years of building 2 failed channels which meant I had to start all over again, no help from anyone, no fancy gear, just me and my artwork and whatever footage I had from the previous channels. I've got a better strategy in place which should see better growth now that I know what NOT to do, and as I'm repurposing my older content into my newly filmed content, when I go through that older content, it's immediately clear why I never grew, I watch the crap I made and keep thinking "how on earth was THAT suppose to grow a channel?" while trying not to cringe! Here's to my new journey, and hopefully this time I don't screw it up.
I think if your channel is still small then there's no need to start again. You can just remove all your videos and switch up your niche and 'start' again without needing to start from 0 subs.
Dude after 600 almost vids and 8 months i got demonetised. Not only that my audiences are so different that views are in the mudd too. Im too tired to start from 0 again as well
Content like yours usually comes with copyright strikes. You'll need to reevaluate what you really want from doing this. If it doesn't make sense to you then probably this isn't for you
The algorithm pushes out some terrible videos, 100s of thousands of views😂its loopy😵💫.. so at this point I don’t even care about trying to figure it out. 😂just make videos you love and ur tribe will find u❤. Nothing good ever comes easy! U never value anything you don’t grind for. The learning is where u get the feel good chemicals in your body. Take ur Time, work, never quit 🏆
To be fair, the algorithm does push good content from time to time. It's just that there is so many terrible videos out there so they tend to dominate more. But still, I do see absolutely horrible videos that did not get pushed as well so it is a fair game.
New subscriber here, thank you for all your inputs. I watched your other contents. Yes it is a bit disappointing if you are just starting to grow your channel and no one knows your channel exist. 😢 you put your time and effort but still poor views. BUT, let's not stop there. Consistency and patience i think is vital if you want to suceed. for me now i just enjoy my channel with no pressure at all. Just share meaningful videos. someday, it will also grow. 🙏 To all newbies and starters just keep grinding!
Thanks for the sub. I think this is the way it is with not just TH-cam, but everything we do in general. Job, business, Instagram, you name it. But one thing that stays constant is a strong mindset. If you have that, you can go through anything because you will always be in solution-solving mode.
@@KevinChee ....So I need only learn how to articulate it. I'm pretty pleases with the video I posted yesterday because I had given myself a bunch of perimeters to work within...and I accomplished what I wanted. Two videos in one...1) which people see and 2) the behind the scenes exercises and tricks. 3) tHanks for your comment.
I doubt that views are mainly based on the video quality. Once you get a great and loyal customer base/subs, a content creator doesn't have to work that hard.
@KevinChee my hobby is gaming. All I do is Let's Plays. So when it comes to gaming the ship sailed. It over saturated. I'm already considering quitting TH-cam all together. Or taking a break from it.
It drives me nuts when “how to do well on TH-camr” creators say “storytelling” as an essential ingredient…and then there is no storytelling in the video. Was there ANY “storytelling” in THIS video? No. But the algo still recommended it. And I still watched it. So apparently storytelling isn’t essential. At all. That’s just a line that keeps getting repeated so much that the “experts” assume it’s gospel.
Yeah. But the ones that had success in a relatively short time, they are the ones that gets pushed unfortunately. So that kinda creates this impression to viewers that TH-cam is easy.
Yes, it’s is hard. I started a YT channel in 2005. I knew back then that YT is a great platform. But I couldn’t find the time to make it work - I dropped out after a few videos. Then I restarted in 2018 … almost got monetized except I was sharing hula videos which I was told was copyrighted so my watch time for those didn’t count. I got discouraged and stopped posting. Then covid happened in 2020 and I got more time to do videos so I restarted my YT channel. Long story short, I have more than 2K subs but still not monetized due to lack of watch hours (I stop dot. Regularly upload). I’m planning ti be better (upload consistently in 2024. All this to say - thank you for explaining how YT is not easy 🤙🏽
Most most of the Content headlined in the internet, I hate to break the news to you but there really isn't a ton of thought going into most of it. Negative content is one of the biggest sellers. Selling HOPE is one of the biggest sellers and the TH-cam algorithm has no issue continually feeding that BAD content to viewers. I know all about video editing all the stuff behind the scenes. Most that has very little to do with same bigger Channels basically doing a Copy and repeat about anything that is trending. The TH-cam algorithm keeps feeding that and we the Public get stuck with the Same old SAME OLD. It won't change until we make it change.
People are just too hard to please in what they want and what they are looking for in a video. I do videos of Dragon Ball Justice and my subscribers are 315 but it's not enough still. I do Popsicle sticks and turn them into action figures and I would think that would reach higher than what I got now.
