I think you should add one more thing there... consistency. So many people are quitting way too early when they don't get quick results. Being consistent at least for a business point of you, which I believe 6 months to a year to get some results, is one of the foundations of a successful startup.
Honestly you just can't give up, sometimes it can take a really long time too, I grew to around 60-70 subscribers in like 6 years of making videos (probably because they were terrible,) but during this last year I've quadrupled my subscriber count, it's still far from a business, but if I would have given up after the first year I wouldn't have ever seen that growth. I think with UA-cam you just truly need to WANT to make videos, I was making videos just for friends and family to watch 3 years before I started uploading to UA-cam.
the real problem is thinking its going to be a career. if you dont want to do it all the time for free dont do it. leave video creation to people who love doing it, we dont need more people reacting to things with soy face. I mean look at someone like joel haver. been doing funny skits for fun for many many years with maybe a couple hundred viewers per video and he only blew up in the past few years
As a guy who was a professional writer for 20 years before jumping to YT, I absolutely despise being called a "content creator" and my work "content" -- it devalues creatives and the things they create. Anyone can make "content" -- but what sets successful creators apart is exactly what you're describing here. Still here at 9 minutes. :p
stop being melodramatic. content creators create content. it is not devaluing your content. it is just an accurate description of what it is without any evaluation. it can be good, bad, artistic, trash, interesting, life changing, or a giant waste of time. either way it is content. content in a media sense) is just a piece if any media without a media to transport it. Stop making up your own word Definitions.
It is weird seeing a Devin Nash Video less then 30min long (and without Notepad), but I like this more concentrated and edited style, especially for such a topic where the target audience is less likely to watch a 40 min Video, this gets straight to the point
As an educational content creator I think I fall for the third mistake about not creating controversial content. I have created controversial content on UA-cam, TikTok, etc. and those are usually the best performing pieces of content, but I just prefer to tell lesser known stories that I think deserve to be told.
Me too, I wanted to be an educational channel. I started uploading videos last year but I stopped it because it's not performing well, probably because I'm creating videos about facts that are lesser known but now I think I'm just gonna upload controversial topics. Thanks for your comment.
I completely agree. I started my UA-cam channel because I had things I wanted to talk about with other people, not because I wanted subs/views/money (though I will absolutely take them, and gladly). I want to make a community that can build each other up and share good times with, and that can all start with some discussion. I have a long history in manufacturing, so I'm all too familiar with the "all production no soul" concept. A lot of places I worked at that started out with a unique product eventually became bland, boring, unwanted, not needed, and were struggling to stay relevant. I've had to explain more than once that "in your effort to produce, you forgot how to create". Every time they forgot what got them there to begin with and could only focus on the money. I see the same thing with UA-camrs. They forget where they came from and get blindsided. Having just started the journey recently myself, I can very easily see the temptation. Trying to please the algorithm and get those tasty views is an easy trap to fall into.
Agreed. what this guy in the video is saying "having a story to tell" that's why I'm here. There's a tv series character that so many people see as 'evil" I don't, and I came to youtube to tell the world about her and why I don't see her that way.
For me it seems that if a person is very good at something (whatever it is), people will notice and appreciate it. When my videos went viral, I was very surprised that so many people are interested and super impressed what `I´m doing in my little workshop. For myself it was just casual, every day work and nothing special. I never thought that it would interest masses.
This video makes a ton of sense to me. A year or two ago I started to and quickly stopped forcing myself to make content or stream for the simple fact I get miserable when I do force myself. I have a 98% completed video I spent hours and hours on, loved every second of making, and am very happy with it so far, but I haven't worked on it in months. I also have a good number of video ideas I could bring to the games community that haven't been done there yet. Been wanting to do them for a while but even my usual lazy aim frag movie is a chore to do now. Same thing with my stream, ages back I was starting to able to get a consistent 20 average viewers, and an opportunity with the game I play where I can schedule limited in-game shoutouts for when I go live. On streams with game shoutouts it wasn't uncommon to maintain 40-100 viewers for the rest of the stream, when prior to shoutout it was around 20 average at the time. I only ever streamed around 2-3 hours and 3-4 times a week, but it still became a chore to force myself to stream on days where I did not feel like it. Man I wish I had the drive for content creation and gaming like I did 2-3 years ago, now that I'm a lot better with things like premier pro. I still randomly enjoy making content that doesn't take long when I get inspiration, but nothing large scale at the moment which I really want to be able to do
Man, you and me brother 😢 I have the same story for why I stopped but I’ve wanted to comeback and create again. Its just.. school and other things are the reason why I couldn’t keep up. It is a wasted opportunity for me to just have stopped uploading when my most recent video hit it big in terms of the community it was made for.
Absolutely agree. I do think knowledge of your stats and the algorithm matter (advantages of setting up binge sessions etc), but storytelling is key. Stories are how we have passed on knowledge since the beginning of time, there is something ingrained in us to be attracted to stories.
One thing creators need to realize: We can tell whether the content is from passion or from clout-building. Once someone has the mindset of "I want to be a YT celebrity", all hope goes out the window for success (for the majority). You need to let your passion guide you and produce the most value you can by letting your love for your work take over. When this happens, it's evident. The way you speak; the way you script; the way your eyes light up when you talk...Everything changes. I often see people complain that they "would be better if they were good at public speaking" but I dont know how much I believe that. I've had some pretty anti-social/reserved friends who don't speak much but once you put them on the topic of their passion - THEY BURST in excitement.... It's that exictement that gets people watching and subscribing... If no one is watching your content, re-evaluate why you're making it in the first place?
Dude it's so hard to see someone talk about becoming a youtuber from the emotional/"talk about what you love" side, instead of the technical side. Thank you so much!
A lot of the whole algorithm shit and feeling like I have to make content I'm not 100% passionate about is what lead me to use UA-cam as a repository for my Newgrounds content, which the latter has actually reignighted my creative well being because of the lack of pressure in the numbers. That lack of pressure is what makes me feel confident in sharing all the crazy ideas that I have! Sometimes (a lot of times really), I do fall into the whole "algorithm anxiety" trap, but I am working on that by teaching myself how to be content with the audience I do have, even if only a little bit of it is on UA-cam. Thank you so much for making this video. Its very soothing to hear a deviation from the whole "follow the algorithm" bullshit we hear every day.
3:59 Point 2: I've seen too many people starting out since the 2021 VTuber Boom, buy expensive equipment/upgrades only to stream and post less. I agree it is a form of procrastination as often times, I've observed a form of "I've made it energy" from people with such purchases. (I'm guilty of No.2 as well because I've paid 900 SGD for 10 videos from an editor last year, but stopped the practice due to poor returns; a life lesson) To add: the problem is worse is if such purchases were made in credit or instalments versus cash upfront; then they will fall into the trap of No.1, Where they start to get money-hungry in order to get "a return on investment". Donations, Subathons, Follow-For-Follows, etc. Re: I'll take your advice for Point No.1 & 3 and try to make more "me" & "rock the boat" non-VTuber content, versus mainstream for the rest of this year and maybe into the next.
And the fun thing is: Even if you don't want to start with the "too broke for anything, just OBS" option... A really basic setup doesn't cost you much more than 150 bucks, e. g. if you grind it on ebay. Sure you need luck, but you won't miss your one-in-a-million chance just because you got your green screen (or w/e) at a later point.
@@SasuPsycho Yep. Seen too many people fall into the Elgato Ballpit and believe they've skipped steps to "world fame" or something. And unless you do hardcore skits, most greenscreen use will be relegated to 1/8th of your screen if you do gaming.
@@HKSFMinerva Haha, yes! After months I upgraded my "greenscreen", which was the only thing I really "had to have" in the beginning (because I was streaming from my boyfriend's office and he didn't want to be in it by accident), from a green dyed old bedsheet on a broomstick that did cost me around 7 bucks to something professional from elgato I got for 50 bucks on eBay, because someone did (again) quit his/her career and was selling out stuff cheap. And you put a lot less pressure on yourself at the beginning, because you only throw a Friday night out in the bin. I was really surprised when I connected with some other streamers, who were really pushing themselves hard that they had to be successful the next 6 - 12 months, because they were deep in debt because of setting everything up for the stream.
You know this is really the perfect time for me to see your video. I've been wanting to give youtube another shot and trying to think through what kind of content I like to watch and would want to make. This really helped! All the people I follow are so genuine. I feel like they would be the same person if I met them irl instead of on stream. And they're so excited, or passionate about what they do. It really shows. I need to find that in myself.
I'm really restricted by my internet quality- but I've been thinking maybe I can get that to work for me by challenging myself to make shorter videos that are still reminiscent of the long form content that I enjoy. I'm a traditional artist so I think I actually have a lot to work with. Things to think about. Thanks!
