Wake up. Create. Film. Edit. Repeat…and…get paid for it! Dream job, right? Well, it could be. With YouTubers like Lilly Singh aka Superwoman coining something stupid like $10 million (R 117 588 500,00) just last year, nearly everyone is trying their hand at it.
But how does one get to the point of making money from YouTube? We chatted to Tara Stewart aka Tara Courtenè (Tara) and Teboho Letseli (Teboho) to ask just that.
1.What made you decide to pursue your own YouTube channel?
Tara: I owned a blog, but realised times are changing and nobody reads half as much anymore. Video content is the new way forward.
2.What is the purpose of your channel/brand?
Teboho: My channel is focused on lifestyle and beauty. I've come to find that society has its own standards regarding beauty, and a deviation from that is considered "ugly". So as the girl who hasn't always been that confident, the purpose of my brand is to inspire other women to be their own kind of beautiful.
3.How easy was it to get started?
Teboho: It wasn't easy at all. I didn't have a camera, proper lighting, or the relevant editing skills. I literally had to rent a camera for R100 a day in order to film my videos.
…following on that, what would be 3 tips people should keep in mind when starting out?
Tara: 3 tips would be: be yourself; have clear content; be consistent.
Teboho: It isn't easy!!! Sometimes you want to give up because you're not seeing the results but keep at it anyway. Be consistent! Subscribers want to see you post regularly and interact with them regularly, so consistency is key. Be yourself. It's so easy to fall into the trap of being like your favourite YouTuber, but while you're busy being them, you're robbing the world of getting to know you.
4.Do you think YouTube has become too saturated? If so, how can people ensure they stand out?
Tara: It has become saturated. You have to find something that works and stick to it. Don’t do too much and confuse your market. Also stay current and on trend.
Teboho: Yes, YouTube is saturated, but I think there's still space for more people who are willing to be authentic, original, creative and entertaining. I think what sets different channels apart, is ORIGINALITY. The only way to stand out, is to be true to who you are.
5.Did you read up on any of the YouTube rules beforehand?
Teboho: No, I didn't. Funny story really, I wish I had. As a result, I still have a video that plays on mute because I didn't follow the "copyright" rules.
6.What are some of the YouTube rules that you think new joiners should be most aware of?
Tara: Be careful of the music you use. Your videos could be blocked if you use copyrighted material. You could potentially be banned if you continue to do this.
7.Do you think the South African landscape has evolved to a level where being a professional YouTuber is a possibility?
Teboho: Truth is YouTube is becoming less of a foreign concept. People are starting to accept it as a hobby, but I don't think the country has reached a point where it can be one's only source of income. Most YouTubers in SA make more money from brand collaborations, blogs, makeup businesses on the side, and things like that. South Africa still has a long way to go before it can fully recognise YouTubing as a profession.
10.What are some tips to ensure you engage your audience appropriately?
Tara: Tips: stay current, don’t drag out your content. Be quick and efficient with your time. Extremely long videos are tiring.
Teboho: The main tip I have is that a strong social media presence allows YouTubers to effectively engage with their subscribers. On YouTube, subscribers can only comment on videos, but on Instagram, or Twitter, they can DM you, comment on pictures, and participate in polls regarding what kind of video they would like to see next. So, the work begins on YouTube, but other social media platforms are super important too.
Also, allow your subscribers to decide what new video they'd like to see, engage them and make them part of your content-creating, decision-making process.
11.What are the most important numbers when it comes to YouTube?
Tara: The number of subscribers, because that determines if you get paid or not.
Teboho: The number of views you have on videos is an important figure. This is because once you reach a certain number of views, YouTube starts paying you. Also, views attract subscribers.
12.So, how does one get paid on Youtube?
Tara: You need 1000 subscribers to get paid.
Teboho: Have over 10000 views and YouTube will make you set up an AdSense account, and that's how you start getting paid.
Easy enough… or is it?
13.How important is video and editing and photography skills?
Teboho: Video, editing and photography skills are not important to start your channel. But once you're in it, it's only respectful to your subscribers to produce high-quality content. Therefore video, editing and photography skills will be important in the long run to sustain your channel.
While this may sound all too doable, it also requires endless dedication. So, if you’ve been toying with the idea of becoming the next ‘Superwoman’, simply put - YOU CAN!