Have you thought about creating those block figures in the shape of PS1-era graphics? It kinda reminded me of them. There are some Dragon Ball games on PS1 that have those blocky models, perhaps you can create similar to those? I think that would create a lot of nostalgia. Hope that make sense.
liked that video, i find it hard with my channel mine is a no face music channel. i have ideas how to turn it around. but at moment i am not getting many views.
People think TH-cam is the easiest thing to do oh hell nah u know how many times someone stays up late till 3 am to upload a video and that after does being up till 1 am the rest of the week all the while going to uni or college and coming up with good ideas script and editing on your own alot of people have at least one person helping not everyone
The TH-cam algorithm and system is bias. Big Channels get all the needed resources and all the small channels have make do with what's left. So for most small channels, it essential becomes like playing the Lottery. The only real options at times then is building a strong network of other channels that are willing to promote your content. Otherwise, it's back to the lottery thing.
That's why running a TH-cam channel is a business. Just like any business, you start from zero and those big corps gets all the pieces of the pie first due to their network connections. Small businesses can grow to big business but it takes a lot of trial and error and get a chance to stand out to get attention. Alternatively, if you already have a connection built up (such as knowing big TH-camrs) then your network can help 'elevate' you. That's the way the world works.
@@KevinChee I worked on Wallstreet for one of the biggest Firms. So I know exactly how the World Works. And most folks really have little to ZERO clue to how the REAL World actually works. It bias by design. And it's only going to get far worse.
@KevinChee if someone held a gun to my head and said make a channel with over 100k subs in two years, or have a business make over 100k profit a year in two years I would be less worried with being threatened to go the standard business route.
Hey hey This TH-cam algorithm has got me so confused, I’m giving up. Not on making vids, but trying to understanding it lol Case in point, I made a vid that exploded (for me): got well over 1,499 views. So I made another on the same subject but talking about something different. Uploaded same time, same place. 150 views. Go figure. lol.
Well think of it like this. Ytube picks and chooses when to explode certain videos of the EXACT same quality. I see this all the time. The algorithm is stuck on promoting BAD content far more then it is on promoting great content.
I truly think there is an audience somewhere but it is up to the algo to give your videos impressions. Nobody truly knows how it works but the way I see it sometimes, the algorithm gets it right and pushes your video to the right audience, which gets them watching and that in return gives you even more impressions. However, most of the time the algorithm gets it wrong and push to the wrong audience and when that happens, you get less impressions. The algo is built by humans and to truly understand who a video is for is tough tbh. This is also why most tend to stick to the same niche in order to avoid confusing the algo.
It seems that it's a popularity contest. Faceless channels don't work well enough compared to those who show their face. That way, veiwers get to know you better.
Faceless grows fast especially with the use of AI. You'll get the views and subs but no connection is made with viewers. Also, social media has always been about popularity and attention :)
There's an expression: if you love what you do you never work a day in your life! I'm having a blast with no subs and no pay.😁 If it's not fun, don't bother doing it.
I was a little confuse at first. Your channel says Thoughtful AI but your channel description says you hate AI. Maybe your audience are getting a little confuse too?
@@KevinChee Thank you for your reply Kevin. I changed the description yesterday and deleted about 10 videos. I don't really belong in that niche so I am now looking for another niche. I have 2 other channels, what about you?
Literally just see what everyone else is doing that works and just do that (you have to enjoy that niche tho) its literally free content for months and of course you can try to make your own ideas but most likely if your a new creator nobody is gonna see that video
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Very true... The hours of work is no joke!! Only do it if you grow to love it 💯
good stuff
We subscribed to your TH-cam channel
So true. I do simple walking tours, I walk hours even in the cold and spend hours editing (removing uninteresting parts etc). I can imagine the effort other creators pour especially those complicated videos. YT isn't easy as people think.
It is insane. I did 1 video outside and I already got tired of it
@@izzyrov5814 we subscribed to your TH-cam channel
"I have my channel and feel the same way. You are the most honest of all. Thank you for helping me during this time of crisis when I am doubting myself. You are a true gem for me. Your line, 'TH-cam is a journey, not a race,' is life-saving for me, as it has been mentally affecting me these days."
I love what you're doing with your channel, full of values! Reach out to me (email, DM) anytime if you want someone to chat with.
@KevinChee Glad to hear from you! I’d be happy to connect in future. 🙏🙏 Thanks 👍
@@Ms_English_Tuber we subscribed to your TH-cam channel
TH-cam is NOT easy at all
For sure
We subscribed to your TH-cam channel
I agree 😅
We subscribed to your TH-cam channel @@AnthonyDoty
@The145Band Thank you! I'll do the same!
