HONEST Advice For Someone Starting YouTube (what they won't tell you)

If you've been thinking about making KZbin videos to promote your handmade business, then you'll want to give this a watch first. Warning: tough love ahead!
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[@SelfcareKaren]

Thanks for this video Kim. I started on KZbin first as I had a burning desire to do so. I then started an Etsy shop as sort of an off shoot to my channel. It is definitely the long game - but I LOVE it! I am still in the growing stage and 4 years in, I LOVE that I am still learning new things about this platform.

[@KimBliss]

I love that the channel came first and the Etsy shop after! That desire you speak about, I can relate to that well. 😁👍

[@boldfacedtruth]

I have zero desire to start a channel and I still loved this video. I appreciate your honesty.

[@KimBliss]

Haha! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching. 😁

[@cordialgreetingsart]

It’s definitely a long game. I’ve been at my art channel for 7 years. 🤪 It’s more like a hobby with followers under 70 at this point. I’ve added a combo of styles of video over the years but I am consistency is probably the key & maybe showing my face more would help. I have another channel where i refurbished all my Pinterest pins from the former 2022 pinterest creator rewards program. Those videos are educational & I have just under 150 followers on there.I started it in 2022. I call it my DIY channel where I share my gardening videos, recipes & crafts. I keep my crafts separate from my commercial art business. My art business consists of woodburning, commercial chalkboards, commercial window painting. I have shared a few tips in those genres. For the longest time I used that channel ti show off my final Pyrography (Woodburning) projects. I would use it as a portfolio for my future commission customers too.

[@KimBliss]

I love how you mentioned using KZbin as your portfolio! This is exactly it. Sometimes folks think that it's all about getting monitised or going viral or some other hoo ha. But this is a fantastic way to use KZbin as an artist or maker that can bring in results in other ways. 👏

[@gillianmcmurray]

Thanks Kim. 'Mum face' made me laugh 🤣

[@KimBliss]

You've got to crack out a bit of mum face ever now and again. 😆💚

[@wildchildstitches]

Again- real, realistic advice. You are my absolute favorite channel right now. Thank you thank you 🙏 I really lost my fire with my small business (almost immediately😂) but now I realize why….my expectations were absurd! Both on myself but also for the results. I was never going to be able to make at the rate I was expecting myself to, and people just weren’t going to find my shop and start buying things as fast as I had expected. So I burned out quick. I’m definitely feeling refreshed and ready to try again❤️❤️

[@KimBliss]

I'm chuffed to bits to have had a part to play in you finding your spark again! Burnout is a real issue and I'm trying to navigate right now too, so well done for finding your way out of it. I hope you have fun with your business going forward. 😁💚💚

[@abcorganizersunlimited]

Thank you for being you! I’m a new KZbinr, it’s definitely a learning experience, it’s fun and challenging, but I’m learning to give myself grace and put it all into perspective! 😊

[@KimBliss]

It really is, and I'm right there with you as I'm building up my other crafting channel. If you enjoy making videos though it is so worth the time you put in though. 😊

[@abcorganizersunlimited]

@@KimBliss yes, it’s worth the time but that said, I also dont want to burnout so I choose to only make short form content for now! As the channel grows, it may change, but I found that “working within my limits” takes the pressure off, it’s so easy to loose perspective on sm 😊

[@KimBliss]

@abcorganizersunlimited Absolutely, and short-form totally counts! If that's a form of video content that you're able to produce whilst at the same time protecting your energy and keeping burnout at bay, then it's definitely a good choice. 😊💚

[@abcorganizersunlimited]

@@KimBlissyes, that’s the conclusion I came to because prevent burnout and protecting my energy is more important to me, than producing content. Literally why I avoided sm all these years, now I’m learning I can have both in my own way! 😊💕

[@rickmartinez1769]

What an absolutely lovely lady! Thank you so much for your insights!

