Great word Art. Proud of you guys and ALL the hard work you put into these great videos :) You're ABSOLUTELY changing the world into a better place. All the Earth needs is a little more Art and Bri. Man, I hope folks are inspired to start telling their stories. See ya soon.
We really enjoyed this Art. I have to second the comment on RUclips being a lot of work. For us that equates to 4 to 10 hours of editing time on each video, not to mention always setting up shots, retakes, different angles, rendering time, upload time, etc. It truly is a labor of love and you have to enjoy it. As a second point, those getting into RUclips, especially those who want to quit their job, need to understand they are relying on Google to provide that income. Meaning Google makes the rules and can depromote/demote or demonitoize videos at any time (a big thing now). So it can be risky to consider it as a sole source of income. Just as risky as any job where you can be fired/laid off, but certainly something to consider. Like you guys, it is such a feel-good thing to do when you know you are helping others; so although we hesitated sharing our lives at first, we wouldn't trade it now for anything :0)
I've heard about that too and those in the community saying that youtubers should have a second source of income and not rely solely on the google ads, even when they feel they're making enough to live off of.
We just started youtubing this week! It definitely is a lot of work, but it's also fun learning how to make better videos , sharing our life, and learning new things!
Yes I was thinking the exact same thing. It's crazy what's been going on with Google lately! I was thinking about starting a RUclips Channel about our journey to farm/homestead from literally nothing right now to our big dream farm. I don't want to do it for money as we are planning on farming as our income source, I'd just like the documentation and community aspect of it!
Agreed. The only reason we did not get into it sooner is because we were unsure of putting ourselves "out there", but the overwhelming feeling of wanting to share some of the incredible joys proved to hard to push down. Patience is the key to growing and that has been the hardest part for me but our channel is gaining momentum and I'm liking the process more and more.
Can't wait to meet you guys on May 6th at the conference! The chicks and goats look so great! The bottom line for this vid and growth... like you said... LOTS of work and REAL content. That's the secret. Love you guys! xoxo
If you all lived CLOSER!!! lol because It's your fault I live in the sticks right!!! haha!! when my millions from RUclips come in I will for sure fly out your way!! haha DREAM BIG right!!!
Kristy's World. She is referring to The Great Appalachian Homesteading Conference. You will find it here: facebook.com/The-Great-Appalachian-Homesteading-Conference-924437834269872/
Thank you so much for the encouragement and reminder that slowly is the best way to build! We are trying to build our channel as a business to become an (at least small) income for us next year during a crazy adventure we'll be embarking on, and you really encouraged me to keep going NOW even when it doesn't look like it's going anywhere.
The Hollar Homestead, I just started one too. I hope it goes somewhere. Trying to connect with people and find subscribers is the hard part. But it's fun making the videos. :)
I've been vlogging daily about life on our homestead in UK for 9 weeks now and I'm loving it! Definitely taking a long term view and have got into a steady rhythm of project work on the homestead, editing & promoting and making sure that I have quality family time too. Took at while to get the balance right, but I think I'm just about there. I would love to do a collaboration from across the pond with you!
Love how you showcased your channel while telling the story of how to be successful at RUclips. This way someone may watch your video about the topic, but they get a taste of what your channel is about as a side bonus. You did it without interfering with the information and yet your fans will still get updated on how things are going. Part of the reason you are being successful is that you and Bri are natural and comfortable in front of the camera and you tell stories that are interesting. Just look at some of the people who have posted in the first few hours. Other RUclipsrs who also have growing channels.
Funny twist, I found Bri when I was searching for videos about Apples for a homeschool lesson. We loved the Apple Gleaning video, stuck around for more and then you guys introduced us to Justin Rhodes!
We did a video on this too and it is a LOT of work. People have no idea that it is a full time job that doesn't pay for a year or more. We make around $1400/mo. and that's with 22 million views now! :-( The thing is it's not all bad. I have been trying to tell this to several homestead channels and they are listening but you are mostly likely not going to make good money off just RUclips. You need products to sell. For us it's books and e-books and now my soap but that's where the bulk of our income comes from. YT money is just a "bonus" for us. My advice is AS SOON AS YOU START YOUR CHANNEL come up with a product you can sell and that will encourage you on more! Then you have to SELL that product. That means you HAVE to tell people about it. They aren't just going to figure it out on their own. For us it's doing live cooking and soapmaking shows where we feature recipes in our books. Good luck! You're off to a great start! Tawra
This is really helpful, thank you! And I'm so glad Justin promoted you guys so I could discover your channel -- your videos are some of my very favorites! :)
hey, Art. thanks for addressing this so directly. it's good food for thought at the perfect time for me. i've had the idea of a channel rolling around in my head for a while now. i'm at the beginning of my tiny house and homesteading adventure and doing it with a unique angle because i am physically disabled so will need to do things in a more user friendly way. i haven't found much in the way of homesteading youtubers doing it from that direction. which makes me think i could fill a niche for others like me who are uniquely challenged but still want the freedom and self-reliance homesteading offers. on the other hand my vulnerability as a single, disabled woman in my 50's makes me a little apprehensive towards putting myself out there for all to see. but i also understand that the youtube community is incredibly supportive, so there is a great return, above and beyond the financial rewards of having a successful channel, making it well worth. the time and work invested in doing a channel. i need to weigh the positives and negatives and decide soon. i've paid off my debts, established an income, saved money so i can pay cash for property and the necessities to get started, done a major part of down-sizing, and decided where i want to do this thing. most of my house and farmstead is planned i am also soaking up all the information and skills as i can, now, from channels like yours and Justin's so i have sufficient armor when i finally step into the homesteading arena. any thoughts? suggestions?
Thanks for your feedback & I wish you so much success because you guys so deserve it! I remember when I first started watching...you guys have all gotten so much better at editing, content, & sharing; yet you are still just as humble, warm, & fun to watch. Justin's channel used to be my favorite wake-up while drinking my coffee til they took off on tour. I enjoy the down home flavor of the small, growing homestead, so you guys are now top my list of favorites to watch. God bless you & give you the income you need to make your homestead a dream come true. Thank you for letting us visit you daily :)
Art & Bri, you guys motivated us to continue posting videos daily. Thank you so much for that. We've seen every single one of your episodes and you guys have become a staple in our house. You're absolutely correct. We went out on a limb and bought the recommended camera ($650!!) and the tripod, and the editing software, and extra batteries and memory cards, but we look at it like an investment! We also post a video every day. And while we've added a lot of subscribers (Far from you guys!) its still a slow pace. Like you said you have to be willing to do the work. We also spend about 30 hours a week shooting and editing. It adds time to our day, it adds time to the things we are doing, etc. But we feel ultimately its worth it. I also do webdesign on the side so I'm trying to figure a way to possibly integrate that as well. I've made a ton of friends in doing these videos including Rose from Wholesome Roots (Shes awesome and sooo knowledgeable about goats.) I told my wife that if for some reason we aren't successful we will still have all these memories we can look back on and my 3 year old son can look back on and watch in the future. Our goal is to be self sufficient and self reliant. We were already doing this, but decided to add the videos to the mix. Sometimes, its tiring to make videos, and some days I just don't want to do it, but we force ourselves because we know the end result will be worth the squeeze. I mean, for a simple 10 minute video you're looking at 2-4 hours of time shooting and editing. That's a ton of time to invest into something if you're unsure about it! Let alone every single day! But we love doing it. We greatly appreciate the time and effort you guys put into your videos. You've encouraged us to grow and because of your videos we feel like family. Our son knows your kids names and asks me everyday to watch you guys. Keep up the good work and God bless. You guys are a shining example of His Grace!
Great video Art! You and Justin Rhodes have definitely inspired me! We just launched our own channel yesterday with 4 videos to start. It took 7 hours to edit my first video! I agree it is a lot of work, but I hope to get better and like your family, tell a great story. Thanks again!
Great explanation! I'm too old to start homesteading, but I certainly love to watch you. It's better than watching regular TV, so I want to support you in being successful.
Art, thank you for taking the time to address this topic. We started our channel to have as a family documentary Channel for our children and one day for next generation to view. We view it a bit differently today. We feel we're actually building something that has potential to be profitable in the future. Something that has a monetary value. We enjoy your channel keep up the great videos!
