I think your through line is YOU. I could listen to this style of content from a number of channels, but I love your charming, funny, southern ways and that is why I keep coming back❤
YES!!! This is me. I thought I was the only one. I have been wanting to start a channel for years, but felt I couldn’t because I didn’t have a specific niche. My business is that way, too. I do woodworking in all kinds of varieties because I just want to create. Doesn’t matter what it is. It confuses customers. BUT the two things I hear most often are “You’re so different. No one else has the stuff you do” and “You do really good work. It’s quality.” And I have customers come back over and over for those reasons. I guess that’s my through line in my business. I’ve been wracking my brain about niching down my business and I just haven’t been able to because I’m into all the things. This video has re-energized me to keep being me. It’s okay to be broad and appeal to more people instead of only having just a few types of products. Thank you for this video, Jessica!!
I suffer from the creative curse. Currently I’m doing hand embroidery tutorials but they’re mostly Christmas related and I get stuck in that box. I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels this way. Just knowing that is comforting. We can do this!
Hey thats me. lol This is a whole thing! If youtube wants to grow for the future with their money making creators, they NEED to find away to allow for creators to 1.) evolve and change. And 2.) pass the torch. ALSO there needs to different kinds of channel solutions for different kinds of channels like education, tutorials, and local businesses.
Thank you so much for talking about this issue. This very issue has stopped me from starting on RUclips. I wanna talk about everything--my work (I'm a trainer), planning, writing, changing careers, being an "older" mom, reading...I always thought I had way too many interests and thought TikTok would be better for me. I'm still figuring it all out.
Also, Jessica, if you nail a way to help RUclipsrs discover their “personal ‘through-line’,” then you will absolutely win RUclips! Were in the “Florida”/“travel” space, but we’ve realized that making videos about random places around Florida is disconnected enough anyway, so we’ve come to realize that all content basically has a “niche” that serves as basically the “backdrop” for the creator and then, the topic of each video is the forefront of that channel. What we’re going to be experimenting with is applying a variety of topics to our “backdrop” or Florida & travel.
This was so good, I listened to it twice! 😊 Thank you so much!!! I was just thinking yesterday if maybe the videos on my channel are too broad since it doesn't seem like I'm getting much traction... however, I keep thinking about your previous videos and making sure I'm creating for a specific person (not a niche). I think it's so easy to second guess ourselves as creators on this journey; it's like we're all doctors-they're all just "practicing medicine"! 😆Thank you for this video, it gave me the confidence that maybe I'm headed in the right direction even if my channel growth is slow.
Hi Jessica. You've been one of my favorites for the last 10 months, never missing a video and always watching your videos from beginning to end. I only have a few favorites of the many, many creators and videos I've watched. Was SO glad you ended the contributors and came back!! I have heard loud and clear what you have repeated about being multi-passionate and a creator stuck in a box..... So since I'll be starting brand new and very soon, I'm going to regularly include a video here and there about something I want to post about....maybe the weather or maybe what I did today or how late I slept in LOL I do believe that when something random is placed in front of you, at least consider the message. "Talk about whatever you creators want to talk about and the right viewers, the right brands, the right things will land in your lap" and be okay with that--just sounds like a GREAT idea to me! I will watch YOU!
Yes this is me. Although, I don’t limit myself -if I want to talk about a topic I talk about it. I have multiple channels and they won’t really ever merge together, but I do take creative liberty on all of them.
Thank you for creating such an educational and valuable video. I believe that many creators are being "boxed in," whether intentionally or unintentionally. But, as you say, it is possible to broaden and somehow connect everything together in who you are as a creator. I will take your advice.
tbh, you can't decide that people won't want to watch something -- you have no idea until you try it -- for a decent amount of time. i am subscribed so many people bc I end up getting sucked into whoever they are BECAUSE they post whatever they want whenever they want. and as much as I sometimes might get frustrated that theyre not consistently putting out the content i mainly subscribed for.. I literally still watch every thing they post lmao. sometimes just in the hopes that its just as good as their good videos. bc if they have done good videos before theyll do them again.. so i think as long as you make engaging content -- its just that. engaging. people who watch will watch. i think the main niche content is good for growing ur subs but the whatever you want content is good for growing ur audience. bc truly me and so many others i know who watch youtube for fun just want content that we can consume always, anytime. because i dont have many people i sub to that i havent already blown through their library.. like if i enjoy someone i will watch all their videos over time. bc i just want to consume more content.. bc i dont watch tv. or i cant find what it is that i like.. so i just keep watching in hopes i found it. you know?
I LOVE Cathrin Manning! I only found her recently and I'm watching back from when she began to shift her channel from "RUclips How To" to Vlogging and I adore her. She's so creative and authentic.
New here! I think it's great that you are talking about this. I have an interest in many things myself, so I don't know how to niche down. To be fair, neither of my channels are going anywhere anyway, lol. I just can't figure out how to make my content better, no matter how many videos I watch to learn how to be a better creator. Gonna give you a follow. I have this problem when it comes to selling handmade goods too. I dabble in making many different things, macrame, crochet, sewn projects like bags, blankets, pillows, etc. It's just boring sticking to one thing. I love learning new things. Anyway, sorry to babble, thanks for the video.
Jessica, this is so, so validating. My channel is very new (and has very little on it due to medical stuff last year) but I always HATED the niching down advice. Yes, it's how the algorithm works but it also feels like it's asking for creative burnout. As I start building my own little online space, it's something that has worried me, to be honest. I want it to be something I, generally speaking, enjoy doing. Since it's not my primary source of income - it's not even close to being monetized yet - I think I'm going to go with my instinct and just refuse to niche from the start to just see where it goes. Here's hoping we both find things that work for us 💜
I totally understand what you mean… My channel started growing because I was doing tutorials for certain softwares and at first it was great because I knew I was helping people and I got a lot of comments and interaction and I think it’s because I’d just show my personality as I was training Then I went though a phase where I started to get more ‘polished’ I guess and crickets But sometimes I have what I call ‘heart to hearts’ on my channel where I’m just sharing what’s been going on… telling stories , no fancy editing… and I honestly feel like the video is probably a hot mess… yet those are the videos that may not get the most views cuz they are not keyword centric but they get the most engagement from the coolest people who ‘get me’ on my channel So I’m also in this weird ‘creator curse’ space where I just wanna be more chill and myself and ramble if I have to cuz that’s what my people like about me Jessica I think also with the rise of AI and how even though it can do awesome things… From a creative standpoint… it’s soulless I think people in general are craving ‘real’ and that’s why I think that possibly part of the answer is to make RUclips like 2008 again I appreciate you talking about this!
