The First Step to Success

 

These videopreneurs have gained fame, fortune and influence with clever ideas, video cameras and YouTube accounts. The earning potential in the YouTube universe is truly astounding, and it has only just begun to emerge as a viable channel through which respected media makers can earn a living. There’s no reason to believe that the potential for producers to generate revenue through YouTube is anywhere near its limit. As traditional broadcast and cable television networks struggle to retain viewers and the ad dollars that go with them, and as content consumers continue to prefer to watch media online and on-demand, the business of television is a-changin’. You no longer need to work for a network to have an audience. You no longer need the backing of a studio to find fame. Today, anyone can be a broadcaster. Riches, renown and respect can all be gained by any enterprising individual who has the gumption to farm this fertile frontier of digital media distribution. 

Today, anyone can be a broadcaster.

That does not mean making it big as a YouTube sensation is easy. There’s much more to garnering success than having a chance caught-on-tape type video going viral. The most successful stars of YouTube work hard to build channels for their serial programs. Many produce daily episodes to continually capture and recapture the attention of their audience. The goal is to attract and grow a large loyal following of subscribers. It is this amassing of eyeballs that draws the attention of advertisers, which manifests itself as income — in some cases, ridiculously high income.

Who knows; fame and fortune may be waiting for you in the world of YouTube. All you need to claim it is a creative idea, a special talent, a knack for entertaining or a compelling story to tell — and the video production prowess needed to capture and share it. The first step on the road to becoming a successful YouTube star is to create a channel and start posting content to YouTube. I can’t help but think that numerous would-be YouTube sensations are sitting on the sidelines, waiting for the perfect time to begin, and ultimately never start. It is always easier to make excuses than it is to make progress. The secret is to simply begin. As the famed proverb by the ancient Chinese philosopher, Lau Tzu, famously says, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” For many of us, the first step is the hardest. Perhaps it is time for you to take yours.

Matthew York is Videomaker's Publisher/Editor.