Thank you for this one Art. I am needing it. For us the hardest thing isn't the videos...its the fact of being bored with our own life in the suburbs. But Art your words ring true to me EVERYDAY! Even though I am not chasing around chickens and goats and about to shoot deer with a pellet gun yet.... "My children are a worthy investment." Thank you for this video you guys. Even though we have never met, y'all are such a blessing to Kelly and I though your channel. Hopefully that helps to boost y'all late into the editing night. What you do matters!!
at night before I go to bed or when I wake up, I watch my uTube family's, I love watching all the channels, I don't have cable, don't want it, but I do like watching all of you guys, thank you for all the hard work you and your family does, have a blessed day,
I think , Art, that when you post many videos, (although yours are very high quality) its not just the story..we get to know you as people and a family and after a bit you start feeling like friends to us. At least that's how I feel. So every day that you vlog, its like I get to have a wee visit with my friends...well at least friends who do all the talking lol. So, yes I love the storys, but I am so invested in you guys, that just watching the kids play, you and Bri work and the animals frolic to music, is still enough for me!!! Love you guys!
I've been watching to you guys since Justin mentioned you for the first time. Also, I donate $5 on patreon. My thinking is that: I watch and enjoy more your videos than TV shows, and I do pay a lot more money to get all the 500 channels I don't watch (I only watch baseball on TV actually). So it's only fair that I give you guys something. More like a subscription to a service. It's not much, but it's something. If those $5 help you guys to create videos that will teach me and inspire me it's worth it. If everyone that watches your videos regularly gives $1 it would be a lot more helpful. Anyway, keep up with the good work! I'll be watching
you are very fortunate to have had Justin Rhodes help promote your Channel. having said that I love your Channel and would have watched it even without his promotion. although I may have never stumbled upon it . it's amazing how many other channels I watch that reference your and Bri's RUclips channel. I don't have it in me to stand in front of a camera and create videos but I wish you two the very best in your RUclips endeavor. one other thing for RUclips viewers that may not know this... in speaking with Justin I discovered that not only viewing your videos creates revenue for you he also explained the ads and how much of them you have to watch for you to be paid. I know your viewers would like to see you to become very successful so you might want to share that with them on a future video.
ahhh, mountain music.... I like your view of telling a story. your not primarily teaching, etc. but you do a bit of it all in sharing the story of your lives.
I think that it mostly depends on connections. You guys got a huge jump start and that's what got you going more than anything else. I agree with you that putting out good quality videos, which you guys do, helps. I watch many smaller channels that put out great content and their growth is smaller just because they don't have that connection to get them going.
Justin did really get us rolling. No question. But we caught the ball and ran with it. I agree that it depends on connections. But connections can be made. We just had an easy connection because of a friendship and generosity, but making connections is possible for anyone. It just takes work.
I agree there is something to be said about connections.... but I have had other channels recommended to me to watch and they are not something I am interested in.... SO! I think a underdog push on the swing set is a good analogy... you get pushed but if you don't pump on your own you eventually slow to a stop! Art and Bri were for sure blessed by the push! And good job for pumping!!! :)
Yes I followed from Justin Rhodes channel also. Nowadays I look forward to watching your videos daily. Love the stories , animals and let's not forget the children. Thanks for the another great day. 👍
Great video, Art. Wow you two have come a long way in a short time. I have had those say that I should monetize my ministry channel and I have always said no, as we have nothing coming in for the ministry we have been blessed with. The garden channel, again I have had some that think I should do the same thing with. I have mixed feelings with it. I enjoy helping people and the reason I started this channel in the first place.. I love meeting new people and sharing ideas. Here in Maine, our winters are so long and not sure what to share with people on the non gardening time. To be able to have the extra cas flow to upgrade what I am using now would be nice. Anyways, thanks again Art and Bri for all you share. Blessings.
Yes!! Your are absolutely telling the truth....lots & lots & lots of work! And if you do not enjoy the entire process, I very seriously doubt you will continue to put in the work in your channel! But great info Art! -Jason
Art, I am always impressed with the level of quality in your content. Entertaining and informative. I also love seeing folks from RUclips channels I have subscribed to, like Better Together Life, Guildbrook Farm, Doug and Stacy and Appalachia s Homestead. I look forward to meeting you and many others in May at the Homesteading Conference! I just started my channel about a month or so ago. You are fight! SO MUCH WORK/TIME !!! But I think it is worth it. If I can encourage someone to follow their dreams of sustainable self-reliance the way you have encouraged me, then it will be a mission accomplished! Keep up the great work!
If you see this, I wanted to share some info I learned, probably from Lisa Steele on the facebook page a year or more ago. The lamp in the brooder doesn't have to be the red light. It gets too hot. A farmer could just use a regular light bulb. I did. It worked, and lowered my fire hazed to null. :)
(If I do a youtbue video, I will keep it to under 5 min. I love yours, so it isn't you. Some youtubers go on into 20+ minutes...and this just isn't feasable to watch everyone's....) I do like the way you presented this. Very well said.
Plants,animals,kids,views ,informations,educational,etc...your videos are great..and the sweetness between u and wife and kids that's so inspiring.great people..
Thanks for this great video! I found it really encouraging and inspiring. Been batting around the idea of starting something ourselves, and this helped me clarify to my thinking on that. Really appreciate it and love your channel. God Bless you guys!
I have wanted to start a channel for a very long time, I do think I have something to offer. One reason I haven't is the fact that I don't think I have time to devote to quality videos, but most especially what stops me is the possibility that no one will watch! Your family does great videos, I especially love your channel because your family looks so similar to mine. I don't know how y'all get it all done! You do so much better than I would, I'm afraid.
Thanks for the great information you shared on this video. I've been doing videos for about 2 good years now and I remember getting to the point of having to decide "what am I doing here?" I would like to make a living income, and I don't want to waste my time. So I decided that I would have go out of my comfort zone and speak out loud and show my face on camera so that folks feel like they are connecting to me. And I just candidly show and talk to them about what I know. I'm putting the work in and I am patiently awaiting the pay-off. When RUclips starts to pay me I'll be glad but I'm not going to get anxious about when that will be. Meanwhile I'm just enjoying the journey which is what I was doing anyway!
Thanks for the info.I had my channel made for a while but just recently started adding content.My channel is about things i and my brother do together or other stuff such as my back yard garden.I dont mind the hours i put into a video and editing because i know its something positive and i like to to do.But so far i have made 4 cents BUT hey i just started!
I thoroughly enjoyed this episode.. i have been wracking my brains trying to think of things to do that might help me keep a homestead going ( if i ever find a place that i would love to call home). I like to bake and create, so i'd thought of the cottage food industry, sewing, quilting, embroidery, a vegetable market stand, sell herbs, eggs, WHATEVER... i had NOT thought of youtube... i did not feel that i knew enough to be instructive or interesting... hmmmmm ... another cog in the wheel now..
That was a very true, fair assessment of what it takes to make a serious go of it on RUclips. It really is amazing how much time each week it has taken us, for example, to get up to a mere $1.00 or two per video. But Art, you said it well, that ANY start-up business would go through the same unpaid (intern-type) stage. We've enjoyed doing it, and it's fun to know that in a year or so it might be able to take some of the pressure off of my need to make money with my other job. (We're just lucky we don't have a house payment...I admire those who are doing the same things as we are, and perhaps especially at this early nearly-unpaid stage, with a full-time "normal" job and a house payment). Thanks for the encouragement. :) -Trent
Been wanting to do this for many years. I just need to commit. thank you for the push in the right direction. I have never seen anyone be as honest as you with regard to revenue from RUclips. I am going to look for calculators to see what kind of monetization I can realize. I really appreciate you and Bri and the kids. May God bless you and keep you and cause his face to shine upon you and Grant you peace.
Thanks much. We think that the story of what we are doing on youtube is probably as interesting to folks as the homesteading story. It is really one story.
Wow! Love the videos bud! Already started a channel for my family as we work on a homestead/ intentional community. Sometimes it gets discouraging how much work goes into making videos, with very little results in the beginning. Thank you for helping those of us looking to make this our day job. Keep it up! **Thrice
Arthur, thank you so very much for your wisdom regarding starting a UTube channel. I'm considering doing the same, but am not sure I have enough stories to share. Also I have no experience with shooting or editing videos. Your words have encouraged me, and who knows, maybe some day soon there will be a channel on "Kate's Kitchen". Thanks again.
Thank you for being honest. Most youtubers try to hide this info. ABC, NBC, CBS or YOU. YOU WIN. And the ones with your children. You and your children are building recorded memories.
