Advice for Partnership Offers Please (much appreciated)!

[BiteSizeVegan]

Hello there. I'm new to this forum. I've been working on my channel a little over a year but only recently started weekly posting. Since this, my subscribership has grown more consistently than ever before.

I work very hard on my videos, doing research, creating visuals, editing for hours, etc. However, I am NOT at all savvy about the business aspect of all this, networking, marketing, promotion, etc.

I've struggled through and taught myself things along the way and researched a lot. However, there are so many varying reviews and advice about everything out there. I have received several "offers" but never from large networks.

I recently applied to Fullscreen and was offered partnership. However I wasn't even able to get info on the length of the contract or revenue share until I contacted them directly. They had just sent me an email asking me to "link" my channel in order to "finalize" the partnership.

That seemed odd without giving me ANY details on what I'd be entering into. I read through YouTube's advisings on jointing networks and they recommend speaking with a lawyer first. HOwever, I'm not sure where to find a Youtube-versed lawyer

I'm agonizing over the decision of whether or not to join a network and, particularly, whether or not to accept Fullscreen's offer. When I pressed they said it was a 2yr contract with 70/30 split.

Right now my revenues aren't much to look at. My goal with my channel is to reach people and make a difference. HOwever, I would like to make it my source of income eventually as I've always dreamed of living off my art but never had the balls to really try.

Any advice about this decision would be so appreciated. I've put SO much work into my channel and am not sure if a network can do much more for me than what I'm doing for myself (albeit slowly).

Many many thanks!
Emily

 

[Michael]

Many smaller networks get in touch with offers because they tend to have recruiters scouting out new people to get partnered whereas the larger ones dont tend to, I cant say I have seen anyone here mention a larger network sending them inbox messages on YouTube regarding partnerships. I dont particularly agree with these recruiting methods but that's for another topic altogether.

I would honestly look at what you can gain from partnering with any network and make a decision from there, what will they be giving you in return for that X percent each month and do you find their services/features in return worth it. I wrote a guide here recently called Best YouTube Networks which discusses what you should be considering and asking yourself before partnering and going with the network which is best for you, some people prefer not being in one at all which is another option.

At your channels size you wouldn't make too much without a network (Adsense) and less with one.

 

[BiteSizeVegan]

Many smaller networks get in touch with offers because they tend to have recruiters scouting out new people to get partnered whereas the larger ones dont tend to, I cant say I have seen anyone here mention a larger network sending them inbox messages on YouTube regarding partnerships. I dont particularly agree with these recruiting methods but that's for another topic altogether.

I would honestly look at what you can gain from partnering with any network and make a decision from there, what will they be giving you in return for that X percent each month and do you find their services/features in return worth it. I wrote a guide here recently called which discusses what you should be considering and asking yourself before partnering and going with the network which is best for you, some people prefer not being in one at all which is another option.

At your channels size you wouldn't make too much without a network (Adsense) and less with one.

Thank you for this Michael. I did read that post and a couple other on here. The thing I struggle with is finding all the information I need. I'm not sure how to research a network other than look at their SocialBlade page and click on the random members SocialBlade shows you. As for how to contact Fullscreen partners and how to look into what exactly they offer, I'm struggling. I know what they "offer" at face value at least. And it looks amazing. However, that is their marketing and as far as what I'll *really* be getting, I'm not sure.

I'm willing to work hard for this and don't expect anyone to do any magic for me. I just want to be making the best decisions I can. Are there any YouTUbe savvy business/legal advisors?

How can I do more effective research on this?

Would you recommend I continue to grow my channel on my own and consider partnership once it's larger?

many thanks once again!

 

[Tarmack]

At this point it's fairly safe to say that locking in to a 2 year contract is outside the realm of reasonable, unless you are a channel of size and are getting real contractual benefits outside of basic revenue share. So much can happen in 2 years that giving a network that kind of block of time guaranteed is most likely a bad idea.

 

[Michael]

Thank you for this Michael. I did read that post and a couple other on here. The thing I struggle with is finding all the information I need. I'm not sure how to research a network other than look at their SocialBlade page and click on the random members SocialBlade shows you. As for how to contact Fullscreen partners and how to look into what exactly they offer, I'm struggling. I know what they "offer" at face value at least. And it looks amazing. However, that is their marketing and as far as what I'll *really* be getting, I'm not sure.

I'm willing to work hard for this and don't expect anyone to do any magic for me. I just want to be making the best decisions I can. Are there any YouTUbe savvy business/legal advisors?

How can I do more effective research on this?

Would you recommend I continue to grow my channel on my own and consider partnership once it's larger?

many thanks once again!

I think the only way you can is by looking at other peoples experiences and reviews and seeing what they have to say about the network and how theyre enjoying or not enjoying being in theirs, feel free to ask in here for feedback on X network(s) if you want to find out what their partners think. We have a lot of people in many different networks here although a lot of the time you just have to go with what you think is best for you and your channel. Not everyone will be happy in Fullscreen for example and there will be people who love it.

