Being a "Real" YouTuber Is a Waste of Time, Here's What to Do Instead

Save time and money

Unless you make it big - and let's face it, the odds are stacked against you - YouTube can be a frustrating endeavor as a side hustle. I'm referring to being a "real" YouTuber, someone who invests countless hours into creating and editing content, hoping to earn money and build a successful channel. But is it really worth it? Let's explore a more efficient and rewarding alternative.

Putting the "hustle" in side hustle

Imagine yourself as a passionate vlogger, spending hours each day shooting video material. The process involves numerous takes, redoing scenes until they are just right. Once the filming is complete, the real work begins - editing. You have to deal with A-roll, B-roll, drone shots, and external footage. Sometimes, you even need to record your voice multiple times for different segments and then edit that as well. The time commitment quickly adds up, with beginner YouTubers often devoting the equivalent of a full-time job to a channel that may not generate any income, at least initially.

To make matters more challenging, meeting the eligibility criteria for the YouTube Partner Program is no cakewalk. You need to amass 1000 followers and accumulate 4000 hours of watch time within 12 months to even qualify for monetization. Suddenly, a regular 9-to-5 job seems like a dream come true.

Be faceless instead

Fortunately, there is a way to circumvent these time-consuming challenges and still find success on YouTube. Embrace the concept of being a faceless YouTuber. You might be wondering, "How can I achieve that?" Well, here are some practical strategies to consider.

Firstly, you can create YouTube videos without ever having to appear on camera or record your voice. This eliminates the need for perfect lighting conditions, retakes, and the extensive editing that accompanies traditional video production. Instead, leverage the vast resources of creative commons video clips and music available online. By utilizing these existing materials, you can save valuable time and effort while still producing engaging content.

Furthermore, tools like Google Presentations, Apple Keynote, or Microsoft PowerPoint can be your best allies in crafting visually appealing slideshows or simple animations for your videos. Surprisingly, many successful channels have built their audience using these methods, accompanied by a bit of background music. Additionally, services such as Flourish can assist you in creating animated graphs, statistics, timelines, and more. For a more comprehensive guide on the potential of faceless YouTube channels, you can refer to my post on the subject.

Once you have gathered your resources, the editing process becomes a breeze. Free software options like iMovie can help you fine-tune your videos with ease and efficiency. With these strategies in place, you'll be well on your way to a streamlined content creation process.

Closing thoughts

It's worth noting that some of the largest and most successful YouTube channels operate without ever revealing the faces behind them. These faceless channels have amassed millions of subscribers and earn substantial incomes. While I personally don't rely on my two faceless YouTube channels as my primary source of income, I have managed to earn over $3000 without ever recording my face or voice. Despite my limited editing skills and the absence of paid software, the results speak for themselves.

Perhaps the most significant advantage of the faceless approach is the time saved. By dedicating just 1-2 hours per week to YouTube, I've achieved a solid financial start. Consider this: if I can accomplish this with such minimal time investment, imagine the possibilities for you. So, why waste your valuable hours on the intricate process of being a "real" YouTuber when you can adopt a more efficient approach and reap the rewards?