Thanks art for your inspiration. I have been wanting to do this for awhile especially since my kids have their own channels. Small ones but they love to add videos and have asked for cameras/ phones for their birthdays. So, I showed my hubby your video this morning, I suggested that the kids go down to the shop with him and video his automotive fixes. I was thinking that might get a lot of hits but I wanted to do our homesteading stuff too. Wondering how to incorporate both or if we should. I mean people who fix vehicles may not be interested in our homestead and it's a small town and I'm not sure I want everyone knowing all our business. However, I would love to show people our very slow process of building our own log cabin. What do you think? How could I do this? Oh, I also would like to know what kind of computer system you use to edit and how to add your Amazon or other things. Maybe a tutorial of your editing one of these days. I'm sure we would all be interested in that one. I'm putting this one in my favorites "art and bri" file. Yes, I had to create one just for you guys. LoL
So I have to tell you guys this, which I think is the coolest coincidental sparking of a persons interest. I actually started watching your channel before Justin Rhodes. Something in your videos led me to his. But the familiarity of your channel sparked my interest. The surrounding of your place, the mountains, barns, trees etc. sparked my curiosity. I just thought it looked like my grandparents place as I was growing up. The weird thing is you could have been them in their youth, working their farm and raising kids. The similarity was astounding, you even looked similar to my granddad in his youth and Bri looked like my grandmother. I am also capsulated by your stories which keeps it real. I watched your videos forever before I had an epiphany. You actually live in my area! So that just made it all come together as to why I love you guys. Anyway, enough stalking. Keep putting it out there and I'll keep watching. I am thinking of starting my own channel which is why I was revisiting this one of yours.
awesome thanks for the tips! we have been thinking g of doing more than one video a week. How do you store your footage? Recommendations on camera cards? size of cards, multiple cards? seems we always fill ours up. Do you do better with ads or Amazon affiliate links? Thanks for all your videos, we really enjoy them!!
We use a large external hard drive. I think our camera cards are 32. Rarely do we fill them, but only have on day at a time on the camera. Ads do much more than affiliate links. We could push affiliate links more but don't want to make our videos about selling.
Its great to have many sources of income. A few not connected to computers. Love your channel & taking notes. I found you by chance. Practicing skills so I'll be ready when I get back to Homesteading.
Agreed. RUclips is not even close to our main source of income. Art works full time and we hope to bring in other sources from our homestead. We are also looking into other avenues of work form home income.
Great video, Art!! I'd like to add that it's important to diversify your income streams (you kinda touched on that, but not in so many words). I know people who have had Google/RUclips block their videos recently. Use your video channel to kickstart other income streams, such as sponsorship, product reviews, ebooks, speaking engagements, online training courses, etc. Run those from your website, which is the only thing you truly own, and which won't suddenly go away!!
We have been doing a lot of reading on the very things you are speaking of. I don't think Art plans on quitting his job, at least not for RUclips. We have so many farming/homesteading dreams that he would only quit his job for those or some other amazing business opportunity.
kudos for keeping it real with people like you said any business someone starts on their own will cost you especially in the beginning either time and or money. If most people have have a choice they would rather have more choice in what kind of programming they watch and as a consumer what kind of products/services they choose to support. I for one like the opportunity to support ie "small businesses " of my choosing. If someone doesn't agree with how you choose to help supplement or support your family they don't have to watch. Simple as that consumer choice. So any naysayers you have the choice, don't support what you don't care about but for those of us who do like these types of vlog/businesses we will continue to do so.
Oh my gosh great video, thank you so much for the pep talk. I'm new to this RUclips thing, about 1 month give or take. I've noticed some of the smaller channels spike when they have a backer (you or Justin) it's awesome and I hope one day to get a chance to have you guys promote me as well. I'm all stirred up now and going to continue to work hard for my goal. Which is to grow this channel so my husband can quit working so many hours. Thanks again!!
Your video today was very interesting. It got me thinking. When you added the chickens your video's got quite exciting. When you added the goats It got even more interesting. Your channel and Justins are the first channels i watch every day. May I suggest Bee keeping. Its something that gives you an unlimited source of topics to choose from. How to start bee keeping,Making honey, making candles and so on. Plus Bee' s are in serious danger of becoming obsolete. Of course it is just an idea. Good luck.
We would love to but don't feel like this the summer. I grew up raising bees and know they take as much if not more attention than a large animal and we just don't feel like we can give them the focus that we would want to yet. Really really want to. Might make it happen. Will see. -Art
Well, we're up to $1.87 in our estimated revenue and 33 subscribers! We can only manage to do 1 video a week - if we're lucky, we'll do 2. We're doing many different kinds of videos too. DIY stuff, chicken/turkey stuff, metal work stuff, soon we'll be doing gardening stuff (once it decides to quit snowing). I'd love to be able to quit our jobs and homestead full time - that is the most ultimate dream of ours, but I have a hard time relying on the fact that RUclips will be a sustainable income. Plus it doesn't offer insurance, retirement and a continual paycheck. Yes I'd love to make money doing this, but we are doing this just for the pure joy of doing it and documenting our time here. I kind of think of RUclips like MySpace..... totally awesome at the time, but eventually faded out. I'm hoping that doesn't happen, we love RUclips and watch it more than we do movies or TV, but there is always something new that comes along. We did have a question for you guys though, do you work outside of the home? And if you do, what do you do? We love watching your channel. We either learn how to do things, or have fun watching. Keep doing what you're doing. You're a great resource to many of us :)
Neat. My hubby works 70-80 hrs a week as a Paramedic and I work full time in the tech dept at our school district. Sure wish I could stay home and take care of things... Should would be easier than cramming it into a few hours ever night or just on the weekends :)
Arthur used to work those kinds of hours. Our RUclips channel is what has made it possible for him to cut back to just regular full time hours at his job. It is a true gift for me to be able to stay home.
My kids and I have started our homestead in our yard and are working towards buying a farm. We have been vlogging our journey on RUclips as well and I'm wondering what you think about having a homestead on a small piece of land to start out? Do you believe it is possible to be successful with vlogging? I am telling our story and plan to document our journey through finding our farm and moving, as well as continuing to homestead. I believe that this journey is interesting and sort of a step by step. What advice would you give while we are going through our adventure?
I do believe it is possible to be successful in vlogging but not without a lot of work. It's kind of like growing any other "business." You wouldn't expect a restaurant or a farm to take off without a lot of work in making a product and promoting it. Fortunately youtube is a great tool for free promotion. Unfortunately it is a complex tool and it is sometimes hard to understand why one person is successful and another is not. I peaked at your channel and one small suggestion (not sure if you wanted this level of critical detail) is to film your videos in a horizontal format. I think working on a phone is great (swedish homestead grew to 50k+ subs without a camera) but if you use a horizontal format and a tripod for some shots, nobody will even know. Good luck.
ART and BRI thank you for the feedback. I am no stranger to hard work and homesteading is something I've wanted to do since I can remember. I owned a shop that I just recently closed because I was completely burned out (do what makes you happy...right??) so I understand the amount of work and dedication it takes to start and keep a business. Your response gives me hope because I'm already on that same page. As far as the filming goes, if I turn my phone horizontally to film, it automatically flips back once you try to watch it. I'm sure there's a way to fix that but honestly, I don't like vlogging with my phone. It's hard to hold on to and trying to get ground shots are almost impossible unless you want to get dirt all over it so I ordered a camera and tripod. I'm pretty excited about this because it's also very difficult to edit with my phone and that's one area that I'm really wanting to fix. Thank you again for your feedback and the kids and I will continue to watch your family's great story 😊
The question isn't answered very often because it fluctuates so much and the subscriber count doesn't reflect an exact amount of income. And even though you see so many views per video, it depends on whether the viewer interacts with the ad. Interaction can be anything from the amount of time spent watching to clicking through to purchasing after clicking through. So definitely not a $?? per hour job. 😊
It changes every day, every week and every month. Sometimes it goes up and sometimes down. If you only count us filming and editing videos then we make around 8/hr on our highest paying month. If you add in answering messages, emails, facebook and all of the tech stuff then it would be significantly less.
As I understand it , its about ads I'm not sure if views matter except that You Tube will give you ads based on views? Is that right? Whats more valuable watching 1 ad or skipping the ad and watch the video 4 times?
Thanks Art! This has given me so much inspiration. Would you also say that you shouldn't got to commercials until you actually have the thousands of viewers? I think that may have been what Justin said, so I have kept the ads off for now.
Well doneArt!. This was an honest synopsis of what it takes to succeed. Your choice of doing your chores while you told about how-to and the value of creating a VLOG was very entertaining and very helpful to us. We are in day 35 of a daily VLOG. We were initially inspired by Justin Rhodes and your success helped encourage us. I too am a nurse looking to walk away from my job. Our focus is helping people with "Processed Food Disease" (Diabetes 2) through growing their own food, eating real food, and 5 other degrees of change. We invite you to take a look at what we are doing and tell us your opinion and give us your feedback. Let us know and we will provide you the link. Have a beautiful day.
for me, I found YOUR channel and started watching justins channel from your promotion of them! LOL....some of your first vids were subjects I was needing answers for, I felt it was destriny =)
I wanted to build up my subscriber base a bit before turning on monetization, would you have a suggestion as to when to turn on monetization? 50 subs, 100 subs, if a particular video starts taking off? I have a video that is actually a recording of a speaker at a bee conference that is getting about 40-50 hits a day right now... not one of my regular videos, but a great speaker who gave the go ahead to record and upload his talk. Should I turn it on yet?
