- In this video, I interview Justin Brown
from Primal Video about how he grew his tech channel
to over 100,000 subscribers,
his tips for monetizing in other ways than AdSense,
and how you can beat the competition
and stand out and be different in your niche.
Coming up.
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- Hey, what's up, Sean here with VideoInfluencers.
Help you build your influence, income, and impact
with online video, and I'm here with Justin Brown.
How's it going?
- Good, how you doing?
- I'm doing great, we're at social media marketing world,
here in San Diego, and Justin runs a channel called
Primal Video that's all about helping entrepreneurs
and business owners amplify their brand and message
with video, and I'm excited to have you on the show.
- Thank you very much, I'm excited to be here.
- We're gonna be talking about how to really grow
a tech channel, as you do a lot of technology,
some of your tips, strategies, and how to monetize it.
But let's take it back,
you just crossed 100,000 subscribers,
you guys are crushing it,
but obviously you had to start from zero, like everybody.
And so, where did you start?
And what has been the progression to where you are today?
- Well, I guess, the first 50,
as anyone starting on YouTube is the hardest thing.
The first 100, you're questioning, why am I doing this?
So the biggest thing is to stick with it,
because consistency, as everyone knows, that is the key,
and being consistent.
So for us, for the last three years,
we've been uploading at least one video a week consistently.
That is our bare minimum,
but we've experimented with two and three,
and at the moment, we're back to one
and we're still growing pretty solid.
- That's awesome, and when did you,
three years ago?
- Yeah.
- And what was the curve like?
Did it hit at a certain point,
was it grinding for the first couple years, or what was it?
- It was definitely grinding for, I would say,
the first six months, and then we looked at it.
So, my business partner, Mike, and I,
we just looked at it and went,
"Right, what does YouTube want?"
It's time on platform,
let's start optimizing our videos for that
and that was when we really started doubling down
and looking at watch time and those sorts of things.
And looking at video structure,
and obviously still delivering the content
and the value to our audience,
with all of those factors in play.
- That's awesome.
Now you just crossed 100,000 subscribers recently, right?
- Yeah.
- And that's a, definitely, goal of many people here,
in the Influencers community,
and so what are some of the tips and strategies
that you've used for getting views
and growing your subscribers?
- So, I think the biggest thing would be the obvious things,
like being consistent,
your thumbnails definitely play a massive part,
but also looking at the average watch time.
That's a big thing, and optimizing your videos
to keep people engaged and watching your content
right through to the end.
And that's when a lot of people just really overlook.
It's all about delivering a tip or something.
They're missing keeping people engaged
to the end of their videos, and that's a massive power tip.
- So, do you study your audience retention?
How long do you wait?
Do you let a video mature for a while
and then go into your YouTube Analytics and study that?
- We normally base it on previous videos.
So, obviously, having done a heap of videos now,
it's easier to look at what works and what doesn't work,
and then you can kind of build on that.
It's like, we'll have a second call to action
towards the start, like you do in your videos.
If you're new here, consider subscribing.
That is a massive thing to do towards the start of the video
because most people only leave that 'til the end.
So if people aren't making it to the end of your video,
they're not getting that call to action.
So, that alone is a massive thing.
- That's awesome.
Now, there is a lot of drama right now
around the whole YouTube demonetization
and creators are worried about earning income,
and it makes sense, and we're certainly empathetic to that,
but of course, one of the things we teach is that,
it's really not about YouTube Ads.
That if you're just focusing on YouTube Ads,
you're actually gonna be broke.
You're not gonna make it, actually, for most creators.
However, it's definitely possible to build a business
around your YouTube channel, and so,
for you, how is monetization broken down?
You and Mike have really built a business model.
You have a lot going on that's really underneath the surface
speak to that a little bit.
- So, I guess, yeah, YouTube ad revenue, it's nice,
but I definitely wouldn't wanna be relying on that.
There's so many other opportunities, as you know.
Things like affiliate marketing,
sponsors, sponsored videos,
there are a heap of other options out there
and it will allow you to monetize
your YouTube channel much, much faster
than just relying on that YouTube Ad revenue.
The obvious one, like Amazon affiliates.
It will all start small, as your channel grows,
they'll all grow, it really starts to get that ball rolling.
So, definitely look at affiliates and branding
and maybe even sponsored deals as well.
- That's super powerful,
now you're based in Australia, right?
- Yeah.
- And so you're actually outside of the U.S.
