Got any tips for running a youtube channel?

[Kyriakos]

Preferably not to the ground

Currently my own, which is about horror articles/videos, has only 33 subscribers. On the bright side, it started recently and I only know one of those subscribers IRL.

Anyone got tips for marketing the channel, eg on reddit or facebook? Maybe some people here have had channels, like @Commodore ...

Also, feel free to subscribe, of course (link in sig)

 

[Narz]

Have cool intro music, watermark, quality editing, consistent uploads.

Pretty much everything I dont do.

My daughter ripped into my YouTube channel and how horrible it was, was pretty funny.

 

[Moriarte]

Invest in good gear. Microphones are often overlooked by amateurs, and yet they’re important. Aside from clarity, you can, with some hardware/software fiddling, arm yourself with signature voice, so people with an ear for quality sound get drawn to your channel as well. One of the ingredients that made JRE podcast so popular is that “Shure” microphone.

 

[Kyriakos]

Invest in good gear. Microphones are often overlooked by amateurs, and yet they’re important. Aside from clarity, you can, with some hardware/software fiddling, arm yourself with signature voice, so people with an ear for quality sound get drawn to your channel as well. One of the ingredients that made JRE podcast so popular is that “Shure” microphone.

What do you think of this re quality? (just uploaded it)

 

[Ferocitus]

I found that the background music for the Lovecraft video was a little too loud and made it difficult to hear some words you were saying.
If you are going to warn us of some impending doom then it's best that we get the message clearly so that we can get ready to...
Oh, never mind. Play that funky music as loud as you want, white boy. It might drown out the screams.

 

[Kyriakos]

I found that the background music for the Lovecraft video was a little too loud and made it difficult to hear some words you were saying.
If you are going to warn us of some impending doom then it's best that we get the message clearly so that we can get ready to...
Oh, never mind. Play that funky music as loud as you want, white boy. It might drown out the screams.

In my defense, it was the first time I uploaded something that long... 7 minutes of talking are A LOT of files, mind
Will have to rework that in the future.

 

[Ferocitus]

In my defense, it was the first time I uploaded something that long... 7 minutes of talking are A LOT of files, mind
Will have to rework that in the future.

It only needs to be tiny bit lower. Or it might just be that I've lost frequency range at my age.

 

[Commodore]

My advice would be to watch my videos and then do the opposite of what I did since my channel failed.

On a more serious note: I don't really have any advice to give since I only had one series of videos that was kinda successful (my Shattered Union series) but I have no clue why those videos attracted viewers and the others didn't.

 

[Manfred Belheim]

Wear a low-cut top.

 

[Kyriakos]

Wear a low-cut top.

Wouldn't really work, unless my plan was to ride on some LGTB pseudo-marketing. And we all know how Milo failed

 

[Yeekim]

Just don't.

 

[Synobun]

If you are willing to invest, a good camera and microphone would enable you to do readings on Twitch. The crossover would help maintain an audience and after enough followers and views you could get partnered on Twitch and receive monthly subscriptions like you do on Patreon. One advantage of the Twitch subs is that they can use their Amazon Prime subscriptions to subscribe to you, which costs them nothing but still gets you a monthly return.

Unfortunately, just like with Adsense, Twitch has a minimum payout of $100. At tier 1 subscribers, you'd need ~34 of them per month to cash out every month. However, Twitch also lets you integrate with something like Streamlabs, which allows you to receive donations while streaming. Twitch Chat also has bits, but I don't know the financials of that.

An extra benefit of adding Twitch to your repertoire is that you can upload highlights or entire VODs to your YouTube channel afterward.

About the voice quality: Speaking a little louder (it kind of sounds like you're trying to not be heard by people in the other room) and getting a pop filter will help. The pop filter, in particular, will help with smoothing the enunciation of the words.

 

[Kyriakos]

If you are willing to invest, a good camera and microphone would enable you to do readings on Twitch. The crossover would help maintain an audience and after enough followers and views you could get partnered on Twitch and receive monthly subscriptions like you do on Patreon. One advantage of the Twitch subs is that they can use their Amazon Prime subscriptions to subscribe to you, which costs them nothing but still gets you a monthly return.

Unfortunately, just like with Adsense, Twitch has a minimum payout of $100. At tier 1 subscribers, you'd need ~34 of them per month to cash out every month. However, Twitch also lets you integrate with something like Streamlabs, which allows you to receive donations while streaming. Twitch Chat also has bits, but I don't know the financials of that.

An extra benefit of adding Twitch to your repertoire is that you can upload highlights or entire VODs to your YouTube channel afterward.