Keep telling them to quit. It create less competition, more consumers and more money for me. Keep up the good work. 😂😂😂
oh, that's a good idea. I'll be that super negative guy 😂
@KevinChee No, don't go overboard with it.
Just be very truthful.
People don't like hearing the truth they will quit.
Why to quit? I don't want to quit lol
@@Variemai56 You'll quit because it requires the mind of an entrepreneur which is something you luck.
If you are not successful at the things outside TH-cam to prove you are an expert, you'll face a lot of difficulties here.
So just quit and focus on solving problems first.
@@bernardok.c if you quit you get 0 views and subscribers decreased
I totally resonate with everything you said. As a mom working long hours and managing everything that comes with it, I’ve reached a point where I started this journey to share what I love doing. It’s been challenging, but I’m committed to improving day by day and enjoying the process along the way. Your words are such a great reminder of why we keep pushing forward, and I’m excited to see where this journey takes me. Thank you for sharing this-it truly hit home! Thank you , Kevin!♥
As a dad myself, I truly think the effort and commitment we put into doing something like content creation is visible to our kids. You may not notice it but your kids will and they will understand the need for hard work and discipline if they want to achieve their own dreams. So, don't for once think it is wasted effort. Showing your kids how to overcome challenges is the best skillset you can teach them.
@@KevinChee Absolutely!
You are right, I’m still struggling with everything you said. TH-cam is not easy
Good luck everyone.
Good luck!
I agree. I'm having a hard time. But I'm gonna do it. I believe I can, and I will!
good stuff
We subscribed to your TH-cam channel
🥺 Thank you mate! ✨
All you said were all correct! Im experiencing all of it. Sometimes I am really thinking if still worth it because im spending a lot of time to it. Even my time to rest im using it to create, edit and upload my content. But thank you so much for all the advice and motivation 👍🔔 keep it up
You'll need to find a way that suits you. I deliberately keep my videos simple with little to no edit because it works with my schedule. I have a system that works for me. I'm sure you can find 1 too. Feel free to reach out to me if you need some help.
Thank you for the real talk. I am just starting out and it is definitely a challenge. Lots of skills to learn - but I am enjoying learning and growing!
You hone your skills as you go. I do have to say the skills I gained over the years has helped me in my job as well, it is a win-win
I spend about an hour for each minute of a video just in editing. I spend 5-10 hours coming up with ideas a week. In a recent video I had 15 hours of footage and 30 hours behind the scenes work(usually only film for 5-6 hours). It takes a lot of time but it's definitely worth it. TH-cam has been one of the hardest things I've done and I may only have 2k subscribers but it's still so worth it
Keep up the great work! My channel is a fitness channel and I have to do all my own training, as well as keep in shape, make fitness content for a wide audience, edit my videos, add music, repeat the same exercises to re-film, add thumbnails, titles, SEO…it’s exhausting 😅
Money per month?
Keep it up. 2000 subscribers is not nothing. And you worked for it. For me it ia also the case that 1 minute of video takes 1 hour in actually making it...editing, filming etc.
That's why it is tough and not for everyone. But if you know what you are trying to get to then the journey becomes easier.
@@eChicken-k6d not monetized yet : /
Very good advice. TH-cam is very complex, and different for everyone. I’m gonna use the video as motivation for future works! Thanks, and good luck everyone!
good job, all the best
I have 5 channels one of them since 2018 and the other ones since 2020 and I was uploading twice a week nonstop, only one channel succeeded, kinda of.
I quit recently , it's just not worth my time anymore, low views.
Good video. You were giving the truth about TH-cam. I really liked the point that you said we are competing against every channel on TH-cam because we have to realize people enjoy a variety of things so they watch a variety of things. Kudos to you my friend, New subscriber here.
Thanks my friend. Sometimes we get blindsided by the many content creators out there who tries to show TH-cam is easy. No offense to them but I don't enjoy giving people hope only to take it away.
@@KevinChee Exactly. Success is possible but not automatic. We need to do our best and thats what matters. I just truly enjoy filming content and I am not monetized but its a lot of fun for me.
AMEN!😭🤣 I’m literally in the middle of brainstorming a video on how everyone is wrong about “easy mode”
Yeah, I think someone made a video on how TH-cam is on 'easy mode' and got tons of views lol
I'm hooked on watching these videos. You're so down-to-earth and relatable! It feels like my goals become more tangible, and I feel prouder of myself for little milestones. Thank you!