[@KimBliss]

Thanks for watching! 😁

[@CreativeStitchingwithAnn]

One of the things I'm doing is giving myself a time limit. I have this pesky work ethic that I go full bore into something and lose track of time. Nothing else gets done and I end up with a sore arm, hands, and back; you get the picture. So I decided to set my clock for a certain amount of time and when the timer goes off I'm done. Then I do something else and rest. As always great content Kim!!

[@KimBliss]

This is a great tip! I might have to try this. 😁💚

[@erdegora]

Always a pleasure to have the breakfast with you 🖖🏻

[@KimBliss]

😁😁😁💚

[@BYBabbra]

Oh KZbin, such a fickle thing. I'm been plugging at it for 3years now and still I'm just a wee channel. The type of video and the style of presentation can also impact the growth. Just learning how to use a camera properly and audio equipment and lighting is just a start. I'm getting there. Thanks for the honest video.

[@KimBliss]

Also the niche you move into, how competitive it is, whether or not there's an audience for the topic etc. So much to think about!

[@donnab2810]

Thank you for being honest about having a KZbin channel. I'm still considering it and have so many ideas. Once we settle into our new life and I'm working again, I will definitely be back in the Patreon learning all I can. In the meantime I'm trying to get ideas and scripts outlined while the ideas are still fresh. 👍

[@KimBliss]

You've had so much on your to do list lately, Donna. If you're mulling over ideas while all of this life stuff is going on then there's definitely something there! But there's no rush. Patreon or no Patreon, you'll do great and I'm always here if you want to pick my brains. 😁💚

[@caro-stitched]

Thanks Kim, so pleased I'd joined your Patreon and had realistic expectations about what to expect when I started my channel. I'm loving it now I've got going but still got soooo much to learn, we sometimes need that mum face to talk sense into me 😆

[@KimBliss]

So happy to have you on board too Caroline. I'm looking forward to seeing what you get up to. 😁

[@sgstuff-q8e]

This video could not have been better timed. Have been watching your content for a while now and have been letting ideas noodle around in my brain; have landed on something that might work; now am looking to see if I can execute the idea (and see if making videos is for me at all). The bit I am feeling the most overwhelmed by at the moment is the video editing as I have zero frame of reference for it and will be starting completely from scratch. Your video has helped me to give myself permission to just give it a go take my time and set realistic expectations instead of my usual - if it isn't perfect and successful the first time you try you may as well give up😄

[@KimBliss]

Awesome! I'm glad it came at a good time for you. And you're right, you really don't have to get it perfect. I was just like you when I got started, absolutely no editing experience whatsoever. It was a whole new world! Luckily that works really well on this platform because viewers love watching content from normal people who just bootstrap it. I donlove larger channels too, but there's something so special about the less polished videos. Go for it! 👍 😁

[@sgstuff-q8e]

@@KimBliss appreciate the encouragement!! hope you have a good evening

[@jennyray4698]

it would be nice if you had a link to your Etsy shop and one to your web site in the description so we can explore more of your talents! Love your videos....keep up the good work! and THANK YOU!

[@KimBliss]

I don't link to Etsy directly anymore, but I'm Beech Tree Handmade over there if you're curious. As for the website, if you click ok any of the items that you see somewhere below this video (YT keep moving it), it'll take you to the website. 😊

[@jennyray4698]

@@KimBliss thanks so much! Beautiful work!!

[@JohnLee-mk1tj]

Wow late to the show. It's a holiday day here in the States but I walked around all day thinking it was Sunday.🤣 Loved the video and the honesty with your comments. Most people think in terms of instant gratification and quit. I saw you very early in your YT career and I saw the amount of work you did to get where you are. Your success is well earned and appreciated.

