Getting to 1000 subscribers on Youtube!
What’s next?
So Feral Publication as a company finally reached a goal that many small businesses have, to reach 1000 subscribers on their youtube channel. This goal has less to do with all small businesses wanting to be content creators and more to do that all companies want to monetize their day to day operations.
Although we are not currently monetized we are slowly but surely reaching the metrics needed for the 4000 hours of watch time. This is done by building a real community and having real conversations with that community. If we stay at this trajectory we will be monetized by early next year. Good problems to have.
I am happy that this has occurred, but it was never the aim. For most small businesses, mines included, content creation is a chore that we need to do. Very rarely is it something that we want to do, but I sought monetization for the company secondarily. I understood that it would allow me to gain a side revenue that will help me build the company that I am actively building, but my first reasons for jumping into the youtube arena were as follows:
- Its the best place to build a community
- The video logs help you stay accountable
- It gives you leverage when working with other companies
Building community
Most social media apps are dead. Tik Tok for all that people say does not lead to genuine interactions. I have yet to make any real connections on the app even though I incurred more followers there then on any other platform. The truth is that Tik Tok is an app for content creators and not necessarily for a business that make niche products. It may very well be a way to get the products seen, but not a way to build community.
I think that showing off your products is a good thing, but building a community is a much better thing.
My community on youtube participate in what I am doing, as well as following along in the journey of my creations. This makes them have a sense of ownership to the projects/products and leads to them caring about what we are doing. They share in the wins, and learn from the losses. This kind of participation from the community leads to real connections. Long form content allows them to know what I am doing and decide whether or not it is something that they want to fund. I have been able to directly connect sales to my youtube channel. Something that other socials have not done. Meaning that my youtube community is playing an active role in pushing my company forward.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmQD1HQG3HY
Accountability
I have talked about this time after time on my youtube channel, but one of the hardest parts of being a solo business operator is accountability. There is no one coming to pull you out of your bed and tell you to get it done. But by creating a upload schedule and sticking to it, you'll be able to gauge whether or not you are staying busy in your endeavor.
If you find that during your weekly/daily upload there is nothing to tell the community, one would have to guess that you did nothing? At least noting worth mentioning. That’s how I see it and this state of mind has keep me focused. I feel the need to always have something to update the community on, meaning I always have to gain grounds on the project before the next upload. It’s a self imposed deadlines, and who doesn’t love a deadline?
Leverage
Let’s say you don’t care about the big bad youtube. That’s fine, but guess what folks, many other businesses do, and you having 1000 subscribers is a flex.
I have already been using my 1000 subscribers on youtube to my favor. I have reached out to some shops to house my vending machine in. Many comicbook shops, art shops, and tattoo shops that I have spoken with have been much more willing to converse with me when I discuss the benefits that I could offer. I am quick to mention how I will shout them out on my youtube channel. How I will do weekly or bi weekly videos including them and plugging in their shop and/or youtube channel. This helps!
Conclusion
Getting to 1000 subscribers on youtube brings with it some perks, and monetization might be one of them, but the main reason a business should be on youtube is to build community. For solo business operators they can use it as a way to keep them selves accountable, and lastly for all business owners its a way to build leverage. So what does one do after hitting their first 1000 subscribers on youtube? They keep building by being honest and finding people that care about what they have to say.
Stay away from trends, stay away from becoming a content creator, and focus on creating a real community that has been looking for the services that your company offers. For me, that’s small publications of fringe comicbook art.
Thanks for reading this article and if interested in supporting this project consider following this blog, and/or subscribing to the above mentioned youtube channel.