It sure is. I wish you all the best
Keep uploading getting better and soon everything will fall in place. The more you upload the better you will get
That’s that’s f ing it’s the only formula for any success
Choose quality over qty.
Uploading more also means giving yourself more chances to get better. Progressive growth is better than perfection
These platforms are DESIGNED TO STEAL our lives if we're not mindful of how we engage on them. I like your honest manner of addressing this topic. I find I can't connect too much with larger TH-camrs giving advice but resonate with your content. I'm a single mom that started doing YT about 2 months ago. It's been slow growth since and I have just over 130 subs. It does take a lot of time and I'm being mindful of my approach to it. As I have other pursuits and time commitments in life. I've decided to drop overly edited videos, and apart from my vlogs and some shorts do talking head style mostly one-take videos. No long intro outro or any of the fluff. Just getting to the point. Because my entire life cannot be YT. I have to be a complete human being regardless of what the social media algorithms want us to be. Thanks for being genuine in your vids.
Sounds like the path I took as well. I have a family of my own, I can't be spending all my precious time editing videos, coming up with the next great idea, going out there to record breathtaking footage. The reason my videos is what it is is because it fits my busy schedule. The only thing that can stay consistent is the value we provide in the video. If you are truly speaking from the heart and genuine, people can feel it and your channel grows. It is slow, yes, but that's because it takes time for the TH-cam algorithm to understand as well, sometimes years. All the best to you.
Someone shared a statistic in another video that only 10% of people who upload youtube videos will make it to 1000 subscribers
So if you have a couple hundred subscribers, don't give up! You are doing something right!
that's nice to hear
As someone who has done multiple youtube channels and failed at all of them, but finally found a very sub niche that I truly enjoy, I totally agree with all the points you made. It's a long grind. I'm not expecting to make a dollar for the first year, maybe even two, but that's just the mindset you gotta have. I have a back up plan though in terms of finances, which is important to have these days. Having multiple income streams is a must just to get by. But great video. If you can stick out the long term YT grind you are indeed tough. That's why it's so important to truly enjoy it. Otherwise chances of burning out are almost guaranteed.
Do you have a current channel with content?
Don't just grind, make sure you're also learning and trying little improvements in each video. Push yourself and test yourself a little, it goes a long way.
I don't plan or script just film and wing it on the fly..😂
you're pro
This really helped me. Thank you for making this. Always interesting. Truly thank you. 😊
nice, thanks for watching
4 months in to my channel, just discovered your videos. Authentic indeed, helpful. thank you!
Good stuff, glad you found me
@@vancouverportlive great videos we subscribed to your TH-cam channel
Everything you say is so true. Being a TH-cam creator is tiring and demoralizing at times. I will add that being an outdoorsy TH-camr means travelling to and from locations and a lot of physical effort. A 30-minute video may take all day to record, with two more days to edit and publish to TH-cam. I (for one) never set out to make money from my channel, so I soldier on, as I enjoy producing content for others to enjoy. 😉
Recording outside is tough, especially when the weather becomes unpredictable!
New TH-camr here, since I created my channel I see YT is hard work, we all have to putting in the work
it is indeed hard work. good luck
Thank you so much for that advise. I have a small channel where I am very proud of being at 300 subscribers. I am practicing something new with each video. I have learned so much more about myself !!! I think my more of a mindset is that I am learning the fundamentals in my stage-- When I post that video, not only are you putting your heart and soul out for the public---how many will agree with you, trust you and follow you? Is the main question?
I have the answer and the answer is everything. Some agree, some disagree, some trust you, some don't, some follows you, some forgets you. The point here is, you can't satisfy everyone, just like life. What you can do instead is show what you believe in, what you stand for, be firm and attract like-minded audience. It may be a huge audience, it may be small but doing it this way builds up a strong community
Very true, TH-cam is not easy, but am trying My best and moving a step at a time
that's what makes it worthwhile I guess
It's so true! I have experienced everything you said over the past few months.
it'll just keep coming
Thanks for the video, it is discouraging to work hard on videos to upload and see bad results. I think developing an audience may be one of the most difficult parts of TH-cam. Still trying, hopefully I get it one day
Yeah, especially when you're starting out. It is just like any business, when you start, no one knows you, no one trusts you hence no one wants your service. But as you push on, you find new clients, you make new connections, you start to grow and all that hard work of yours pays off.
@ I’ll keep that in mind moving forward, stay true to myself and continue to improve my content simultaneously. 🙏🏻
People only see the highlight reel but not behind the scenes. Best to understand yourself and what you're capable off and then execute.
