FOLLOW THE MONEY$$$

This wisdom is universally applied, from financiers to criminal investigators. The video content space is no exception. If you make content or distribute it, look out because the money is moving!

Broadband (AKA Internet TV) has taken cable for the title. Broadband is now the top revenue driver. The cash cow for all the major players. What does this mean for you and me? Well, competing in the streaming market will become more challenging. Entering the market now has benefits that will never come again. In other words…

The time is now!

Unlike anytime before, those channels that capitalize on Internet TV platforms like Roku & Fire TV are leading. We watched the fall come. Last July, we saw Variety put the writing on the wall in permanent marker. The sum of that article? The next five years spell a complete polar shift.

Mark Zuckerberg knew how important it was to get to the marketplace first, do you?

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We have finally seen broadband beat out cable, if not completely, basically, at least. A few conglomerates remain fighting the cable fight (I’m looking at you Comcast). And it makes sense. Some money is still in the cable market. But the cold hard truth of it all is that the value of cable will consistently transition into Internet TV and their streaming platforms.

Look at the chart here from Variety:

Compare that with the Nasdaq report on heavy cord-cutting. We see an estimated 31.2 million households cut the cable last year. This puts the total U.S. cable customers well below the user base on either Roku or Fire TV. The latter two are leading Internet television platforms. Mind you, Apple TV and Android TV are not far behind.

Of course, we have known viewership was already greater with these streaming platforms.

But more viewers do not immediately equal more money. Many streaming services are priced considerably lower than cable. A part of the price difference is “justified” by the sheer quantity of channels cable provides. A justification that does not hold up. We have learned quantity does not equal quality.

Here is a quote from former DirectTV/AT&T Audience Network programming chief Chris Long:

“At some point, people will make the decision that I can get everything I want [in streaming]. I no longer need to have 180 channels that I only watch 12 of.”

That ‘point’ Chris Long speaks of is being reached. What was a prophetic vision is quickly being written in history books today. According to a new Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults, cable/satellite viewership has dropped 30% since 2015. That is, in 2015, 76% of adult Americans watched cable or satellite television. Now it is barely over half of that population at 56%. It is not going to get better for cable.

This is the endgame for cable and satellite. The thing is, it’s not leaving a vacuum, like some industries. The cable lifeblood is being sucked out of them by broadband streaming services like Roku and Fire TV. And do not get me wrong, this is great for us consumers. For too long has the monopolies reigned.

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So why is this so important now?

The difference now is that the majority of the cash flow is now on the streaming side. Remember, follow the money. Giants are not easily displaced. The conglomerates are actively taking up positions on the very streaming platforms that have wounded them. Forbes has an article that lays out their resilience amidst this polar shift.

A quick look at history:

We can see many examples given in past technology. Radio was open source before the networks moved in. Television quickly became monopolized following its invention. Cable had scaffolding in place to only allow for an insider buddy system. Even the freest technology we have recently known, the Internet, has been a target by giant corporations. Those who move now will be the only ones to have this early advantage. And what an incredible advantage it is. We will not see it again.

This is incredible news for independent channels. The playing field has been leveled, as much as can be, for our benefit. Many independent channels are positioning themselves now. By doing so, their visibility will be much stronger at the end of this shift. An excellent example is Pewdiepie. Say what you will about his current events. My point will still stand. He was one of the first to capture a specific niche on the YouTube platform. Which niche? Videos of him playing video games. Crazy right. It is so ingrained in culture now that we almost forget someone had to start it.

This is part of the beauty of an open platform like Roku or Fire TV.

Granted, even the big guys can enter the playing field. And are, but if your there first, it will not matter. Do you know how many people are making videos of them playing video games? You can not count them. Did some people enter after and make it worth their while? Yes, but few have been able to compete with whoever got there first.

Now is the time to get started…if you have not already.

This beautiful period in video content creator history is similar to a flower. We are blooming. Right now. Don’t wait. One day(hopefully years upon years later) this too will fade.

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A common concern.

The great news is there is some optimization you can do. Allow me to be upfront with you. Your answer is specific to you and your channel. There is no universal magic number. Just your magic number, and we are going to look for it in this post.

Why is this important?

If you do not know, you might not be ready to answer the question How often do I post? There is a high-level evaluation required to maximize your channel presence.

You will need a decent understanding of your niche. Your audience and your marketing plan. Your business as a whole. Profit, Non-profit, it does not matter. The principles are the same.

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Suppose you have this down.