Great video! I always ask myself “this video is too long” or “who really cares..” but I’m enjoying the journey and the skill of storytelling and editing!
Here’s the problem I have… I do have a topic and a variety of ideas that I want to post about, but whenever I try to speak with my own voice I end up pausing or hating the sound of my own voice. I’m not sure how literal you are about a “unique voice”, but I am trying using clips with my image but a robot voice to tell my stories. You do make valid points though, it’s just someone who doesn’t like their own voice or gets too nervous to literally speak to need other alternatives.
Glad you covered it. I think people absolutely go in with the idea of just trying something that "works" instead of sticking with a passion. Try something you truly believe in and show people why they should also believe in it.
I’m here at 9 mins! This is my first video I’ve seen of yours and I subbed immediately. I’ve definitely fell into each of these 3 reasons before - especially the “needing to buy more gear to make production easier” but realizing that has nothing to do with telling a good story. Keep it up!
I once created a video within a few minutes and posted in on UA-cam because I was pissed that there was no video explaining the topic. I had spent hours trying to figure out what to do by watching other videos and nobody was saying exactly what to do. So when I fugured it out, with zero preparation, a 5 euro mic, no thumbnail, in a shy non eloquent voice, I recorded my screen and explained how to send and email with pgp. In that channel I had posted several photoshop tutorials that had like 3 views each.... and then that pgp video got featured for unknown reasons and got dozens of thousands of views. I then deleted that channel and reuploaded it on my main channel, again it got so many views. So yeah, its weird but I guess videos that you MUST make could be successful!
DEVIN THIS IS SO IRRLEVANT BUT IVE BEEN WATCHING YOU SINCE I WAS A NOBODY ANDY, STREAMER WITH 0 FOLLOWERS, NO UA-cam CHANNEL AND NOTHING AT ALL. YOU HAVE HELPED ME TREMENDOUSLY AND I JUST WANTED TO VOUCH FOR YOU. DEVIN DOESNT TALK OUT OF HIS ASS HES SPITTING FACTS AND I STILL WATCH UR VIDEOS!! THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO LEARN! I AM ALWAYS LEARNING!! (EDIT) i am literally the guy who "invests" as procrastination
I’ve been semi successful at creating content over at Facebook gaming. However, I ended up burning out from trying to follow trends and doing whatever is getting the most views. I have things to say and things I want to do with my platform but I have been afraid to get too controversial. Thank you Devin for reminding me why I started streaming in the first place.
I was able to make it a full time job over on FB. Felt like all my dreams were coming true but turns out the platform is just horrible. After 2 years I left, went back to college and enjoy streaming/content for fun way more than I enjoyed it as a job
@@ThatsJStorm - Too much to fit in a YT comment. Their algorithm is absolutely insanely unforgiving. Their features never work correctly (FB gaming app a good example, they are now deleting it cause they could never get it working properly). Hell a good 30% of the time the live chats don't even work. Only one of the most crucial parts of a stream and they've had years yet they can't get chat to work reliably. Gaming is just a money grab for FB
@@Tyl3rMack yikes that's the first in depth analysis of the platform I've heard from an actual creator. I was considering starting to try growing over there but it sounds like it is a mess.
Learning how to speak to a microphone or camera takes time and it's a huge hurdle for many. My best videos to date are those with my own poorly edited voice. It's the interjections and infliction people want to hear. Viewers also don't expect perfection and will follow a bumbled up mess of honesty over someone with perfect speech.
It's like Devin has been spying on me for the past few years! I spent money on mics, Webcam, decorating my space to be fun and nerdy, putting up lights, but I've never hit record. He is absolutely right about everything. I need to get started!
Here. I've had too many people telling me that I "deserve" more viewership because of the personality I bring to the table. But I notice that I don't bring anything to stir the pot. Obviously I don't intend in looking for trouble but maybe being more vocal about my standpoints towards whatever topic can be somewhat useful.
I would love to have a conversation about this. I feel like both content creation and an artist approach are valid and possible. I also believe the artist approach is much more subject to the chance and luck aspect compared to the content approach.
I do believe Content Creation involves so many things from spreading out to multiple social medias, self-promotion and forming types of friendships on the platform, controversies ( of course not the kind that get you banned or cancelled ), decent to great production quality and either a likeable or captivating personality, etc, thumbnails & titles especially, consistency in posting between 3 to 4 videos a week for optimal results or at the very least 1 a week, understanding how the algorithm works and determining how competitive the niche you're getting into is ( I.E gaming, very competitive ), etc.
Love how your videos often correlate with some past decisions I made - and honestly doubted. Often. So often! Seeing you talking about that in a video encourages me to stay on that path. And to be less broad: When I started, I tried to not offend anyone big time. Everyone should feel welcome, think that was some stupid CC advice I read somewhere, and in a safe space. A good vibes stream for everyone, without bit*hing. Well, that made me more and more unhappy tbh. And I also missed "the difference". So I started to be more confrontative about things I felt are wrong IMHO. And first people didn't like that, especially those with a different opinion - of course. Since my content was/is mainly about gaming, but all the time like gaming and "podcasting over it" concerning current topics and developments, my community was always kinda mixed to my views. And I tried to avoid controversial topics to "not lose anyone". Nowadays I'm at the point to say: f*ck it! I'm not even politely asking someone to leave, if someone annoys me and gives me a bad feeling, I ban them directly. Or explain them why they get banned (now) and everyone else who sides with them. Some people are simply not worth it and make up like 10 % of the community, but 'cause 90 % of my personal anger, that worsens the experience for everyone else when I get p*ssed off in stream - of streaming, because I "have to" endure those morons. Tbh: I did start that because of the latter - and at some point people started to give me props for that, to not be (too) inclusive and take a stand. Maybe because I still "allow" people to disagree with me and keep their opinion (agree to disagree), when they don't cross a line (insults, being disrespectful, extremist views, so on). But: I got also so many times people calling me toxic because of that, mainly those who... had views hardly anyone could side with and felt offended. Trollz are gonna troll... Maybe with that approach you other streamers out there and me are never "going to make it". But that's why I work something else for a living I really enjoy - and it keeps your hobby still fun and your mental health up. P. S.: That change of mind happened btw. because of one video of yours talking about the 1.000 true fans approach. At that point I asked myself: Do I really want to have 100, 200 people in my stream that p*ss me off - or just a fraction of that, that actually enjoy what I'm doing. Back then I stopped caring about numbers too and focusing on content I enjoy - or "my" community. Twitch isn't reliable anyway, e. g. so often numbers only spike because of those infamous drops. And everyone knows how you get them: open the stream, mute it and minimize it - until you got it. Wow, much appreciated that someone like that joins my stream and... from a technical PoV, ruins my metrics. It's for no good, no matter what.
Wow guess I'm in the 0.1% most subbed channels on UA-cam lol. Not focusing on production/ equipment is actually a great point. You can get hundreds of thousands to millions of views from just a phone or a blue snowball.
Here at 11:51. You know what this makes me think of? Marvel Studios at least back in 2008 up until 2019. We see how other studios have tried to copy what Marvel did with the whole team-up films and cinematic universe. The audience however could sense the passion that was put into films like the first 'Iron Man' and how it paved the way for films like 'The Avengers,' 'Guardians of the Galaxy' and eventually 'Infinity War.' With the first 'Iron Man' you could feel the whole "it may seem impossible, but where there's a will, there's a way" mindset that built the film and the MCU. Up to phase 3 that is.
There's stuff I have to point out with this video that's BS. Making controversial content IS about gauging your analytics so you can launch yourself into public controversy. If content is really about speaking for yourself, then pandering to controversy is just pandering to the lowest common denominator. That's a flat out contraction. Making movies makes money by filling butts in seats. Controversy is the best at this. Becoming a successful content creator REQUIRES to sacrifice your private integrity to extent.
Controversy wasn't always what sold movie tickets, if that is what you meant at the end there, remember there was JAWS, and STAR WARS in the seventies, and many more movies like them that did pretty well at the box office. But I agree with the first part completely.
I don't exactly know how to put it into words, but all I'm gonna say is that youtube would be a lot better if a lot of creators and streamers who're just starting out watched this. Thanks Devin.
Like you said it's so easy to get caught up in thinking you need the right equipment before starting or just creating "content" for the end result, money,views,fame ect. instead of for the process itself. Thanks for this very eye opening!
This is so true...we need to keep our momentum ,our passion on creating contents , then if you have a certain fans and audiences love it, they will watch and subs organically. Having say this, it is important that you to need make your contents INTENTIONALLY . And this is about giving your contents to another level which include give your audiences that "viewer experience" like , put in effort on music, editing etc .. 😃
really like this style, i still get all the articulation you have naturally for depth but with just literally less words which makes things easier to wrap around in my head.
