Famous on YouTube, but still broke?

[XboxDIY]

A big reason why people fail to make a decent living off of YouTube is because they expect to receive all their revenue off of ads. Advertising revenue is a very small piece of the pie.

 

[MichaelNoker]

YT is just the modern "starving artist" that you would see back in the day playing an instrument or painting a picture downtown asking for donations. How many of those people made a living?

I think for them it depended on their standard of living. Seems like YouTubers get to x amount of subs/viewers and then move to LA, where everything's insanely expensive. I may get to a certain level of success and be able to support myself just by virtue that my city is amazingly cheap and affordable for the perpetually broke. I mean, I support myself on $9.25 per hour right now, with a few odd jobs thrown in so I have a cushion.

 

[SuperSurpriseFun]

I think for them it depended on their standard of living. Seems like YouTubers get to x amount of subs/viewers and then move to LA, where everything's insanely expensive. I may get to a certain level of success and be able to support myself just by virtue that my city is amazingly cheap and affordable for the perpetually broke. I mean, I support myself on $9.25 per hour right now, with a few odd jobs thrown in so I have a cushion.

Hmmmm, so lifestyle inflation comes with increased sub numbers but not necessarily increased income. That's an interesting point. I could see how easily they could fall in that trap, especially when you reach the point that people are recognizing you in public.

 

[XboxDIY]

I think for them it depended on their standard of living. Seems like YouTubers get to x amount of subs/viewers and then move to LA, where everything's insanely expensive. I may get to a certain level of success and be able to support myself just by virtue that my city is amazingly cheap and affordable for the perpetually broke. I mean, I support myself on $9.25 per hour right now, with a few odd jobs thrown in so I have a cushion.

So true. People are looking for fame and fortune, but it's much more than that.

 

[markkaz]

This is why I didn't quit my full-time job until I felt confident that my earnings would sustain me. That being said, I have about the same views this year and last but earnings are down 10%.

 

[clerick]

It's kinda sad, but i have a large number of videos with multi million view count per video, and people assume that i'm raking it in like mad. This couldn't be further from the truth as us animators have an incredibly hard time fitting into youtubs 10 minute/frequent upload system (ie impossible), and the channels earnings are 1/10th of what they were pre 2012 watch time change and bassicly pay for rent (if at that at times) and nothing more. It's why a number of other youtube animators have quit on youtube or moved onto profitable areas like liveblogs/letsplays.

 

[Shane]

people assume that i'm raking it in like mad.

Alot of the issues stem from people taking the figures from sites like SocialBlade as correct, whereas the higher value on Socialblade tends to be 4-5 times the average channel's actual earnings.

 

[Xynudu]

Alot of the issues stem from people taking the figures from sites like SocialBlade as correct, whereas the higher value on Socialblade tends to be 4-5 times the average channel's actual earnings.

I'm not sure those figures are correct.

From comments I've read, and my own experience, SocialBlade is about 15 - 20% high. Definitely not what you are quoting.

 

[Shakycow]

I'm not sure those figures are correct.

From comments I've read, and my own experience, SocialBlade is about 15 - 20% high. Definitely not what you are quoting.

So then it would be correct to say that, in the past 30 days and 231k views, you've earned between $740 and $785? Pardon me, but I have my doubts.

 

[Idec Sdawkminn]

So then it would be correct to say that, in the past 30 days and 231k views, you've earned between $740 and $785? Pardon me, but I have my doubts.

In the last 30 days I've had around 350k views from monetized videos and will make around $400 for them. Socialblade high end is about 4x what I'll make.