strongdad t1_j8cgj21 wrote on February 13, 2023 at 7:19 AM

I'm 59 and have a YouTube channel I started a year ago...

First off - your channel page looks great! fantastic banner and profile avatar! your thumbnails look really decent as well - and it looks like you are already working shorts and long form.

Did you have any assistance with the designs at all?

Mysterionaut OP t1_j8cgufl wrote on February 13, 2023 at 7:23 AM

Awesome!
Thank you very much, I really appreciate that.
I used Midjourney to create some of the elements in the thumbnails and then did a a lot of online research to see what other videos with lot's of views were doing.

I also listen to hours of YouTube creator tips every day and have been messing around with photoshop for about 10 years, although I wouldn't call myself a designer.

Do you have any tips, being a year in?

strongdad t1_j8chou8 wrote on February 13, 2023 at 7:35 AM

I'm not extremely successful but I have learned some tips along the way to my 19k subs...

Do it for the fun and enjoyment, otherwise it will just be another obligation.
Continue to study those who are successful in your genre and even communicate with them (some of my "competitors" are good friends).
Don't babysit your numbers - some reactors I know thrived once they stopped checking their subs and views.
Lose the attachment to the videos you make... There will be some videos that will take hours upon hours to create and not get many views - don't let that get you down... It's part of the process.

I think since this is an AMA I have to end this with a question - Do you have any tips for making plans to live outside the US and still receive SS and money from YouTube?

Mysterionaut OP t1_j8cknlq wrote on February 13, 2023 at 8:16 AM

Wow 19k subs! That is quite impressive.
I appreciate the advice.
To answer your question I am actually from New Zealand and to be honest I still have not put much thought into receiving money from YouTube, I hear you have to be quite large for it to be any meaningful and will cross that bridge if I ever get there. As far as SS, it's not an issue on my end.