As a viewer I relate to a lot of what you're saying. Not naming names, but I stopped watching a particular channel I loved when the guy started worrying about views, and asking his audience what they wanted to watch, and rented an office and high quality equipment, and... it didn't feel as interesting to me anymore. He stopped doing his own thing (which had clearly been working, btw -- about a million views per video, on average, I'd say). He was no longer talking about stuff he was really interested in, in a relaxed, of-the-cuff kind of way, with videogames playing on the background; he was just talking about random stuff he thought might interest his viewers, in a more formal kind of way, with only his quite static mug on the screen, behind a desk like a TV show host... He still has an audience, but it's a small fraction of what it used to be, despite all the "improvements".
I love the 40 minute videos, but this style was also excellent, super concise without losing the usual quality analysis, would be happy to see more of these in the future also.
I have a hard to being a barber on UA-cam, but really wanting to be a gamer. I love being a barber with 10K subscribers, but I understand that barber content just isn’t as highly searched as gaming. So I’m going to pull the plug on barber content, not completely but it’s my channel and I’m just going to do what I want. So gaming content is going to take main stage, and every now and then I’ll do barber videos. MW2 is coming out and I’m NOT live-streaming, I’m just going to record good gameplay and upload good clips, also tips and covering updates. I’m really just going to practice for the next The Last Of Us Multiplayer Game that’s currently being developed. Thanks Devin. I’m going to create Content, not just livestreams. You are awesome.
Legit great video Devin. I have watched a lot of other youtube gurus and this was the only one that actually expressed what I suspected was happening- content self promoters who have "maximized their marketing game" and who are always "on that grind" but end up producing soulless, one dimensional content that is flashy but insincere and empty. Always trying to upsell everything. There is no story, no protagonist the youtube viewer can connect with.
I'm actually saddened by the statement the the future of content is going to be controversy based. I understand why it is, but it's not necessarily where I want the world to go. Is there some research done in psychology that could prove that positivity instead of controversy could have the same effect on people? If so, is that not the way we want to take our art/content?
Just because you are controversial, it doesn't mean to be negative. You can also be positive in taking a stand. To give you an extreme example: What's a positive approach towards racist or sexist views? Why should it be negative to exclude those from your community and causing a controversy about that, because you are taking a stand against that? And talking openly why you are acting like that? And if I remember correctly from his other videos, Devin started being positive in LoL and trying to keep a positive mindset, despite the often toxic environment. And taking a stand on this, to not be like that. What also not everyone praised and I bet a lot mocked. But instead of just being like everyone else, he made a difference. At least in his community.
*secret callout. I definitely suffer from the 2nd point of not wanting to be controversial. I am still finding my way with this but for the longest time I wouldn't give my full thoughts or give my unfiltered opinion about things because I didnt want to upset anyone. I dont wish for anyone to feel upset and I dont want hate in my life, but that makes for a very boring streamer/youtuber. I have started to understand people are far more interesting if they have stronger takes on things and are more willing to go out on a limb and take an L every now and then. This is a great tip Devin I will continue to work on it!
09:00 - this is a perfect companion to Ludwig's 'Quit' video. I completely filled out Novo's creator form and after doing so I took a hard look at it and wish I could delete everything I submitted. I realized I was just 'generic content creator # 9252' that offered little unique value. I got to break off the rust from this old katana called 'i used to be an artist' and change 'used to be' to 'AM'. #bankai
Whoa! That was refreshing thanks for posting. After watching 100 ‘how to grow on UA-cam’ videos, and they all say the same thing… I feel like I just won’t compromise to what they are asking! And you released this and I feel like I’m on the right track!
I've seen new Twitch streamers use controversy to launch like a rocket but then take a break from streaming because it was too much for them to handle and end up quitting when they try to stream again because no one was watching anymore. If you want people to keep coming back you need to give them a piece of you, something from your own personal experiences they can't get anywhere else that enhances their lives in some way.
I'm probably putting myself in analysis paralysis right now, but this is maybe the 5th time in the last 3 days that I've heard someone ask/tell me who am I making content for. I've always been a "can't stick to one game/thing" kinda guy because everything I'm into represents a different part of me, but variety gaming isn't the best thing to be known for growing on. This video helped put some things into perspective for me on where my thinking was going wrong. Thanks Devin.
I dont understand the very fundamental concept of facebook. On youtube, you post and you get views eventually. On facebook, you post and you have 0 views forever. Why is that ? Can someone explain to me how to post videos i get 100k views on youtube and 0 on facebook ?
I think this is the most edited Devin Nash video I’ve seen since I started watching. Valuable information here. Great take away of learn how to story tell.
TLDR: Y'all know how to make an octopus SQUIRT? anyways I FALL into some of these pitfalls, also I need to improve my delivery/voice A LOT Yeah the stir the pot thing is definitely something I need to do, also I'm too stiff in my videos in comparison to real life where I'm much looser at humor with other people and its so easy for me, I do think about this stuff a lot but I've intentionally avoided riskier topics that probably woulda paid off and I skirted away from too vulgar humor thinking the algo would screw me over or blacklist me or something. I NEED hella work on getting comfortable with just being natural and saying stuff that goes on into my head into the video (I feel too slow 1-dimensional while normally in comparison I am much more expressive and my delivery with stuff is good irl in banter), unfortunately college is getting in my way currently but this advice is definitely true since in the past I've observed other channels follow these principles looking at data of video releases and such as well as growth before and after certain anomalies in their views on some videos, all in an attempt to learn what they did and how it worked. I've been following ya for awhile Devin thanks for the free samples, I can't wait to come back for more just like my terminally obese auntie does down at the Costcos, even after a heart attack or two she a gawdamn machine.
Controversial Marketing is really a double edged sword though. On one side it brought my channel from 300 subs to 2.8k subs in a month. The Like to Dislike ratio is good but the comment section is pretty toxic. And I know dealing with hate is one part of being a content creator. But that´s not all you want to do. Not to mention even if you deal with it well it still gets to everyone to a certain degree. Story telling is super imortant and something I am trying to incooperate into my content with that said it´s pretty hard as a channel that focuses on talking about stuff going on in the anime world.
I heard about the recent desirability of streamer as a job, but the reality is, only very few, relative to how many people try, can live from just that. Great point about defining your goals and reasons - why you're doing it. And yeah, if someone is in for the money, they'll have a ton of work ahead which might never gets them the desired effect anyways.
Not surprising, it's sort of like the new celebrity. Making it as a movie star or a rock star are far harder since...you need actual talent for the most part. Being a streamer...that's easier to obtain, its within reach in their mind.
This gave me a lot of insight. I am a small creator. I think the last part really got me because my voice sounds like a little kid when I am 27 years old. I still make videos because I enjoy the interaction and let people talk about the sports. I try to make shorter videos because I feel like 10 minutes or more will drag the video out and people would get bored.
Dude i just checked out your latest vid and imo your voice sounds great, literally fine tone and perfect pacing. Just as a random suggestion, if you switched up your content slightly to a video essay type style, and made videos on "how X underrated player changed the game". Idk or maybe controversies on why a particular team is getting hated for whatever reason, your content might skyrocket, As it would generate massive intrigue, while still staying within the topic of football 🤔. You already have a great voice, and knowledge on the subject.
If you want to get more views do videos about how sports are all rigged and only the creatures get to be in the elite "superstar" club. Don't pretend you don't know that isn't true, speak your mind. I doubt that the class that goes elite are even the same race as us humans.
This video really resonates with us as struggling travel vloggers. We have invested in gear (yes guilty) and want to help inspire others to experience the world too. Travel vlogging is incredibly competitive but as much as we want to grow we don't want to lose our soul. Thanks for posting this. Still, we have questions on how to get noticed by the mysterious algorithm!
few days ago i took a lesson on point 2 you are making a guy said he needed help with coding sometimes, no one will help his posts or attend his questions on reddit, but he intentionally on a 2nd account will comment something wrong, also linking an adfly that has nothing to do with it. next time he checks, many guys have commented so they deny what 2nd account is saying, this shows how people are willing to point out "wrong" but not actually help in good will. waching machine is the perfect example, millions of views, millions of comments, people will not even check if they already pointed how to do it, just write it down and seek superiority. EDIT: yey i got a shoutout
Here it is, I thought to myself “This vid is less than 12 mins, no way does he bring up the secret subscriber message”. And yet, here we are. Good shit and you’re 100% correct: if someone is bland or not showing their passion around their content, it shows pretty damn quick.