Now you are ready to optimize. So, why should you know how often to post? Because you want to ensure you are meeting audience expectations. You want to ensure you are running at maximum efficiency. So you plan your release schedule.

So how much content do you need to provide? To answer that question, we first need to do some evaluation of your channel.

Allow me to put two prerequisites before you.

Consider these first when planning a posting schedule. Make sure these two things are taken care of before you commit to any release.

Quality and consistency.

These are your laws. You should always ensure they are satisfied before considering anything else. Quality. And. Consistency.

A caveat to this is if the content is time-sensitive. As s case in point, consider a breaking news report. The reporter bringing this immediate info might not have had time for makeup or a wardrobe change. In this example, an exchange of quality for the immediacy of breaking news could take place.

If the content requires sacrifice or it will lose value, then that must be considered. Also, our scenario above is atypical and not a standard operating procedure. Please remember this.

The quality of your content is what you will stand on.

If it takes you three days to complete a quality video, do not commit to uploading daily videos. If you do, you will either produce lesser quality videos or break your consistency. Obviously, but what goes without saying is still likely to occur when not said.

Consistency is equally important.

You build loyal viewership on this principle. Consistency in the type of content. In the style in which you produce the content. And your release schedule. All build your credibility to be consistent. How upset would you be to find out your favorite TV show will be released, say, sometime between Monday and Friday each week. Would you check that channel often and randomly? No one has time for that.

Always be explicit and transparent with your audience. Tell the audience what you commit to, then keep that commitment to the very best of your ability. In future posts, we will be covering some tactics to help you keep these commitments while still handling life’s curveballs.

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With those two things understood, now evaluate the kind of content you provide.

If you are doing a Fix & Flip real estate show, that could take a while to produce. You might only be able to have seasonal programing on this style of content. And just so you know, a season does not need to be 20+ episodes anymore!

In this case, finish production before ever releasing an episode. This will prevent delays from being pushed into your release schedule. You will also need content to show in the meantime to fill your publishing commitment.

Do you plan on releasing the show weekly? Bi-weekly or monthly? Whenever it may be, you should have content to release according to your committed schedule.

The three-letter networks have seasons for exactly this reason. One program can take months to produce. To avoid a content blackout, they fill the schedule with different content according to how long a show takes to produce. Viewers become loyal because they know when their shows will be available and what’s on offer.

There is much to learn from the network approach to scheduling.

Don’t reinvent the wheel, just modify it.

If you run a cooking channel, daily releases might be within the realm of possibility. Why do I keep mention daily releasing? Because we hear it is a standard commonly used. The more often you release, the higher likelihood of success. Thanks, YouTube.

The truth is, this is not necessarily accurate. Netflix does not release new content daily. Almost daily. But that has not always the case. Of course, much of this is 3rd party too. If your audience is interested in your channel daily, but you can not produce daily content, you should be looking for 3rd party content.

I say “if” your audience is interested because it is quite possible to successfully run a channel that is only viewed once or twice a week by a loyal viewership. Some channels release new content even less frequently while maintaining a loyal fan base. But they follow the two prerequisites I mention above.

How is that possible?

Look, there is more content vying for our attention than ever before. Xbox, Netflix, Amazon, Play-station, mobile apps, YouTube, Tiktok… the list is long. You can not expect to displace these. Especially, at the beginning. If you consistently release quality content once a month, your audience will appreciate your effort. If they value it, they will return when you post next month.

So to answer the question “How often do I post new content?”

First, answer these:

• How long does it take me to make a quality episode?
• How often can I produce the content for each episode?
• Do I have access to 3rd party content to fill any gaps?
• How often can I use the 3rd party content I have, if any?
• Have I taken into account my other obligations?
• How often does my audience consume this type of content?
• Can I commit to my audience a specific number without breaking their confidence?

Now, after evaluating the above, you have the result. Look at whatever above requires the most time. Decide if any 3rd party content is available for you to release as well. The most content you could commit to is the length of time the longest part above takes divided by the number of 3rd party pieces provided to you. Committing to any more than this will likely reduce rather than add to your channel value.

Some of you see the economics of this intuitively but just needed to be assured. Others might find this approach novel. Either way, this is the truth of the matter. We want you to succeed in the long term. After all, your success is ours as well.

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Your how-to channel, documentary, news report, infomercial, and narrative all tell stories.

You need to realize this. Even if your channel is not narrative-based. Television is an audio/visual medium transmitting information. You should look at this information as a story. Transitioning to this mindset is the first tip on upping your production value.

It will change the way you approach every aspect of your process for the better. Read on to see how!

