Making it big on YouTube

When YouTube started back in 2007 not many believed it could be the path to fame and fortune. Now, with some of the biggest vloggers earning millions, Daisay Johnson finds out how to make a name for yourself on YouTube.

As a 16-year-old, I watched hours of YouTube after school and soon decided to give the world of vlogging a go. After all, how hard could it be? 

My efforts were fairly successful – my YouTube account generated thousands of views but after a couple of videos I gave up. Vlogging is tricker than it looks. 

Daisay Johnson on making it big on YouTube – “It’s harder than it looks”

Finding YouTube success is much more than filming a couple of videos and waiting for the money to roll in. The key is creating high-quality, entertaining videos that viewers can relate to, but the hard-work is building a significant fan base through collaboration with other YouTubers, regular video uploads and constant promotion on social media. It can take months, even years to start getting significant views and only then will YouTube contact you about making money on your videos.    

The first person from the UK to make it big on YouTube was the charming and equally nerdy Bath-based Charlie McDonnell. As CharlieIsSoCoolLike he started vlogging in 2007, and four years later hit one million subscribers. 

His success and the likes of Zoella and Joe Suggs have inspired a generation of wannabe vloggers. According to a recent survey by money-saving website Voucher Codes, the average 18- to 25-year-old thinks vlogging is the top career choice in the UK, believing that bloggers and vloggers don’t have to do much work to get paid handsomely.    

So what is the secret to YouTube success and how do some of Bristol’s best vloggers do it?

Emily Fisher, 29, vlogger for two years 

YouTube channel: EmilyFisheeDesigns

36,191 subscribers, more than two million video views

Themes: Beauty and makeup

“I had already been blogging so vlogging and Youtube just seemed like the natural progression from there. 

“It’s generally just things that I’m interested in. Everything that I put out is a reflection of my own personality, and it’s just things that I love.

“People just feel like they know you, and like they’re friends and part of your world. It’s a way to get even closer to people that inspire you, I suppose.  

“It’s definitely been a learning curve…I think the first video I uploaded, was done on my iPhone 4. I earn a little bit from YouTube but until I’m earning big money, I don’t want to invest too much in equipment. 

“Nobody in this industry knows where blogging and YouTubing is going to go. I guess the market will change, people who are watching the videos will change, and I’m not sure where the cut-off point is.”

Levanna Mclean, 19 has been vlogging for two years   

YouTube channel: IfThisIsLev

12,139 subscribers, more than four million video views 

Themes: Dancing in public, Northern Soul music

“It wasn’t intentional. I started dancing in the middle of the street because I was happy, I was on holiday and my mum started filming me. We put the video onto YouTube. It didn’t do as well as my videos are doing now, but when you first upload a video and it gets 30,000 views, you think ‘wow, I’ve made it’.

“A lot of people don’t see it as a valid career. People assume think that I don’t put much effort into my videos and just automatically get views. With my videos, we’ve got to find the right location, the right song, so much goes into it. It’s almost like a full-time job. You always have to work at it, and if you don’t then you’re kind of letting all the people down who watch your videos.

“I express myself and have fun by doing this, I love being creative. The songs I’ve been using are from artists whose music was getting chucked to the back of radio stations and have been dusty for almost 50 years, but now suddenly, they’re getting played. They’re getting the recognition that they deserve.

“I got to dance at Brits with Pharell Williams, and I also did an advert for the Move On Up compilation album, which got my videos lots more attention and now here I am with my own compilation album.

“I’ll carry on as long as it takes me to run out of ideas, which I don’t think will ever happen. The more I do it, the more commitment it takes, and the more opportunities I get. So, I don’t think I’ll be stopping anytime soon, I’ll always come back with another video as soon as I can.”

Jasmine Starler, 20, and Gaby Starler, 22

YouTube channel: JasmineStarler and FairyNecessary

37,222 subscribers, more than 10 million video views  

Themes: Loom bands, world food taste tests

Jasmine: “My first video was the worst video I’ve ever done, because I was so quiet and so nervous to just look in that camera. But now, I can just vlog out in public, it doesn’t matter how many people are around me, I’ll just do it.”

Gaby: “I don’t post videos regularly, I probably should but I do videos when I have the opportunity to. I’m normally in Jasmine’s videos because when we do things together, we put it on her channel because she’s got more followers. Besides, I am usually recording her and doing behind-the-scenes stuff for her videos. There’s a Christmas tree video that’s coming up, where I’ve got a Christmas tree outfit and I’m going to go to Cabot Circus and start dancing in public.”

Jasmine: “Sitting and doing the editing can take from two hours to two weeks, depending on what the videos are. We use special lights, and filming it takes a long time, but editing them takes longer. Plus, uploading the videos takes far too long.

“I like to vlog when we go somewhere or something major happens and if I want to film, I’ll just do it. I want my videos to inspire people.” 

Gaby: “I’ve been doing comedy-style videos. I make videos to make people laugh. I was bullied quite a lot in school for really small things like wearing glasses and having short hair, but now I’m not in school anymore, it’s been a breather to not be judged, and inspire people to just be themselves and not care what others think of them.”