Erika Kullberg now has greater than two million subscribers on YouTube and over 21 million followers throughout her social media accounts — however 5 years in the past, she began off at zero subscribers, identical to all new YouTube creators.
Kullberg makes private finance movies for YouTube, Instagram, Fb, and TikTok, with content material centered on serving to individuals get what they’re owed and sharing private finance anecdotes from her personal life, like why she stop a $250,000 job in company legislation.
She says of all of the platforms she posts on, she makes the most cash from YouTube.
Kullberg has made greater than $353,000 from YouTube previously 5 years, not together with model sponsorships and earlier than taxes.
Credit score: Erika Kullberg
It took her about three months of posting one YouTube video per week to get her first thousand subscribers and qualify for monetization. That is fairly quick: For reference, knowledge on the VidIQ channel exhibits that it takes about 15.5 months on common for YouTubers to get monetized.
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Kullberg shared the secrets and techniques behind her YouTube channel’s quick observe to development in an interview with Entrepreneur.
Entrepreneur: Was there a mindset or something you probably did strategically to assist your channel stand out and get monetized?
Kullberg: Once I first began YouTube, I dedicated to placing out one video per week for one yr it doesn’t matter what. As a result of what I see a whole lot of occasions for YouTube is individuals put out 5 movies after which they’re so discouraged that they don’t seem to be magically at a thousand subscribers after 5 movies that they simply surrender. So 52 movies. That was a giant mindset factor.
One other factor that I did was examine and analyze YouTube channels earlier than I launched my very own. I noticed the significance of getting the correct thumbnail and getting the correct title. It additionally needs to be a subject that you simply’re tremendous captivated with.
It took me three months to hit a thousand subscribers and that was after placing in a single video per week. For every video, I used to be spending 15 to twenty hours.
How may somebody discover a YouTube area of interest that may quickly develop? Are there any instruments or analysis ways you’d suggest as they scope out the sector?
For the area of interest, I might say do not base your content material on what has the prospect to quickly develop. Base it off of what you are captivated with. I do suppose an excellent metric to know how massive the potential market is seeing how massive the most important individuals in that area of interest are… that gives you a tough sense of how huge the area of interest is.
After which when you’re particularly fascinated about the way to construct cash by way of YouTube, the way to use it to both complement your present earnings or finally substitute your earnings, I might even be fascinated about how worthwhile that area of interest might be, not simply in YouTube advert income, which is one strategy to earn cash, however in different alternatives too. May you grow to be an affiliate marketer?
If you happen to’re a gardening channel, then you may promote gardening provides and possibly earn a fee off of that. That is internet affiliate marketing. So, considering two steps forward of what’s the potential for me to not solely develop this channel and get subscribers, however to earn cash.
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The YouTube search bar is your finest software. There are paid instruments that YouTubers use. The three paid instruments that come to thoughts are TubeBuddy, VidIQ, after which ViewStats.com.
What sort of preparation did you do earlier than you posted your first video?
I analyzed what different movies have been doing. One of many workout routines I might suggest everybody do is to go discover the people who find themselves speaking about the identical factor that you simply need to discuss to.
Record them out after which go to their YouTube movies and kind by common movies. That begins to present you an thought of what sort of viral subjects there are in your movies.
On the level you are at now, how do you be certain that your channel retains rising?
For me, I believe naturally when you maintain placing out content material, it’s going to continue to grow. It might not all the time develop on the identical tempo. Like, for example, within the private finance house, if you wish to get probably the most views, it is advisable to speak about issues which are trending and keep on prime of the stylish subjects.
However I’ve sort of shifted to a distinct path with my channel, so I create content material that I am fascinated about speaking about as an alternative.
How do you steadiness YouTube and different ventures, like your authorized tech startup Plug and Regulation?
When you begin being profitable for YouTube, you possibly can work out what you might be uniquely positioned to do, after which what you possibly can rent out.
So after I first began YouTube, I used to be practising as a lawyer full-time, and doing YouTube as my aspect passion for 20 hours every week on prime of that.
Credit score: Erika Kullberg
I edited the primary video myself and it took me 20 hours to learn to edit. After which one other 10 hours to edit that video. So then I employed an editor.
As I began to earn some earnings from YouTube, I used to be capable of rent out totally different elements of it. So I used to be capable of rent an individual who designs thumbnails. I discovered the way to rent and delegate duties. I’ve many individuals on my workforce now who assist me, nevertheless it did not begin that method.
You used to work in company legislation. What recommendation do you’ve got for somebody fascinated about a profession change?
Ensure you come up with the money for to do it. If you happen to’re fascinated about leaving or altering your profession or quitting to grow to be an entrepreneur, begin saving up.
If you can begin exploring your aspect passion on the weekends, hopefully, that aspect passion, as quickly because it begins producing earnings recurrently, can grow to be your essential factor and you’ll stop your job.
Do you ever remorse leaving that company life behind?
I’ve by no means as soon as regretted leaving the company world behind.
I turned a lawyer as a result of I wished to assist individuals, and I wished to make a distinction. However being a company lawyer did not fulfill that for me, and I did not love having my time dictated and managed by a boss. I really feel very, very fortunate and I by no means remorse taking the leap to be right here. Go away behind the company life and the flowery paycheck.
Credit score: Erika Kullberg
Do you’ve got another recommendation for entrepreneurs who need to begin and develop a YouTube channel?
I might say be clear in your mission, perceive the monetization route, perceive that outcomes aren’t going to be quick, it’s in all probability going to take you twice as lengthy to get to no matter subscriber rely you are hoping for, and so be affected person and perceive that it is a whole lot of work.
To provide context, I overlook the precise numbers, nevertheless it took me three months to hit a thousand subscribers, it took me one other three months to hit 2,000, after which in a month, between months 5 and 6, I went from 2,000 to 52,000 subscribers, roughly, and made $20,000 that month from YouTube.
That was a mixture of YouTube, advert income, associates, and sponsorships. So, you are only one video away from altering the trajectory of your future. Be affected person and do not surrender.
This interview has been minimize and edited for readability.
