People YouTubing For The Money

If anyone watched the Streamys.. I would like to quote Harley Morenstein: *ahem*

“Any YouTuber that touched this microphone tonight is a millionaire. Don't you ever forget that,” Morenstein said in an on-stage rant. “Maybe (it wasn't true in 2011), but it's 2014. So you show them that respect. Lots of money, we're talking about money here,” “Go out there, (and) start a YouTube channel, because there's a lot of low-hanging fruit. And by low-hanging fruit, I mean millions of dollars. Everyone is rich on YouTube.”
 
I think however anyone wants to use YouTube, within the terms of service, is their business. There's nothing noble about poverty: been there, done that, and not interested in putting my kids through that. But if someone really wants to not make any money, I won't hold it against them. Just don't tell other people there's something wrong with making money. Different people have different goals and priorities, there's no idyllic YouTube that money is somehow ruining. YouTube is just a tool, a platform for individuals to store, host and share videos.

Here's my story about YouTube and money, if anyone feels like reading...

For years, YouTube for us was just a fun creative outlet and a way to share our homemade movies with my family and friends. I have a well compensated job and wasn't interested in using YouTube as a means to make money. However, after one of our videos went viral, we grew a large audience, and we started to think about ways that we could put that large audience to use.

Initially we were hoping to help out a charity with some free publicity, but after reaching out to several charities, none of them were interested in being connected to a YouTube channel that featured children in peril, even if it was only fictional peril!

In the meantime, our audience kept asking for more videos. Problem is, our videos were taking a long time to make, and with the demands of my work, I only had time to do one or two per year. So, my family and I brainstormed about what was something that we could do that was quick and easy to make on a regular basis, that the kids wouldn't lose interest in, and something that wasn't already being done by too many other people. That's when we thought of doing candy reviews.

Six months after we uploaded our first candy review (and joining YTtalk!), I was making more than 3 times my day job's income. After some soul-searching I decided to pursue our family business full-time, starting this November. Not only will I get to spend more quality time making videos, I'll get to spend more time with my family as well. They say money can't buy you happiness, but if I get to spend more time with my family, then yes I will be very happy. If I can pay off my daughters' college expenses without them going into debt, they will be happy too!
 
I would't mind if they did it just for the money if their content was good. But I do agree that youtube should be more than just money.
 
I don't think it is a good idea to start a Youtube channel for the money. Not that there's anything wrong with wanting to earn something from your hobby, but because making a decent amount on YT is not going to happen too fast (unless you're very, very lucky and get instantly popular). I didn't earn a buck in my first year on YT, so if you're in it just for the money, you're going to get discouraged very quickly and give up. Personally, I make videos for fun and if it ever gets to a point where I can earn a living from it than that's amazing, if not that's great too. I do it because I enjoy connecting with the small community I created on my channel. :)
 
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