About the voice quality: Speaking a little louder (it kind of sounds like you're trying to not be heard by people in the other room) and getting a pop filter will help. The pop filter, in particular, will help with smoothing the enunciation of the words.

Thanks
Yes, I am actually trying to speak softly, cause I don't want to annoy others in the building - but generally I am wary of that...
If that changes the audio quality probably will be decent. Although obviously I can't use a mobile phone for streaming ^_^ (I don't plan to stream atm anyway, though I agree it would potentially make more sense financially, but it isn't really my plan)

Some indie developers actually manage to get enough money just out of Patreon, though one has to be lucky (along with worth) to do so. A recent case was one who got covered by Markiplier, so now has 50 patrons
Although the added issue in my case is that my Patreon is more general (articles/videos/some original stories/some stuff about my indie game), which certainly isn't a good idea if one aspires to be funded from there.

 

[Ferocitus]

Thanks
Yes, I am actually trying to speak softly, cause I don't want to annoy others in the building - but generally I am wary of that...

As I wrote to you earlier, my son said your soft voice contributed to the great ambience in your game. Maybe it will help to attract more patrons and viewers who can't stand blaring twerps like Pewde-what'sit.
Speaking softly might be your big schtick!

 

[Synobun]

Don't get me wrong, the soft-spoken vibe works. It fits the atmosphere and ambiance. It's just that right now it's less soft-spoken and more "I hope my dad doesn't come in and beat me for talking too loud."

I can't stand the loud, shouty creators either. They're very obnoxious.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

However, Twitch also lets you integrate with something like Streamlabs, which allows you to receive donations while streaming. Twitch Chat also has bits, but I don't know the financials of that.

Hmm... Every Saturday and Sunday Wuauquikuna (musicians from Ecuador, currently living in Poland where their studio is located) do a livestream show on YouTube. During the livestream there are people who donate to them in a variety of currencies (these guys have fans all around the world), and while I read a comment that YouTube takes a cut of the donations, it must be enough to make it financially worth their while. Mind you, they also sell CDs, music downloads, and other stuff on their website, but I've noticed some pretty generous donations during the performances.

I don't suppose you sing, @Kyriakos? And play the panflute, quena, or quenacho?


One thing to consider if you ever do decide to livestream is the time zone of your audience. Wuauquikuna's livestream is in the afternoon in their time zone, which is early morning for me. They have fans who make a point of being awake at 2 am to catch their show live.

 

[Kyriakos]

^I don't play any musical instrument - was a lead guitarist, but half a life ago...

I think that even in live youtube streams you must have at least 1000 subscribers for youtube to allow monetization (???). At least that is the prerequisite for monetizing videos (ads playing, you getting paid for that). Not sure if live stream is possible before 1K subscribers - at least I haven't seen any option to fill in your paypal/similar.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

^I don't play any musical instrument - was a lead guitarist, but half a life ago...

I think that even in live youtube streams you must have at least 1000 subscribers for youtube to allow monetization (???). At least that is the prerequisite for monetizing videos (ads playing, you getting paid for that). Not sure if live stream is possible before 1K subscribers - at least I haven't seen any option to fill in your paypal/similar.

I have no idea. Wuauquikuna passed 400,000 subscribers awhile back, and posted a special video to thank their fans (YT sent them a real, physical commemorative plaque that they showed in the video; it's hanging on the wall in their studio now). Some of their music videos have over a million views.

 

[Kyriakos]

As I wrote to you earlier, my son said your soft voice contributed to the great ambience in your game. Maybe it will help to attract more patrons and viewers who can't stand blaring twerps like Pewde-what'sit.
Speaking softly might be your big schtick!

With this one I actually managed to fool a lot of people that Kafka is the one speaking, in some old radio interview, in english

 

[Synobun]

Hmm... Every Saturday and Sunday Wuauquikuna (musicians from Ecuador, currently living in Poland where their studio is located) do a livestream show on YouTube. During the livestream there are people who donate to them in a variety of currencies (these guys have fans all around the world), and while I read a comment that YouTube takes a cut of the donations, it must be enough to make it financially worth their while. Mind you, they also sell CDs, music downloads, and other stuff on their website, but I've noticed some pretty generous donations during the performances.

I don't suppose you sing, @Kyriakos? And play the panflute, quena, or quenacho?


One thing to consider if you ever do decide to livestream is the time zone of your audience. Wuauquikuna's livestream is in the afternoon in their time zone, which is early morning for me. They have fans who make a point of being awake at 2 am to catch their show live.

Donating directly through YouTube takes a pretty heavy hit, 30%. Streamlabs takes nothing, but your payment processor (like PayPal) may take fees like any other kind of personal transaction.