I will watch you and Cathrin do whatever all day every day. I'm here for all of it. ❤ even with me being a small channel, I see this. I still post it, though, because I don't want to get burned out posting only what the algorithm loves. Lol
Jessica this is huge, love the idea of the throughline. I agree this is why many creators seem to be quitting. I just started a second channel for this very reason, to talk about things im more currently passionate about. I think certain channels are doing this well, like Peter McKinnon (as you mention) and Alex Hormozi who is in the business space but also talks about fitness, his relationship, and other interests he has. It's apprearing that the algorithm is more concerned with serving veiwers what they want to see then it is with each channel building its own audiences (subscribers), so maybe it will start to encourage making any type of content, even if the initial subscribers didint join for that type of conetnt, it still could perform well if it was good content that served a different audience. Curious to see what others think.
Very interesting discussion. I had a desire of starting an Authortube channel several years ago. I finally got on the platform in 2019. I started making videos surrounding authortube. Then, I realize I haven’t published, so, I don’t have any good advice to give. I started incorporating Lifestyle…that wasn’t working; so; I went back to authortube. Now, I’m just gonna do me! I’m going to try to focus on, the authortube writing aspect, but also incorporating my everyday lifestyles, as well as my journals and TBR’s (books to read) I think it’s like you said, I just have to keep going. I had four months off the platform, from September to December, 2023. I’m back! Thank you so much! I love watching your videos. I love your presentations; and you always very down earth and informative. Continued blessings ❤
I definitely feel this and I’ve started to make a change on my channel simply because I hear all the big creators saying this and also highlighting the fact that you don’t have to have a huge team to succeed. You can succeed with yourself and a small team.
I saw a great video by Chalene Johnson on her Build your Tribe channel and she talks about getting known for one thing and then once you have a brand and a following you can then start adding in other stuff you want to try. I think you need to have a bit of focus to get started or you would be overwhelmed with too much going on. I definitely agree with this video and feel the same. As creatives we are meant to be curious about many different things so it’s counterintuitive to stick to one thing for ever. I think we can do many things if we start in one place and then adjust as we go. Good luck to all the creators! ❤️🤩
I love your videos and have been a subscriber for years. I'm also RUclipsr too, Im so glad you did this video without tons of useless B-roll. You're a genuine woman and speak your heart with lots of consideration and warmth. Thankyou and please keep it going xoxo 💖🤗🎆🍀
Wow - this came out at just the right time. I was just writing a script for a channel video about needing to take a step back so I can learn and explore new things within my chosen field. I want to just sit back and learn so I can improve and ultimately become more capable at helping my community. I actually feel guilty taking a step back (even though I'm not actually going to fully stop posting videos). I just don't know what to do at this point. I'm glad you brought up Peter McKinnon. I, like yourself, am not a photographer or videographer but I still watch his videos. I find his storytelling to be phenomenal. He is so creative and it is easy to see that he loves what he does. This is something that I want to pursue as well. I am tired of living for the algorithm or what others think I should be doing. I want to learn to be more creative and be a great storyteller like Peter.
Great topic! I’ve been trying to build an “about me” channel for years. It is definitely harder to grow that way. But I also wanna be happy with the things I’m talking about if and when it does really pop off.
I think if you think of it not as an “about me” channel but as an “entertain my audience” channel WHILE incorporating you and who you are as you entertain, that’s the key!
I think the long term goal of a creator who wants to balance traditional success metrics with creative integrity is to balance value-based content with more pure creative content that exists for its own sake. Value-based content is necessary for people to discover you. It's how the algorithm pairs your video with the most potential viewers. Creators who don't sell 100% of their souls to value-based content just need to accept the reality that only a small percentage of those who show up for the value-based content will make the commitment to subscribe and/or stay for the rest of the content. The irony is that the existence of content that creators want to make can only be justified if it's paired with content that actually brings in eyeballs. So I think there is something to the term "Creator Curse" since creativity in its purest form cannot exist without resources that are generated by something that is fundamentally less creative (eg, the only way to not be a starving artist is to either make art that makes money or to have a completely separate job that is not an artist).
The opening sentence to your statement is absolutely stunning! I’ve been reading comments on this video in between doing other things for about an hour. I just saw your comment pop up and I have to say that this is very well said!
My roommate and I both have channels but we do a third channel together that is completely separate and different than our primary channels. We sat there one day and thought hey lets create a channel and do whatever we want. So on that channel we do shopping hauls, crafts, diy, going out to breakfast. Whatever we want to do is done on that channel. We also learn by experimenting on that channel rather than our primaries.
I agree with all of this! I actually prefer watching lifestyle vlogging channels than how to videos. And as a newer channel - I decided to focus more on lifestyle content than to niche down to the subject that brought my channel the most views. I’ve accepted that my growth will be slower, but I’m so much more happier and feel like I’m creating binge worthy content for future subscribers.
My channel just blew up because of a video talking about RUclips and I did a poll asking what they wanted to see more of and they said RUclips and my first immediate thought was “I don’t wanna be a RUclips creator but I’ll make a few videos about it” 😂
Love this video! And I can totally relate. I think that’s actually one of the reasons why God hasn’t allowed my channel to blow up yet lol because He didn’t want me to feel stuck in one niche (even though that’s kind of how I feel) But I am diversifying my content now before the blowup in hopes that my organic audience will want to watch whatever I upload and decide to talk about. My through line is transparency, vulnerability, with some humor mixed in. We got this!
