2 Years on YouTube: See My Earnings, Stats & Why I Really Create Videos

So if you're reading this blog post, there's a good chance that you've invested in SEO to drive better organic rankings and more organic traffic to your website. SEO is evolving, and if you're not starting to incorporate video into your strategy, you might find your traffic decreasing. And getting it back could be really tough.

Why?

The search page is noisy. It now has AI overviews, featured snippets, local SEO listings, ads taking up the whole page, and a lot more. Video is a crucial differentiator, and the best part is, you don’t need to be an expert to get great results. Today, I’ll take you behind the curtain of my YouTube studio. Plus, I’ll share three lessons I’ve learned in the past two years that I wish I had known when I started.

AI Overview Example in Search

A Peek Into My YouTube Studio

Alright, let's dive in. Here’s a look at my exact stats and experiences of managing my YouTube channel for the past couple of years.

YouTube Studio Basics

If you're new to YouTube, YouTube Studio is your command center. It's where you upload videos, edit titles and descriptions, and monitor your video stats. Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll find:

• Dashboard: Latest uploads, subscriber count, top-performing videos.

• Analytics: Deep dive into views, watch time, subscribers, and revenue.

Here's a snapshot of the main analytics screen (at the time of the video recording). Over the past 28 days, this channel has received:

• Views: 11,661

• Watch Time: 520 hours

• Subscribers: 176

• Revenue: $168.69

Monetization Insights

For those who are curious about the money side of YouTube, here’s what you should know:

• Your Industry Matters: The revenue per view is drastically different depending on the industry you are in. For example, if you create ‘business marketing’ videos, your revenue per view will be a lot more than YouTubers in industries like video games, exercise, etc.

• Monetization Requirements: You need 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours over the past 12 months to monetize your channel with ads. 

My YouTube Journey

Let's break down my video creation journey to give you a sense of progression. I began serious video creation in June 2022, and the growth has been slow and steady.

Consistency is Key

From the beginning, consistency has been essential. For the past year, I’ve committed to releasing one video per week. Even on holidays, I make sure to stick to my schedule. This helps me keep the channel active and gain loyal watchers.

Leveraging Email Lists

I always plug a free gifts in my videos to my watchers, like my 7-day Online Marketing Jumpstart Doc. This strategy captures email addresses, building a cycle of constant content delivery and audience engagement. Every new video goes out to an email list of thousands of small businesses, which gives me a boost in views in the first 24 hours post-upload (this is huge!).

Lessons Learned from Two Years on YouTube

1. Commitment to Consistency

When I started, I thought their would be more viral hits. But in niche markets like online marketing and SEO, viral videos are extremely rare. Subscribers and views grow through steady, reliable content.

• Consistent Uploads: Determine a feasible frequency and stick to it (weekly, bi-weekly, etc.).

• Email Marketing: Utilize lead magnets or offers to build an email list. Regularly share new content with this list to boost initial views.

2. Realistic Revenue Expectations

Ad revenue from YouTube videos is not my primary income source. For me, YouTube drives leads to my online marketing coaching business, not direct earnings from ads. Focus on providing valuable content to convert viewers into customers and/or email subscribers.

3. Repurposing Content

Repurposing content maximizes its value. As of now, YouTube has long-form videos and Shorts. Leveraging both can massively expand your reach. (this is in addition to leveraging your videos across social media platforms like TikTok)

Here's how I repurpose my content:

• Video Tap: This tool simplifies repurposing by creating transcripts, blog posts, social media clips, and more from your original video. (this is currently one of my favorite tools)

• Create Multiple Formats: Transform one long video into:

  • Blog Posts

  • YouTube Shorts

  • TikTok and Instagram videos

  • X/Twitter Posts

  • Etc.

Creating a blog post from a video enhances SEO traffic. Here's a brief process:

1. Upload or Link Your Video to Video Tap

2. Generate Automatic Transcripts and Blog Posts

3. Edit and Customize Content

4. Publish on Your Blog

Summary

SEO is evolving with AI-driven changes, and incorporating video is no longer optional—it's crucial. Here’s a recap if you want to see success through video:

1. Consistency is Key: Regular uploads help build a loyal audience.

2. Realistic Revenue Expectations: YouTube is a great source for leads but not a primary revenue driver.

3. Repurposing Content: Maximize your content's reach by repurposing it for other platforms.