I do admit the noise can get into your head
As someone who's considering starting a YT channel, this video was both helpful and yet discouraging at the same time. I'm ok with putting in the time and effort but now I'm a bit skeptical.
Discouraging is good, it puts you in a position to re-evaluate this journey. If you don't think this is for you, it is better to stop and use your precious time on what matters more.
It's definitely not easy. My channel takes tons of time and money and very little ppl subscribe but I refuse to quit
good job
Making videos when you truly have substance to turn into content and you share it only to get 0 views and not a single impression it’s heart breaking
Your most popular videos thumbnail is interesting. The title doesn't give it away but instead sparks curiosity. It's a curiosity fear based click. Keep doing that. Curiosity is king
@ thanks. That was just a one off. An art type thing. Vague alien threat. It didn’t render quite right. The videos I’m alway excited to post and share get no notice and less then a thousand impression total. Over like a month or more of being posted. I started this channel to share a book that I wrote. So sharing that narrative was the goal. I keep hearing that I should keep plugging away but yeah. It gets painful emotionally
@@ThePrimordialJunction niche down. It's 1000 times easier to get good at a single niche. This will draw more actual future consumers to your videos/products for sale
How about if someone posts the EXACT same thing with the exact same quality but their video gets 5,000 views and yours get nothing simply because Ytuber refuses to turn on your lights. Because basically most of the times, that is exactly what is happening. It has little to do with Quality as so many like to suggest but something entirely different.
I make a lot of things that work out like that. Most likely, the content is too novel, youtube barely works if the content is unknown. (There's no audience pulling that content....hence little to no impressions) . FYI: books, even from reasonably known people, don't do well on youtube based personal experience and what I've seen from others. However, I see building a channel like a library and possibly something future will cause that content to pick up or I can drive an audience to it in the future. Since everything is dynamic you never know exactly what is going to land. Sometime though, you have to choose to follow your interest or follow an audience.
Great input!
Thank you. Always good to have big channel validate my points.
@@KevinChee I actually recorded a similar video to this yesterday lol!
I also don’t think most viewers get that if you make a 10 min video, people are prob only watching a couple minutes of it on average! Getting good retention is really really hard.
To be fair, I do watch most videos to the end lol.. maybe it is just me.
Heya, u use a blue yeti right? And a sony cam… how do you ensure the blue yeti condenser mic doesn’t sound echo-ey?
The echo is probably from the room you're doing your recording.
I'm using blue yeti nano. I just have it in cardioid mode and speak to it in an enclosed room.
I get tired of the “I got monetized in 1 week uploading faceless/AI videos” narrative 😤
Do people still do that? My feed is filled with those, I just blocked them
Yep. Very True. Despite All The Hardships & Difficulties, I Have Been Keep Going For Almost 5 Years With Not Much Results. Most People Would Already Quit Or Think I'm Crazy At This Point, Or Why I keep going. But The Only Reason I Keep Going Doing TH-cam Is Because I Found Something I Truly Love And Crazily Obssess Doing It Consistently, Which Most People Don't Have, Obssession.
That's Why Most People Can't Or Don't Turn Their Hobbies Into A Job. It Takes A Crazy Amount Of Work, Passion And Obssesion To Turn Something You Love Into A Job. I don't think everyone should be a content creator, entreprenuer, or a youtuber because it is extremely difficult and time consuming.
You have to mental toughness like iron steel and infinite perseverance. Good luck to everyone who's trying to make it big on TH-cam.
Well, if you see this is a hobby then yes, it shouldn't turn into a job. A hobby should remain as a hobby - fun and entertaining. However, if you're like me and see content creation as a business then the motivation is different. The amount of effort, work, entrepreneurship, it will all make sense.
I admit, there is much more work behind the scenes than I thought. Great video
Totally agree
Nice video.
Not sure whether this the right question for you, but I try.
Do you know anything about keywords in channel settings? Or have some video about it?
Keywords in channel settings doesn't do much as far as I know. Just have rich keywords in 1 or 2 sentences to give an overview of what your channel is about. That's about it really.
Schedule is important. I used to be more consistent and I got more views over certain period of time. Lately I slowed down and views dropped because of less consistency. Ironically these videos (within same filming format and editing) in the past are worse than the videos I am making now. So that's why consistency is important and what made the difference for more views, especially for smaller creators.
It really seems like you are "rewarded" when you post at least once every week. Unfortunately I am in the same boat and that schedule is not feasible at this time.
Yeah but Vsauce...