There have been to many things on my mind lately, I started on UA-cam for two reason, one to just have a fun time and entertain at least one person, if someone truly had a fun time watching my video then I and live a happy life, two to create a community, perhaps some of the people idol me, but that doesn’t matter as long as I can feel heard and others can too… Lately this hasn’t even mattered to me, life, stress, anxiety, getting sick twice, but also not getting new viewers-I’ve lost sight of why I do this, instead just trying to release the bare minimum of content; I don’t know how to rearrange the broken pieces…
Really appreciate hearing someone say how I feel about the whole UA-cam grind for newbs like me. I’ll never understand why anyone would want to be a copycat for a living - even though I’m guilty of following checklists sometimes in my content too 🤫 🤦🏻
The main problem is people make content they want rather than what other people want. People are generally so focused on themselves and their ideas and fall in love with their own voice and life, and thoughts and nobody cares about any of that. that's the real reason why. It's not about getting unauthentically emotional, angry or anything else. It's not even about storytelling or any of that. It's simply nobody cares about your ideas, thoughts etc. They care about their own.
I have used controversy to some success, and I have also used trends to some success (on my other channel). I will say that sometimes new content is buried so deep under ranking content in travel niches, that after enlisting people to help me out with their view, and getting ranked, then the true potential of the video is unlocked.
10mins in - no effort required with good content. You are 100% correct on all points. I have just spent the last 2 years creating the stage to with I will tell my story. Story telling is the entire point.
Well you don't cause controversy for the sake of it, that's being fake and it is not making video's from the soul, anymore than doing videos that are trending just for likes. It's a slippery slop and he's NOT saying make controversy if everyone knows that's not who you are. don't embarrass your family and friends for views , that's dumber than dumb.
Also point 2 does apply to a great deal. I don't like clickbait titles, don't like to stir controversy and I don't like to intentionally put mistakes into my content. I do guides for a video game. There will be enough mistakes even without me putting them in. And there will always be people who say "but akshualllly" I see entire channels thrive of controversy. The whole political correctness culture war back and forth is fabricated because it earns newspapers and youtube channels a crap ton of money. They need each other
Honestly, I've been stuck on that buzzword, 'Niche'; thanks to this video, it feels like everything I want to do now just makes sense. Only been making shorts for a month however it already feels like a chore and that I'm 'manufacturing' content I don't care about - not to mention the tight schedule I've set myself.
I love that tip about voicing your opinion and not being afraid. My YT is a gaming channel and that in itself means heavy, HEAVY competition. However... I'm now experimenting with doing voice-overs and making a story along with showing the gameplay. And this seems to work. I've gained 42 subscribers in the last 4 weeks. And I'm now also noticing that people subscribe not only because of the newer videos but older ones get an occasional subscriber now too. I'm enjoying the YT journey and won't stop.
Always great content. Yet harnessing drama is quite contradictory from what you support in the realm of content creation. You continuously stated that it is the job of influencer to bring good into the world. Yet, focusing on controversial topics will, indeed, bring more engagement but might as well support and encourage toxic behaviors. Have you some insights on how to be controversial but still being there for community in a positive way. As you said, do not follow trend and work out of passion. However surfing on drama is already a strong trend.
It's definitely a tight line. Debate doesn't always have to be negative, it can work for or against you. The question is how you handle it. Don't share opinions you don't agree with and make them well informed ones. Then be sure you're practicing good debate etiquette and that you aren't supporting bad behavior. This is definitely a topic that should be explored.
I made a rant video a month ago about my longtime frustrations with Team Ninja and how they've been mishandling the dead or alive and Ninja Gaiden series. They've made it clear they care about making dark souls clones instead of what I originally enjoyed from them I have no idea how the video got any real attention but I'm very thankful because I know DOA and NG aren't popular series but they're game series I'm deeply passionate about I feel really inspired to so more commentary/rambling/discussion videos tbh because I always have things I wanna talk about, but I know I always say these same to my friends constantly so I'd rather make a video than keep repeating myself lmao
I have to say something.... #1 you are right this whole Controversial, Drama, shock Factor is making life so miserable for people / societies around the world... People are stressed out of their minds... It's making people miserable... My business is to help people to learn how to deal with this and learn how to stay emotionally grounded so they can live a more peaceful life... So you are right about the other people... I hate creating controversy... my whole life is about creating clarity and peace etc... so yes this is effecting my channel... I really don't want to do drama or controversy etc... I just realized, Controversial pitting people against people / arguments, Drama and Shock factor are all Narcissistic tactics...
Here at 9:00 minute mark. Thank you for the validation on storytelling and having a unique voice. I had an unnamed ‘help’ channel roast me during a review and told me I should do what another popular channel in my niche is doing. Basically copy them and don’t put out any unique ideas of my own. I couldn’t unsubscribe fast enough.
Yeah lol, people in the comments always tell me I deserve more subs or views, but for me getting 300 views is so awesome and rewarding especially because I do this for love and to become a better editor 😅 For anyone struggling, just keep doing it, put your passion to the test and eventually it'll work out❤
Every time I make a mistake in a video I question if I should leave a footnote to clarify the error or not. Recently I have been deciding against it, 1. because I make gaming shorts and 30 seconds isnt much time to address an error and the stakes are low since its not misinformation that has a big impact and 2. now my comments will be filled with people correcting me. But on the flip side, its sad because instead of having a community of people who leave comments about the video I just get hundreds of comments pointing out the flaw. I don't mind the youtube comments since i know thats the top of the funnel but now I have people joining my discord who are either there to help me because they think im stupid or people who didnt know squat and now think im godly. So my question after all of this is, what do you think the future of being a content creator is? If we feed our viewers drama and dumb ourselves down to bait comments are we all destined to separate ourselves from our audiences? I use shorts as a tool to say whatever I want about every thought that pops into my head so I'm not worried im not being true to my own thoughts but without the time to elaborate on my thought process its either right or wrong to the viewer. And the wrong videos usually come out on top.
I can highly agree with ur views! I've changed my content and I put out quality unique and edited videos and ppl are starting to realize this...I hope someday my channel grows into something visible someday...I enjoy making videos more then anything
This is my first time watching your video and I'm blown away! Great advice, absolutely hit the nail on the head for me as someone who has done UA-cam in a community that was absolutely based on numbers (the more subscribers and/or clout you had the more credible you were). I've been thinking about starting to get back into making other type of content for YT, something I'm truly interested in, and this video was extremely encouraging! Thanks a lot! 💖 Watched until the end as well :)
I always love your observations and they turn out to be facts too, background screen is super amazing, thank you for another great video! just a small point, the soul thing you said sounds super amazing which a lot of people are doing but without being discovered it is waste of time if you want to grow, this is an insane loophole which is going whenever someone put their soul videos.
The more I watch your videos, the more it encourages me to stay authentic with content. Following trends may be a "faster way to the top", but it also leads to burnout real fast. After taking a short break to reflect, I now feel much more confident in just recording and streaming content that I am passionate about rather than what may have the highest potential for quick growth.
I love this. It also applies to Webnovels and fiction so well. The people obsessing over gaming the various algorithms... Bro just put all that work into the SOUL of your story, and I prooomise it's going to pay off in the end, as long as you satisfy the basic requirements of the platform. (Genre, writing quantity, fun moments...)
The biggest disconnect I see between Twitch and UA-cam is that Twitch likes the experience of an event. UA-cam prefers the story to the event. A bunch of people cannot create the story from the experience.
I see you've grown from posting the MP4 file directly from OBS and graduated to editing with default Arial text overlays. Very nice!
All to please the algorithm 😉
Nutty 👋
Notepad/MSPaint or die.
One step at a time right?
Devin Nash is a master at making intriguing videos with no editing at all 😅
I think you should add one more thing there... consistency. So many people are quitting way too early when they don't get quick results. Being consistent at least for a business point of you, which I believe 6 months to a year to get some results, is one of the foundations of a successful startup.
i went from 1-2 views from when i started and now im averaging 20 views im slowly building.
@@s.sinster Congrats mate!!!
Honestly you just can't give up, sometimes it can take a really long time too, I grew to around 60-70 subscribers in like 6 years of making videos (probably because they were terrible,) but during this last year I've quadrupled my subscriber count, it's still far from a business, but if I would have given up after the first year I wouldn't have ever seen that growth. I think with UA-cam you just truly need to WANT to make videos, I was making videos just for friends and family to watch 3 years before I started uploading to UA-cam.
the real problem is thinking its going to be a career. if you dont want to do it all the time for free dont do it. leave video creation to people who love doing it, we dont need more people reacting to things with soy face. I mean look at someone like joel haver. been doing funny skits for fun for many many years with maybe a couple hundred viewers per video and he only blew up in the past few years
@@luke2806 THIS!!!
As a guy who was a professional writer for 20 years before jumping to YT, I absolutely despise being called a "content creator" and my work "content" -- it devalues creatives and the things they create. Anyone can make "content" -- but what sets successful creators apart is exactly what you're describing here.
Still here at 9 minutes. :p
Videographic art
You should check out the Struthless Video about it. ^^
Glad to hear someone else get into a rage over that word, it sounds so pretentious
I love your beard, I'm sad mine will never be that epic.
stop being melodramatic. content creators create content. it is not devaluing your content. it is just an accurate description of what it is without any evaluation. it can be good, bad, artistic, trash, interesting, life changing, or a giant waste of time. either way it is content. content in a media sense) is just a piece if any media without a media to transport it. Stop making up your own word Definitions.
