Crossroads

[TinHatRanch]

Hi all,

I am really new to Youtube and this forum and am in need of advice. Please excuse my newb questions. I haven't found a channel here that quite parallels mine. I don't know if the advice here applies to my channel as it appears nothing is even in my genre. Heck, I don't even know how to really classify it. I've only put together 17 videos so far. I guess it would fall into the survival/gear/guns type thing.

Anyways, just for the heck of it I applied to two different networks and got "accepted". I don't know if I can list them, but one of them appears in the sticky's and the other sponsors this site. My question is this, would I benefit in any way by joining either of these networks? Should I just keep plugging away on my own?

I can say that just about every view that I have has come by me relentlessly marketing my own videos via social media, forums, etc. It would be nice if a network could help in some fashion driving traffic but from what I read, that doesn't happen. Other than the free stuff they offer, sound, music, etc, the only other thing they could offer is more money. Has anyone been in my position and joined? I've been doing this for just under 2 months and have just under 1000 subs/30k views and am about 500-1000 views per day.

The terms that have been offered sound pretty standard from what I have read, the usual split and a 1 year contract. Would holding out give me more leverage? If so, at what point do I become a force to be bargained with?

Thanks again for tolerating all of the newb questions. LT

 

[MattZ]

Hi all,

I am really new to Youtube and this forum and am in need of advice. Please excuse my newb questions. I haven't found a channel here that quite parallels mine. I don't know if the advice here applies to my channel as it appears nothing is even in my genre. Heck, I don't even know how to really classify it. I've only put together 17 videos so far. I guess it would fall into the survival/gear/guns type thing.

Anyways, just for the heck of it I applied to two different networks and got "accepted". I don't know if I can list them, but one of them appears in the sticky's and the other sponsors this site. My question is this, would I benefit in any way by joining either of these networks? Should I just keep plugging away on my own?

I can say that just about every view that I have has come by me relentlessly marketing my own videos via social media, forums, etc. It would be nice if a network could help in some fashion driving traffic but from what I read, that doesn't happen. Other than the free stuff they offer, sound, music, etc, the only other thing they could offer is more money. Has anyone been in my position and joined? I've been doing this for just under 2 months and have just under 1000 subs/30k views and am about 500-1000 views per day.

The terms that have been offered sound pretty standard from what I have read, the usual split and a 1 year contract. Would holding out give me more leverage? If so, at what point do I become a force to be bargained with?

Thanks again for tolerating all of the newb questions. LT

First off there is no issue with you stating which networks you are negotiating with. As for holding out to give you leverage, there is always room to gain more leverage, the higher views per day you are getting the more leverage you will have.

With 500-1000 views per day a partnership definitely could be beneficial but make sure you research thoroughly before taking the plunge, try to get the shortest contract possible (some networks even offer trial periods before they lock you in which can be beneficial). Not all networks will actually increase the $ you make, ask for quotes of CPM's (how much you'll earn per 1000 Monetized views) from the past few months.

You are dead right, very few networks will promote you/help you gain exposure, that part is up to you usually, however most will provide you with tools to try and help you grow your channel yourself.

The most important thing is to evaluate all offers and take your time.

 

[TinHatRanch]

First off there is no issue with you stating which networks you are negotiating with. As for holding out to give you leverage, there is always room to gain more leverage, the higher views per day you are getting the more leverage you will have.

With 500-1000 views per day a partnership definitely could be beneficial but make sure you research thoroughly before taking the plunge, try to get the shortest contract possible (some networks even offer trial periods before they lock you in which can be beneficial). Not all networks will actually increase the $ you make, ask for quotes of CPM's (how much you'll earn per 1000 Monetized views) from the past few months.

You are dead right, very few networks will promote you/help you gain exposure, that part is up to you usually, however most will provide you with tools to try and help you grow your channel yourself.

The most important thing is to evaluate all offers and take your time.

So what is the definition of a short contract? 6 months? 1 year? In your (or anyone's) experience, does your CPM go up when joining the network? If it doesn't and they don't promote your videos...what is the point? Also, what tools are you talking about Matt? The music? Anything else?

Thanks again.

 

[MattZ]

So what is the definition of a short contract? 6 months? 1 year? In your (or anyone's) experience, does your CPM go up when joining the network? If it doesn't and they don't promote your videos...what is the point? Also, what tools are you talking about Matt? The music? Anything else?

Thanks again.

I'd define a short contract as 1 year and anything less as a bonus.

Well every network will promise you a CPM rise but not all will actually deliver, its also worth baring in mind that they are taking an extra cut of your money so you need the CPM to increase by a decent margin to make up for the % you are splitting with the network, Networks take their cut after Google, E.G you have 1000 monetized views and have a CPM of 10$ , with Adsense alone you would take $5.50 of that, but with a network that has an identical CPM you would take the $5.50 and then have to split a % of that with the network, so of course not all networks will be able to increase your earnings.

As for tools, different networks offer different tools they can range depending on many things such as the network and your views per day, some networks for instance will create websites for their top partners, the more views per day you have the more attention a network will usually give you as after all views = $. Other tools are things like Channel Branding (banners/avatars being created for you) and things like this & libraries of music for you to use on your videos.

 

[TinHatRanch]

Here is another loaded question, at what point do you get noticed? I think for the majority of us we will never have a viral video or a channel in the top 1000, but when do you garner serious consideration?[DOUBLEPOST=1366509302,1366507737][/DOUBLEPOST]Matt, I've watched a couple of your videos. You have a good presence in front of the camera! If I can give you some advice, set the camera wider and move it closer to you so you take up more of the scene. Heck, wear a suit like Mean Gene too. You are covering wrestling, glam it up a little as well. You have a great staccato delivery so work on not losing rhythm as you talk. How do you market your channel?