I went from one upload a week to upload whenever the video is ready. I cannot keep up with once a week. I need to jeapordise my quality then. Resulting in less and infrequent uploads. I think my channel took a hits from that inconaistancy too. It is bitter sweet. If you juat upload a video a week of less quality it will do better than when you upload a video when it is done and if better quality. Unsure if that is true, feels for me it is.
If I were to be honest with you, my channel right now is sustained by only 1 video. But that 1 video made a huge difference long term. The way I see it, its just about creating and creating until you get a few videos that consistently give you views. Of course, you will have to improve in every video as well.
@@KevinChee As in every business, you hope to produce those "evergreen" products that sustain while you experiment/strive for the next evergreen.
You know, Kevin, I looked back on my analytics over 2 years, and we (unfortunately) moved 4 times in 2 years. So every time I had to move, right during the move my video production went down. I can see how the algorithm curve was doing great & picking up, then another move, a lack of posting, and down it went. I think maybe when you let this happen, you're kind of undoing your own success. I find consistency absolutely brutal. But I like putting out high quality. Perhaps ever 2 weeks would keep that algorithm happy.
What I tend to do is if I know I am moving then I will batch all my contents together. Maybe get 2-3 videos ready before I move then launch 1 every fortnight. 3 videos pretty much covers 1.5 months if done this way.
algorithm is never bribed😂
Thanks Kevin, your wise words makes me keep pressing on this journey ❤
You are so welcome
Gracias por otro vídeo Kevin , TH-cam es una montaña rusa de emociones , aveces pienso que no es lo mío , I'm afraid of not meeting the expectations of the people who leave me positive comments.
You will as long as you be yourself
Kevin.... This was awesome. A pre-requisite for anyone considering starting a channel with the intent of earning an income. Don`t need an income - there`s a place for you too without the potential stressors referenced.
Precisely. Some are motivated by the income and will come up with a different strategy. Those that don't, well, they have different things to worry (or not worry) about.
Kevin you are right. Thanks for this video.
Thanks my man
I got monetized in October before realizing the actual rpm.
I'm confuse. You can only tell what's your rpm after you're monetized?
@KevinChee the earnings generally were low
TH-cam definitely isn't for everyone, I've seen my favourite creators drop off like flies, and they made some really good and decent content, they made cocktails, for me, I restarted my whole journey again on this new channel because I kept screwing around on my previous 2, 4 years of building 2 failed channels which meant I had to start all over again, no help from anyone, no fancy gear, just me and my artwork and whatever footage I had from the previous channels.
I've got a better strategy in place which should see better growth now that I know what NOT to do, and as I'm repurposing my older content into my newly filmed content, when I go through that older content, it's immediately clear why I never grew, I watch the crap I made and keep thinking "how on earth was THAT suppose to grow a channel?" while trying not to cringe! Here's to my new journey, and hopefully this time I don't screw it up.
I think if your channel is still small then there's no need to start again. You can just remove all your videos and switch up your niche and 'start' again without needing to start from 0 subs.
Dude after 600 almost vids and 8 months i got demonetised. Not only that my audiences are so different that views are in the mudd too. Im too tired to start from 0 again as well
Content like yours usually comes with copyright strikes. You'll need to reevaluate what you really want from doing this. If it doesn't make sense to you then probably this isn't for you
@KevinChee what do i do do i reapply?
The algorithm pushes out some terrible videos, 100s of thousands of views😂its loopy😵💫.. so at this point I don’t even care about trying to figure it out. 😂just make videos you love and ur tribe will find u❤.
Nothing good ever comes easy! U never value anything you don’t grind for. The learning is where u get the feel good chemicals in your body. Take ur Time, work, never quit 🏆
To be fair, the algorithm does push good content from time to time. It's just that there is so many terrible videos out there so they tend to dominate more. But still, I do see absolutely horrible videos that did not get pushed as well so it is a fair game.
New subscriber here, thank you for all your inputs. I watched your other contents. Yes it is a bit disappointing if you are just starting to grow your channel and no one knows your channel exist. 😢 you put your time and effort but still poor views. BUT, let's not stop there. Consistency and patience i think is vital if you want to suceed. for me now i just enjoy my channel with no pressure at all. Just share meaningful videos. someday, it will also grow. 🙏
To all newbies and starters just keep grinding!
Thanks for the sub. I think this is the way it is with not just TH-cam, but everything we do in general. Job, business, Instagram, you name it. But one thing that stays constant is a strong mindset. If you have that, you can go through anything because you will always be in solution-solving mode.
I'm a pretty bad story teller. but,
I've learned to shorten my videos.
TH-cam is fun, tHanks for the video
your journey is a story itself :)
@@KevinChee ....So I need only learn how to articulate it.