Sometimes people worry, like,
"I'm not actually in the U.S., can I monetize?"
Now, most of your audience though,
is probably viewing in the U.S.?
- Yeah, I would say most of our audience is U.S., for sure.
- And so you actually are doing affiliate marketing
with Amazon out of country, through the U.S.,
speak to how setting that up.
'Cause some people aren't sure if that was even possible.
- Yeah, so you can definitely set up things like Amazon.
We did have to jump through a few little holes, you know,
fill in all their forms and all that standard stuff,
but you definitely can do it and it is global now,
and there are different, like Amazon for example,
there's different affiliate programs
for different countries as well.
So, our main audience is the U.S.,
so it is pretty similar set up, but yes,
you can definitely do it.
- And then how do you get paid?
From being out of country, with U.S. dollars or whatever?
- So we actually use a platform called TransferWise
and that allows us to not just rely on
getting a check sent, because banking a check these days,
and banking an international check,
is a little difficult, so--
- Yeah
- It takes, it's a long process.
So we use TransferWise and it allows us
to get payments from places like Amazon
directly into our Australian bank account.
So that's, yeah...
- That's awesome, now speak a little bit to competition,
because, you know, it's actually funny,
you're helping people with video,
over on Think Media, I help people with video,
but we also have like, thirty friends we each know
that have similar channels.
And for those watching, too, though,
they might see you got 100,000 subs, and be like,
"geez, there's too much competition out there,
I could never do it", what would you say, is that true?
And what are your tips for maybe trying to stand out?
- I'd definitely say that it is not true.
I mean, obviously, as you said,
there's a lot of overlap with our channels,
but it's all your own personal experience,
your own knowledge.
The things that you've done, the information,
or your spin on the research that you're doing.
No one else will have the exact same message
and take on things as you would.
So definitely get out there and start.
There's plenty of room on YouTube, come and join us!
- That's awesome, and you know, one of the things
we love to say here on VideoInfluencers is this quote
from Sally Hogshead that "Different is better than better"
and don't try to be like the next PrimalVideo,
don't try to copy somebody else,
that doesn't mean you can't do video tips,
it doesn't mean you can't do tech, you said it,
we all have our unique experience, our unique perspective,
so try to just bring a unique angle to,
even a niche that potentially has a lot of people in it.
There's nobody else that's gonna be like you.
Maybe that's your gender, your ethnicity, your background,
your experiences, weave that into your content
and that can really help you stand out.
Even if you're sharing a lot of the same tips
or covering some of the same topics.
Well, hey, are you ready for the lightning round?
- Ka-pow!
- Choo, choo, choo, choo-choo choo!
Coffee or tea?
- Coffee.
- Last song that you had on repeat on your phone?
- Audiobooks for me, I'm sorry.
- What's a good audiobook that you recommend?
Maybe for Influencers watching.
- I do like "The 4-Hour Workweek", it's an oldie,
but a classic, it's a good one.
- That's a very good book, and of course,
we'll link that up whether audiobook or the book
in the description below.
If you could only have one tool or weapon
during a zombie apocalypse, what would it be and why?
- Something that's gonna help me run fast.
I'm a runner, so--
- Okay.
- You wanna get away from them as quick as you can.
- Alright so you're going for?
- A Red Bull or I don't know.
- A Red Bull versus?
- A protein shake or?
- Not like a car?
I mean you can go a little bit faster.
- You know, they'll find you,
and you run out of petrol in a car.
- That's true.
- At some point you're gonna need to be on foot.
- That, solid point, that's wise.
- I haven't really thought about this.
- Maybe some good running shoes?
We've all heard the phrase
"if I knew then, what I know now", right?
And so, as you think back over your life in business,
or just life in general, what is something
that you wish you knew back when you were 20
that you know now and you'd tell your 20-year-old self?
- Just to have fun, have more fun, enjoy the process.
Especially, example, YouTube, it can be
"oh, I gotta release another video",
it can be a hectic thing, and consistency is the key,
but doing things like batching your content
and enjoying the videos you're making.
Don't make them for the sake of making them.
Talk about things that you love and you enjoy
and that you're happy to talk about every day.
And I'm sure you're enjoying talking about tech
and interviewing people and hanging out,
coming to these sorts of events.
It's all about doing the things that you like.
So, definitely don't, we see it all the time,
people are creating videos and they just look forced.
And clearly not having fun with it.
- Yeah.
- So if you have fun with it, you're gonna stick with it
and then everything flows from that.