I think Cathrin added multiple videos that had separate views to the main channel and that's why the algorithm was probably kinder. When one offs are trickling in I imagine it would take longer to broaden your niche. This was helpful bc I didn't start one thinking I would have to be boxed in and now you have me thinking maybe this is the year 🤔
Thanks for talking about this. I came to the same conclusions, but dont have a big enough channel/audience to know whether my logic was sound! Im cool with growing slower; its way more sustainable!
The through line is YOU. Humans are social creatures and are interested in other humans. Just be an authentic human and tell YOUR story. That is what have been telling myself anyway 😂 I have struggled with content direction, especially the past year, because I have made so many changes in my life. Even with all-over-the-place content, my channel still grew and I have a lot of people who will watch my videos no matter the topic 😊❤ Apparently people love a life journey full of challenges 😂
I subscribed for your informational content and I would totally watch a vlog because...I like you! I watched Cathrin for her info content as well, every video! But when her content changed I didn't watch EVERY video...now I watch more of her videos, I like her too 😊 I recently watched a video titled "YOU are the niche" and the guy said create what ever the heck you want to create because bottom line...no matter what you create people are there for you. As a consumer of content I will keep searching for a video on a certain topic if I don't click with the creator 😬. Even in my own niche I only watch other creators that I really like!😊
Long time follower of both you and Cathrin Manning, so cool to see you mention her. I began following her for blog content but love her personality and feel relable to her lifestyle content so I have stayed a subscriber for personality. Same for you and your podcast!
I think you should definitely branch out and do vidds about other things. I would watch them for sure. It's nice to hang out with you but we don't always have to talk about business xx
I don’t know who it was that said it, it might be you, Katie or a collection of people but “pick a target audience not a niche” makes a lot of sense because a target audience are interested in lots of things. Like I love your tips content, but I’m now a full time content creator/ business owner, I’m a women, I’m pregnant with my first child. I know you have a family and live in a small town like me. I’d love to hear your strategies for managing working from home and having kids or anything to do with that, being a business owner with your specific lifestyle. Not necessarily vlogs just to hear more about it. I loved when you told us about how you take summers off to spend more time with your kids and how you achieve that. I think that’s what they mean by a target audience I bet there are a lot of other women like me that follow you.
I think the answer is to be ok with not getting views, which I know is blasphemy when talking about RUclips as a job. A big part of the "through line" is YOU and showing up with your actual voice and not as some kind of authority, which I think you're actually really great at! An older version of this within the creative world is the separation between Art and Design/Painting/Sculpture/etc: A thing isn't necessarily considered "art" just because it's done by a professional, but moreso that that person created it for (or to express) a part of themselves and not for direct commercial gain. So in the art community there's argument that a lot of paintings from the "old masters" aren't "art" because they were commissioned. The entire conversation always rubbed be the wrong way, but I think it has a common thread to what's going on here.
Yepppp I’m accidentally boxed in by my content 1 year in, and it’s not the kind of content I want to be the core of my channel, especially because I had a one-off DIY video go viral and again, it’s not my core content!! 😂🤦🏼♀️ I REALLY want to talk to women about recovering from perfectionism … but RUclips thinks I’m a home decor channel lol. Ive been struggling with do I shift/broaden my niche or do I start another more purposeful/ channel? And I’ve decided that no, I’ll just broaden my niche… but try to do it with deliberation and patience. To clarify: I’m still really into the home decor, slowly rehabbing my Victorian house, etc … but want to pull the anti-perfectionism content in as well
It's a double edged sword. The "You" in RUclips gives creators the illusion that they can post whatever they want. You can post whatever you want but it comes at a cost. Most business don't operate in "we do what we want". They pick a sector and make a business from that. Walmart does't sell cars just because they are getting bored with selling groceries and home items. | I have two channels. A music making channel and a dance fitness channel. The music channel is 100% male and the dance fitness channel is 100% women. Fitness and music are both my passions but the audience doesn't care about my other passions. If I started talking about making music on a fitness channel they wouldn't watch. It is what it is.
I think that the creator curse is definitely a hinderance, and I'm actively trying to figure out my own path to not get trapped by it. Quite honestly, I believe that it's that way because creators are scared of the low numbers "hurting" their channel. The reality is that no matter how much a creator tries they won't get 100% of their audience interested in 100% of their content. I've been starting to think of my channel as if I was segmenting an email list or segmenting an audience anywhere else. As I grow, there will be subscribers who want this or that from my channel. Sure some of them will watch all of it, but not all of them will. Sure that might mean slower growth, but my end goal is not just success on RUclips, but larger business success. It's my name attached to the channel, so I have the right to share my interests, but that doesn't mean that my whole audience signed up for it or cares so I can't expect the same results from every video. Each video or series can be it's own product. Much like a TV channel has many different programs.
It sounds like you want to have a Walmart-esque RUclips channel…multiple “products” for people to consume. And while the idea of having a Walmart-esque RUclips channel might seem appealing at first, even Walmart, with its vast array of products, has a specific target audience. The key is to understand that having variety in your content, like Walmart’s diverse product range, doesn’t mean it’s aimed at everyone. Walmart tailors its offerings to meet the needs of a specific customer base. Similarly, as a content creator, diversifying your content can be powerful, but it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of your target audience. Knowing your audience helps you tailor your content to their interests, preferences, and needs, making your channel more appealing and relatable. In essence, a Walmart-esque channel approach can work, but just like Walmart targets different demographics with its varied sections, your diverse content should still align with the overarching theme or interests of your specific audience. It’s about finding that balance between offering variety and maintaining a cohesive identity that resonates with your viewers. I’m a new RUclipsr, but this is my opinion on the topic.