I'm pretty pleases with the video I posted yesterday because I had given myself a bunch of perimeters to work within...and I accomplished what I wanted.
Two videos in one...1) which people see and 2) the behind the scenes exercises and tricks.
3) tHanks for your comment.
I doubt that views are mainly based on the video quality. Once you get a great and loyal customer base/subs, a content creator doesn't have to work that hard.
Loyal customer/fanbase can turn on you too :)
Great content right here! Keep up the great work 🎬
cheers
Real talk, bro! This TH-cam journey is not for the faint of heart. So much self doubt, but I keep going! Godspeed all! 💚🫡🙏🏽💪
For sure. Keep it real
I like the flow of this video and the fact that you stay true to your core ✌️
minimal editing, my go-to style
@ 🤘
Absolutely true 💯 percent👍
Thanks and welcome
The truth depending on your niche: The ship sailed
not really
@KevinChee my hobby is gaming. All I do is Let's Plays. So when it comes to gaming the ship sailed. It over saturated.
I'm already considering quitting TH-cam all together. Or taking a break from it.
Nice, thanks for putting that out there 👍
you're welcome
totally crazy. 😅been on the RUNWAY for 8 years..no take off, Flight aborted 😅😢😢
✈🛫
Informative! Thanks 👍
No problem!
It drives me nuts when “how to do well on TH-camr” creators say “storytelling” as an essential ingredient…and then there is no storytelling in the video.
Was there ANY “storytelling” in THIS video? No. But the algo still recommended it. And I still watched it. So apparently storytelling isn’t essential. At all. That’s just a line that keeps getting repeated so much that the “experts” assume it’s gospel.
the story is ..... the journey :)
00:52 it's the lottery, most of us it a very slow process 😅, totally agree with you
Yeah. But the ones that had success in a relatively short time, they are the ones that gets pushed unfortunately. So that kinda creates this impression to viewers that TH-cam is easy.
@@KevinChee Exactly
Yes, it’s is hard. I started a YT channel in 2005. I knew back then that YT is a great platform. But I couldn’t find the time to make it work - I dropped out after a few videos. Then I restarted in 2018 … almost got monetized except I was sharing hula videos which I was told was copyrighted so my watch time for those didn’t count. I got discouraged and stopped posting. Then covid happened in 2020 and I got more time to do videos so I restarted my YT channel. Long story short, I have more than 2K subs but still not monetized due to lack of watch hours (I stop dot. Regularly upload). I’m planning ti be better (upload consistently in 2024. All this to say - thank you for explaining how YT is not easy 🤙🏽
It takes a lot of persistence and mental toughness for sure. I am still facing tons of challenges at my stage.
Hard doesn’t mean impossible I like that word,is an inspirational word.I am a new you tuber.I believe in growth and thanks for sharing ❤
good to hear. Good luck!
It's Easy taking it day by day. ~ Boston (1978)
sorry, not familiar with that quote.
Good advice!!!
thanks my man
Most most of the Content headlined in the internet, I hate to break the news to you but there really isn't a ton of thought going into most of it. Negative content is one of the biggest sellers. Selling HOPE is one of the biggest sellers and the TH-cam algorithm has no issue continually feeding that BAD content to viewers. I know all about video editing all the stuff behind the scenes. Most that has very little to do with same bigger Channels basically doing a Copy and repeat about anything that is trending. The TH-cam algorithm keeps feeding that and we the Public get stuck with the Same old SAME OLD. It won't change until we make it change.
It's like reading the news. It is all about the headlines.
People are just too hard to please in what they want and what they are looking for in a video. I do videos of Dragon Ball Justice and my subscribers are 315 but it's not enough still. I do Popsicle sticks and turn them into action figures and I would think that would reach higher than what I got now.
Have you thought about creating those block figures in the shape of PS1-era graphics? It kinda reminded me of them. There are some Dragon Ball games on PS1 that have those blocky models, perhaps you can create similar to those? I think that would create a lot of nostalgia. Hope that make sense.
@KevinChee I haven't thought of that but that's interesting to do. I forgot about PS1
Yeah.
liked that video, i find it hard with my channel mine is a no face music channel. i have ideas how to turn it around. but at moment i am not getting many views.
Maybe it is time to try that idea of yours
Small Channels
Keep Uploading And You Will Make It
good job
don't mind. keep improving pals 🧀
awesome
Guaranteed no one is asking that question 😂😂😂😂.
Any fool can see it's Hard.