It is weird seeing a Devin Nash Video less then 30min long (and without Notepad), but I like this more concentrated and edited style, especially for such a topic where the target audience is less likely to watch a 40 min Video, this gets straight to the point
Just watch it at 0.25 speed to get your long Devin Nash fix
There was notepad at 0:19 your comment is a lie.
@@Nitedontdie Now OP has to go to liar's jail
It was a screenshot of a notepad, not a notepad, so technically, not a notepad ^_^
I'd actually like to see a 40 min version of this, but I guess if he gets all his points across in 10 minutes then maybe it's not necessary.
As an educational content creator I think I fall for the third mistake about not creating controversial content. I have created controversial content on UA-cam, TikTok, etc. and those are usually the best performing pieces of content, but I just prefer to tell lesser known stories that I think deserve to be told.
¡Olé! ¡viva España!
Me too, I wanted to be an educational channel. I started uploading videos last year but I stopped it because it's not performing well, probably because I'm creating videos about facts that are lesser known but now I think I'm just gonna upload controversial topics. Thanks for your comment.
I completely agree. I started my UA-cam channel because I had things I wanted to talk about with other people, not because I wanted subs/views/money (though I will absolutely take them, and gladly). I want to make a community that can build each other up and share good times with, and that can all start with some discussion. I have a long history in manufacturing, so I'm all too familiar with the "all production no soul" concept. A lot of places I worked at that started out with a unique product eventually became bland, boring, unwanted, not needed, and were struggling to stay relevant. I've had to explain more than once that "in your effort to produce, you forgot how to create". Every time they forgot what got them there to begin with and could only focus on the money.
I see the same thing with UA-camrs. They forget where they came from and get blindsided. Having just started the journey recently myself, I can very easily see the temptation. Trying to please the algorithm and get those tasty views is an easy trap to fall into.
My channel is like my video diary
Agreed. what this guy in the video is saying "having a story to tell" that's why I'm here. There's a tv series character that so many people see as 'evil" I don't, and I came to youtube to tell the world about her and why I don't see her that way.
UA-cam is a service industry, it's a digital restaurant. Serve people what they want and what you love making
For me it seems that if a person is very good at something (whatever it is), people will notice and appreciate it. When my videos went viral, I was very surprised that so many people are interested and super impressed what `I´m doing in my little workshop. For myself it was just casual, every day work and nothing special. I never thought that it would interest masses.
This video makes a ton of sense to me. A year or two ago I started to and quickly stopped forcing myself to make content or stream for the simple fact I get miserable when I do force myself.
I have a 98% completed video I spent hours and hours on, loved every second of making, and am very happy with it so far, but I haven't worked on it in months. I also have a good number of video ideas I could bring to the games community that haven't been done there yet. Been wanting to do them for a while but even my usual lazy aim frag movie is a chore to do now.
Same thing with my stream, ages back I was starting to able to get a consistent 20 average viewers, and an opportunity with the game I play where I can schedule limited in-game shoutouts for when I go live. On streams with game shoutouts it wasn't uncommon to maintain 40-100 viewers for the rest of the stream, when prior to shoutout it was around 20 average at the time. I only ever streamed around 2-3 hours and 3-4 times a week, but it still became a chore to force myself to stream on days where I did not feel like it.
Man I wish I had the drive for content creation and gaming like I did 2-3 years ago, now that I'm a lot better with things like premier pro. I still randomly enjoy making content that doesn't take long when I get inspiration, but nothing large scale at the moment which I really want to be able to do
Man, you and me brother 😢
I have the same story for why I stopped but I’ve wanted to comeback and create again. Its just.. school and other things are the reason why I couldn’t keep up. It is a wasted opportunity for me to just have stopped uploading when my most recent video hit it big in terms of the community it was made for.
"investing in your business, buying thousands of dollars worth of equipment, is a form of procrastination"
To put it another way, Devin wants to emphasize the creation of content, NOT the manufacturing. Thank you Devin for the help you provide. 🔥
Absolutely agree. I do think knowledge of your stats and the algorithm matter (advantages of setting up binge sessions etc), but storytelling is key. Stories are how we have passed on knowledge since the beginning of time, there is something ingrained in us to be attracted to stories.
Yes
Fancy seeing you here, awesome!
One thing creators need to realize: We can tell whether the content is from passion or from clout-building. Once someone has the mindset of "I want to be a YT celebrity", all hope goes out the window for success (for the majority). You need to let your passion guide you and produce the most value you can by letting your love for your work take over. When this happens, it's evident. The way you speak; the way you script; the way your eyes light up when you talk...Everything changes.
I often see people complain that they "would be better if they were good at public speaking" but I dont know how much I believe that. I've had some pretty anti-social/reserved friends who don't speak much but once you put them on the topic of their passion - THEY BURST in excitement.... It's that exictement that gets people watching and subscribing... If no one is watching your content, re-evaluate why you're making it in the first place?
Dude it's so hard to see someone talk about becoming a youtuber from the emotional/"talk about what you love" side, instead of the technical side. Thank you so much!
A lot of the whole algorithm shit and feeling like I have to make content I'm not 100% passionate about is what lead me to use UA-cam as a repository for my Newgrounds content, which the latter has actually reignighted my creative well being because of the lack of pressure in the numbers. That lack of pressure is what makes me feel confident in sharing all the crazy ideas that I have! Sometimes (a lot of times really), I do fall into the whole "algorithm anxiety" trap, but I am working on that by teaching myself how to be content with the audience I do have, even if only a little bit of it is on UA-cam.
Thank you so much for making this video. Its very soothing to hear a deviation from the whole "follow the algorithm" bullshit we hear every day.
3:59 Point 2: I've seen too many people starting out since the 2021 VTuber Boom, buy expensive equipment/upgrades only to stream and post less.
I agree it is a form of procrastination as often times, I've observed a form of "I've made it energy" from people with such purchases.
(I'm guilty of No.2 as well because I've paid 900 SGD for 10 videos from an editor last year, but stopped the practice due to poor returns; a life lesson)
To add: the problem is worse is if such purchases were made in credit or instalments versus cash upfront; then they will fall into the trap of No.1,
Where they start to get money-hungry in order to get "a return on investment". Donations, Subathons, Follow-For-Follows, etc.
Re: I'll take your advice for Point No.1 & 3 and try to make more "me" & "rock the boat" non-VTuber content,
versus mainstream for the rest of this year and maybe into the next.
And the fun thing is: Even if you don't want to start with the "too broke for anything, just OBS" option... A really basic setup doesn't cost you much more than 150 bucks, e. g. if you grind it on ebay. Sure you need luck, but you won't miss your one-in-a-million chance just because you got your green screen (or w/e) at a later point.
@@SasuPsycho Yep. Seen too many people fall into the Elgato Ballpit and believe they've skipped steps to "world fame" or something.
And unless you do hardcore skits, most greenscreen use will be relegated to 1/8th of your screen if you do gaming.
@@HKSFMinerva Haha, yes! After months I upgraded my "greenscreen", which was the only thing I really "had to have" in the beginning (because I was streaming from my boyfriend's office and he didn't want to be in it by accident), from a green dyed old bedsheet on a broomstick that did cost me around 7 bucks to something professional from elgato I got for 50 bucks on eBay, because someone did (again) quit his/her career and was selling out stuff cheap.
And you put a lot less pressure on yourself at the beginning, because you only throw a Friday night out in the bin.
I was really surprised when I connected with some other streamers, who were really pushing themselves hard that they had to be successful the next 6 - 12 months, because they were deep in debt because of setting everything up for the stream.
You know this is really the perfect time for me to see your video. I've been wanting to give youtube another shot and trying to think through what kind of content I like to watch and would want to make. This really helped! All the people I follow are so genuine. I feel like they would be the same person if I met them irl instead of on stream. And they're so excited, or passionate about what they do. It really shows. I need to find that in myself.
I'm really restricted by my internet quality- but I've been thinking maybe I can get that to work for me by challenging myself to make shorter videos that are still reminiscent of the long form content that I enjoy. I'm a traditional artist so I think I actually have a lot to work with. Things to think about. Thanks!
Great video! I always ask myself “this video is too long” or “who really cares..” but I’m enjoying the journey and the skill of storytelling and editing!
Here’s the problem I have… I do have a topic and a variety of ideas that I want to post about, but whenever I try to speak with my own voice I end up pausing or hating the sound of my own voice. I’m not sure how literal you are about a “unique voice”, but I am trying using clips with my image but a robot voice to tell my stories. You do make valid points though, it’s just someone who doesn’t like their own voice or gets too nervous to literally speak to need other alternatives.
