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 folks get what they’re owed and sharing private finance anecdotes from her personal life, like why she stop a $250,000 job in company regulation.
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 prior to now 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 progress 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 quite a lot of instances for YouTube is folks put out 5 movies after which they’re so discouraged that they are not magically at a thousand subscribers after 5 movies that they simply hand over. 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 spotted the significance of getting the appropriate thumbnail and getting the appropriate title. It additionally needs to be a subject that you just’re tremendous enthusiastic about.
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 might somebody discover a YouTube area of interest that may quickly develop? Are there any instruments or analysis ways you’d advocate 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 enthusiastic about. I do assume metric to grasp how massive the potential market is seeing how massive the largest folks in that area of interest are… that gives you a tough sense of how huge the area of interest is.
After which in the event you’re particularly occupied with tips on how to construct cash via YouTube, tips on how to use it to both complement your present earnings or ultimately exchange your earnings, I might even be occupied with how worthwhile that area of interest may very well be, not simply in YouTube advert income, which is one solution to earn cash, however in different alternatives too. May you turn out to be an affiliate marketer?
For those who’re a gardening channel, then you might promote gardening provides and possibly earn a fee off of that. That is online marketing. So, considering two steps forward of what’s the potential for me to not solely develop this channel and get subscribers, however to make cash.
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The YouTube search bar is your finest device. 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 had been doing. One of many workouts I’d advocate everybody do is to go discover the people who find themselves speaking about the identical factor that you just wish to speak to.
Listing them out after which go to their YouTube movies and kind by common movies. That begins to offer 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 sure your channel retains rising?
For me, I believe naturally in the event you preserve placing out content material, it would continue to grow. It could not all the time develop on the identical tempo. Like, for example, within the private finance area, if you wish to get essentially the most views, it’s good to discuss issues which might be trending and keep on prime of the stylish subjects.
However I’ve sort of shifted to a special route with my channel, so I create content material that I am focused on speaking about as a substitute.
How do you steadiness YouTube and different ventures, like your authorized tech startup Plug and Regulation?
When you begin making a living for YouTube, you’ll be able to work out what you might be uniquely positioned to do, after which what you’ll be able to rent out.
So after I first began YouTube, I used to be working towards as a lawyer full-time, and doing YouTube as my aspect pastime for 20 hours per week on prime of that.
Credit score: Erika Kullberg
I edited the primary video myself and it took me 20 hours to discover ways 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 in a position to rent out totally different elements of it. So I used to be in a position to rent an individual who designs thumbnails. I discovered tips on how to rent and delegate duties. I’ve many individuals on my staff now who assist me, but it surely did not begin that approach.
You used to work in company regulation. What recommendation do you will have for somebody occupied with a profession change?
Be sure you come up with the money for to do it. For those who’re occupied with leaving or altering your profession or quitting to turn out to be an entrepreneur, begin saving up.
If you can begin exploring your aspect pastime on the weekends, hopefully, that aspect pastime, as quickly because it begins producing earnings repeatedly, can turn out to be your predominant factor and you may 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 folks, 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. Depart behind the company life and the flowery paycheck.
Credit score: Erika Kullberg
Do you will have some other recommendation for entrepreneurs who wish to begin and develop a YouTube channel?
I might say be clear in your mission, perceive the monetization route, perceive that outcomes are usually not going to be quick, it’s in all probability going to take you twice as lengthy to get to no matter subscriber depend you are hoping for, and so be affected person and perceive that it is quite a lot of work.
To offer context, I neglect the precise numbers, but it surely 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 hand over.
This interview has been reduce and edited for readability.