[@KimBliss]

I love that you remember those scrappy days! I'd like to think I've gotten a little bit better since then, but not in terms of rambling. The amount of "umms" I had to edit out of this one! Enjoy your day off John. It'll give you a break from scary clowns. 😄☕️

[@marleenab5677]

Please do a video about going viral from the point if view of a hand made seller. It's not happened to me, but I know cases where the sheer volume of attention has burned makers out or the increase in demand has impacted their ability to do the quality they normally would, resulting as a hit in their reputation. Another negative aspect of it is that it highlights your designs to be copied by others who don't have the limits to scale you have. On etsy this can impact with listing's getting shut down, because of the photos being stolen. In my view it has a lot more negatives than positives. Because if how the tiktok algorithm works, tge risk at going viral there has made me want to post less on that platform.

[@KimBliss]

I'll definitely cover it, thanks for the suggestion! The good thing, at least, is that it's a lot easier to make sure you don't go viral than it is to *actually go* viral. Especially when making long-form content I think. But I agree with you 100%. It's not as great for makers or their business as many might think.

[@topnotchvintageshop5683]

Oh how I laughed. I've been plugging away at my graphic design channel since 2021 and am a zillion miles from getting monetised, the watch hours are decreasing to virtually nothing. A few days ago I started adding videos to my vintage shop channel, seeing as I only ever used to use it to answer questions for a customer, so am experimenting atm with the vast viewing figures of 1 - that be me viewing them. LOL

[@KimBliss]

Yup it can be an up hill struggle for sure!

[@JLJCoastersPlus]

Great video, it is a lot of work as I am finding out, at the moment it's a hobby and fun it keeps me on the right track, well for now. Enjoy your stuff so much and look forward to the next one Kim. Chill and have fun. xx

[@KimBliss]

I'm so happy that you find it fun! That's key too, I wish I'd remembered to say that in the video. And thanks for watching along, it's really appreciated. 💚

[@BananaPantsChannel]

Is there a way to learn more about network research as a career path with a different search term? I wanted to know more after this video but of course I mostly get things about network analyst or learn to do networking for a job.

[@AnnieEclectic]

Yes! That progress is going to be slower. I love my channel but it’s so up and down because of those beautiful pesky responsibilities 😊😆

[@KimBliss]

It's not going anywhere love and if you're using it to help grow your business then you don't need to stress over showing up every whenever. Life can come first, as it should. 😊💚

[@HolidaysLane]

I've had Soooo much fun making videos but yeah it's sooo disheartening that a video I spent 12 hours making gets maybe only 20 views. I have a video going out Thursday that I'm probably too-excited about but we'll see how it works out.

[@KimBliss]

Yeah, I can relate. I've been so excited to launch some videos, only to watch them tank. And don't even get me started on the view ranking they have in YT studio! 🤪

[@pinkscampi]

It took me 2 years to get monetized and I earn £10 to £18 a month with 1 video a week. Progress is so slow and god help if I take a break.

[@KimBliss]

It's a lot for sure, and a lot of people don't realise that the income can vary wildly too. This is why it's so important to use it to promote your own business in my opinion (if you have one and you want to of course). That way you can use it as a tool and suddenly it pays for itself in other ways. You've done incredibly well to stick at it and get yourself monitised though. 💚

[@CerexFlikex]

Literally thought "Where's the turrah?" and then you said it

[@KimBliss]

I can't believe I almost forgot!

[@fionar1656]

He is not that famous as I have not heard of him before lol.... 😂 Good vlog Kim

[@marikolina]

I use KZbin and Instagram as part of my art business that I basically just started (but started on social media a year ago). I find Instagram fairly predictable and my growth steady, as long as I act the way Instagram wants me to (which i didn't until this summer). KZbin on the other hand... Apparently, I've insulted not only the algorithm but also it's mother, and now we're no longer on talking terms. I don't even know what I did! (sort of) Regardless, I keep making videos because I like making them. Maybe the algorithm will forgive me some day.

[@KimBliss]

This is the issue isn't it. Every platform wants us to act a certain way and sometimes it's a task just to figure out what that is! 😄