It’s been quite some time since the last post. I admit I could have committed more on this blog but it is what it is. Let’s see. What updates do we have?
Vlogging.
After 5 years of vigorous weekly vlogging, I decided to slow down. I decided that
consistency no longer applies to me. Now that my Youtube channel managed to
cross 1,000 subscribers (31 December 2020) and 4,000 watch hours (24 September
2021), I see no other purpose to keep posting on a weekly basis. Reaching this
level was a goal that I set right from the beginning and I know it’s a bit cliché
to say this but it has never been about the money. It was about setting a
milestone that I can aim for. Indeed, reaching this milestone may appear easy
to some but for most of us, it is/was EXTREMELY difficult.
To meet
monetization requirements, one needs to gain a minimum of 1,000 subscribers and
4,000 watch hours. Both of which are nearly impossible to obtain if you do not
have the passion, skills, and patience. It was a smart move by Youtube to
ensure that the individuals who reach this level deserve the spot. Back then, there
were no such requirements. So, any creator, big or small, could monetize their
channels freely. At least now the standards have been raised and there is some
sort of transparency where a channel’s monetization status means something.
I decided
to stop committing to the weekly uploads because of a few reasons. Firstly, I
reached the goal. Getting there wasn’t easy. I needed to be consistent with my
uploads in order to effectively grow my channel with organic subscribers and
views. Once I reached there, the only reason left for me to keep being
consistent is money and fame. This is absolutely NOT what I’m about. Secondly,
I began to grow tired of vlogging about mundane occasions such as grocery
shopping, going to the malls and playgrounds. I realized that this is what we
do every week and vlogging about them started to feel repetitive and forced. I
think it’s only natural to grow out of it and to feel the need to evolve and do
better. So, I ditched the weekly commitment and vowed to only vlog when I have
material to record and when I’m feeling creative. I will immediately leave the
camera behind if it ever feels forced or if I’m simply not in the mood.
This doesn’t
mean I will no longer make videos on Youtube. I am still making them and
uploading them on the platform every now and then. My last 3 videos were
uploaded weeks and months apart but matter of the fact is that I’m still
uploading. I still love doing it. From the moment of monetization, it took me
about 2 years to accumulate my first 100 dollars (RM400). The Google Adsense account
linked to my Youtube channel has this rule where you can only withdraw money
when the payment reaches a minimum of 100 dollars. And being the small-time creator
with a small channel, waiting to reach 100 dollars is a very slow journey. I
withdrew my first 100 dollars a few months back and you know what? Who in their
right mind would want to give you money for nothing? Well, not nothing but when
doing something you love generates money, albeit not a significant amount,
RM400 does warm your heart up and motivate you to do more and do better.
I also must
remember that reaching this level means I can now treat my Youtube channel like
a business or a brand and that if I choose to do so, depending on my skill
level, creativity, and determination, I can actually make real money here, part
time or full time. What was once not an option for me has now become one. As
much as I always say it’s never about the money, it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t
embrace the opportunity from a business standpoint. As a vlogger who indulges
in his passions for video-making and storytelling, money has never been the reason
I do this. But only a small percentage of the population reached this level,
and it would be a waste of opportunity not to capitalize on the business side
of things, knowing well that we have the skills and means necessary to do so. I
may need to do some serious thinking about this and plan out some form of
strategy moving forward. Perhaps I should start making more travel and review
videos which I noticed does garner way more views than I usually get with the
vlogs. If I do it right, I may end up doing it full time, thus realizing my
fantasy of “escaping the system”. What an interesting thought.
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