Glad you covered it. I think people absolutely go in with the idea of just trying something that "works" instead of sticking with a passion. Try something you truly believe in and show people why they should also believe in it.
I’m here at 9 mins! This is my first video I’ve seen of yours and I subbed immediately. I’ve definitely fell into each of these 3 reasons before - especially the “needing to buy more gear to make production easier” but realizing that has nothing to do with telling a good story. Keep it up!
I once created a video within a few minutes and posted in on UA-cam because I was pissed that there was no video explaining the topic. I had spent hours trying to figure out what to do by watching other videos and nobody was saying exactly what to do. So when I fugured it out, with zero preparation, a 5 euro mic, no thumbnail, in a shy non eloquent voice, I recorded my screen and explained how to send and email with pgp. In that channel I had posted several photoshop tutorials that had like 3 views each.... and then that pgp video got featured for unknown reasons and got dozens of thousands of views. I then deleted that channel and reuploaded it on my main channel, again it got so many views. So yeah, its weird but I guess videos that you MUST make could be successful!
DEVIN THIS IS SO IRRLEVANT BUT IVE BEEN WATCHING YOU SINCE I WAS A NOBODY ANDY, STREAMER WITH 0 FOLLOWERS, NO UA-cam CHANNEL AND NOTHING AT ALL.
YOU HAVE HELPED ME TREMENDOUSLY AND I JUST WANTED TO VOUCH FOR YOU. DEVIN DOESNT TALK OUT OF HIS ASS HES SPITTING FACTS
AND I STILL WATCH UR VIDEOS!! THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO LEARN! I AM ALWAYS LEARNING!!
(EDIT) i am literally the guy who "invests" as procrastination
I’ve been semi successful at creating content over at Facebook gaming. However, I ended up burning out from trying to follow trends and doing whatever is getting the most views.
I have things to say and things I want to do with my platform but I have been afraid to get too controversial.
Thank you Devin for reminding me why I started streaming in the first place.
I was able to make it a full time job over on FB. Felt like all my dreams were coming true but turns out the platform is just horrible. After 2 years I left, went back to college and enjoy streaming/content for fun way more than I enjoyed it as a job
@@Tyl3rMack what is so horrible about the platform?
@@ThatsJStorm - Too much to fit in a YT comment. Their algorithm is absolutely insanely unforgiving. Their features never work correctly (FB gaming app a good example, they are now deleting it cause they could never get it working properly). Hell a good 30% of the time the live chats don't even work. Only one of the most crucial parts of a stream and they've had years yet they can't get chat to work reliably. Gaming is just a money grab for FB
Then just stop... no shame in it. Find something more relevant to do ;)
@@Tyl3rMack yikes that's the first in depth analysis of the platform I've heard from an actual creator. I was considering starting to try growing over there but it sounds like it is a mess.
Learning how to speak to a microphone or camera takes time and it's a huge hurdle for many. My best videos to date are those with my own poorly edited voice. It's the interjections and infliction people want to hear. Viewers also don't expect perfection and will follow a bumbled up mess of honesty over someone with perfect speech.
It's like Devin has been spying on me for the past few years! I spent money on mics, Webcam, decorating my space to be fun and nerdy, putting up lights, but I've never hit record. He is absolutely right about everything. I need to get started!
Here. I've had too many people telling me that I "deserve" more viewership because of the personality I bring to the table. But I notice that I don't bring anything to stir the pot. Obviously I don't intend in looking for trouble but maybe being more vocal about my standpoints towards whatever topic can be somewhat useful.
I agree, I’ve always thought the term ‘content’ sounded like filler - we should think if our creations as more then that
I would love to have a conversation about this. I feel like both content creation and an artist approach are valid and possible. I also believe the artist approach is much more subject to the chance and luck aspect compared to the content approach.
I do believe Content Creation involves so many things from spreading out to multiple social medias, self-promotion and forming types of friendships on the platform, controversies ( of course not the kind that get you banned or cancelled ), decent to great production quality and either a likeable or captivating personality, etc, thumbnails & titles especially, consistency in posting between 3 to 4 videos a week for optimal results or at the very least 1 a week, understanding how the algorithm works and determining how competitive the niche you're getting into is ( I.E gaming, very competitive ), etc.
Love how your videos often correlate with some past decisions I made - and honestly doubted. Often. So often! Seeing you talking about that in a video encourages me to stay on that path.
And to be less broad: When I started, I tried to not offend anyone big time. Everyone should feel welcome, think that was some stupid CC advice I read somewhere, and in a safe space. A good vibes stream for everyone, without bit*hing.
Well, that made me more and more unhappy tbh. And I also missed "the difference". So I started to be more confrontative about things I felt are wrong IMHO. And first people didn't like that, especially those with a different opinion - of course. Since my content was/is mainly about gaming, but all the time like gaming and "podcasting over it" concerning current topics and developments, my community was always kinda mixed to my views. And I tried to avoid controversial topics to "not lose anyone".
Nowadays I'm at the point to say: f*ck it! I'm not even politely asking someone to leave, if someone annoys me and gives me a bad feeling, I ban them directly. Or explain them why they get banned (now) and everyone else who sides with them. Some people are simply not worth it and make up like 10 % of the community, but 'cause 90 % of my personal anger, that worsens the experience for everyone else when I get p*ssed off in stream - of streaming, because I "have to" endure those morons.
Tbh: I did start that because of the latter - and at some point people started to give me props for that, to not be (too) inclusive and take a stand. Maybe because I still "allow" people to disagree with me and keep their opinion (agree to disagree), when they don't cross a line (insults, being disrespectful, extremist views, so on).
But: I got also so many times people calling me toxic because of that, mainly those who... had views hardly anyone could side with and felt offended. Trollz are gonna troll...
Maybe with that approach you other streamers out there and me are never "going to make it". But that's why I work something else for a living I really enjoy - and it keeps your hobby still fun and your mental health up.
P. S.: That change of mind happened btw. because of one video of yours talking about the 1.000 true fans approach. At that point I asked myself: Do I really want to have 100, 200 people in my stream that p*ss me off - or just a fraction of that, that actually enjoy what I'm doing. Back then I stopped caring about numbers too and focusing on content I enjoy - or "my" community. Twitch isn't reliable anyway, e. g. so often numbers only spike because of those infamous drops. And everyone knows how you get them: open the stream, mute it and minimize it - until you got it. Wow, much appreciated that someone like that joins my stream and... from a technical PoV, ruins my metrics. It's for no good, no matter what.
Wow guess I'm in the 0.1% most subbed channels on UA-cam lol.
Not focusing on production/ equipment is actually a great point. You can get hundreds of thousands to millions of views from just a phone or a blue snowball.
The niche definitely plays a part since some videos aren’t suitable for certain audiences, no matter how entertaining you make it
Here at 11:51. You know what this makes me think of? Marvel Studios at least back in 2008 up until 2019. We see how other studios have tried to copy what Marvel did with the whole team-up films and cinematic universe. The audience however could sense the passion that was put into films like the first 'Iron Man' and how it paved the way for films like 'The Avengers,' 'Guardians of the Galaxy' and eventually 'Infinity War.' With the first 'Iron Man' you could feel the whole "it may seem impossible, but where there's a will, there's a way" mindset that built the film and the MCU. Up to phase 3 that is.
There's stuff I have to point out with this video that's BS.
Making controversial content IS about gauging your analytics so you can launch yourself into public controversy. If content is really about speaking for yourself, then pandering to controversy is just pandering to the lowest common denominator. That's a flat out contraction. Making movies makes money by filling butts in seats. Controversy is the best at this. Becoming a successful content creator REQUIRES to sacrifice your private integrity to extent.
Controversy wasn't always what sold movie tickets, if that is what you meant at the end there, remember there was JAWS, and STAR WARS in the seventies, and many more movies like them that did pretty well at the box office. But I agree with the first part completely.
I don't exactly know how to put it into words, but all I'm gonna say is that youtube would be a lot better if a lot of creators and streamers who're just starting out watched this. Thanks Devin.
I totally agree.
Like you said it's so easy to get caught up in thinking you need the right equipment before starting or just creating "content" for the end result, money,views,fame ect. instead of for the process itself. Thanks for this very eye opening!
This is so true...we need to keep our momentum ,our passion on creating contents , then if you have a certain fans and audiences love it, they will watch and subs organically. Having say this, it is important that you to need make your contents INTENTIONALLY . And this is about giving your contents to another level which include give your audiences that "viewer experience" like , put in effort on music, editing etc .. 😃
really like this style, i still get all the articulation you have naturally for depth but with just literally less words which makes things easier to wrap around in my head.
As a viewer I relate to a lot of what you're saying. Not naming names, but I stopped watching a particular channel I loved when the guy started worrying about views, and asking his audience what they wanted to watch, and rented an office and high quality equipment, and... it didn't feel as interesting to me anymore.
