1000 Subscribers! - 4 Lessons from 6 Months on YouTube

[@RussellSmith]

Thank you for subscribing! If you'd like to jump around the video, you can use the timestamps below. ⌚ Timestamps 00:00 Thank you! 00:56 #1 Topic and format 07:15 #2 Lighting 12:27 #3 Sound 16:09 #4 Being authentic on camera

[@Ryuzaki2100]

I think you're eligible for monetization because I just got ads on this video. Congrats, sir. You deserve it for your hard work. 🎉🎉🎉

[@RussellSmith]

Thanks Rishabh!

[@alexknapp6130]

It’s interesting to learn more about how to create videos and gain subscribers on KZbin. I was always curious about this process so thank you for giving your viewers a look behind the scenes. Hope your channel goes on to more and more success!

[@RussellSmith]

Thank you Alex! 😊

[@SavageGothamChess]

Congratulations. You deserved it. Hoping to get a shout out from you 😋

[@RussellSmith]

Thank you Hovindu 😊 No shout outs this time but I hope the insight into my analytics and journey so far will be useful for other small creators in the tech space.

[@brekibreki]

Congratulations! I hope your channel reaches the next milestone very soon. I like your professionalism and you really deserve to get a wider audience.

[@RussellSmith]

Thanks Igor! I appreciate your support.

[@PersonallyJoel]

Congrats! 🎉

[@RussellSmith]

Thanks!

[@KevinStratvert]

Good learnings Russell, thanks for sharing! One of my favorite channels for lighting is 'Epic Light Media'. haha, the fun of trying to figure out sound issues, I've experienced many of them 😂When is the next video coming out? 👍

[@RussellSmith]

Hi Kevin. Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment. I really appreciate it! I’ll check Epic Light Media out, that stuff is harder than it looks 😅 I hope really soon. I started a new job and that put a spanner in the works 😅

[@utopianit]

Congrats Russell! Honest, insightful and inspiring video. I always find your videos a pleasure to watch and you are the real deal. Don't sell yourself short. Here's to 10,000+!

[@RussellSmith]

Thanks Chris! I really appreciate you watching!

[@richardayrton2697]

Congratulations - new & recent sub here. Really appreciate your non-techie style when coaching. Learnt a lot from your vidoes!

[@RussellSmith]

Awesome, thank you!

[@nishiki393]

Thank you for this sincere honest video, consistent with your amenable style... AND, of course CONGRATS on the 1K mark! The part where you mentioned how people often bail on the step-by-step portion, the main reason I sometimes bail on that part is because I'm not in a place to really do it at the moment or I have no immediate use for it... BUT, I usually file those under my Windows playlist for future reference. I can't know nitty-gritty detail for everything, but I can KNOW ABOUT general availability of products/features/tech should the need arise or increase in the future, that's kind of the only workable way to manage these days... the proverbial paradox of choice. So whatever that's worth. The other creators you mention are great examples, and yeah, a tough act to follow since it's just more naturally part of their personality... we all have natural strengths and weaknesses... you have many they do not naturally have, but as you note, regardless, we can all improve and be better at whatever skills/traits are important enough for us to focus on. But for the most part, stay you and focus on YOUR strengths while just expanding out a little along the edges over time, which I believe is your mindset. Also, focus on the easiest bang/for buck in a way, lowest-hanging fruit for the most part first. Anyway, just some general, not super organized thoughts in case any of it helps you. Bottom line is, people want to subscribe to people who provide value, people who are likeable, people who are good people... at least most people I think, and that is definitely my preferance, and you sailed in there easily and I subscribed after watching only 1 video... usually I can tell from just one of any channel, and also by then reviewing recent videos to see if there is a general topic fit most of the time. Anyway, glad you can finally make some money, and I know you enough to know you will always monetize tastefully... the channels that go overboard with inline adverts and such can and have driven me to unsubscribe too. Be well, and again, huge congrats!!! Those earliest days are the most difficult, and you are starting to get up to numbers that will allow some escape velocity finally!! 🎉🙏🏻🙂

[@RussellSmith]

Thank you! And thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. I agree that being likeable is a big factor. I'd never thought about what you said regarding tutorials. But come to think of it, when I started working in IT, I would file away lots of how-to articles to create my own knowledgebase. I guess that I didn't read much of it unless it became necessary. Re advertising. I was nervous about enabling ads on my channel. In that it might drive people away. But I think most people, including myself, just accept it as an inevitable part of KZbin. In some ways, I'm quite proud to see an ad at the beginning of one of my videos. It somehow gives the video and channel more legitimacy. Knowing what I know about how KZbin works at least 😊

[@nishiki393]

@@RussellSmith glad my comment could add some value :-) As for advertising, I wasn't referring to the google-enabled advertising so much because I've subscribed to KZbin Premium or whatever for years, so never see any of that nonsense. Anyone who watches a lot of YT should definitely subscribe, it's so worth it... AND, the creator still gets the same compensation. What I was referring to was INLINE adds... actual video ad segments YOU actually insert above and beyond any youtube ad-engine interruptions... the sponsored content that creators get paid for. There is no way to escape that, other than scrubbing through, but I can't always do that conveniently as I have gloves on doing dishes or whatnot. I'm not opposed to some of that *IF THE CREATOR* actually believes in the product and only allows reputable products and companies AND they keep the inserts reasonable in number of interruptions and total % of video, do it tastefully, etc. My time is worth something so I have a limit to what I will tolerate when it comes to creators who go overboard, even if I otherwise like their content. Most good creators like you instinctively know how to do it right, partly because 1) you research best practices for creators and 2) you also watch other channels so know what irritates you and puts you off yourself. When people get too greedy with anything, that usually spells the beginning of a downfall (which at least with KZbin, if you see that start to happen, is easy to arrest by dialing back) Anyway, you are smart, you'll be fine, just some things to keep in mind. Most people's Watch Later lists are overflowing, so it's easy... almost satisfying and relieving, to drop a channel that goes foul. That doesn't concern me much with your channel. Be well & again, congrats Russell!

[@RussellSmith]

@@nishiki393 Thanks! Really good points again.

[@jw_au]

I just came across your lists video which is awesome and love the way you present… you seemed to have not published anything for a while though, have you stopped making videos? Oh and it’s the how tos that I love so balance od those and overviews is great!

[@RussellSmith]

Thanks John! I haven't published in a long time but I do plan to start again very soon I hope!