I think it is fine to monetize from the beginning. People expect there to be adds on RUclips and you never know when one of your videos will get popular.
I subscribed, because all through this beautiful video, I was back on the farm. All the sounds of making the rounds on the property. Motivational information. Thank you! My question is what do you use to film your videos with. Very clear and very good sound...
We just recently started vlogging. We have enjoyed learning from so many great families on RUclips that we wanted to give back as well. I don't know if it will ever provide any income, but we have really been enjoying it and are always thinking "oh we should share that on RUclips! If it is this time consuming for us to figure out, we could save others a lot of time by sharing our experience".
my opinion: I like what you said about telling a story, that's so true. It is also about being informative, or funny or likable, basically entertainment/ education. You said you put out 6 videos, and that's great if you have content, but a lot of people don't. As the weather warms, I will watch a lot less videos so if someone is coasting, or stretching out or repeating , there's no new content, no entertainment ,nor education, I'm going to watch someone else. There's a ton of competition, if I have 1 hour to watch videos, I can only watch 2 or 3 , I now understand why people get mad at long videos. lol. I have maybe 50 people Id like to watch but I don't have 25 hours a day to watch 50, 30 min videos, even at 2 videos a week that's 100 videos, then theres stuff like movies, music, Pinterest... I asked a You Tuber a question, that had apparently been asked and answered before in the comments(never in a video), his reply implied that he and other RUclipsrs get upset with people who didn't read the comments. I promptly unsubscribed after I left a message stating I had just watched 2 months of his 45 min videos which did not contain the information, how could he expect us to spend 2 hours more on every video, reading his thousands of comments in the hopes that someone else also asked it? So if people aren't going to give " quality" videos as you put it, don't do it. Also, you guys are pleasant, you always say thank you, which isn't necessary but I think is so sweet, you appreciate your viewers and we appreciate the content.
great video, good content. I am getting started and want to do informative videos, but not sure about my video presentation, I don't even like my pic taking. any advise on getting over stage fright? thanks.
What type of camera and editing program do you use? We live in South Florida where we have no dirt (all sand) and bought 2.7 acres that was not cleared. We have our property mostly cleared now and need to work on the garden (trying back to eden), fencing, chickens and goats. We have tons of projects to get done! All our family lives up north and I always send them videos of our progress. My mom keeps telling me I need to start a RUclips channel but I am hesitant. Some people are just so mean and I’m not sure I want to deal with that part of it. But I feel like we could have such different content because we live in such a different climate where it never freezes and we can grow some really cool tropical fruit trees! We have different challenges because of where we live and I haven’t found any other channels that talk about these challenges. They may be out there but I haven’t found them. Anyway, thank you guys for being awesome!
The camera is a canon g7x mark II. We edit on adobe premier pro. Any editing program will do however - some you just buy outright - you pay monthly for adobe. Good luck on your homesteading. Let us know if you start a youtube channel.
ART and BRI thank you guys for responding! My daughter will be so excited when I tell her. She’s 3 years old and loves watching your kids (I mean children but she does like the goats also 😂). She doesn’t quite understand that we don’t actually know you guys. Haha I think she thinks we’re FaceTiming when I watch your videos.
I mentioned before, your family and Justin's family inspired me. I started a channel about a month ago. I am wondering how you do the amazon links and the Patrion stuff. I'll keep reading below. Perhaps someone else already asked the same questions?? Thanks! Stephanie :)
+Parsley Farm You need to have an Amazon affiliate link thru Amazon's affiliate program: affiliate-program.amazon.com/ Once you join (it's free to join), you'll have an aff. link that you can share with others. When they click that link, you'll get a percentage paid out by Amazon. I can't answer for Patreon as I'm not familiar with how that works.
Art, Curious as to how YT handles things like RUclips Red? I pay for Google Music, which includes RUclips Red. This means that I don't see ad's on ANY video, without an ad-blocker. Does RUclips then pay you directly (as opposed to getting paid via ad revenue) for the views coming from people with RUclips Red?
Great video Art. You hit it right in the head. It is a lot of work but I believe it will pay off in the long run too. You guys are doing great. Keep the great content coming! Did you get our email?
We did! I responded. I hope you got it. We are having issues with email right now so it is taking a lot longer for us to respond. We WILL get back to you. LOVE your channel.
All I said in the email is : We are having problems with our email right now. We will get back to you very soon about what you talked about in the email.
RUclips used to be the bee's knees not so more as of late from what I'm hearing. I've already had to upload a new a forum called vidme due to the growing censorship RUclips is forcing on to creators with the threat of losing their funding through monetization. I know you guys are probably pretty safe due to the fact you do not have controversial subjects matter or right leaning narratives throughout your programming along with no foul language. I pray everything stays hunky-dory for you while using this Outlet
what was your key to getting subscribers, getting those views and to get people to share your channel? we have no problem investing the time and work but are unsure how to get those numbers up
I really want to start my own channel addressing permaculture and how to live regeneratively and pass that along to others so that we can begin to heal this earth of carbon sequestration , desertification , etc but with humor and easy to understand instructions what I could use counsel with is actually the123 of it and editing ?? Would love any advice . Thanks!!!
Kristy, sound like a great channel. My advice here is to look to others. There are a lot of channels that specialize in that kind of stuff and while we might do occasional videos on youtube and video making, we would lose a lot of people if we did too many. There are so many great channels and podcasts on how to start and grow a youtube channel. We learned editing from watching videos carefully. You can find tutorials for any editing program on youtube. Good luck!
It is really quite strange talking to the camera. One thing I found that helped me when I started recording was to think of the camera as my son or one of my friends that I was trying to explain something to. If you do that it helps get over the awkwardness. I will say though, that it is still awkward for me in some situations, especially when there are people around who are kind of freaked out by it. Your friends and family WILL think you are crazy running around talking to a camera, but you have to just ignore them and keep your end goal in mind.
Hi there! My husband and I are considering a consistent you tube channel but we only have our iPhones and a bulky cannon dslr camera. Do you think that would be sufficient to get started? Did y'all take the editing course or just wing it?! Thanks so much for offering your help and in put!!
There are a lot of channels that use only their iphones, so it is probably just fine. We did not take an editing course, but just learned starting on day one. Of course that edit took 10 or more hours to complete since we only knew how to use one tool! ha!
Great word Art. Proud of you guys and ALL the hard work you put into these great videos :) You're ABSOLUTELY changing the world into a better place. All the Earth needs is a little more Art and Bri. Man, I hope folks are inspired to start telling their stories. See ya soon.
Thanks much Justin. We love you all! -A
We really enjoyed this Art. I have to second the comment on RUclips being a lot of work. For us that equates to 4 to 10 hours of editing time on each video, not to mention always setting up shots, retakes, different angles, rendering time, upload time, etc. It truly is a labor of love and you have to enjoy it. As a second point, those getting into RUclips, especially those who want to quit their job, need to understand they are relying on Google to provide that income. Meaning Google makes the rules and can depromote/demote or demonitoize videos at any time (a big thing now). So it can be risky to consider it as a sole source of income. Just as risky as any job where you can be fired/laid off, but certainly something to consider. Like you guys, it is such a feel-good thing to do when you know you are helping others; so although we hesitated sharing our lives at first, we wouldn't trade it now for anything :0)
I've heard about that too and those in the community saying that youtubers should have a second source of income and not rely solely on the google ads, even when they feel they're making enough to live off of.
We just started youtubing this week! It definitely is a lot of work, but it's also fun learning how to make better videos , sharing our life, and learning new things!
Yes I was thinking the exact same thing. It's crazy what's been going on with Google lately! I was thinking about starting a RUclips Channel about our journey to farm/homestead from literally nothing right now to our big dream farm. I don't want to do it for money as we are planning on farming as our income source, I'd just like the documentation and community aspect of it!
I think it's also a great video library to build and look back on with your family.
Agreed. The only reason we did not get into it sooner is because we were unsure of putting ourselves "out there", but the overwhelming feeling of wanting to share some of the incredible joys proved to hard to push down. Patience is the key to growing and that has been the hardest part for me but our channel is gaining momentum and I'm liking the process more and more.
Can't wait to meet you guys on May 6th at the conference! The chicks and goats look so great! The bottom line for this vid and growth... like you said... LOTS of work and REAL content. That's the secret. Love you guys! xoxo
We are really excited too!
If you all lived CLOSER!!! lol because It's your fault I live in the sticks right!!! haha!! when my millions from RUclips come in I will for sure fly out your way!! haha DREAM BIG right!!!
Appalachia's Homestead what conference and where please . Thank you !
