[vc_row inner_container=”true” no_margin=”true” padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px” border=”none”][vc_column width=”1/1″][text_output]Few things make me happier than young people doing things they’re passionate about and making a living doing it; it’s why I created Launch. So, I love YouTube as much as the next person, in fact Launch has brand new content coming to our channel soon because it’s a great platform to spread ideas and share things that matter.
Popular YouTubers started out making videos just for fun or they uploaded something to share with friends or family who were far away. As their views grew, and people began to thumbs up, subscribe, and leave comments, they made more videos. Few of them started out thinking they could earn a living from their videos. No one walked into their bedrooms or kitchens and begged them to start making videos, vlogging their friends and family, or recording themselves playing video games. They started, out of a pure desire to entertain themselves and others, and because of that, they gained a following. Millions of dollars are now earned by people posting their own content for the world to enjoy. Harley even told us so. It’s fantastic to witness, but I wonder…
[blockquote cite=”” type=”center”]Has YouTube Become More ME, ME, ME, than YOU?[/blockquote]
I just watched a 9 minute Youtube video and during those 9 minutes the person I was watching told me to follow, add, like, subscribe, comment below, buy, listen to, and watch this other video.
Yo, Son; that’s a bit much! I get it, it’s a business, we all suffer through hearing about Audible, Nature Box, and not skipping Ads because we WANT the YouTubers we watch to succeed. We want them to earn a living by providing us with quality, creative content. But, we don’t want to be seen as a dollar sign and not a human.
Podcasts, merchandise, tours, books, movies, and short films, what better way is there to express yourself, share, and offer ways for people to support you? It’s a dream job, and we collectively, as viewers and subscribers, applaud those who have made it their career. But is it losing the thing that separates YouTube from other media? YouTube is was connection, interaction, immediate responses . . . human.
[blockquote cite=type=”center”]how many followers have you interacted with this week?[/blockquote]
There are YouTubers with thousands of followers who never interact with them; they’re mute in their comment section, they don’t favorite, retweet, like, or even say hi (digitally) to their audience. Don’t steal the time, attention, loyalty, and hearts of people. Please know that your core audience and demographic are some of the most malleable, easily influenced minds; treat them fairly. You don’t have to reach every person, one person a day and that’s 365 lives you’ve touched in a year! All of this is voluntary, we don’t owe you anything and you don’t owe us, we know. But, if you’re going to put your work out into the world, and if we’re going to watch, spread your message, read your book, watch your movie, buy your products & merch, and listen to your podcast, some sincere gratitude would go so far that you’d never have to ask people to share your stuff again. They’d willingly do it without you even having to ask.
A three second, free gesture means more to your followers than any profit you earn. People go crazy when someone they look up to retweets them or favorites their comment or picture. Relationship Marketing: cultivate connections, treat humans like humans and watch how willingly they’ll support and repay you. People want you to succeed, they want your book to be number, one, they are proud to watch you and be subscribed to your channel.
Retweet something, click on their IG account and like a picture, or when you’re bored, DM one of them and ask them how their day was. Be human, connect; the majority of them will never meet you in person, and that one gesture will mean more to them than you could ever imagine. Stay as connected as you can. You aren’t THAT busy.
Oh, and SAY THANK YOU! But only if you truly mean it.
Thanks![/text_output][/vc_column][/vc_row]