My Year of Pursuing YouTube: A Journey of Growth and Passion
About a year ago, I took a leap of faith and started a journey that had long been brewing in my mind: creating content for YouTube. Initially, I found myself caught in a whirlwind of self-doubt and obsessive checking of YouTube Analytics, eagerly anticipating a moment that would catapult my channel to success. Throughout this journey, I realized that every YouTuber's path is unique, and I wanted to share mine. Perhaps my experiences would resonate with others and offer valuable insights into the world of gaming content creation.
As someone who leans toward introversion, I’ve always found comfort in my hobbies. Whether it was lifting at the gym or gaming at home, these activities provided an escape. When I finally decided to venture into YouTube, it was exhilarating yet daunting, as almost no one knew about my gaming endeavors. My first video, featuring the release of Payday 3, marked the beginning of what would be a transformative year. Even though it was clunky and unrefined, pressing "publish" gave me a sense of freedom I had never felt before.
Despite garnering around 1,000 views in three days—a number that brought initial joy—my channel didn’t take off as I had hoped. I experimented with different gameplay styles and genres, but nothing seemed to resonate. It quickly became overwhelming as I struggled to find my niche, analyze effective thumbnails, and tap into the elusive ‘secret formula’ for viral content. The pressure was mounting.
My turning point involved the use of short videos, which initially attracted a lot of views and subscribers. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy creating these shorts and soon realized they didn’t reflect the content I wanted to produce. The stark contrast between my rapidly growing subscriber count and the view count of my longer videos was disheartening. This led me to create a new channel, where I hoped to apply all my learned knowledge in a more meaningful way.
Initially, this shift was met with a lukewarm reception as only 70 subscribers followed me to my new channel. It was a sobering moment, but I understood it was a result of my previous mistakes in prioritizing shorts over long-form content, which I truly wanted to create. It took a while, but I began experimenting with different series, notably "60 Minutes to Impress," which eventually helped my videos recapture some momentum, stabilizing my views between 1,000 to 2,000.
As I honed my process and committed to a daily upload schedule, my passion started to shine through my content. The support from my audience motivated me immensely. Even small view counts felt like victories as I slowly built a community that encouraged my creative endeavors. Despite days when I was exhausted or uninspired, knowing that there were viewers out there waiting for my videos kept me pushing forward.
My breakthrough moment arrived when I published a gameplay video on a highly anticipated game, which climbed to over 30,000 views. The positive feedback and support from viewers were uplifting, proving that perseverance can indeed pay off. I reached a sense of validation and realized that making content brought me immense joy, and the feedback from my audience reaffirmed that joy.
However, I quickly learned a vital lesson: in the frantic search for replication of my success, I lost sight of my passion. I experimented with different formats and series but eventually decided to return to gaming titles I genuinely loved. This return to form paid off when my video "Beating Every Boss in Half Sword with One Live" soared to nearly 95,000 views. The connection with my audience deepened, and I was grateful for the beautiful comments that fueled my motivation.
Reflecting on my journey, I distilled my mantra into a simple philosophy: do what you love. It’s essential to find joy in your craft and maintain discipline in your content creation schedule. You don't need to upload every day; the key is consistency and staying true to your passions.
To anyone contemplating starting a gaming channel, my advice is straightforward: just start. There will never be a perfect time, and initial struggles are part of the process. Even with only a handful of views, you may surprise yourself as you grow and develop your unique style. Community and connection will come, and it will be a rewarding experience that enriches your life.
As I currently stand at around 1,800 subscribers, I couldn’t be happier. The happiness I feel comes not just from the numbers but from the community I’ve built and the creative outlet I’ve embraced. Knowing there are people who enjoy my content warms my heart, making the effort worthwhile.
In conclusion, this journey has been an incredible ride, filled with ups and downs. Sharing my experiences with all of you brings me joy, and I remain thankful for every interaction. As I continue to create, my hope is that all of you will pursue your passions fearlessly, cultivating your dreams into a reality. Thank you for being part of this adventure with me—let's embark on many more together!