Kristy's World. She is referring to The Great Appalachian Homesteading Conference. You will find it here: facebook.com/The-Great-Appalachian-Homesteading-Conference-924437834269872/
Thank you so much for the encouragement and reminder that slowly is the best way to build! We are trying to build our channel as a business to become an (at least small) income for us next year during a crazy adventure we'll be embarking on, and you really encouraged me to keep going NOW even when it doesn't look like it's going anywhere.
So glad.
The Hollar Homestead, I just started one too. I hope it goes somewhere. Trying to connect with people and find subscribers is the hard part. But it's fun making the videos. :)
The Hollar Homestead, I subscribed to you. :D
That is the hard part for sure! But we'll get there with patience. :)
Same! :)
I've been vlogging daily about life on our homestead in UK for 9 weeks now and I'm loving it! Definitely taking a long term view and have got into a steady rhythm of project work on the homestead, editing & promoting and making sure that I have quality family time too. Took at while to get the balance right, but I think I'm just about there. I would love to do a collaboration from across the pond with you!
Love how you showcased your channel while telling the story of how to be successful at RUclips. This way someone may watch your video about the topic, but they get a taste of what your channel is about as a side bonus. You did it without interfering with the information and yet your fans will still get updated on how things are going.
Part of the reason you are being successful is that you and Bri are natural and comfortable in front of the camera and you tell stories that are interesting. Just look at some of the people who have posted in the first few hours. Other RUclipsrs who also have growing channels.
Side bonus.. videos of the children when they were little. No money can replace the memories your making for them :)
Blessings ~
Great video. Hope it will go really well for you guys. You deserve it!
Funny twist, I found Bri when I was searching for videos about Apples for a homeschool lesson. We loved the Apple Gleaning video, stuck around for more and then you guys introduced us to Justin Rhodes!
Ha! Usually it's the other way around, Justin Rhodes brought me to Art and Bri. :D
Cool.
T-Bag and Donald brought me. :)
What about obama? .. =)
We did a video on this too and it is a LOT of work. People have no idea that it is a full time job that doesn't pay for a year or more. We make around $1400/mo. and that's with 22 million views now! :-(
The thing is it's not all bad. I have been trying to tell this to several homestead channels and they are listening but you are mostly likely not going to make good money off just RUclips. You need products to sell.
For us it's books and e-books and now my soap but that's where the bulk of our income comes from. YT money is just a "bonus" for us. My advice is AS SOON AS YOU START YOUR CHANNEL come up with a product you can sell and that will encourage you on more!
Then you have to SELL that product. That means you HAVE to tell people about it. They aren't just going to figure it out on their own. For us it's doing live cooking and soapmaking shows where we feature recipes in our books. Good luck! You're off to a great start! Tawra
I love making videos. I also like that I am one of very few black homesteaders. I have not made a dime, yet. This was a great video.
had to use the race card eh? =) lol lol
Don't seem to have much else going for me 😜 Really, I get a few private messages from black women that are happy to see me.
lol wink wink, well here is one from the white folk, we are happy to see you =)
people should take note that we know each other and understand our humor.... no fly by readers of these comments should take offense =)
Yes! Please let it be known, we know and appreciate each other's oddness.
This is really helpful, thank you! And I'm so glad Justin promoted you guys so I could discover your channel -- your videos are some of my very favorites! :)
hey, Art. thanks for addressing this so directly. it's good food for thought at the perfect time for me. i've had the idea of a channel rolling around in my head for a while now. i'm at the beginning of my tiny house and homesteading adventure and doing it with a unique angle because i am physically disabled so will need to do things in a more user friendly way. i haven't found much in the way of homesteading youtubers doing it from that direction. which makes me think i could fill a niche for others like me who are uniquely challenged but still want the freedom and self-reliance homesteading offers.
on the other hand my vulnerability as a single, disabled woman in my 50's makes me a little apprehensive towards putting myself out there for all to see. but i also understand that the youtube community is incredibly supportive, so there is a great return, above and beyond the financial rewards of having a successful channel, making it well worth. the time and work invested in doing a channel.
i need to weigh the positives and negatives and decide soon. i've paid off my debts, established an income, saved money so i can pay cash for property and the necessities to get started, done a major part of down-sizing, and decided where i want to do this thing. most of my house and farmstead is planned i am also soaking up all the information and skills as i can, now, from channels like yours and Justin's so i have sufficient armor when i finally step into the homesteading arena.
any thoughts? suggestions?
Thank you ART for sharing your video homestead chicken farmer garden nice to see you 🐔🐓🐥🐈🐕🐐🌱🎥👍👍👍
Thanks for your feedback & I wish you so much success because you guys so deserve it! I remember when I first started watching...you guys have all gotten so much better at editing, content, & sharing; yet you are still just as humble, warm, & fun to watch. Justin's channel used to be my favorite wake-up while drinking my coffee til they took off on tour. I enjoy the down home flavor of the small, growing homestead, so you guys are now top my list of favorites to watch. God bless you & give you the income you need to make your homestead a dream come true. Thank you for letting us visit you daily :)
Art & Bri, you guys motivated us to continue posting videos daily. Thank you so much for that. We've seen every single one of your episodes and you guys have become a staple in our house. You're absolutely correct. We went out on a limb and bought the recommended camera ($650!!) and the tripod, and the editing software, and extra batteries and memory cards, but we look at it like an investment! We also post a video every day. And while we've added a lot of subscribers (Far from you guys!) its still a slow pace. Like you said you have to be willing to do the work. We also spend about 30 hours a week shooting and editing. It adds time to our day, it adds time to the things we are doing, etc. But we feel ultimately its worth it. I also do webdesign on the side so I'm trying to figure a way to possibly integrate that as well. I've made a ton of friends in doing these videos including Rose from Wholesome Roots (Shes awesome and sooo knowledgeable about goats.)
I told my wife that if for some reason we aren't successful we will still have all these memories we can look back on and my 3 year old son can look back on and watch in the future. Our goal is to be self sufficient and self reliant. We were already doing this, but decided to add the videos to the mix. Sometimes, its tiring to make videos, and some days I just don't want to do it, but we force ourselves because we know the end result will be worth the squeeze. I mean, for a simple 10 minute video you're looking at 2-4 hours of time shooting and editing. That's a ton of time to invest into something if you're unsure about it! Let alone every single day! But we love doing it. We greatly appreciate the time and effort you guys put into your videos. You've encouraged us to grow and because of your videos we feel like family. Our son knows your kids names and asks me everyday to watch you guys. Keep up the good work and God bless. You guys are a shining example of His Grace!
Great video Art! You and Justin Rhodes have definitely inspired me! We just launched our own channel yesterday with 4 videos to start. It took 7 hours to edit my first video! I agree it is a lot of work, but I hope to get better and like your family, tell a great story. Thanks again!
Great explanation! I'm too old to start homesteading, but I certainly love to watch you. It's better than watching regular TV, so I want to support you in being successful.
Thanks for your support.
Love your vids and your hard work shows...have loved watching your channel grow. What a legacy to your children!
you guys are doing great, I have used many ideas from your and Justin's channel's to help my farm . thanks
Glad to hear it.
Art, thank you for taking the time to address this topic. We started our channel to have as a family documentary Channel for our children and one day for next generation to view. We view it a bit differently today. We feel we're actually building something that has potential to be profitable in the future. Something that has a monetary value. We enjoy your channel keep up the great videos!
Thank you for this one Art. I am needing it. For us the hardest thing isn't the videos...its the fact of being bored with our own life in the suburbs. But Art your words ring true to me EVERYDAY! Even though I am not chasing around chickens and goats and about to shoot deer with a pellet gun yet....
"My children are a worthy investment."
Thank you for this video you guys. Even though we have never met, y'all are such a blessing to Kelly and I though your channel. Hopefully that helps to boost y'all late into the editing night. What you do matters!!
Thanks so much BTL. Yes it is encouraging.
I love watching your family grow and the farm, thank you for sharing with us. Pat in NC
at night before I go to bed or when I wake up, I watch my uTube family's, I love watching all the channels, I don't have cable, don't want it, but I do like watching all of you guys, thank you for all the hard work you and your family does, have a blessed day,
I think , Art, that when you post many videos, (although yours are very high quality) its not just the story..we get to know you as people and a family and after a bit you start feeling like friends to us. At least that's how I feel. So every day that you vlog, its like I get to have a wee visit with my friends...well at least friends who do all the talking lol. So, yes I love the storys, but I am so invested in you guys, that just watching the kids play, you and Bri work and the animals frolic to music, is still enough for me!!! Love you guys!
I've been watching to you guys since Justin mentioned you for the first time. Also, I donate $5 on patreon. My thinking is that: I watch and enjoy more your videos than TV shows, and I do pay a lot more money to get all the 500 channels I don't watch (I only watch baseball on TV actually). So it's only fair that I give you guys something. More like a subscription to a service. It's not much, but it's something. If those $5 help you guys to create videos that will teach me and inspire me it's worth it. If everyone that watches your videos regularly gives $1 it would be a lot more helpful.