@@nalahwright This is a great metaphor! Thanks for sharing your opinion. I see what you're saying, I've continued to put a lot of thought into how to build my channel. I don't think there's one way to grow. But I'm no RUclips expert. The RUclips Creator Liason told me on Twitter you need to treat your channel like a "show" and so by that logic if you have multiple shows, you'd have different channels for them. But there are many channels who have different "show" on their main channel and the throughline is the host or their style. So I'm just advocating to not put yourself in a box on a channel tied to your name. 🤷♂
@@Iamandrewellis I like how you pointed out that there’s not only one way to grow on here, because that’s true! Thank you for sharing the show analogy as well. All the best to you!
I operate on a 10 month cycle. So I batch enough content to always be able to take extended time off without missing an upload. Also it’s okay to make the lazy video. We exert so much energy researching and trying to please the audience. Sometimes what you got is what you got 🤷🏾♂️
Liked you mentioned Cathrim Manning. Still like her content. Also I got so much from your video shot outdoors in the park. Great video today too. Really good points.
Thanks for this video. You bring up a lot of things I have been thinking about because I want to have a more broader niche also. Have you seen Erin in Demand? She does both vlogs and business educational content and she's pretty successful. I think you can do vlogs + education videos and it can work. I'm considering doing that myself.
I havent actually started posting but i have been thinking about this because i have burnt out in photography in general so .. i am aware that i am prone to it like most creatives
Another awesome video Jessica and yes quitting RUclips isn't the answer because you will possibly lose support from those who only view content through RUclips. Love 🥰 the video and love 💕 Jessica.
If you always gave yourself an outlet, then one wouldn’t feel this way…. I am a realtor. That is my job. I have used RUclips to lead generate. So I have one channel with my demographic in mind. Every once in a while I post a video with personal updates called for my besties. It is for the people who have found my channel and love me for me. They aren’t there to learn but to connect. But at the same time I committed to my personal instagram being just for me. Therefore I never have felt like I don’t have an outlet.
Weighing in as a new RUclipsr here, and I firmly believe that to build an audience, you need to niche down. As Chalene Johnson puts it: 🎯 If you want to stand apart, you have to niche from the start. 🚀 Once people know your name, then you can broaden your game. That’s just the way it is out here. Katie Steckly beautifully expressed it: “Knowing your audience is the new finding your niche.” Essentially, understanding your target audience, delving into the details of the viewer you want to attract, allows for variety within your content creation. As long as there’s a through line within the variety of content, viewers should be interested in what you create. If content creation is an income stream, some form of niching is probably best. However, if you're creating content more as a hobby to express yourself and the nooks and crannies of your life, there are no restrictions. Just be prepared for potentially lower vanity metrics, at least in the beginning.
Oh I completely agree - the problem is that creators can’t stay niched for long, they start to get itchy and then the success that came from that niche isn’t worth the restriction. I ALWAYS say that if you want to grow fast, go narrow - it’s the key to growth but you have to know the downsides :/
@@jessicastansberry If you have the itch to ditch your niche, then you’ll be in a stitch. Haha! Thank you for the video, I’ve enjoyed the discourse around the topic Jessica!
I get it, but I've found that several of the people I follow on RUclips that I started following for one reason, I also watch their other content because I like them.
RUclips is a business platform. The more you talk about RUclips and being a Creator you’re going to get more views and more MONEY. Vs actually being a creator. They have a few people like Mr.Beast that they let get insanely popular to sell the “dream” but they make the most money from people teaching how to be creator than actually being one. I’d watch your channel no matter what you post, most people will. But changing your content will get punished because you’re no longer selling the dream, you’re just living it.
@@jessicastansberry I’m sorry didn’t mean to come off harsh, I was more feeling your frustration with RUclips not you! I love you! And I watch you wherever you go! ❤️
Disney has completely destroyed its brand by trying to force its audience to watch things they do not want to see. It is not about what Disney wants but about what Disney's audience wants. "Creators" are nothing but paid entertainers whose job depends on amusing or otherwise engaging the people who pay their salaries. There is a word for a "creator" who just wants to do their own thing, no matter what the people like or want. It is "starving artist". Okay, that's two words.
Agreed but also there won’t be creators if they’re just doing what the algorithm wants because they’ll get tired and stop creating; and what’s different here is that you get to build your audience, it’s not handed to you, so you create the audience you want
This is a job. Your audience is here to figure out how they can become (paid) creators as well. Lots of people hate their jobs but they do it anyhow so they can go home and have the money and leisure to do what they love. If people hate their jobs so much that they quit, then someone else will do the job instead. Your viewers probably hate their jobs too. That is why they are here-- to craft a pathway that will enable them to tell their boss to take their lousy job and, well... They want to escape and hope that you can teach them how to do it. Never lose sight of that.
I’d watch you talk about sports mom things and small town life mixed in with the current broad range of creatory things you’re already covering. Probably not gutting fish though 😂🤢
Niche AUDIENCE vs Niche TOPIC. Niche to an ideal audience of real people (a through line) that evolve WITH you. Love thank you for sharing!
Don't sell yourself short. You have an interesting life, and I'd love to see more of it.
I think your through line is YOU. I could listen to this style of content from a number of channels, but I love your charming, funny, southern ways and that is why I keep coming back❤
Girl THIS! Thank you for verbalizing what I couldn't put into words. I feel this hard. Thank you for sharing.
YES!!! This is me. I thought I was the only one. I have been wanting to start a channel for years, but felt I couldn’t because I didn’t have a specific niche. My business is that way, too. I do woodworking in all kinds of varieties because I just want to create. Doesn’t matter what it is. It confuses customers. BUT the two things I hear most often are “You’re so different. No one else has the stuff you do” and “You do really good work. It’s quality.” And I have customers come back over and over for those reasons. I guess that’s my through line in my business. I’ve been wracking my brain about niching down my business and I just haven’t been able to because I’m into all the things. This video has re-energized me to keep being me. It’s okay to be broad and appeal to more people instead of only having just a few types of products. Thank you for this video, Jessica!!
I suffer from the creative curse. Currently I’m doing hand embroidery tutorials but they’re mostly Christmas related and I get stuck in that box. I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels this way. Just knowing that is comforting. We can do this!