Part 1/9:
My Year of Pursuing YouTube: A Journey of Growth and Passion
About a year ago, I took a leap of faith and started a journey that had long been brewing in my mind: creating content for YouTube. Initially, I found myself caught in a whirlwind of self-doubt and obsessive checking of YouTube Analytics, eagerly anticipating a moment that would catapult my channel to success. Throughout this journey, I realized that every YouTuber's path is unique, and I wanted to share mine. Perhaps my experiences would resonate with others and offer valuable insights into the world of gaming content creation.
Part 2/9:
As someone who leans toward introversion, I’ve always found comfort in my hobbies. Whether it was lifting at the gym or gaming at home, these activities provided an escape. When I finally decided to venture into YouTube, it was exhilarating yet daunting, as almost no one knew about my gaming endeavors. My first video, featuring the release of Payday 3, marked the beginning of what would be a transformative year. Even though it was clunky and unrefined, pressing "publish" gave me a sense of freedom I had never felt before.
Part 3/9:
Despite garnering around 1,000 views in three days—a number that brought initial joy—my channel didn’t take off as I had hoped. I experimented with different gameplay styles and genres, but nothing seemed to resonate. It quickly became overwhelming as I struggled to find my niche, analyze effective thumbnails, and tap into the elusive ‘secret formula’ for viral content. The pressure was mounting.
Part 4/9:
My turning point involved the use of short videos, which initially attracted a lot of views and subscribers. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy creating these shorts and soon realized they didn’t reflect the content I wanted to produce. The stark contrast between my rapidly growing subscriber count and the view count of my longer videos was disheartening. This led me to create a new channel, where I hoped to apply all my learned knowledge in a more meaningful way.
Part 5/9:
Initially, this shift was met with a lukewarm reception as only 70 subscribers followed me to my new channel. It was a sobering moment, but I understood it was a result of my previous mistakes in prioritizing shorts over long-form content, which I truly wanted to create. It took a while, but I began experimenting with different series, notably "60 Minutes to Impress," which eventually helped my videos recapture some momentum, stabilizing my views between 1,000 to 2,000.
Part 6/9:
As I honed my process and committed to a daily upload schedule, my passion started to shine through my content. The support from my audience motivated me immensely. Even small view counts felt like victories as I slowly built a community that encouraged my creative endeavors. Despite days when I was exhausted or uninspired, knowing that there were viewers out there waiting for my videos kept me pushing forward.
My breakthrough moment arrived when I published a gameplay video on a highly anticipated game, which climbed to over 30,000 views. The positive feedback and support from viewers were uplifting, proving that perseverance can indeed pay off. I reached a sense of validation and realized that making content brought me immense joy, and the feedback from my audience reaffirmed that joy.
Part 7/9:
However, I quickly learned a vital lesson: in the frantic search for replication of my success, I lost sight of my passion. I experimented with different formats and series but eventually decided to return to gaming titles I genuinely loved. This return to form paid off when my video "Beating Every Boss in Half Sword with One Live" soared to nearly 95,000 views. The connection with my audience deepened, and I was grateful for the beautiful comments that fueled my motivation.
Reflecting on my journey, I distilled my mantra into a simple philosophy: do what you love. It’s essential to find joy in your craft and maintain discipline in your content creation schedule. You don't need to upload every day; the key is consistency and staying true to your passions.
Part 8/9:
To anyone contemplating starting a gaming channel, my advice is straightforward: just start. There will never be a perfect time, and initial struggles are part of the process. Even with only a handful of views, you may surprise yourself as you grow and develop your unique style. Community and connection will come, and it will be a rewarding experience that enriches your life.
As I currently stand at around 1,800 subscribers, I couldn’t be happier. The happiness I feel comes not just from the numbers but from the community I’ve built and the creative outlet I’ve embraced. Knowing there are people who enjoy my content warms my heart, making the effort worthwhile.
Part 9/9:
In conclusion, this journey has been an incredible ride, filled with ups and downs. Sharing my experiences with all of you brings me joy, and I remain thankful for every interaction. As I continue to create, my hope is that all of you will pursue your passions fearlessly, cultivating your dreams into a reality. Thank you for being part of this adventure with me—let's embark on many more together!