He stopped doing his own thing (which had clearly been working, btw -- about a million views per video, on average, I'd say). He was no longer talking about stuff he was really interested in, in a relaxed, of-the-cuff kind of way, with videogames playing on the background; he was just talking about random stuff he thought might interest his viewers, in a more formal kind of way, with only his quite static mug on the screen, behind a desk like a TV show host...
He still has an audience, but it's a small fraction of what it used to be, despite all the "improvements".
Your point about equipment is huge. Doesn't matter how good you are.
Devin Nash is such a sick creator man thank you for being in the space
Oh no, I did not know he is sick, hope he gets well soon!
@@NowioFel sick as in good/great. UK slang.
@@NowioFel
He means the cool sick
I love the 40 minute videos, but this style was also excellent, super concise without losing the usual quality analysis, would be happy to see more of these in the future also.
I have a hard to being a barber on UA-cam, but really wanting to be a gamer.
I love being a barber with 10K subscribers, but I understand that barber content just isn’t as highly searched as gaming.
So I’m going to pull the plug on barber content, not completely but it’s my channel and I’m just going to do what I want. So gaming content is going to take main stage, and every now and then I’ll do barber videos.
MW2 is coming out and I’m NOT live-streaming, I’m just going to record good gameplay and upload good clips, also tips and covering updates.
I’m really just going to practice for the next The Last Of Us Multiplayer Game that’s currently being developed.
Thanks Devin. I’m going to create Content, not just livestreams. You are awesome.
Legit great video Devin. I have watched a lot of other youtube gurus and this was the only one that actually expressed what I suspected was happening- content self promoters who have "maximized their marketing game" and who are always "on that grind" but end up producing soulless, one dimensional content that is flashy but insincere and empty. Always trying to upsell everything. There is no story, no protagonist the youtube viewer can connect with.
I'm actually saddened by the statement the the future of content is going to be controversy based. I understand why it is, but it's not necessarily where I want the world to go. Is there some research done in psychology that could prove that positivity instead of controversy could have the same effect on people? If so, is that not the way we want to take our art/content?
Just because you are controversial, it doesn't mean to be negative. You can also be positive in taking a stand. To give you an extreme example: What's a positive approach towards racist or sexist views? Why should it be negative to exclude those from your community and causing a controversy about that, because you are taking a stand against that? And talking openly why you are acting like that?
And if I remember correctly from his other videos, Devin started being positive in LoL and trying to keep a positive mindset, despite the often toxic environment. And taking a stand on this, to not be like that. What also not everyone praised and I bet a lot mocked. But instead of just being like everyone else, he made a difference. At least in his community.
@@SasuPsycho oh wow, I love this take! This really helped gain some insight. Thanks!
Always appreciate your videos, Devin!
*secret callout. I definitely suffer from the 2nd point of not wanting to be controversial. I am still finding my way with this but for the longest time I wouldn't give my full thoughts or give my unfiltered opinion about things because I didnt want to upset anyone. I dont wish for anyone to feel upset and I dont want hate in my life, but that makes for a very boring streamer/youtuber. I have started to understand people are far more interesting if they have stronger takes on things and are more willing to go out on a limb and take an L every now and then. This is a great tip Devin I will continue to work on it!
09:00 - this is a perfect companion to Ludwig's 'Quit' video. I completely filled out Novo's creator form and after doing so I took a hard look at it and wish I could delete everything I submitted. I realized I was just 'generic content creator # 9252' that offered little unique value. I got to break off the rust from this old katana called 'i used to be an artist' and change 'used to be' to 'AM'. #bankai
Whoa! That was refreshing thanks for posting. After watching 100 ‘how to grow on UA-cam’ videos, and they all say the same thing… I feel like I just won’t compromise to what they are asking! And you released this and I feel like I’m on the right track!
I've seen new Twitch streamers use controversy to launch like a rocket but then take a break from streaming because it was too much for them to handle and end up quitting when they try to stream again because no one was watching anymore. If you want people to keep coming back you need to give them a piece of you, something from your own personal experiences they can't get anywhere else that enhances their lives in some way.
I'm probably putting myself in analysis paralysis right now, but this is maybe the 5th time in the last 3 days that I've heard someone ask/tell me who am I making content for. I've always been a "can't stick to one game/thing" kinda guy because everything I'm into represents a different part of me, but variety gaming isn't the best thing to be known for growing on. This video helped put some things into perspective for me on where my thinking was going wrong. Thanks Devin.
I dont understand the very fundamental concept of facebook.
On youtube, you post and you get views eventually.
On facebook, you post and you have 0 views forever.
Why is that ? Can someone explain to me how to post videos i get 100k views on youtube and 0 on facebook ?
I think this is the most edited Devin Nash video I’ve seen since I started watching. Valuable information here. Great take away of learn how to story tell.
8:20 You can be stuck in a washing machine in a normal way...?
TLDR: Y'all know how to make an octopus SQUIRT? anyways I FALL into some of these pitfalls, also I need to improve my delivery/voice A LOT
Yeah the stir the pot thing is definitely something I need to do, also I'm too stiff in my videos in comparison to real life where I'm much looser at humor with other people and its so easy for me, I do think about this stuff a lot but I've intentionally avoided riskier topics that probably woulda paid off and I skirted away from too vulgar humor thinking the algo would screw me over or blacklist me or something. I NEED hella work on getting comfortable with just being natural and saying stuff that goes on into my head into the video (I feel too slow 1-dimensional while normally in comparison I am much more expressive and my delivery with stuff is good irl in banter), unfortunately college is getting in my way currently but this advice is definitely true since in the past I've observed other channels follow these principles looking at data of video releases and such as well as growth before and after certain anomalies in their views on some videos, all in an attempt to learn what they did and how it worked.
I've been following ya for awhile Devin thanks for the free samples, I can't wait to come back for more just like my terminally obese auntie does down at the Costcos, even after a heart attack or two she a gawdamn machine.
Controversial Marketing is really a double edged sword though. On one side it brought my channel from 300 subs to 2.8k subs in a month. The Like to Dislike ratio is good but the comment section is pretty toxic. And I know dealing with hate is one part of being a content creator. But that´s not all you want to do. Not to mention even if you deal with it well it still gets to everyone to a certain degree.
Story telling is super imortant and something I am trying to incooperate into my content with that said it´s pretty hard as a channel that focuses on talking about stuff going on in the anime world.
I heard about the recent desirability of streamer as a job, but the reality is, only very few, relative to how many people try, can live from just that. Great point about defining your goals and reasons - why you're doing it. And yeah, if someone is in for the money, they'll have a ton of work ahead which might never gets them the desired effect anyways.
Not surprising, it's sort of like the new celebrity. Making it as a movie star or a rock star are far harder since...you need actual talent for the most part. Being a streamer...that's easier to obtain, its within reach in their mind.
This gave me a lot of insight. I am a small creator. I think the last part really got me because my voice sounds like a little kid when I am 27 years old. I still make videos because I enjoy the interaction and let people talk about the sports. I try to make shorter videos because I feel like 10 minutes or more will drag the video out and people would get bored.
Dude i just checked out your latest vid and imo your voice sounds great, literally fine tone and perfect pacing. Just as a random suggestion, if you switched up your content slightly to a video essay type style, and made videos on "how X underrated player changed the game". Idk or maybe controversies on why a particular team is getting hated for whatever reason, your content might skyrocket, As it would generate massive intrigue, while still staying within the topic of football 🤔. You already have a great voice, and knowledge on the subject.
If you want to get more views do videos about how sports are all rigged and only the creatures get to be in the elite "superstar" club.
Don't pretend you don't know that isn't true, speak your mind.
I doubt that the class that goes elite are even the same race as us humans.
This video really resonates with us as struggling travel vloggers. We have invested in gear (yes guilty) and want to help inspire others to experience the world too. Travel vlogging is incredibly competitive but as much as we want to grow we don't want to lose our soul. Thanks for posting this. Still, we have questions on how to get noticed by the mysterious algorithm!
few days ago i took a lesson on point 2 you are making
a guy said he needed help with coding sometimes, no one will help his posts or attend his questions on reddit, but he intentionally on a 2nd account will comment something wrong, also linking an adfly that has nothing to do with it.
next time he checks, many guys have commented so they deny what 2nd account is saying, this shows how people are willing to point out "wrong" but not actually help in good will.
waching machine is the perfect example, millions of views, millions of comments, people will not even check if they already pointed how to do it, just write it down and seek superiority.
EDIT: yey i got a shoutout
Here it is, I thought to myself “This vid is less than 12 mins, no way does he bring up the secret subscriber message”. And yet, here we are. Good shit and you’re 100% correct: if someone is bland or not showing their passion around their content, it shows pretty damn quick.