Just do what makes you happy and the right people will always be there with you. I am soooo there and am ready to jump out of the box…..so ready. ❤
Hey thats me. lol This is a whole thing! If youtube wants to grow for the future with their money making creators, they NEED to find away to allow for creators to 1.) evolve and change. And 2.) pass the torch. ALSO there needs to different kinds of channel solutions for different kinds of channels like education, tutorials, and local businesses.
Thank you so much for talking about this issue. This very issue has stopped me from starting on RUclips. I wanna talk about everything--my work (I'm a trainer), planning, writing, changing careers, being an "older" mom, reading...I always thought I had way too many interests and thought TikTok would be better for me. I'm still figuring it all out.
You got this!
You got this! I started at age 58…
Also, Jessica, if you nail a way to help RUclipsrs discover their “personal ‘through-line’,” then you will absolutely win RUclips!
Were in the “Florida”/“travel” space, but we’ve realized that making videos about random places around Florida is disconnected enough anyway, so we’ve come to realize that all content basically has a “niche” that serves as basically the “backdrop” for the creator and then, the topic of each video is the forefront of that channel.
What we’re going to be experimenting with is applying a variety of topics to our “backdrop” or Florida & travel.
This was so good, I listened to it twice! 😊 Thank you so much!!! I was just thinking yesterday if maybe the videos on my channel are too broad since it doesn't seem like I'm getting much traction... however, I keep thinking about your previous videos and making sure I'm creating for a specific person (not a niche). I think it's so easy to second guess ourselves as creators on this journey; it's like we're all doctors-they're all just "practicing medicine"! 😆Thank you for this video, it gave me the confidence that maybe I'm headed in the right direction even if my channel growth is slow.
Omg I just self-diagnosed myself w Creator Curse lol but this video was rly helpful! Tysm 👏🏼
Hi Jessica. You've been one of my favorites for the last 10 months, never missing a video and always watching your videos from beginning to end. I only have a few favorites of the many, many creators and videos I've watched. Was SO glad you ended the contributors and came back!!
I have heard loud and clear what you have repeated about being multi-passionate and a creator stuck in a box..... So since I'll be starting brand new and very soon, I'm going to regularly include a video here and there about something I want to post about....maybe the weather or maybe what I did today or how late I slept in LOL
I do believe that when something random is placed in front of you, at least consider the message. "Talk about whatever you creators want to talk about and the right viewers, the right brands, the right things will land in your lap" and be okay with that--just sounds like a GREAT idea to me! I will watch YOU!
Yes this is me. Although, I don’t limit myself -if I want to talk about a topic I talk about it. I have multiple channels and they won’t really ever merge together, but I do take creative liberty on all of them.
Thank you for creating such an educational and valuable video. I believe that many creators are being "boxed in," whether intentionally or unintentionally. But, as you say, it is possible to broaden and somehow connect everything together in who you are as a creator. I will take your advice.
This is actually what I booked a one on one session to discuss with you next week!! This video is very timely. Looking forward to brainstorming a bit!
tbh, you can't decide that people won't want to watch something -- you have no idea until you try it -- for a decent amount of time. i am subscribed so many people bc I end up getting sucked into whoever they are BECAUSE they post whatever they want whenever they want. and as much as I sometimes might get frustrated that theyre not consistently putting out the content i mainly subscribed for.. I literally still watch every thing they post lmao. sometimes just in the hopes that its just as good as their good videos. bc if they have done good videos before theyll do them again.. so i think as long as you make engaging content -- its just that. engaging. people who watch will watch. i think the main niche content is good for growing ur subs but the whatever you want content is good for growing ur audience. bc truly me and so many others i know who watch youtube for fun just want content that we can consume always, anytime. because i dont have many people i sub to that i havent already blown through their library.. like if i enjoy someone i will watch all their videos over time. bc i just want to consume more content.. bc i dont watch tv. or i cant find what it is that i like.. so i just keep watching in hopes i found it. you know?
For sure!
Yesssss!!!!
I LOVE Cathrin Manning! I only found her recently and I'm watching back from when she began to shift her channel from "RUclips How To" to Vlogging and I adore her. She's so creative and authentic.
New here! I think it's great that you are talking about this. I have an interest in many things myself, so I don't know how to niche down. To be fair, neither of my channels are going anywhere anyway, lol. I just can't figure out how to make my content better, no matter how many videos I watch to learn how to be a better creator. Gonna give you a follow. I have this problem when it comes to selling handmade goods too. I dabble in making many different things, macrame, crochet, sewn projects like bags, blankets, pillows, etc. It's just boring sticking to one thing. I love learning new things. Anyway, sorry to babble, thanks for the video.
Jessica, this is so, so validating. My channel is very new (and has very little on it due to medical stuff last year) but I always HATED the niching down advice. Yes, it's how the algorithm works but it also feels like it's asking for creative burnout. As I start building my own little online space, it's something that has worried me, to be honest. I want it to be something I, generally speaking, enjoy doing. Since it's not my primary source of income - it's not even close to being monetized yet - I think I'm going to go with my instinct and just refuse to niche from the start to just see where it goes. Here's hoping we both find things that work for us 💜
I totally understand what you mean…
My channel started growing because I was doing tutorials for certain softwares and at first it was great because I knew I was helping people and I got a lot of comments and interaction and I think it’s because I’d just show my personality as I was training
Then I went though a phase where I started to get more ‘polished’ I guess and crickets
But sometimes I have what I call ‘heart to hearts’ on my channel where I’m just sharing what’s been going on… telling stories , no fancy editing…
and I honestly feel like the video is probably a hot mess…
yet those are the videos that may not get the most views cuz they are not keyword centric but they get the most engagement from the coolest people who ‘get me’ on my channel
So I’m also in this weird ‘creator curse’ space where I just wanna be more chill and myself and ramble if I have to cuz that’s what my people like about me
Jessica I think also with the rise of AI and how even though it can do awesome things…
From a creative standpoint…
it’s soulless
I think people in general are craving ‘real’ and that’s why I think that possibly part of the answer is to make RUclips like 2008 again
I appreciate you talking about this!
