If you’re considering building your own business as a vlogger you may want to read our previous blog on when to go full time with your YouTube channel. Or perhaps you’re already vlogging but want to improve your revenue performance – then check out our blog on how you can earn money on YouTube. Either way, as you will know, one of the crucial elements for success is the number of subscribers you have. The brands that can provide that all-important sponsorship are looking for channels who can reach their target market – in volume!
Over 2 billion users visit YouTube each month and every day a billion hours of video are being watched. Using a range of social media platforms can help you earn more subscribers as key platforms such as TikTok with 800 million users and Instagram with over 500 million accounts are being used every day. It really does pay to link your social media presence.
So… how exactly do you build a bank of loyal subscribers? Let’s look at the example of how golf professionals develop a unique style to convey what are essentially the same messages to a potential audience that the National Golf Foundation tells us in 2019 an estimated 108 million people in the US alone!
For the people who can’t afford to pay for golf lessons, there is now a thriving number of people providing lessons, unbiased advice about the best golf equipment, and offering entertaining ways to engage people.
Here are 5 people essentially doing the same thing but in a slightly different way;
Me and My Golf, Peter Finch, Seb on Golf, Golf with Aimee, and Fried Eggs Golf.
They’ll give you an idea of what content is being used but as we have said in our previous blogs, it’s all about making your content interesting and entertaining. Some people will prefer a more fun approach to learning, some will want more detail about technique. Pay particular attention to how many times people say ‘hit that subscribe button’. Aimee Cho (Golf with Aimee) has 253k followers and her channel is bilingual, reaching English and Korean audiences.
One such YouTube sensation is Rick Shiels. Rick began his YouTube career with another PGA professional Peter Finch back in 2011 but then launched his own channel ‘Rick Shiels Golf’ in 2012. Since then Rick has seen his individual success grow with his YouTube golf channel becoming the most subscribed in the world in 2019. In June 2020, he reached the milestone of one million subscribers, the first golf focussed YouTube channel to ever do so. Gaining over 275,000 subscribers since the start of this year, it’s clear that his content continues to resonate with audiences globally. Not bad for a 32 year old from Bolton. He says, “Our focus is always on creating content that will add value to our viewers, whether that be through them learning something new, improving their game, being entertained or a combination of all three’.
As well as his success on YouTube, Rick Shiels Media has also grown across other platforms and has cleverly partnered with some of the biggest brands in golf such as Nike, Garmin, and the R&A to create unique content for his mini-series. Shiels’ diverse portfolio of content continues to attract audiences who are looking for an authentic voice for their golfing needs. He uses his impartiality when sharing stories, setting up entertaining challenges, and giving coaching tips.
A tip from Rick: “A great way to check your balance is to move your weight onto your toes, then back to your heels. You should be able to find the mid-point, which is where your weight should be set.”
Tips to help you gain subscribers on YouTube
- Stay consistent – think about how often you upload videos. On average Shiels uploads 6 a month, Aimee Cho 3 videos a week, and Me and My Golf, 7 a month. YouTube monitors creators and their content and the more you upload and engage with your audience, the more of a boost you’ll get from YouTube.
- Stick to a format – Rick’s style is very straightforward ‘no bells or whistles’. He talks people through what is going on with him when he’s about to take a shot. Always consider what your audience has signed up for. If they’ve subscribed to your channel its because they like what you have to say. If you suddenly branch off, you risk losing their loyal following.
- Reply to comments – fully engage with your followers. Rather than just say ‘ that’s great’ or ‘thanks, I really appreciate it’, be authentic and provide quality replies that demonstrate that you’ve properly read what was said. You could even pose a question that links to what they’ve said and built the relationship. Rick says “for months you’ve been asking me to buy a driver from Wish, so I did”.
- Use the Community Tab – this will enable you to post, ask questions, and get immediate feedback. You might ask your followers ‘what do you want to see more of?’ but make sure you act on any feedback. Rick showed his audience the ‘fake’ driver he bought from Wish and then went through what was wrong with it.
- Share and Celebrate – to help grow your audience, share your wins, and celebrate each milestone with them. Redirect traffic from your other social media platforms and make strong links. On his channel Rick thanks his subscribers for reaching his 1M milestone and shares his gold plaque.
YouTube Creator Academy is also helpful as it gives you an insight into analytics that can help you understand more about who’s watching your channel and what reach your videos have. It also has a learning toolkit and creator resources. If you’ve been wondering if people want to hear what you’ve got to say, why not give it a try?
Here at the Showbiz Accountant, we specialise in the accountancy and tax needs of YouTubers and Vloggers. Why not check out how we’d take care of your tax requirements (allowing you the time to create great quality content)? Call today on 0203 384 224 for a free initial consultation.
“If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.”