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Know what you’re saying, Script it.

To some, this could either sound obvious or a waste of time. I realize there are folks on both sides of the spectrum. That said, it can make all the difference between sounding/looking amateur or professional.

I implore you to write down what you want to say to your audience. You should look at your video as a story, no matter the length. You want to make sure it has a proper beginning, a perky middle, and a satisfying end.

In other words, a well-planned project will meet the goals you set. And it prevents meandering. Write an outline if you can not justify a full script. Just write it down.

Location/Wardrobe, Look and feel the part.

If filming a documentary on downtown homelessness, try not to dress it up. If filming practically anything else, you can not let it look like your filming a documentary on downtown homelessness. Make sure you look the part your playing on TV.

Pay attention to your set design as well. Adding a bit of interest in your background can add value for free. A plant. Art Poster. Whatever might be appropriate to the story your telling. A taxidermy duck on the wall would work on your hunting channel. Not so much on your vegan one. Be aware of what you put in the frame and make it visually interesting.

Audio, Make them feel what they see.

If you have never heard it before, I am pleased to inform you that sound is 50% of your video. No, that is not a typo. And, no, I did not say it first. That award goes to George Lucas.

If you had a choice of high-end video and low-end audio or vise versa, always go with vise versa. That is high-end audio and low-end video. Granted, going all out is best, but not realistic.

The point is, the most beautiful image will be destroyed with poor audio. Guaranteed. Watch a movie like Citizen Cane or 12 Angry men. You can not get a camera that shoots such a low-resolution today(not easily anyway). They are still a pleasure. Now watch a modern-day blockbuster without sound. I bet you will not finish it.

Wonderful news. High-quality sound can be achieved for a fraction of the price of a high-quality picture. I am talking anywhere from under $60-$200. And it counts for %50 of your finished product. Boost your audio before boosting your video.

Cover your bases, Multiple camera angles.

This is an easy way to boost any production value. It just requires a little thought. The easiest way to do this is to shoot with multiple cameras. That way, you can cut between different angles in one shot. But, if on a budget, you probably only have one camera. Even if you have more than one camera, I would still shoot every scene at least twice. Your editor will thank you. If you do your own editing, you will thank yourself.

The goal here is to create more interest in your final product. I use the word interest here in this post as a synonym for your production value. I do this because of how interrelated these concepts are. By cutting from one angle to another, you are re-stimulating the viewers’ minds. This technique is almost mandatory in this day and age. Thank you, MTV.

Make sure that the angles you are shooting from contrast each other. Moving the camera a foot or two is not going to work. If you only move the camera slightly, it will look jumpy when you edit the two angles together. Not cinematic. You should not jar the audience(unless you are doing horror) but stimulate them.

The angle should be at least 60 degrees different from the other camera angles without going beyond 180 degrees. If you go beyond that, when you edit between the angels, your subject will flip the direction they face on the screen. This will only confuse the audience. Here is more information on the subject matter.

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Basic PRO-duction checklist:

• Am I thinking of the story being told?
• Did I script or outline it?
• Does location/wardrobe represent the story?
• Is my audio the best I can make it?
• Do I give the viewers more than one angle to view the scene?

Stay tuned for more posts that build on this subject.

We realize that you are a professional and want your channel to properly represent that. When starting out, you’ll be hard-pressed to have a better foundation than presented here.

If it’s not your first rodeo, this should still be a checklist that gets all of its boxes checked. And I mean, every time. Your channel deserves the best it can be. This will always be based on your production value. Stay tuned for more to grow your PRO-duction checklist. We anticipate seeing you bring great things to the world!

Now you are ready to take your content to the next level!

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I’m going to make a bold statement…

The success of your channel will depend on how niche your content is.

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For those still unsure as to what niche content is, let me explain.

Niche content is centered around a theme. And it should be tight. A segment of a topic or genre. The more focused, the more niche. Generally, the more niche, the better. Of course, it is possible to be too niche.

Dedicating your channel content around the feeding habits of mealworms? That’s too niche. Remember that you will need to come out with new content every week or two at the minimum.

On the other hand, a channel on ‘everything mealworms’ could easily work. Even a channel on insects could still be niche enough.

Why would you do this?

Honestly, many people naturally do this. They are passionate about a specific subject and enjoy making content associated with it. Believe it or not, it’s rare for someone to have an interest they alone have. There will be like-minded viewers.

But having a niche limits your audience, right?

Well, of course. But we are starting with a pool of about 7 and 1/2 billion people. That global audience consumes about a billion hours of content daily on YouTube alone. If we counted all the streaming platforms and their hours, it would be astronomical.