Anyway, keep up with the good work! I'll be watching
Thanks so much Gustavo!
what a great way to look at it Gustavo! they have inspired me to get GOATS!! haha that and Wholesome Roots!! lol
I never thought of it like this before and I dont know why it is so true!
you are very fortunate to have had Justin Rhodes help promote your Channel. having said that I love your Channel and would have watched it even without his promotion. although I may have never stumbled upon it . it's amazing how many other channels I watch that reference your and Bri's RUclips channel. I don't have it in me to stand in front of a camera and create videos but I wish you two the very best in your RUclips endeavor. one other thing for RUclips viewers that may not know this... in speaking with Justin I discovered that not only viewing your videos creates revenue for you he also explained the ads and how much of them you have to watch for you to be paid. I know your viewers would like to see you to become very successful so you might want to share that with them on a future video.
Thanks.
I hope all your dreams come true with youtube! It would be grand staying home and watching your kids and far grow! Blessings!
ahhh, mountain music.... I like your view of telling a story. your not primarily teaching, etc. but you do a bit of it all in sharing the story of your lives.
I think that it mostly depends on connections. You guys got a huge jump start and that's what got you going more than anything else. I agree with you that putting out good quality videos, which you guys do, helps. I watch many smaller channels that put out great content and their growth is smaller just because they don't have that connection to get them going.
Justin did really get us rolling. No question. But we caught the ball and ran with it. I agree that it depends on connections. But connections can be made. We just had an easy connection because of a friendship and generosity, but making connections is possible for anyone. It just takes work.
I agree there is something to be said about connections.... but I have had other channels recommended to me to watch and they are not something I am interested in.... SO! I think a underdog push on the swing set is a good analogy... you get pushed but if you don't pump on your own you eventually slow to a stop! Art and Bri were for sure blessed by the push! And good job for pumping!!! :)
Yes I followed from Justin Rhodes channel also. Nowadays I look forward to watching your videos daily. Love the stories , animals and let's not forget the children. Thanks for the another great day. 👍
Thank you!
Great video, Art. Wow you two have come a long way in a short time. I have had those say that I should monetize my ministry channel and I have always said no, as we have nothing coming in for the ministry we have been blessed with. The garden channel, again I have had some that think I should do the same thing with. I have mixed feelings with it. I enjoy helping people and the reason I started this channel in the first place.. I love meeting new people and sharing ideas. Here in Maine, our winters are so long and not sure what to share with people on the non gardening time. To be able to have the extra cas flow to upgrade what I am using now would be nice.
Anyways, thanks again Art and Bri for all you share.
Blessings.
Yes!! Your are absolutely telling the truth....lots & lots & lots of work! And if you do not enjoy the entire process, I very seriously doubt you will continue to put in the work in your channel! But great info Art! -Jason
Art, I am always impressed with the level of quality in your content. Entertaining and informative. I also love seeing folks from RUclips channels I have subscribed to, like Better Together Life, Guildbrook Farm, Doug and Stacy and Appalachia s Homestead. I look forward to meeting you and many others in May at the Homesteading Conference! I just started my channel about a month or so ago. You are fight! SO MUCH WORK/TIME !!! But I think it is worth it. If I can encourage someone to follow their dreams of sustainable self-reliance the way you have encouraged me, then it will be a mission accomplished! Keep up the great work!
Oh and Chick-a-Woof even tough you don't have a goat named David Hasselhoff!
So glad that we have encouraged you.
We haven't made any money on our channel, but I feel that the advice you gave was right on :)
If you see this, I wanted to share some info I learned, probably from Lisa Steele on the facebook page a year or more ago. The lamp in the brooder doesn't have to be the red light. It gets too hot. A farmer could just use a regular light bulb. I did. It worked, and lowered my fire hazed to null. :)
(If I do a youtbue video, I will keep it to under 5 min. I love yours, so it isn't you. Some youtubers go on into 20+ minutes...and this just isn't feasable to watch everyone's....) I do like the way you presented this. Very well said.
p.s. Not to sound korny, but your look is good in this video. Solid.
Plants,animals,kids,views ,informations,educational,etc...your videos are great..and the sweetness between u and wife and kids that's so inspiring.great people..
Thanks for sharing that information and your perspective. Good insights.
Thanks for this great video! I found it really encouraging and inspiring. Been batting around the idea of starting something ourselves, and this helped me clarify to my thinking on that. Really appreciate it and love your channel. God Bless you guys!
Glad it was a help.
Thank you for all your hard work. I love watching your videos! keep them coming!
I have wanted to start a channel for a very long time, I do think I have something to offer. One reason I haven't is the fact that I don't think I have time to devote to quality videos, but most especially what stops me is the possibility that no one will watch! Your family does great videos, I especially love your channel because your family looks so similar to mine. I don't know how y'all get it all done! You do so much better than I would, I'm afraid.
You guys rock. Making videos is a tremendous amount of work! Thanks for sharing your experience
Thanks for the great information you shared on this video. I've been doing videos for about 2 good years now and I remember getting to the point of having to decide "what am I doing here?" I would like to make a living income, and I don't want to waste my time. So I decided that I would have go out of my comfort zone and speak out loud and show my face on camera so that folks feel like they are connecting to me. And I just candidly show and talk to them about what I know. I'm putting the work in and I am patiently awaiting the pay-off. When RUclips starts to pay me I'll be glad but I'm not going to get anxious about when that will be. Meanwhile I'm just enjoying the journey which is what I was doing anyway!
Thanks for the info.I had my channel made for a while but just recently started adding content.My channel is about things i and my brother do together or other stuff such as my back yard garden.I dont mind the hours i put into a video and editing because i know its something positive and i like to to do.But so far i have made 4 cents BUT hey i just started!
I thoroughly enjoyed this episode.. i have been wracking my brains trying to think of things to do that might help me keep a homestead going ( if i ever find a place that i would love to call home). I like to bake and create, so i'd thought of the cottage food industry, sewing, quilting, embroidery, a vegetable market stand, sell herbs, eggs, WHATEVER... i had NOT thought of youtube... i did not feel that i knew enough to be instructive or interesting... hmmmmm ... another cog in the wheel now..
Fantastic vlog! I always wondered about the process. Thx.
so happy to hear the violin again. I love the hodgepodge of video topics and it makes me excited to wait for tomorrows show! :-)
Glad this is working for you. We like the variety too.
That was a very true, fair assessment of what it takes to make a serious go of it on RUclips. It really is amazing how much time each week it has taken us, for example, to get up to a mere $1.00 or two per video. But Art, you said it well, that ANY start-up business would go through the same unpaid (intern-type) stage.
We've enjoyed doing it, and it's fun to know that in a year or so it might be able to take some of the pressure off of my need to make money with my other job.
(We're just lucky we don't have a house payment...I admire those who are doing the same things as we are, and perhaps especially at this early nearly-unpaid stage, with a full-time "normal" job and a house payment).
Thanks for the encouragement. :) -Trent
Thanks Trent.
Enjoying your channel as well Art and Homesteading
Been wanting to do this for many years. I just need to commit. thank you for the push in the right direction. I have never seen anyone be as honest as you with regard to revenue from RUclips. I am going to look for calculators to see what kind of monetization I can realize. I really appreciate you and Bri and the kids. May God bless you and keep you and cause his face to shine upon you and Grant you peace.
Thanks much. We think that the story of what we are doing on youtube is probably as interesting to folks as the homesteading story. It is really one story.
I started one recently. I don't really have any subscribers yet, but it's fun making the videos. It'll get there eventually.
Thanks for this great video! I found it really encouraging and inspiring. Really appreciate it and love your channel. God Bless you guys!
Wow! Love the videos bud! Already started a channel for my family as we work on a homestead/ intentional community. Sometimes it gets discouraging how much work goes into making videos, with very little results in the beginning. Thank you for helping those of us looking to make this our day job. Keep it up! **Thrice
sooo awesome, I will definitely consider this some day when we settle down
Arthur, thank you so very much for your wisdom regarding starting a UTube channel. I'm considering doing the same, but am not sure I have enough stories to share. Also I have no experience with shooting or editing videos. Your words have encouraged me, and who knows, maybe some day soon there will be a channel on "Kate's Kitchen". Thanks again.
i love to see your video's also the telling of homesteading enjoy's me tumb's up art & bri and kids
Thank you for being honest. Most youtubers try to hide this info.
ABC, NBC, CBS or YOU.
YOU WIN. And the ones with your children.
You and your children are building recorded memories.
It's amazing how much you've grown since making this video!!! Wow!
