The Beginning
So, my journey to become a YouTube “star” has begun. Well, not exactly yet, as I am doing my normal over-research and hesitating on how I want to approach making videos, the content, and whether I will be on camera. But I have taken the steps to start the outlines of my first few videos. I am going to use some of my blog posts that I feel are good candidates.
The content for my videos will be a mix of woodworking, office renovation, and travel videos as we own an RV and will be doing some trips this year. With me also getting a motorcycle, I will be creating content about that journey while also using it as a backdrop to talk about being a parent to adult children and much more.
The Camera Dilemma
The main factor causing delay in making my first video is deciding whether to be on camera or use animated character(s). I’m not shy by any means, so it has nothing to do with being in the videos. However, right now I don’t have all the lighting and the perfect camera to make high-quality videos. So I may start out using a service to create my animated character, but then eventually move to being on camera myself. We will see how things go and if it is a requirement that I need to be in the videos at all.
Technical Challenges and Costs
My research has led me to many different software packages for creating and editing videos. They all offer free versions, but these come with watermarks or limitations on video size. This is where I pause – I don’t want ugly watermarks, but I haven’t committed to spending money on what could bring little reward. While I’m not trying to make a living on social media, I’d like this new hobby to at least pay for itself. Which is interesting as I like to do woodworking, but have not sold anything. We will not talk about the money spent on tools, to include the x-carve. So I am not sure what the hesitation is.
One of the software packages I am looking into is called Animaker (https://www.animaker.com/) with the base plan being $27/mo for 5-minute videos, but I was looking at the $45/mo plan so I can have 15-minute videos. Seems a little steep when I am just starting out. There is also Adobe Express which is free, but not a lot of customization on the characters. There are a few more options, and as I explore these packages, I will use those experiences for content as well.
The Reality of Being a Part-Time YouTuber
This raises the question: can you be a part-time YouTuber and have any success, even if it doesn’t mean making huge amounts of money? I’ve watched enough YouTubers and subscribed to their channels to know that for those making a living, it’s not just about making a video, posting it, and raking in cash. There’s time needed for creating raw videos, editing them, and developing catchy titles and thumbnail images. Plus the YouTubers I watch are gamers, so they play games while having a conversation with their viewers. So they do not have to worry about the perfect camera or setting for their videos as it is the game they are playing.
My Motivation and Strategy
I wanted to try this to gain appreciation for what it takes to sustain a small channel. I know commitment is crucial – you should try to release videos on a schedule. For small channels, it doesn’t have to be 4-5 times a week, but you need to make the effort to put out at least one video weekly. So I have started off by trying to be somewhat predictable on writing blog posts. If I cannot come up with a schedule and stick to it for the blog, how am I going to be able to commit to a YouTube channel? So I guess I need to push myself just a little harder.
For now, I have concentrated on writing blog posts and will use some of those for video content outlines. It won’t be a word-for-word translation from print to video, but will inspire some of my content. I am hoping this will give me the push I need. I also watched a video where someone suggested just posting videos and seeing what people like, instead of trying to worry about what people want and only posting those videos. You don’t know what you don’t know.
Looking Ahead
I’ve dubbed 2025 my year of adventure, and I’m diving in headfirst by going back to school, getting a motorcycle, and now trying YouTube. This should be fun and hopefully not turn into a disaster looking for a place to happen.
My goals for my channel for the first 6 months will be:
- Post one video per week
- 10 subscribers in the first month
- 100 by the end of 3 months
- 1000 by the end of 6 months
I don’t know if I will reach these goals, but without goals, it is very hard to have a direction to follow and keep the motivation going.