Remember, if you are interested in a subject, likely so are numerous others.

So why does being niche equal success?

Because there are boatloads of channels. What will make yours different enough to be seen amidst the crowd? Your niche.

This will be what sets you apart, allowing other like-minded individuals to find you. Niche is what makes you unique.

This means you need to make sure the greatest portion of your content is focused on a theme. Do not just upload random videos and hope for the best.

Every video needs to have a purpose and be made with intent.

A single concept. Entertainment is not a theme. Your focus should be tighter than a genre such as comedy or drama. These are still too general. You need to focus on a topic, or subtopic, and style.

Lighthearted SFX films. Serious indy projects. Intense boxing coverage. Engaging painting tutorials. New pop music. Your topic should be steadfast but your style can swing a bit. That’s fine.

The point is for you to create a consistent experience. This assures your audience that they know what they’re getting. Doing this ensures they will be back.

You must give viewers a reason to choose you over the rest.

First, you must know who your audience is. Produce the right video content for your target audience, then you will have their loyalty. It is far better for you to have 1000 loyal viewers rather than a million mildly entertained ones.

Loyal viewers are willing to shell out 10 dollars a month. Mildly entertained comes a dime a dozen. Basic math tells you that’s not worth a cent.

After you decide on your niche, start connecting with your audience.

Be proactive, especially in the beginning. This way, you can start tailoring content to what they like.

This does not mean you are relinquishing your creative control to your viewership. They are watching you because you are doing something they connect with. You are figuring out what part of your style/content is connecting the most.

I’ve recently seen an example of a lady who owns a channel solely to teach scrapbooking. She gained 17,000 subscribers in under two years.

If your niche is ready and you need a platform, Come hang out with us on a live demo!

Steps for creating a niche channel:

• Pick a niche. Making your channel unique.
• Identify your interested audience.
• Create content with your niche audience in mind.

This is the basic formula. There is a lot more to running your channel. We will be covering all the angles you will need to be mindful of in the future. Things like marketing, monetizing, production…the list is long.

The list is also useless until you can distinguish yourself from everyone else. Your niche is the first major decision you should make concerning production. Everything else branches from here.

The channels that set themselves apart will succeed.

The channels creating content that can not be seen elsewhere. The channel with a loyal viewership. These are the channels not shaken despite whoever is wading in the pool. Remember, your niche is the foundation of your channel.

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People love your channel! They keep coming back for more.

You’re obviously giving them ‘high value’ content. You don’t want to ruin that. You have no interest in muddying their experience with pesky ads. Yet, you deserve compensation. I know the ad fad has set the standard for monetization. The thing is, it’s not the only way. Actually, it’s not even the most profitable way to monetize a channel.

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I want to show you some alternative ways you can make money with your channel.

Quite a few actually. But before I do, check out why these are better options than annoying ads.

According to this article by Shopify, all the top earners on YouTube make money from merchandise. I have seen this make up a huge percentage of their earnings. Combine merchandise with sponsorships, and you’ll see ads contribute a significantly lesser amount than the mainstream makes it seem.

Michael Johnston helps us understand how little ads contribute to these top creators, “…the average CPM that can be expected from YouTube videos is between $0.50 and $5.00. That means that for every 1 million views of your videos, you can expect to make between $500 and $5,000.” This is on a million views. Not an easily achieved task.

It’s important to note that television streaming like Roku pays significantly higher dividend’s but you’ll still need a bigger-sized audience to be profitable.

On the other hand, selling ad space on your channel directly to businesses can reap huge benefits. Even with a smaller audience. Plus, you get 100% of the revenue. Combine that with selling ‘Air Time’ and you have a couple of high-value commodities. That’s an advantage of owning a channel on a television platform like Roku and Fire TV.

Or you take control and sell your own products and services. Susan Solovic says, “Discovering the right blend of informative content to promotional content within a video can pay big dividends for your small business. Further, as I said above, establishing your position as an industry or product authority is always to your benefit.”

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A website will be to your channel what a bank is to your money. It’s the central way you’ll interact with your audience. You better make it shine! This is an integral component of the ways you will make money. Please understand, your channel is a traffic stream. You provide high-value content. They come to view it, then you have them continue that stream to your website. Back and forth in a symbiotic relationship. You’ll see.

Since we have already touched on it, I’ll start with ‘merch’. Merchandise is incredibly valuable. To you, and your audience.