I dont know of any YouTube related business/legal advisors myself, there are a lot of experts and knowledgeable people in monetization and networks at YTtalk.

Personally I would wait myself and monetize with Adsense if you really want to start earning from your videos, you can get most network features freely such as music, stats etc if you know where to look.

What is attracting you to go with a network over using Adsense at the moment the most?

 

[Shane]

On applying to Fullscreen you would have signed the contract? All the details would have been in that.[DOUBLEPOST=1402584659,1402584554][/DOUBLEPOST]

Many smaller networks get in touch with offers because they tend to have recruiters scouting out new people to get partnered whereas the larger ones dont tend to,

You always say that but the big ones do too

Fullscreen does a load of it.. All their talent managers get commission for channels they contact/ onboard, quite a few of them do the PMing thing.
Maybe not to every channel that has no copyright regardless of views but not far off either..

 

[jakewilkinz]

Many smaller networks get in touch with offers because they tend to have recruiters scouting out new people to get partnered whereas the larger ones dont tend to, I cant say I have seen anyone here mention a larger network sending them inbox messages on YouTube regarding partnerships.

last year I got a partnership offer from fullscreen in my youtube inbox, they're probably the only big network that does that, and they may have stopped now

 

[BiteSizeVegan]

I think the only way you can is by looking at other peoples experiences and reviews and seeing what they have to say about the network and how theyre enjoying or not enjoying being in theirs, feel free to ask in here for feedback on X network(s) if you want to find out what their partners think. We have a lot of people in many different networks here although a lot of the time you just have to go with what you think is best for you and your channel. Not everyone will be happy in Fullscreen for example and there will be people who love it.

I dont know of any YouTube related business/legal advisors myself, there are a lot of experts and knowledgeable people in monetization and networks at YTtalk.

Personally I would wait myself and monetize with Adsense if you really want to start earning from your videos, you can get most network features freely such as music, stats etc if you know where to look.

What is attracting you to go with a network over using Adsense at the moment the most?

I'm already monetized with AdSense and have been for a while. My videos have the TrueVIew and the banner ads on. I do get CreativeCommons music for videos that i want music in.

I've been at this for a year (though with infrequent posting) and am close to breaking the $100 required in AdSense to get paid. Woo! big spender! ha.

But I'm really working hard at it and doing weekly videos now. I typically have intense research and editing for most so it took while for me to wrap my head around weekly releases.

I really want to make this a successful channel in order to reach people and help animals, as well as be able to live off of my art financially, which I didn't think was possible but am now willing to work towards

 

[Michael]

On applying to Fullscreen you would have signed the contract? All the details would have been in that.[DOUBLEPOST=1402584659,1402584554][/DOUBLEPOST]
You always say that but the big ones do too

Fullscreen does a load of it.. All their talent managers get commission for channels they contact/ onboard, quite a few of them do the PMing thing.
Maybe not to every channel that has no copyright regardless of views but not far off either..

I haven't seen anyone post it here that Fullscreen or any of the larger ones have contacted them but I have seen countless ones from newer or smaller networks so they must do it more or something, either way I dont think its a good way to gain partners. Could be because many people know who Fullscreen are already and they might only do it to fairly large channels so when they get invited they dont bother asking who they are etc[DOUBLEPOST=1402584994][/DOUBLEPOST]

I'm already monetized with AdSense and have been for a while. My videos have the TrueVIew and the banner ads on. I do get CreativeCommons music for videos that i want music in.

I've been at this for a year (though with infrequent posting) and am close to breaking the $100 required in AdSense to get paid. Woo! big spender! ha.

But I'm really working hard at it and doing weekly videos now. I typically have intense research and editing for most so it took while for me to wrap my head around weekly releases.

I really want to make this a successful channel in order to reach people and help animals, as well as be able to live off of my art financially, which I didn't think was possible but am now willing to work towards

Id stick at it with Adsense for now then, when your channel is much larger you will be able to get much better deals for yourself and be in a better position to negotiate with them.

 

[BiteSizeVegan]

last year I got a partnership offer from fullscreen in my youtube inbox, they're probably the only big network that does that, and they may have stopped now

Did you go with them or are you independent or with another network? do you like who you are with (if you are with one)?[DOUBLEPOST=1402585043,1402584936][/DOUBLEPOST]

On applying to Fullscreen you would have signed the contract? All the details would have been in that.[DOUBLEPOST=1402584659,1402584554][/DOUBLEPOST]
You always say that but the big ones do too

Fullscreen does a load of it.. All their talent managers get commission for channels they contact/ onboard, quite a few of them do the PMing thing.
Maybe not to every channel that has no copyright regardless of views but not far off either..

they didn't give me a contract, just said "you're in, link your channel for the last step". only when i asked specifically for a contract did i get one to review (just got it today)