I will watch you and Cathrin do whatever all day every day. I'm here for all of it. ❤ even with me being a small channel, I see this. I still post it, though, because I don't want to get burned out posting only what the algorithm loves. Lol
Jessica this is huge, love the idea of the throughline. I agree this is why many creators seem to be quitting. I just started a second channel for this very reason, to talk about things im more currently passionate about. I think certain channels are doing this well, like Peter McKinnon (as you mention) and Alex Hormozi who is in the business space but also talks about fitness, his relationship, and other interests he has. It's apprearing that the algorithm is more concerned with serving veiwers what they want to see then it is with each channel building its own audiences (subscribers), so maybe it will start to encourage making any type of content, even if the initial subscribers didint join for that type of conetnt, it still could perform well if it was good content that served a different audience. Curious to see what others think.
Very interesting discussion. I had a desire of starting an Authortube channel several years ago. I finally got on the platform in 2019. I started making videos surrounding authortube. Then, I realize I haven’t published, so, I don’t have any good advice to give. I started incorporating Lifestyle…that wasn’t working; so; I went back to authortube. Now, I’m just gonna do me! I’m going to try to focus on, the authortube writing aspect, but also incorporating my everyday lifestyles, as well as my journals and TBR’s (books to read)
I think it’s like you said, I just have to keep going. I had four months off the platform, from September to December, 2023. I’m back! Thank you so much! I love watching your videos. I love your presentations; and you always very down earth and informative.
Continued blessings ❤
I definitely feel this and I’ve started to make a change on my channel simply because I hear all the big creators saying this and also highlighting the fact that you don’t have to have a huge team to succeed. You can succeed with yourself and a small team.
I saw a great video by Chalene Johnson on her Build your Tribe channel and she talks about getting known for one thing and then once you have a brand and a following you can then start adding in other stuff you want to try. I think you need to have a bit of focus to get started or you would be overwhelmed with too much going on. I definitely agree with this video and feel the same. As creatives we are meant to be curious about many different things so it’s counterintuitive to stick to one thing for ever. I think we can do many things if we start in one place and then adjust as we go. Good luck to all the creators! ❤️🤩
Love that!
I love your videos and have been a subscriber for years. I'm also RUclipsr too, Im so glad you did this video without tons of useless B-roll. You're a genuine woman and speak your heart with lots of consideration and warmth. Thankyou and please keep it going xoxo 💖🤗🎆🍀
Wow - this came out at just the right time. I was just writing a script for a channel video about needing to take a step back so I can learn and explore new things within my chosen field. I want to just sit back and learn so I can improve and ultimately become more capable at helping my community. I actually feel guilty taking a step back (even though I'm not actually going to fully stop posting videos). I just don't know what to do at this point.
I'm glad you brought up Peter McKinnon. I, like yourself, am not a photographer or videographer but I still watch his videos. I find his storytelling to be phenomenal. He is so creative and it is easy to see that he loves what he does. This is something that I want to pursue as well. I am tired of living for the algorithm or what others think I should be doing. I want to learn to be more creative and be a great storyteller like Peter.
Great topic! I’ve been trying to build an “about me” channel for years. It is definitely harder to grow that way. But I also wanna be happy with the things I’m talking about if and when it does really pop off.
I think if you think of it not as an “about me” channel but as an “entertain my audience” channel WHILE incorporating you and who you are as you entertain, that’s the key!
@@jessicastansberry makes sense! Thanks! 🙌❤️
I think the long term goal of a creator who wants to balance traditional success metrics with creative integrity is to balance value-based content with more pure creative content that exists for its own sake. Value-based content is necessary for people to discover you. It's how the algorithm pairs your video with the most potential viewers. Creators who don't sell 100% of their souls to value-based content just need to accept the reality that only a small percentage of those who show up for the value-based content will make the commitment to subscribe and/or stay for the rest of the content. The irony is that the existence of content that creators want to make can only be justified if it's paired with content that actually brings in eyeballs. So I think there is something to the term "Creator Curse" since creativity in its purest form cannot exist without resources that are generated by something that is fundamentally less creative (eg, the only way to not be a starving artist is to either make art that makes money or to have a completely separate job that is not an artist).
The opening sentence to your statement is absolutely stunning! I’ve been reading comments on this video in between doing other things for about an hour. I just saw your comment pop up and I have to say that this is very well said!
My roommate and I both have channels but we do a third channel together that is completely separate and different than our primary channels. We sat there one day and thought hey lets create a channel and do whatever we want. So on that channel we do shopping hauls, crafts, diy, going out to breakfast. Whatever we want to do is done on that channel. We also learn by experimenting on that channel rather than our primaries.
I agree with all of this! I actually prefer watching lifestyle vlogging channels than how to videos. And as a newer channel - I decided to focus more on lifestyle content than to niche down to the subject that brought my channel the most views. I’ve accepted that my growth will be slower, but I’m so much more happier and feel like I’m creating binge worthy content for future subscribers.
My channel just blew up because of a video talking about RUclips and I did a poll asking what they wanted to see more of and they said RUclips and my first immediate thought was “I don’t wanna be a RUclips creator but I’ll make a few videos about it” 😂
Love this video! And I can totally relate. I think that’s actually one of the reasons why God hasn’t allowed my channel to blow up yet lol because He didn’t want me to feel stuck in one niche (even though that’s kind of how I feel) But I am diversifying my content now before the blowup in hopes that my organic audience will want to watch whatever I upload and decide to talk about. My through line is transparency, vulnerability, with some humor mixed in. We got this!
I think Cathrin added multiple videos that had separate views to the main channel and that's why the algorithm was probably kinder. When one offs are trickling in I imagine it would take longer to broaden your niche. This was helpful bc I didn't start one thinking I would have to be boxed in and now you have me thinking maybe this is the year 🤔
Thanks for talking about this. I came to the same conclusions, but dont have a big enough channel/audience to know whether my logic was sound!