And this is not new. When I was in my high school years, I had a band. We were decent enough to fill local venues. Do you know how much money we would make on ticket sales? Nothing, that went to the venue. We made money from a table in the back selling our shirts, CDs, and stickers.

Yeah, I said CDs. That’s not the point whipper-snapper. The point is ‘merch’ is profitable. Do not neglect it. You don’t want to go through setting up your own online shop? Check out turnkey options like Shopify.

Do you have a channel that relates to some physically creative talent of yours?

You could promote an Etsy store page at the start of an applicable video. Your sports channel is perfect for promoting your handmade fishing flys, hand-made skate decks, or inked-up court shoes. A classic movie buff who also makes replicas? Perfect. If you create fan posters or resale memorabilia, this is right up your alley.

You don’t even have to create the stuff you sell your audience. If you got the line on channel-related gear, affiliate links are available to you. It is, after all, part of the lifeblood that we call the Internet.

Alright, maybe you aren’t a salesperson.

Your channel is your product. Well, that’s what your selling then. The best way to do this is through subscriptions. Just ask Netflix. I have seen this most successful with channels that provide niche content. Yes, Netflix has a niche, it’s called Netflix Originals. Just in case you forgot the distant past of 2013, House of Cards was a Netflix Original. You see, they made many transitions to stay afloat. From delivering blockbusters to your door to streaming them online. The thing that cemented them though, was ‘Netflix Originals’. Niche content that can be seen nowhere else. If you have that, you need subscriptions.

Of course, you might have content that goes beyond niche. Subscriptions are not your only option. Crowdfunding can yield huge results. A fanatical fan base contribution could far exceed what you might ask of them on a month-to-month basis. This is better done after you have the fan base obviously.

If you don’t have the fan base yet, do not despair.

A channel focused on something another business is invested in makes that business is a potential sponsor. If a business gives you sponsorship out the gate, they will likely get a better deal than one coming in after you’ve grown. We will have an entire article on working with businesses so keep an eye out for that. Also, keep in mind that sponsors can be video-specific or for the whole channel.

Do you remember telethons? They still occur, I guess, but not like they used to. Nowadays, we call it Live Streaming, and man it is lucrative. Dedicated platforms are the most profitable for earnings and can run directly to your channel and other platforms. If your content is better live than otherwise, this is the best way to go.

We actually have even more ways to make great money from your channel but that will have to wait. There is no contest, if you have an avenue beyond ads, you need to follow it. I encourage you to look at your channel and see if these ideas could work for you. Your results will be faster and more profitable.

So present yourself as an authority and maximize your revenue. Implement these ideas into your monetization strategy and start making real money today.

For more reading see How To Make Money With YouTube

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We break down the details of how to quickly start and grow your own TV Channel from scratch.

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“Where can I get content?”

People ask me this all the time.

It’s an important question. How important? Well, there’s a guy you might have heard of named Bill Gates. In the ancient era of 1996, he wrote an essay about the Internet. The title of this essay was ‘Content is King’. Talk about vision. 25 years later and that title has never been truer.

“Content is where I expect much of the real money will be made on the Internet, just as it was in broadcasting.“

Bill Gates

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With no breaks, it would take you almost 21 days to watch all the content uploaded to YouTube in the past minute. Yes, I said minute. This is a staggering thought. It also leads me right into giving you a hot tip. If you need content, someone is probably making it.

Do you want to make your own content? Keep an eye out, we’ll be posting a ton of useful info for you too.

I actually have multiple tips for where you can acquire content. We will be covering them all, but I thought it would be erroneous to leave YouTube out. As with almost everything, there is a right way and a wrong way of doing this. We’ll explain that as well.

You can find content on everything.

From tutorials on the different soil compositions to intergalactic space narratives. And everything in between. I know a guy who is creating content on raising/training homing pigeons. So there is no shortage of content being made. Many of these people need a better outlet. If you own a channel, are business savvy, and have the vision, these people need you. They know how to create and you can provide a better outlet. Match made in heaven.

There are a few websites geared at providing you content.

Sometimes they will have exactly what you are looking for. You should check out the list below and see what’s available. Some of these sites have free content and that might work for you. A few are working the middle range that could be right up your alley. Others can be downright pricey but have what you need. It all depends on your channel model. Your channel could be geared for the higher-end stuff or something more niche. It’s up to you. In no particular order, here they are:

• archive.org
• fesfilms.com
• allrites.com
• vuulr.com
• greenlightrights.com
• rightstrade.com
• mediabank.tv
• videoelephant.com

Be aware that some of the above sites require a bit of data entry. Have your business info on hand if you plan exhausting the list.

