What do you want to do with your life? Do you want to work a 9-to-5 job that bores you to tears and leaves you feeling empty when you get home? Or do you want to live a life as a video creator, where you create exciting content that you love while being your own boss?
If the latter sounds appealing, consider launching your own YouTube channel and using it as the foundation for your new career. You’ll have more freedom, more flexibility, and more opportunities than any 9-to-5 job could give you.
Millionaire video creators like Casey Neistat and PewDiePie have made the YouTube career seem like a dream come true. But, what’s it really like? For every success story like these, there are hundreds of others who aren’t quite so lucky.
Should You Quit Your Job to Start a YouTube Channel?
Starting your own YouTube channel can be an exciting prospect. And with seemingly no limit to the number of subscribers and viewers you can potentially get, it’s no wonder that people get inspired to try their hand at vlogging (video blogging).
If you’re considering taking the plunge and quitting your job in favor of pursuing a full-time career as a video creator, there are some important things to consider first. It's important to understand a few things before quitting your job to start a YouTube channel of your own.
Here are some things to think about first before making such an important decision.
If You Want to be a Video Creator
There are plenty of people who make a living off their videos. But, there’s also a lot of risks involved with going down that path.
Unless you’re already famous or have an established following, it can be extremely difficult for new creators. You may struggle to earn money from ads and sponsorships on platforms like YouTube and Twitch, or even get anyone watching in the first place.
According to a recent report by Digital Trends, it can take an average of 1,000 hours of work and $10,000 in equipment costs just to break even as a YouTube creator. This can be discouraging if you’re looking for something that will be more profitable from day one.
While there’s no clear path or timeline for becoming a successful video creator, you can improve your chances. Pay attention to what type of content is getting popular on platforms like YouTube and Twitch. These sites offer free analytics tools that allow you to better understand what viewers are responding well to. And it can help guide your choices when developing new videos.
If You Want Quick Cash
Yes, you can make money with a YouTube channel.
However, in addition to having an eye for good content and getting viewers, you’ll also need plenty of time and patience. Many popular channels aren’t monetized until they have at least 10,000 subscribers, and that could take years.
So if you’re looking for quick cash to pay bills or buy something fun, then creating videos isn’t going to be much help.
If You Need Motivation
If you’re motivated by goals and dreams, then, yes, it’s very possible for you to make a living off of creating YouTube videos. But if your primary reason for starting a channel is because I can make money doing it, then we need to talk.
Many people dream of quitting their job and becoming rich and famous through their YouTube channels. However, it takes more than dreaming; it takes consistent hard work over an extended period of time.
Pros of Following a YouTuber Career
Starting a successful YouTube channel is much easier than starting any other form of business. It doesn’t require much in terms of startup capital, and once you do set up your channel, it’s much easier to maintain than an e-commerce website. (Plus, you don’t have to worry about traffic.)
Another huge pro of being a content creator is that there are no age requirements. So if you love to make videos, but feel like working a 9-to-5 isn’t right for you at 25 or 55, now might be your time.
It also pays well as a YouTube video creator. While top creators can make as much as $1 million annually from advertising revenue alone, many vloggers can earn several hundred thousand dollars from their videos each year.
Finally, there’s great freedom in being your own boss. If you have an entrepreneurial mindset and want to work from home, or from anywhere in the world, YouTubing is for you. It can also help you build a large social media following which can lead to further career opportunities.
Cons of Following a YouTuber Career
Do you want or need full-time work? If so, you’ll probably want to start with that until your channel gets off the ground. It can take months (if not years) for YouTube income to become steady enough to support you. And even then, it’s difficult to predict how long your audience will stay interested in what you have to say.
Plus, if your channel isn’t producing income yet, it doesn’t hurt to stick with your day job while you grow. It could be temporary or permanent; but either way, focusing on building your career now could set you up for something better later.
If you do plan to become a full-time YouTuber, know that many people who make those transitions find it difficult. They feel like they’re not productive and that work is hard and unfulfilling (especially in comparison). So don’t just quit your job and hope things will magically turn out okay.
Final Thoughts
If you’re just starting out, don’t quit your day job. Sure, creating content and getting views feels great; it can even be addictive.
But before you pack up your desk and say goodbye corporate world, make sure you have a plan for monetizing your channel and reaching profitability.
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