Im cool with growing slower; its way more sustainable!
The through line is YOU. Humans are social creatures and are interested in other humans. Just be an authentic human and tell YOUR story. That is what have been telling myself anyway 😂 I have struggled with content direction, especially the past year, because I have made so many changes in my life. Even with all-over-the-place content, my channel still grew and I have a lot of people who will watch my videos no matter the topic 😊❤ Apparently people love a life journey full of challenges 😂
I subscribed for your informational content and I would totally watch a vlog because...I like you! I watched Cathrin for her info content as well, every video! But when her content changed I didn't watch EVERY video...now I watch more of her videos, I like her too 😊 I recently watched a video titled "YOU are the niche" and the guy said create what ever the heck you want to create because bottom line...no matter what you create people are there for you. As a consumer of content I will keep searching for a video on a certain topic if I don't click with the creator 😬. Even in my own niche I only watch other creators that I really like!😊
You’re my people!!! I needed to hear this 🫶🫶
Long time follower of both you and Cathrin Manning, so cool to see you mention her. I began following her for blog content but love her personality and feel relable to her lifestyle content so I have stayed a subscriber for personality. Same for you and your podcast!
I think you should definitely branch out and do vidds about other things. I would watch them for sure. It's nice to hang out with you but we don't always have to talk about business xx
I don’t know who it was that said it, it might be you, Katie or a collection of people but “pick a target audience not a niche” makes a lot of sense because a target audience are interested in lots of things. Like I love your tips content, but I’m now a full time content creator/ business owner, I’m a women, I’m pregnant with my first child. I know you have a family and live in a small town like me. I’d love to hear your strategies for managing working from home and having kids or anything to do with that, being a business owner with your specific lifestyle. Not necessarily vlogs just to hear more about it. I loved when you told us about how you take summers off to spend more time with your kids and how you achieve that. I think that’s what they mean by a target audience I bet there are a lot of other women like me that follow you.
I think the answer is to be ok with not getting views, which I know is blasphemy when talking about RUclips as a job. A big part of the "through line" is YOU and showing up with your actual voice and not as some kind of authority, which I think you're actually really great at!
An older version of this within the creative world is the separation between Art and Design/Painting/Sculpture/etc: A thing isn't necessarily considered "art" just because it's done by a professional, but moreso that that person created it for (or to express) a part of themselves and not for direct commercial gain. So in the art community there's argument that a lot of paintings from the "old masters" aren't "art" because they were commissioned. The entire conversation always rubbed be the wrong way, but I think it has a common thread to what's going on here.
Absolutely! You have to be ok with that!
I'm really glad I'm learning this right now, this such a good topic for this time we are in right now! Grateful for you pretty lady Jessica!
Yepppp I’m accidentally boxed in by my content 1 year in, and it’s not the kind of content I want to be the core of my channel, especially because I had a one-off DIY video go viral and again, it’s not my core content!! 😂🤦🏼♀️ I REALLY want to talk to women about recovering from perfectionism … but RUclips thinks I’m a home decor channel lol. Ive been struggling with do I shift/broaden my niche or do I start another more purposeful/ channel? And I’ve decided that no, I’ll just broaden my niche… but try to do it with deliberation and patience.
To clarify: I’m still really into the home decor, slowly rehabbing my Victorian house, etc … but want to pull the anti-perfectionism content in as well
I love this concept. I think throughline is the connection between the creator and the ICA. It's from human to human. It's the likeability factor.
Yes! Love that perspective
It's a double edged sword. The "You" in RUclips gives creators the illusion that they can post whatever they want. You can post whatever you want but it comes at a cost. Most business don't operate in "we do what we want". They pick a sector and make a business from that. Walmart does't sell cars just because they are getting bored with selling groceries and home items. |
I have two channels. A music making channel and a dance fitness channel. The music channel is 100% male and the dance fitness channel is 100% women. Fitness and music are both my passions but the audience doesn't care about my other passions. If I started talking about making music on a fitness channel they wouldn't watch. It is what it is.
I think that the creator curse is definitely a hinderance, and I'm actively trying to figure out my own path to not get trapped by it.
Quite honestly, I believe that it's that way because creators are scared of the low numbers "hurting" their channel. The reality is that no matter how much a creator tries they won't get 100% of their audience interested in 100% of their content.
I've been starting to think of my channel as if I was segmenting an email list or segmenting an audience anywhere else. As I grow, there will be subscribers who want this or that from my channel.
Sure some of them will watch all of it, but not all of them will. Sure that might mean slower growth, but my end goal is not just success on RUclips, but larger business success.
It's my name attached to the channel, so I have the right to share my interests, but that doesn't mean that my whole audience signed up for it or cares so I can't expect the same results from every video. Each video or series can be it's own product. Much like a TV channel has many different programs.
Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
It sounds like you want to have a Walmart-esque RUclips channel…multiple “products” for people to consume.
And while the idea of having a Walmart-esque RUclips channel might seem appealing at first, even Walmart, with its vast array of products, has a specific target audience. The key is to understand that having variety in your content, like Walmart’s diverse product range, doesn’t mean it’s aimed at everyone.
Walmart tailors its offerings to meet the needs of a specific customer base. Similarly, as a content creator, diversifying your content can be powerful, but it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of your target audience. Knowing your audience helps you tailor your content to their interests, preferences, and needs, making your channel more appealing and relatable.
In essence, a Walmart-esque channel approach can work, but just like Walmart targets different demographics with its varied sections, your diverse content should still align with the overarching theme or interests of your specific audience. It’s about finding that balance between offering variety and maintaining a cohesive identity that resonates with your viewers.
I’m a new RUclipsr, but this is my opinion on the topic.
@@nalahwright This is a great metaphor! Thanks for sharing your opinion.
I see what you're saying, I've continued to put a lot of thought into how to build my channel. I don't think there's one way to grow.