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Are you looking for something original and never before seen?

I recommend your local university. Most colleges and universities have a group of film buffs. It could be formally from film/theater classes or otherwise. It’s no secret, the college-age demographic is making content. You can be sure to find unique content this way. Plus, by getting into direct contact with them, you might convince them to make exactly what your channel needs.

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Another option for collecting content is through a post. Whether in a local ad, online ad, or in a topic-related forum. Sometimes it just makes sense for creators to find you instead. This works better if you are flexible with what is submitted. It can also require a lot of your time. You’ll have to curate the content you don’t want along with the content you do.

If you are looking to easily find something specific, nothing beats Google/YouTube. Most searches will yield a video result. Of course, this is just the beginning…

Social media is meant to be social, right?

Even though it can seem like a one-way street, it’s not. Do not be afraid to approach these people. That’s right. They’re just people, like you and me. They’re likely popular, and many are incredibly talented. But they’re still human.

That’s fine, you’re human too! So let’s put the social back in media and start networking. Get out there. If you see someone’s work and think “This is a great fit for my channel”, hit them up. My mother always said it never hurts to ask. Of course, she told me ‘no’ more than any other human being on the planet. But she was right. So the moral is, ASK!

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The first thing I want to point out is that getting in touch with a creator on YouTube is not the easiest. To this day, the best approach I have seen is this.

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There are a ton of other sharing sites but the approach is similar.

If you find someone you want to work with, interact with their content. Subscribe. Like. Whatever is called for. Give constructive feedback and make your presence valuable. Remember, this does not mean spamming with smiley faces and hollow comments like “Awesome” or “Great job”. By interacting with their content, you are making yourself familiar. That way, when you do reach out, you’re not just some stranger asking for something.

Then it’s time to actually reach out. I recommend you try Twitter first. It’s hard to get through email so if direct messaging is available, go with that. Instagram or discord might also be an option. Either way, when you reach out, be genuine. Every quality relationship goes both ways. You should have something of value to offer them and you’re going to want to make that clear.

The amount of content being made is mind-blowing.

The key is getting that right content in front of the right viewers. You obviously understand that. That’s why you are here. Some techniques will do better than others, depending on what type of channel you have. The thing is, they will all produce results if you follow through with them. It is time. Go get that content, your channel is waiting.

If you don’t have a channel to show off all this content, have questions, or are interested in learning how to start your own TV network, come hang out with us on a Live Demo.

TvStartup

Rising above Demonetization.

Demonetization – the process wherein content creators are denied paid advertisements in their content, thus denying them revenue and reducing their income from a given platform.

Adpocalypse – The current era of unprecedented demonetization of content creators due to extreme and often unwarranted policy’s.

Say what you will, the Adpocalypse is here.

On second thought, don’t say what you will. You might end your current revenue stream. Your content creations are at risk after all. “Hold on one second” you say. “Can this take place with my channel?” Surely not… right?

I can almost guarantee you that is exactly what David Hoffman thought. He’s a 78-year-old YouTuber who re-purposes content from his decades-long film career. His content was demonetized seemingly out of the blue. The kicker here is, he never received a straight answer as to why. It turns out he had not violated any of YouTube’s many requirements and policies. Months later, his monetization was reinstated but the damage was done. He ultimately lost 1/3 of his income during the demonetization period. It boiled down to an error within the algorithm.

These platform’s flawed demonetization algorithm’s are not helping the situation. To this day, creators are being demonetized for seemingly no legitimate reason.

Come hang out with us on live demo to get more information on platforms that do not use demonetization as a punishment!

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The machines are here. Broad, brawly algorithms, bearing authority as “judge and jury” over your content.

There is a fallout taking place. A sort of potential 1984, big brother vibe.

Policy and regulation at it’s ‘not so finest’. Let take a look at some of these in more detail.

Often, you can simply have a title, thumbnail, or description that’s the reason for your videos getting demonetized. Other times, it is likely something in your video that is against the Advertiser-Friendly Content Guidelines. Penalties for profanity is common as per their advertiser guidelines. Even if you aren’t a potty-mouth, you’re in danger. We all slip up sometimes!

If you want to earn revenue and are a channel focused on controversial or disliked topics, you’re out of luck. You don’t have much choice; either look for an alternative source of income or change the topics you cover. Speaking of problematic topics, you can’t really do reaction videos. This is due to murky interpretation of fair use policy, which is why it often gets demonetized.