Thanks art for your inspiration. I have been wanting to do this for awhile especially since my kids have their own channels. Small ones but they love to add videos and have asked for cameras/ phones for their birthdays. So, I showed my hubby your video this morning, I suggested that the kids go down to the shop with him and video his automotive fixes. I was thinking that might get a lot of hits but I wanted to do our homesteading stuff too. Wondering how to incorporate both or if we should. I mean people who fix vehicles may not be interested in our homestead and it's a small town and I'm not sure I want everyone knowing all our business. However, I would love to show people our very slow process of building our own log cabin. What do you think? How could I do this? Oh, I also would like to know what kind of computer system you use to edit and how to add your Amazon or other things. Maybe a tutorial of your editing one of these days. I'm sure we would all be interested in that one. I'm putting this one in my favorites "art and bri" file. Yes, I had to create one just for you guys. LoL
So I have to tell you guys this, which I think is the coolest coincidental sparking of a persons interest. I actually started watching your channel before Justin Rhodes. Something in your videos led me to his. But the familiarity of your channel sparked my interest. The surrounding of your place, the mountains, barns, trees etc. sparked my curiosity. I just thought it looked like my grandparents place as I was growing up. The weird thing is you could have been them in their youth, working their farm and raising kids. The similarity was astounding, you even looked similar to my granddad in his youth and Bri looked like my grandmother. I am also capsulated by your stories which keeps it real. I watched your videos forever before I had an epiphany. You actually live in my area! So that just made it all come together as to why I love you guys. Anyway, enough stalking. Keep putting it out there and I'll keep watching. I am thinking of starting my own channel which is why I was revisiting this one of yours.
awesome thanks for the tips! we have been thinking g of doing more than one video a week. How do you store your footage? Recommendations on camera cards? size of cards, multiple cards? seems we always fill ours up. Do you do better with ads or Amazon affiliate links? Thanks for all your videos, we really enjoy them!!
We use a large external hard drive. I think our camera cards are 32. Rarely do we fill them, but only have on day at a time on the camera. Ads do much more than affiliate links. We could push affiliate links more but don't want to make our videos about selling.
Its great to have many sources of income. A few not connected to computers. Love your channel & taking notes. I found you by chance. Practicing skills so I'll be ready when I get back to Homesteading.
Agreed. RUclips is not even close to our main source of income. Art works full time and we hope to bring in other sources from our homestead. We are also looking into other avenues of work form home income.
Yes, Justin did promote you, but your videos turned out to be GREAT!
Great video, Art!! I'd like to add that it's important to diversify your income streams (you kinda touched on that, but not in so many words). I know people who have had Google/RUclips block their videos recently. Use your video channel to kickstart other income streams, such as sponsorship, product reviews, ebooks, speaking engagements, online training courses, etc. Run those from your website, which is the only thing you truly own, and which won't suddenly go away!!
We have been doing a lot of reading on the very things you are speaking of. I don't think Art plans on quitting his job, at least not for RUclips. We have so many farming/homesteading dreams that he would only quit his job for those or some other amazing business opportunity.
kudos for keeping it real with people like you said any business someone starts on their own will cost you especially in the beginning either time and or money. If most people have have a choice they would rather have more choice in what kind of programming they watch and as a consumer what kind of products/services they choose to support. I for one like the opportunity to support ie "small businesses " of my choosing. If someone doesn't agree with how you choose to help supplement or support your family they don't have to watch. Simple as that consumer choice. So any naysayers you have the choice, don't support what you don't care about but for those of us who do like these types of vlog/businesses we will continue to do so.
Thank you for such an encouraging ( to us ) comment.
love your cap...my hubby works for John deere.
Much success to you and your family. Your content is quality, and how you raise your family is hopeful! Lord bless.
Great inside view Art. Gives us some ideas...
Oh my gosh great video, thank you so much for the pep talk. I'm new to this RUclips thing, about 1 month give or take. I've noticed some of the smaller channels spike when they have a backer (you or Justin) it's awesome and I hope one day to get a chance to have you guys promote me as well. I'm all stirred up now and going to continue to work hard for my goal. Which is to grow this channel so my husband can quit working so many hours. Thanks again!!
Your video today was very interesting. It got me thinking. When you added the chickens your video's got quite exciting. When you added the goats It got even more interesting. Your channel and Justins are the first channels i watch every day. May I suggest Bee keeping. Its something that gives you an unlimited source of topics to choose from. How to start bee keeping,Making honey, making candles and so on. Plus Bee' s are in serious danger of becoming obsolete. Of course it is just an idea. Good luck.
We would love to but don't feel like this the summer. I grew up raising bees and know they take as much if not more attention than a large animal and we just don't feel like we can give them the focus that we would want to yet. Really really want to. Might make it happen. Will see. -Art
Good information. Thanks for sharing.
Well, we're up to $1.87 in our estimated revenue and 33 subscribers! We can only manage to do 1 video a week - if we're lucky, we'll do 2. We're doing many different kinds of videos too. DIY stuff, chicken/turkey stuff, metal work stuff, soon we'll be doing gardening stuff (once it decides to quit snowing).
I'd love to be able to quit our jobs and homestead full time - that is the most ultimate dream of ours, but I have a hard time relying on the fact that RUclips will be a sustainable income. Plus it doesn't offer insurance, retirement and a continual paycheck. Yes I'd love to make money doing this, but we are doing this just for the pure joy of doing it and documenting our time here. I kind of think of RUclips like MySpace..... totally awesome at the time, but eventually faded out. I'm hoping that doesn't happen, we love RUclips and watch it more than we do movies or TV, but there is always something new that comes along.
We did have a question for you guys though, do you work outside of the home? And if you do, what do you do? We love watching your channel. We either learn how to do things, or have fun watching. Keep doing what you're doing. You're a great resource to many of us :)
Arthur works full time as an RN. I stay home and take care of things and homeschool. Thanks for watching! I look forward to checking out your channel.
Neat. My hubby works 70-80 hrs a week as a Paramedic and I work full time in the tech dept at our school district. Sure wish I could stay home and take care of things... Should would be easier than cramming it into a few hours ever night or just on the weekends :)
Arthur used to work those kinds of hours. Our RUclips channel is what has made it possible for him to cut back to just regular full time hours at his job. It is a true gift for me to be able to stay home.
that is very encouraging!
My kids and I have started our homestead in our yard and are working towards buying a farm. We have been vlogging our journey on RUclips as well and I'm wondering what you think about having a homestead on a small piece of land to start out? Do you believe it is possible to be successful with vlogging? I am telling our story and plan to document our journey through finding our farm and moving, as well as continuing to homestead. I believe that this journey is interesting and sort of a step by step. What advice would you give while we are going through our adventure?
I do believe it is possible to be successful in vlogging but not without a lot of work. It's kind of like growing any other "business." You wouldn't expect a restaurant or a farm to take off without a lot of work in making a product and promoting it. Fortunately youtube is a great tool for free promotion. Unfortunately it is a complex tool and it is sometimes hard to understand why one person is successful and another is not. I peaked at your channel and one small suggestion (not sure if you wanted this level of critical detail) is to film your videos in a horizontal format. I think working on a phone is great (swedish homestead grew to 50k+ subs without a camera) but if you use a horizontal format and a tripod for some shots, nobody will even know. Good luck.
ART and BRI thank you for the feedback. I am no stranger to hard work and homesteading is something I've wanted to do since I can remember. I owned a shop that I just recently closed because I was completely burned out (do what makes you happy...right??) so I understand the amount of work and dedication it takes to start and keep a business. Your response gives me hope because I'm already on that same page. As far as the filming goes, if I turn my phone horizontally to film, it automatically flips back once you try to watch it. I'm sure there's a way to fix that but honestly, I don't like vlogging with my phone. It's hard to hold on to and trying to get ground shots are almost impossible unless you want to get dirt all over it so I ordered a camera and tripod. I'm pretty excited about this because it's also very difficult to edit with my phone and that's one area that I'm really wanting to fix. Thank you again for your feedback and the kids and I will continue to watch your family's great story 😊
So the question is how much are u able to make a week or month or soo far since starting with 16k followers and an average of 7k/8k views per video?
The question isn't answered very often because it fluctuates so much and the subscriber count doesn't reflect an exact amount of income. And even though you see so many views per video, it depends on whether the viewer interacts with the ad. Interaction can be anything from the amount of time spent watching to clicking through to purchasing after clicking through. So definitely not a $?? per hour job. 😊
It changes every day, every week and every month. Sometimes it goes up and sometimes down. If you only count us filming and editing videos then we make around 8/hr on our highest paying month. If you add in answering messages, emails, facebook and all of the tech stuff then it would be significantly less.
As I understand it , its about ads I'm not sure if views matter except that You Tube will give you ads based on views? Is that right? Whats more valuable watching 1 ad or skipping the ad and watch the video 4 times?