But I'm no RUclips expert.
The RUclips Creator Liason told me on Twitter you need to treat your channel like a "show" and so by that logic if you have multiple shows, you'd have different channels for them.
But there are many channels who have different "show" on their main channel and the throughline is the host or their style.
So I'm just advocating to not put yourself in a box on a channel tied to your name. 🤷♂
@@Iamandrewellis I like how you pointed out that there’s not only one way to grow on here, because that’s true! Thank you for sharing the show analogy as well. All the best to you!
I operate on a 10 month cycle. So I batch enough content to always be able to take extended time off without missing an upload.
Also it’s okay to make the lazy video. We exert so much energy researching and trying to please the audience. Sometimes what you got is what you got 🤷🏾♂️
Exactly
Liked you mentioned Cathrim Manning. Still like her content. Also I got so much from your video shot outdoors in the park. Great video today too. Really good points.
Thanks for this video. You bring up a lot of things I have been thinking about because I want to have a more broader niche also. Have you seen Erin in Demand? She does both vlogs and business educational content and she's pretty successful. I think you can do vlogs + education videos and it can work. I'm considering doing that myself.
I havent actually started posting but i have been thinking about this because i have burnt out in photography in general so .. i am aware that i am prone to it like most creatives
Another awesome video Jessica and yes quitting RUclips isn't the answer because you will possibly lose support from those who only view content through RUclips. Love 🥰 the video and love 💕 Jessica.
If you always gave yourself an outlet, then one wouldn’t feel this way…. I am a realtor. That is my job. I have used RUclips to lead generate. So I have one channel with my demographic in mind. Every once in a while I post a video with personal updates called for my besties. It is for the people who have found my channel and love me for me. They aren’t there to learn but to connect. But at the same time I committed to my personal instagram being just for me. Therefore I never have felt like I don’t have an outlet.
I think Atomic Shrimp is a good example of not getting pigeonholed into one niche. Unless his niche is Renaissance Man Explores The World 😅
Some of us watch because we like you and how you share information with us.
Oh for sure and that’s the goal!
I think you are so creative. Just find other outlets for your creativity. This way you can tap into your creative.
I like how you think out load and say what you want to say.
Weighing in as a new RUclipsr here, and I firmly believe that to build an audience, you need to niche down.
As Chalene Johnson puts it:
🎯 If you want to stand apart, you have to niche from the start.
🚀 Once people know your name, then you can broaden your game.
That’s just the way it is out here.
Katie Steckly beautifully expressed it: “Knowing your audience is the new finding your niche.”
Essentially, understanding your target audience, delving into the details of the viewer you want to attract, allows for variety within your content creation. As long as there’s a through line within the variety of content, viewers should be interested in what you create.
If content creation is an income stream, some form of niching is probably best. However, if you're creating content more as a hobby to express yourself and the nooks and crannies of your life, there are no restrictions. Just be prepared for potentially lower vanity metrics, at least in the beginning.
Oh I completely agree - the problem is that creators can’t stay niched for long, they start to get itchy and then the success that came from that niche isn’t worth the restriction.
I ALWAYS say that if you want to grow fast, go narrow - it’s the key to growth but you have to know the downsides :/
@@jessicastansberry If you have the itch to ditch your niche, then you’ll be in a stitch. Haha! Thank you for the video, I’ve enjoyed the discourse around the topic Jessica!
Thank God! I thought I was the only one feeling this way 🤣 I freakin' love your videos!
I think maybe we make it too complicated. It's pretty simple: the thru-line is you, the creator.
I get it, but I've found that several of the people I follow on RUclips that I started following for one reason, I also watch their other content because I like them.
Exactly!
Johnny Harris might be an example of someone who nails this because his content is consistent, but the topic is not.
10:29 I was just going to say this 😂 Cathrin Manning did it and documented it.
RUclips is a business platform. The more you talk about RUclips and being a Creator you’re going to get more views and more MONEY. Vs actually being a creator. They have a few people like Mr.Beast that they let get insanely popular to sell the “dream” but they make the most money from people teaching how to be creator than actually being one.
I’d watch your channel no matter what you post, most people will. But changing your content will get punished because you’re no longer selling the dream, you’re just living it.
Of course but also there are HUNDREDS of channels getting way more views than I get in all sorts of non-money/dream niches
@@jessicastansberry I’m sorry didn’t mean to come off harsh, I was more feeling your frustration with RUclips not you! I love you! And I watch you wherever you go! ❤️
Disney has completely destroyed its brand by trying to force its audience to watch things they do not want to see. It is not about what Disney wants but about what Disney's audience wants. "Creators" are nothing but paid entertainers whose job depends on amusing or otherwise engaging the people who pay their salaries. There is a word for a "creator" who just wants to do their own thing, no matter what the people like or want. It is "starving artist". Okay, that's two words.
Agreed but also there won’t be creators if they’re just doing what the algorithm wants because they’ll get tired and stop creating; and what’s different here is that you get to build your audience, it’s not handed to you, so you create the audience you want
This is a job. Your audience is here to figure out how they can become (paid) creators as well. Lots of people hate their jobs but they do it anyhow so they can go home and have the money and leisure to do what they love. If people hate their jobs so much that they quit, then someone else will do the job instead.
Your viewers probably hate their jobs too. That is why they are here-- to craft a pathway that will enable them to tell their boss to take their lousy job and, well... They want to escape and hope that you can teach them how to do it. Never lose sight of that.
I like Lemon8 because it encourages creators to post about many topics.
I came to your Channel via Catherin Manning. I got more info from Jessica then I did under Catherin.
Oh have you tried the Coconut Pineapple Bubly?
lol! I don’t like coconut so I haven’t tried it cause i know I wouldn’t like it 😂😂😂
I’m one that would watch YOU “gut a fish” and I don’t have ANY desire to even go fishing.
😂😂😂😂 love that!
I’d watch you talk about sports mom things and small town life mixed in with the current broad range of creatory things you’re already covering. Probably not gutting fish though 😂🤢