Politics are always controversial, regardless of what you think, so it pushes creators to avoid the topic altogether to be able to monetize on these platforms.

I know, you see that juicy green monetization icon so you believe your safe. You’re wrong. These platforms have policy and algorithm evolution’s daily, so everything is subject to change. It’s not uncommon for YouTube to go back into old creators’ videos and demonetize them. Even years after their initial upload.

To make matters worse, YouTube is failing to make any recognizable improvement since the adpocalypse began in 2017. To the contrary — YouTube has been the subject to much ridicule . The most frequent complaints aimed at the platform are related to:

• Unequal enforcement of their policies.
• Flawed recommendation algorithm.
• Unfair treatment of some of their creators.
• Targeted censorship.
• Unsubstantiated demonetization.
• Abuse of the DMCA claim system.

Many advertisers are leaving these platforms, which is leading to an even greater shortfall of monetization opportunities.

You need to ask yourself these questions when creating content for a platform that uses demonetizes as a punishment:

• Do I understand the insecurities of earning revenue from this platform?
• Am I willing to give up potential income for my hard work?
• Can I accept the possibility of seeing my career in content creation end?

Remember, on these kind of platforms…

You can be demonetized without warning. It can be for saying something others disagree with. For speaking on sensitive subjects. Even by using content the algorithms think you don’t have rights to. You can lose your ad revenue even though you’re within U.S. copyright and intellectual law, simply due to a faulty algorithm. On top of all of this, your ability to dispute the decision to demonetize your channel is laughable.

Just to start monetizing on some of these platforms, you must be up for a certain number of years, have a specific number of viewers, or meet other ever increasing requirements.

By choosing to not go with a platform that punishes with demonetization, you need to still make sure these needs met:

• The platform should not hinder your ability to monetize.
• It will keep you up and running despite opposition.
• It will not accidentally discipline you for content that falls with in the United States copyright and intellectual property laws.
• The platform should be completely transparent and accessible regarding your content.

If you are looking for a platform that will not demonetize your channel, come hang out on a live demo with us here…

Now you’re armed with the knowledge in order to not only survive, but thrive in this Adpocalypse. If you create content and value your efforts, ensure you are compensated for it. You don’t have to live with such insecurity. You don’t have to cower quietly if fear of violating some opaque rule or regulation. I have a few more techniques I would like to share with you. You can have your own network. Then you will not have to answer to anyone. Come hang out with us on a live demo to start protecting all your hard work, check out the link below.

Get an in-depth look at how you can use our turn-key platform to launch your own TV channel. Directly engage with viewers on today’s most popular TV platforms.

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In a sea of content, it’s easy to drown.

This is a hard truth we content creators face every day. And we do. With steely determination and hope glimmering in our eyes. Why? Because we know there are anomalies. Pieces of content that not only skim atop the digital ocean, but rather defy gravity, floating high above the rest. This type of content has gone ‘viral’.

The first step towards going viral is to have your own channel to publish content through online.

If you don’t yet have your own online channel, attend one of our Live Demos to see how you can launch your own channel and set yourself up for publishing your content to a large audience.

Once you have your channel launched, you can now endeavor to publish your content using the steps covered below to give it an edge for higher-engagement and going ‘viral’.

“Viral” is a strong term made even stronger by recent events in online trends. Let’s define it so we can identify the area we need to focus on. I’m going to skip the culturally acceptable standard which is Wikipedia. You can find that later if needed. The heart of the meaning is this: Viral Content is a communication that becomes popular by being shared rapidly and widely across different communication channels by a large audience.

This is the viral process. It is what separates the anomalies in the sky from the vast ocean in our analogy.

Sharing is obviously the key here.

Major sharing. But what prompts such a response from the audience? We are talking about some seriously motivating factors here. Well friend’s, we’ve got the answers and we’ve backed it up with science. Science rocks!

When creating content with the potential to go viral, your goal is to initiate a response in the audience. Like the person watching your video for example. And nothing gets people to respond better than…

Looking for more ways to take your video content to the next level?

Check out our Live Demo to see how you can easily create your own independent online TV network.

Emotion is king!

When trying to get people to act, emotion is king. On top of that, emotions have been shown to be contagious. When we care, we share. We can use this to our advantage.

In a 2011 paper in Psychological Science, Berger argues the most important factor in content transmission is physiological arousal: Emotions that increase arousal, like anxiety and amusement, will be more effective than low-arousal emotions like sadness and contentment. Particularly positive emotions.

“People share things they have strong emotional reactions to, especially strong positive reactions.”