You'll be surprise how many comments I get saying I should not be so negative and discouraging when I say TH-cam is hard lol
100% Right... All of it.
thank you
It's actually easy if you know how to do it. Like with anything in life.
life is... easy?
Thanks for sharing. Very informative 🥰
Cheers
People think TH-cam is the easiest thing to do oh hell nah u know how many times someone stays up late till 3 am to upload a video and that after does being up till 1 am the rest of the week all the while going to uni or college and coming up with good ideas script and editing on your own alot of people have at least one person helping not everyone
it is a hustle for sure but it is worth it if you believe you can get it going
Great video!
Thanks!
It is indeed relatable, Kevin!
good job!
Totally agree - great video! 👏
good stuff
The TH-cam algorithm and system is bias. Big Channels get all the needed resources and all the small channels have make do with what's left. So for most small channels, it essential becomes like playing the Lottery. The only real options at times then is building a strong network of other channels that are willing to promote your content. Otherwise, it's back to the lottery thing.
That's why running a TH-cam channel is a business. Just like any business, you start from zero and those big corps gets all the pieces of the pie first due to their network connections. Small businesses can grow to big business but it takes a lot of trial and error and get a chance to stand out to get attention. Alternatively, if you already have a connection built up (such as knowing big TH-camrs) then your network can help 'elevate' you. That's the way the world works.
@@KevinChee I worked on Wallstreet for one of the biggest Firms. So I know exactly how the World Works. And most folks really have little to ZERO clue to how the REAL World actually works. It bias by design. And it's only going to get far worse.
I just started❤❤but a long way to go😀
for sure
Yeah youtube us the hardest thing I have ever done!
I'm sure there are other things that are much harder out there, like starting a brick-and-mortar business!
@KevinChee if someone held a gun to my head and said make a channel with over 100k subs in two years, or have a business make over 100k profit a year in two years I would be less worried with being threatened to go the standard business route.
Another wonderful insights on to the issue
thank you
Yes of course your right
Just an opinion, not facts. But hopefully majority of my viewers get it
@KevinChee yeah..... a have just take a break and I may be start again my TH-cam journey so any advice on this if can please my friend
Hey hey
This TH-cam algorithm has got me so confused, I’m giving up. Not on making vids, but trying to understanding it lol
Case in point, I made a vid that exploded (for me): got well over 1,499 views. So I made another on the same subject but talking about something different. Uploaded same time, same place. 150 views. Go figure. lol.
Well think of it like this. Ytube picks and chooses when to explode certain videos of the EXACT same quality. I see this all the time. The algorithm is stuck on promoting BAD content far more then it is on promoting great content.
I truly think there is an audience somewhere but it is up to the algo to give your videos impressions. Nobody truly knows how it works but the way I see it sometimes, the algorithm gets it right and pushes your video to the right audience, which gets them watching and that in return gives you even more impressions. However, most of the time the algorithm gets it wrong and push to the wrong audience and when that happens, you get less impressions. The algo is built by humans and to truly understand who a video is for is tough tbh. This is also why most tend to stick to the same niche in order to avoid confusing the algo.
It seems that it's a popularity contest. Faceless channels don't work well enough compared to those who show their face. That way, veiwers get to know you better.
Faceless grows fast especially with the use of AI. You'll get the views and subs but no connection is made with viewers. Also, social media has always been about popularity and attention :)
It is not for everyone cause everyone has different opinions
it is a free world
Just subbed!…Thank you
thank you very much. You're too kind
Thank you❤
Cheers
My target was 5k this year at least but consistency was problem 🤗
You still got time!
There's an expression: if you love what you do you never work a day in your life! I'm having a blast with no subs and no pay.😁 If it's not fun, don't bother doing it.
hmm...
You said it all.
I feel like I have more to say!
this is so true❤❤❤
thank you
It's impossible. For me..
I was a little confuse at first. Your channel says Thoughtful AI but your channel description says you hate AI. Maybe your audience are getting a little confuse too?
@@KevinChee Thank you for your reply Kevin. I changed the description yesterday and deleted about 10 videos. I don't really belong in that niche so I am now looking for another niche. I have 2 other channels, what about you?
well said. :)
thank you
4:10 fr, People barely do stuff in their vids, and get like 5 million likes
they will claim they know why but honestly, they don't
I loved this video. So inspiring
Thanks my friend. More to come this month
Literally just see what everyone else is doing that works and just do that (you have to enjoy that niche tho) its literally free content for months and of course you can try to make your own ideas but most likely if your a new creator nobody is gonna see that video
good strategy for starters but eventually you'll need to model off them and start finding gaps so that you can add your own spin to it