THANK YOU for this helpful info!! We are starting a channel and I'm so nervous 😅
Great info, thanks Art 👍🏻
Thanks for the information will be following suit soon on my own launch. Great channel
Thanks Art! This has given me so much inspiration. Would you also say that you shouldn't got to commercials until you actually have the thousands of viewers? I think that may have been what Justin said, so I have kept the ads off for now.
very interesting enjoyed this a lot.
Well doneArt!. This was an honest synopsis of what it takes to succeed. Your choice of doing your chores while you told about how-to and the value of creating a VLOG was very entertaining and very helpful to us. We are in day 35 of a daily VLOG. We were initially inspired by Justin Rhodes and your success helped encourage us. I too am a nurse looking to walk away from my job. Our focus is helping people with "Processed Food Disease" (Diabetes 2) through growing their own food, eating real food, and 5 other degrees of change. We invite you to take a look at what we are doing and tell us your opinion and give us your feedback. Let us know and we will provide you the link. Have a beautiful day.
Art, I posted from my own channel not my channel where our VLOG is located. Sorry for the confusion.
for me, I found YOUR channel and started watching justins channel from your promotion of them! LOL....some of your first vids were subjects I was needing answers for, I felt it was destriny =)
I wanted to build up my subscriber base a bit before turning on monetization, would you have a suggestion as to when to turn on monetization? 50 subs, 100 subs, if a particular video starts taking off? I have a video that is actually a recording of a speaker at a bee conference that is getting about 40-50 hits a day right now... not one of my regular videos, but a great speaker who gave the go ahead to record and upload his talk. Should I turn it on yet?
I think it is fine to monetize from the beginning. People expect there to be adds on RUclips and you never know when one of your videos will get popular.
I subscribed, because all through this beautiful video, I was back on the farm. All the sounds of making the rounds on the property. Motivational information. Thank you! My question is what do you use to film your videos with. Very clear and very good sound...
Canon G7X Mark II. This is a high end point and shoot camera. Easy to use and light.
Good channel, been watching for a few months... All the best. Greetings from Sweden
Hello.
We just recently started vlogging. We have enjoyed learning from so many great families on RUclips that we wanted to give back as well. I don't know if it will ever provide any income, but we have really been enjoying it and are always thinking "oh we should share that on RUclips! If it is this time consuming for us to figure out, we could save others a lot of time by sharing our experience".
Great philosophy.
my opinion: I like what you said about telling a story, that's so true. It is also about being informative, or funny or likable, basically entertainment/ education. You said you put out 6 videos, and that's great if you have content, but a lot of people don't. As the weather warms, I will watch a lot less videos so if someone is coasting, or stretching out or repeating , there's no new content, no entertainment ,nor education, I'm going to watch someone else. There's a ton of competition, if I have 1 hour to watch videos, I can only watch 2 or 3 , I now understand why people get mad at long videos. lol. I have maybe 50 people Id like to watch but I don't have 25 hours a day to watch 50, 30 min videos, even at 2 videos a week that's 100 videos, then theres stuff like movies, music, Pinterest... I asked a You Tuber a question, that had apparently been asked and answered before in the comments(never in a video), his reply implied that he and other RUclipsrs get upset with people who didn't read the comments. I promptly unsubscribed after I left a message stating I had just watched 2 months of his 45 min videos which did not contain the information, how could he expect us to spend 2 hours more on every video, reading his thousands of comments in the hopes that someone else also asked it?
So if people aren't going to give " quality" videos as you put it, don't do it. Also, you guys are pleasant, you always say thank you, which isn't necessary but I think is so sweet, you appreciate your viewers and we appreciate the content.
great video, good content. I am getting started and want to do informative videos, but not sure about my video presentation, I don't even like my pic taking. any advise on getting over stage fright? thanks.
What type of camera and editing program do you use? We live in South Florida where we have no dirt (all sand) and bought 2.7 acres that was not cleared. We have our property mostly cleared now and need to work on the garden (trying back to eden), fencing, chickens and goats. We have tons of projects to get done! All our family lives up north and I always send them videos of our progress. My mom keeps telling me I need to start a RUclips channel but I am hesitant. Some people are just so mean and I’m not sure I want to deal with that part of it. But I feel like we could have such different content because we live in such a different climate where it never freezes and we can grow some really cool tropical fruit trees! We have different challenges because of where we live and I haven’t found any other channels that talk about these challenges. They may be out there but I haven’t found them. Anyway, thank you guys for being awesome!
The camera is a canon g7x mark II. We edit on adobe premier pro. Any editing program will do however - some you just buy outright - you pay monthly for adobe. Good luck on your homesteading. Let us know if you start a youtube channel.
ART and BRI thank you guys for responding! My daughter will be so excited when I tell her. She’s 3 years old and loves watching your kids (I mean children but she does like the goats also 😂). She doesn’t quite understand that we don’t actually know you guys. Haha I think she thinks we’re FaceTiming when I watch your videos.
Great interesting video.
Good video explaining the pros and the cons.
Thank you.
I mentioned before, your family and Justin's family inspired me. I started a channel about a month ago. I am wondering how you do the amazon links and the Patrion stuff. I'll keep reading below. Perhaps someone else already asked the same questions?? Thanks! Stephanie :)
Yes, I was wondering that myself.
+Parsley Farm You need to have an Amazon affiliate link thru Amazon's affiliate program: affiliate-program.amazon.com/ Once you join (it's free to join), you'll have an aff. link that you can share with others. When they click that link, you'll get a percentage paid out by Amazon.
I can't answer for Patreon as I'm not familiar with how that works.
Thanks for the info!! I appreciate that :)
Parsley Farm - Patreon is super simple. You just go to their website and set you your page. The website takes you through it step by step.
ART and BRI Great, thanks!! :)
Good job Art!
Art,
Curious as to how YT handles things like RUclips Red? I pay for Google Music, which includes RUclips Red. This means that I don't see ad's on ANY video, without an ad-blocker. Does RUclips then pay you directly (as opposed to getting paid via ad revenue) for the views coming from people with RUclips Red?
I don't understand the percentages, but we do get a tiny portion of RUclips Red income.
Great video Art. You hit it right in the head. It is a lot of work but I believe it will pay off in the long run too. You guys are doing great. Keep the great content coming! Did you get our email?
We did! I responded. I hope you got it. We are having issues with email right now so it is taking a lot longer for us to respond. We WILL get back to you. LOVE your channel.
I didn't haven't got an email back yet. :( Thanks. I will keep my eye out for it.
All I said in the email is : We are having problems with our email right now. We will get back to you very soon about what you talked about in the email.
AWESOME! Sorry to hear about your email issues. That can be such a PAIN!
RUclips used to be the bee's knees not so more as of late from what I'm hearing. I've already had to upload a new a forum called vidme due to the growing censorship RUclips is forcing on to creators with the threat of losing their funding through monetization. I know you guys are probably pretty safe due to the fact you do not have controversial subjects matter or right leaning narratives throughout your programming along with no foul language. I pray everything stays hunky-dory for you while using this Outlet
what was your key to getting subscribers, getting those views and to get people to share your channel? we have no problem investing the time and work but are unsure how to get those numbers up
Thanks Art for this information. :)
How has the new RUclips system and demonetization effected you folks?
I really want to start my own channel addressing permaculture and how to live regeneratively and pass that along to others so that we can begin to heal this earth of carbon sequestration , desertification , etc but with humor and easy to understand instructions what I could use counsel with is actually the123 of it and editing ?? Would love any advice . Thanks!!!
Kristy, sound like a great channel. My advice here is to look to others. There are a lot of channels that specialize in that kind of stuff and while we might do occasional videos on youtube and video making, we would lose a lot of people if we did too many. There are so many great channels and podcasts on how to start and grow a youtube channel. We learned editing from watching videos carefully. You can find tutorials for any editing program on youtube. Good luck!
Iam just afraid to start one don't know where to begin camera shy to ..
It is really quite strange talking to the camera. One thing I found that helped me when I started recording was to think of the camera as my son or one of my friends that I was trying to explain something to. If you do that it helps get over the awkwardness. I will say though, that it is still awkward for me in some situations, especially when there are people around who are kind of freaked out by it. Your friends and family WILL think you are crazy running around talking to a camera, but you have to just ignore them and keep your end goal in mind.
Hi there! My husband and I are considering a consistent you tube channel but we only have our iPhones and a bulky cannon dslr camera. Do you think that would be sufficient to get started? Did y'all take the editing course or just wing it?! Thanks so much for offering your help and in put!!
There are a lot of channels that use only their iphones, so it is probably just fine. We did not take an editing course, but just learned starting on day one. Of course that edit took 10 or more hours to complete since we only knew how to use one tool! ha!