9:00 min fam where you at?!
There have been to many things on my mind lately, I started on UA-cam for two reason, one to just have a fun time and entertain at least one person, if someone truly had a fun time watching my video then I and live a happy life, two to create a community, perhaps some of the people idol me, but that doesn’t matter as long as I can feel heard and others can too… Lately this hasn’t even mattered to me, life, stress, anxiety, getting sick twice, but also not getting new viewers-I’ve lost sight of why I do this, instead just trying to release the bare minimum of content; I don’t know how to rearrange the broken pieces…
Really appreciate hearing someone say how I feel about the whole UA-cam grind for newbs like me.
I’ll never understand why anyone would want to be a copycat for a living - even though I’m guilty of following checklists sometimes in my content too 🤫 🤦🏻
The main problem is people make content they want rather than what other people want. People are generally so focused on themselves and their ideas and fall in love with their own voice and life, and thoughts and nobody cares about any of that. that's the real reason why. It's not about getting unauthentically emotional, angry or anything else. It's not even about storytelling or any of that. It's simply nobody cares about your ideas, thoughts etc. They care about their own.
I have used controversy to some success, and I have also used trends to some success (on my other channel). I will say that sometimes new content is buried so deep under ranking content in travel niches, that after enlisting people to help me out with their view, and getting ranked, then the true potential of the video is unlocked.
this short video is cool too and this was a great topic to cover. i hope you continue to make more
10mins in - no effort required with good content. You are 100% correct on all points. I have just spent the last 2 years creating the stage to with I will tell my story. Story telling is the entire point.
doing something in anger might not be the ideal reason, but damn if it isn't effective motivation
Got me on the being wary of causing controversy. I just don't enjoy getting upset at people I'll never meet. Great video man.
Well you don't cause controversy for the sake of it, that's being fake and it is not making video's from the soul,
anymore than doing videos that are trending just for likes.
It's a slippery slop and he's NOT saying make controversy if everyone knows that's not who you are.
don't embarrass your family and friends for views , that's dumber than dumb.
Also point 2 does apply to a great deal. I don't like clickbait titles, don't like to stir controversy and I don't like to intentionally put mistakes into my content. I do guides for a video game. There will be enough mistakes even without me putting them in. And there will always be people who say "but akshualllly" I see entire channels thrive of controversy. The whole political correctness culture war back and forth is fabricated because it earns newspapers and youtube channels a crap ton of money. They need each other
Honestly, I've been stuck on that buzzword, 'Niche'; thanks to this video, it feels like everything I want to do now just makes sense. Only been making shorts for a month however it already feels like a chore and that I'm 'manufacturing' content I don't care about - not to mention the tight schedule I've set myself.
I totally agree. I also love the rawness of this. Very nice 🙌🏽
I love that tip about voicing your opinion and not being afraid. My YT is a gaming channel and that in itself means heavy, HEAVY competition. However... I'm now experimenting with doing voice-overs and making a story along with showing the gameplay. And this seems to work. I've gained 42 subscribers in the last 4 weeks. And I'm now also noticing that people subscribe not only because of the newer videos but older ones get an occasional subscriber now too. I'm enjoying the YT journey and won't stop.
Always great content. Yet harnessing drama is quite contradictory from what you support in the realm of content creation.
You continuously stated that it is the job of influencer to bring good into the world. Yet, focusing on controversial topics will, indeed, bring more engagement but might as well support and encourage toxic behaviors.
Have you some insights on how to be controversial but still being there for community in a positive way.
As you said, do not follow trend and work out of passion. However surfing on drama is already a strong trend.
Very well said!
It's definitely a tight line. Debate doesn't always have to be negative, it can work for or against you. The question is how you handle it. Don't share opinions you don't agree with and make them well informed ones. Then be sure you're practicing good debate etiquette and that you aren't supporting bad behavior. This is definitely a topic that should be explored.
Nothing has made me happier than knowing my most viewed video is a video expressing my hatred over a yugiob archetype
I made a rant video a month ago about my longtime frustrations with Team Ninja and how they've been mishandling the dead or alive and Ninja Gaiden series. They've made it clear they care about making dark souls clones instead of what I originally enjoyed from them
I have no idea how the video got any real attention but I'm very thankful because I know DOA and NG aren't popular series but they're game series I'm deeply passionate about
I feel really inspired to so more commentary/rambling/discussion videos tbh because I always have things I wanna talk about, but I know I always say these same to my friends constantly so I'd rather make a video than keep repeating myself lmao
I have to say something....
#1 you are right this whole Controversial, Drama, shock Factor is making life so miserable for people / societies around the world... People are stressed out of their minds... It's making people miserable...
My business is to help people to learn how to deal with this and learn how to stay emotionally grounded so they can live a more peaceful life... So you are right about the other people... I hate creating controversy... my whole life is about creating clarity and peace etc... so yes this is effecting my channel... I really don't want to do drama or controversy etc...
I just realized, Controversial pitting people against people / arguments, Drama and Shock factor are all Narcissistic tactics...
Talk about timing...I actually really needed to see this, especially the first point. Thank you
Here at 9:00 minute mark. Thank you for the validation on storytelling and having a unique voice. I had an unnamed ‘help’ channel roast me during a review and told me I should do what another popular channel in my niche is doing. Basically copy them and don’t put out any unique ideas of my own. I couldn’t unsubscribe fast enough.
Thanks this helped so much! Makes me feel so much better!!! Truly thank you
Yeah lol, people in the comments always tell me I deserve more subs or views, but for me getting 300 views is so awesome and rewarding especially because I do this for love and to become a better editor 😅 For anyone struggling, just keep doing it, put your passion to the test and eventually it'll work out❤
I tried, I failed, and I quit. But I would do it again if I could
4:09 in and this is changing everything for me. Ty Devin. You’re content is fully amazing
This was a great video! I don’t exist in your niche but it’s still always helpful!!!
Every time I make a mistake in a video I question if I should leave a footnote to clarify the error or not. Recently I have been deciding against it, 1. because I make gaming shorts and 30 seconds isnt much time to address an error and the stakes are low since its not misinformation that has a big impact and 2. now my comments will be filled with people correcting me. But on the flip side, its sad because instead of having a community of people who leave comments about the video I just get hundreds of comments pointing out the flaw. I don't mind the youtube comments since i know thats the top of the funnel but now I have people joining my discord who are either there to help me because they think im stupid or people who didnt know squat and now think im godly.
So my question after all of this is, what do you think the future of being a content creator is? If we feed our viewers drama and dumb ourselves down to bait comments are we all destined to separate ourselves from our audiences? I use shorts as a tool to say whatever I want about every thought that pops into my head so I'm not worried im not being true to my own thoughts but without the time to elaborate on my thought process its either right or wrong to the viewer. And the wrong videos usually come out on top.
I can highly agree with ur views! I've changed my content and I put out quality unique and edited videos and ppl are starting to realize this...I hope someday my channel grows into something visible someday...I enjoy making videos more then anything
First time coming across your content and you made me think about a lot of things thanksl you
This is my first time watching your video and I'm blown away! Great advice, absolutely hit the nail on the head for me as someone who has done UA-cam in a community that was absolutely based on numbers (the more subscribers and/or clout you had the more credible you were). I've been thinking about starting to get back into making other type of content for YT, something I'm truly interested in, and this video was extremely encouraging! Thanks a lot! 💖 Watched until the end as well :)
Great video!
SECRET SUBSCRIBER HERE
ive been failing but will continue to do what I like. It's a hobby. Not a career.
Omg, a Devin Nash video with editing?! 😂
Also wasn’t expecting the call out when it showed up, but I also wasn’t expected a 12 minute video lol
I always love your observations and they turn out to be facts too, background screen is super amazing, thank you for another great video! just a small point, the soul thing you said sounds super amazing which a lot of people are doing but without being discovered it is waste of time if you want to grow, this is an insane loophole which is going whenever someone put their soul videos.
The more I watch your videos, the more it encourages me to stay authentic with content. Following trends may be a "faster way to the top", but it also leads to burnout real fast.
After taking a short break to reflect, I now feel much more confident in just recording and streaming content that I am passionate about rather than what may have the highest potential for quick growth.
This video is extremely valuable. I must say, the "You are afraid to cause trouble" hit home.
btw I made it to 10 minutes.
im seeing creators with over 50,000 subscribers commenting on this video and that's insane
I love this. It also applies to Webnovels and fiction so well. The people obsessing over gaming the various algorithms... Bro just put all that work into the SOUL of your story, and I prooomise it's going to pay off in the end, as long as you satisfy the basic requirements of the platform. (Genre, writing quantity, fun moments...)
The biggest disconnect I see between Twitch and UA-cam is that Twitch likes the experience of an event. UA-cam prefers the story to the event. A bunch of people cannot create the story from the experience.