- Favorite place in the whole wide world?
- I'd say home, Sunshine Coast in Australia.
It's a great spot by the beach.
- Yeah, that sounds amazing.
What is a failure, or maybe, past mistake,
that set you up for future success?
And do you have a favorite failure that you learned from?
- I'd say there's probably a heap of them,
and it's not really following your gut.
I'm someone that's hard to say no to things,
I would always like, yes,
I can definitely help you with that.
I think the biggest thing would be
to be able to say no to things,
anything that doesn't feel right,
even if it's good money or good income,
saying no to something is probably a harder thing
for a lot of people to do but it can open up the doors
to so many more things.
So I would definitely say, follow your gut
and say no to things that maybe don't feel 100%.
And a couple of projects I've taken on,
I knew up front I shouldn't have gone ahead with them.
Everything worked out well, but you look at the time
and effort and everything that went into them, yeah,
just follow your gut.
It'll sound corny or cheesy, whatever, but that's my advice.
- That's good advice.
And finally, what is two or three Australian phrases
or slang that I need to know, and I need to be saying here
around Social Media Marketing World?
- There's a lot of Australian phrases and slangs and
things that you probably wouldn't wanna repeat on camera.
- Okay.
- Yeah.
- Well, give me some appropriate ones
that won't get this video demonetized.
- Okay, you definitely need to say 'G'day' to everyone.
- G'day.
- Yeah, there, you got it.
- G'day, okay, okay.
- Yeah.
- That's number one, here we go.
- Instead of "how are you going" it's (slurring).
- Okay, it's not like, "how are you going"...
- They're like, what's wrong with you.
- They're like, what was it?
- (slurring)
- G'day, (slurring), okay, what's the last one?
- Really putting me under pressure here.
- Don't these come natural? This is...
- You can take what I'm saying honestly,
or not...
- What about, I got one then.
If I'm just tired, I'm exhausted,
after we do all the interviews today,
I'm gonna be 'flat out', right?
I'm gonna be 'flat out like a lizard'?
Drinking, 'flat out like a lizard drinking'.
- Okay, right, that makes more sense,
'cause if you're flat out, you're really busy.
- Oh, okay.
- But if you're flat out like a lizard drinking,
then, no, then you're still busy.
- You're still busy, okay, so good.
This was important because now I'm correct
in the use of the phrase.
I'm still flat out today, I'm flat out all day.
- You are, flat out like a lizard drinking.
- Okay, alright, there you go.
Lightning round, choo, choo, choo.
(beep)
Well Justin, where are you at online?
Of course we're gonna link everything up
in the description below and what are
some of the things that you have
that could help the Influencer community?
- Definitely subscribe to our YouTube channel,
that's probably the face of our business,
that's Primal Video, and we're YouTube.com/PrimalVideo.
Or head over to PrimalVideo.com, we will be launching
some pretty exciting stuff soon,
so yeah, find it on PrimalVideo.com.
- Very cool, now final word of just encouragement
for Influencers watching, especially because,
as entrepreneurs, creatives, there's ups and downs.
Man, this thing can be an emotional roller coaster,
especially when you're grinding,
trying to build your influence, and when there are setbacks
and algorithm changes, demonetization happens,
sometimes it feels like you get punched in the gut,
so just speak to a few words
of encouragement for just keeping going,
and maybe how you get through hard times.
- Yeah, I mean, it's easy for me.
There's two of us, so I work with my brother, Mike,
and we run PrimalVideo, so I've always got someone there
for those down days, you're like,
"I'm not feeling it today", or whatever.
So if you've got someone, anyone, a friend,
for those days, just someone to talk to,
to share these experiences with,
because it happens to everyone,
you've just gotta get back on the bike,
on the bus, you know, get back creating.
But stick with it, because there's so many people
that we hear, I know that we experienced the same thing,
you might have as well, where it's like
"why are we doing this?"
We've put out all this effort into this content,
and we've got minimal views, minimal subscribers,
but stick with it because it's just getting that momentum.
And it definitely snowballs,
it definitely grows faster once that's rolling.
- Well, thank you so much for being on the show.
Influencers, subscribe if you're not subscribed.
If you wanna check out another video from VideoInfluencers,
just click or tap the screen over there.
If you wanna check out Justin's channel,
just click or tap the screen over there as well.
Until next time, VideoInfluencers is helping you
build your influence, income, and impact with online video.
Keep crushing it and we will talk soon.
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