Rosanna Guadagno, a social psychologist at the University of Texas in Dallas, told the Times.

Frac.tl conducted a study listing the top 10 emotions that are most likely to become viral:

• Amusement
• Interest
• Surprise
• Happiness
• Delight
• Pleasure
• Joy
• Hope
• Affection
• Excitement

Of course, negative emotion can work too. We see this constantly displayed by the nightly news.

• Fear: Content that warns and increases awareness has more chances to become viral.
• Sadness: A sad video can become viral because people empathize with a certain story and want others to empathize as well to increase awareness or show admiration.
• Anger: Content that makes people angry is more likely to be shared as people are inclined to express their outrage on a given topic and want others to join their ranks.
• Disgust: Disgusting pieces can play either the “so bad it’s good” humorous game or the “warning, this is bad” game.

I love the fact that positive emotions share better than negative ones!

Novelty

This is the new and unique. You know, shiny things! Novelty is a powerful motivator to get people to act as you are about to find out.

I live in Texas. Driving to another city is often filled with mundane views. Fields and livestock mostly. For miles. It’s not story worthy in the slightest. But lets say you were with me on one of these trips. We are driving a particularly long stretch, listening to some music, as you stare out the window. Suddenly, among a heard of cattle huddled by the fence line, you notice a bright blue cow. Yes, a bright blue cow!

Imagine the result’s of such an event. You would not simply let that pass on by. You would shoot up, crane your neck, and yell to get my attention. Now I’m trying to see what the commotion is about. You would convince me to turn around. There would be picture taking and phone calls to friends. Even telling the gas station attendant on our next stop. Viral content evokes the same kind of response.

Neuroscience researchers found some time ago that we have a region in the mid-brain responsible for this behavior, regulating motivation and reward processing by managing our dopamine levels. This area is what responds to novelty in our lives.

In other words, when your brain stumbles upon a new idea or piece of content it floods you with dopamine, making you feel rewarded and compelled to search for more. Even an old topic can have a new or unique light shine upon it. If you want people to share your content, make sure its a “blue cow” and not a brown one.

Curiosity

No matter how relevant your content is, people will only spend their time on content that catches their attention. This means you must be intriguing. This is not about tricking your audience. Consider what knowledge your audiences wants but does not have. Make sure to create useful, quality content containing this knowledge. Then tell them that your content has this knowledge in a compelling way. Your guaranteed to pique their curiosity.

People share content that fills the gap between what they know and what they want to know. This is why “How To” videos do so well. Fiction can also fill a knowledge gap. Whether its a humorous perspective or a horrifying experience. So offer your audience the chance of filling this gap with your content. They will feel motivated to share it with others who can learn it too.

Likewise, use this aspect to create catchy headlines. Some company’s will create 30 or more headlines and pick the one that that invokes the most curiosity. While I don’t think you necessarily need to do this, it does underline it’s importance. You should not neglect this.

Now, a re-cap. Make sure to ask yourself these questions when creating your next piece of content:

First and foremost, remember, emotion is king. Think about the emotions it will invoke.

• Are they the kind of emotions that will encourage others to share your content?
• Is there something you can change to strengthen the emotion?
• Or alter it into a more shareable emotion?

What about the content’s novelty? Utilize the novelty of your content to really get them interested!

• Is your content a “blue” or brown cow?
• Is your perspective new or unique? Can you strengthen that?
• Is there new information on the topic?
• If its old content, can you modernize it? (Remember when DiCaprio stared in ‘Romeo & Juliette’?)

Check your content for the knowledge gaps you’ll be filling for your audience.

• What knowledge will your audience walk away with after consuming your content?
• Are you providing useful, relevant and actionable content in an intriguing way?
• Are you hanging that knowledge like a carrot in your headline?

A note on quality.

This was quite a few years ago so I can promise you that it’s even more important today. According to The Wall Street Journal, 9 of the top 10 most viral videos on YouTube in 2012 were created by professional producers. If you’re just starting out and don’t have a big budget, don’t stress too much. We’ll have more posts providing awesome budget friendly tips and tricks to “up” your production value, so stay tuned for notifications!

Now you have the keys.

If you create content with the audience’s emotions, novelty, and curiosity in mind, you will be creating the kind of content that is ready to go viral. If you want more information on building an audience to share your content with and the best tools to get your content to them, follow the link below.

Come hang out with us on our live demo!

Come hang out with us on our Live Demo!

You’ll get an in-depth look at how you can use our turn-key platform to launch your own TV channel and directly engage with viewers on today’s most popular TV platforms.

TvStartup