Is starting a Youtube channel worth it?

So I'm in college and I'm really involved in a particular niche. I've read about it for years, and talk about this stuff every day, and consider myself to be very well-informed. I've looked at other Youtube channels out there that cover this niche, and most aren't very good: they have a poor mic, they mumble and are uninteresting, they have unaesthetic thumbnail pictures, are a lot of times unknowledgeable about the subject matter, etc. Because of the hype of this niche, most of these sloppy new channels have tons of views, as I've seen tons that have millions of views and tens of thousands of subscribers.. Meanwhile, I am very confident that I'd be able to put out superior content, just because I'm very knowledgeable about the subject matter, am a good speaker, and have the video and marketing chops to do it.

However, I'm just wondering if you guys think this would be worth doing. I have about five years of video and editing experience, lots of ideas for content that other people in this niche don't cover or don't cover as fully, and am really confident that I'd be able to create a channel that is at least a competitor in this space. However, the niche is fairly specific, and I don't know if there's even that much growth potential -- there are communities of maybe a million or so people who are interested in this niche in total. That sounds good, but it doesn't have really widespread interest or anything, like gaming or cooking for instance that has almost unlimited growth potential.

Also, I don't want to waste my time with something that's not going to really help me in any way, even if I am interested in it, because I know that video editing and everything can be a real time sink. From what I've read, monetization on Youtube works where 1,000,000 views nets, on average, around $1000, depending on your CPM. Getting that many views is surely not easy, which leads me to my question: is Youtube even worth doing?

If you're getting, say, a million views, how much of that traffic do you think you'd be able to direct to, for example, a blog, or a free e-book that requires an email address, so you could build up a sales funnel? I know it would depend on how good your content is, but I'm just wondering how 'valuable' is it to have, say, 30,000 eyeballs view your video?

My more general question: is Youtube worth doing? I used to always think that it was too saturated, but this niche that I'm into is just now picking up speed and becoming well-known. It makes me feel like now is the time to act. However, how valuable is a couple million views on Youtube? Or in other words, how can that traffic best be monetized, or how can I drive that traffic to a business in a meaningful way? Is it probably a waste of time, or is there real potential there if I can do this well?

I know it's a hard question to answer, but I'd be interested in just hearing what you guys generally think about Youtube.

EDIT: Also, I'm not saying that I will necessarily get that many views. I'm just wondering like whether or not that goal is actually worth pursuing with how hard it is to monetize with just Youtube alone.

 
SmartThinker:
So I'm in college and I'm really involved in a particular niche. I've read about it for years, and talk about this stuff every day, and consider myself to be very well-informed. I've looked at other Youtube channels out there that cover this niche, and most aren't very good

You're going to have to tell us what the subject is eventually. So what is your niche?

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

YouTube has turned into a cancerous social media platform that sucks off daily vloggers and caters to click bait, meaningless content. Sure, there are plenty of great, informative videos on the website, but if you are just in it if for views, you are no better than Jake Paul and his #MERCHLINKINBIO brigade.

I, personally, would focus my efforts elsewhere. But if you have found that feel as though you have something to offer to your "niche" community then by all means, go for it.

 

You are in college and will eventually need to find a job. The less crap there is about you floating around the internet, the better. Since you didn't specify this "niche community", I kinda assume it's "different" lol. I suppose if you wear a SlipKnot mask you'll be good tho......

Monkey see. Monkey Doo [Doo].
 

The niche isn't really weird or anything. It's essentially a channel that provides analysis and information. I would not specify my actual name, so I don't think that would be an issue.. sure, they would see my face, but I don't think that would be a big deal so as long as I didn't disclose my actual name.

 

You are just making us folks curious about what is this niche. You can tell dude, no one is going to steal your idea lol and we could make a better analysis if there's a good potential of monetization.

Anyway, I would say for you to try since you have all the knowledge to make it happen, but you probably will another form of monetization that is not views, such as sales or something like that. But maybe it's a good shot if you have enough time

 

Your odds of success are exponentially high if you have generous adipose tissue and can rip off mean Jimi Hendrix chords. Or so I'm told :)

There's a closer meaning to my user name. Try reading it quickly. Perhaps you will then understand ;P
 

Yeah if your niche is one that naturally leads to people buying stuff, then go for it. If you're doing lectures on coding, nobody will buy anything (mayyybe tutoring or something). If you're reviewing products that you can FBA or get affiliate links or make your own version of eventually, then you stand to make ca$$h money. Don't bank on getting enough views to get rich if you have alternate options like a 9-5.

Overall though, the successful ones are the ones who are either really talented and creative or are super passionate and would do it for basically free.

 

You'll be okay. I've been making films in my spare time for the past few years. Look me up under my stage name: Huge Jackman.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 
Most Helpful

If you look at most successful people they've picked up side hobbies that have led them to think and grow up in different ways. Most people in VC have all been former founders/creators, in a similar way content creation is clearly becoming more significant given the rise in digital consumption. To add fuel to the fire, the creator economy is only growing faster and faster.

These are the tailwinds for the idea of creating a Youtube channel -- not saying yours will succeed or not, that's really up to your own ability to understand your audience, adapt to them, and continuously grow with them. 

Array
 

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