How Not to Start a YouTube Channel: Lessons from Jason Plays
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How Not to Start a YouTube Channel: Lessons from Jason Plays
Jason Plays, a YouTuber with over a quarter-million subscribers, recently released a video titled Hitting A Rough Patch..., where he opened up about financial struggles following his wife’s job loss. This revelation highlights several challenges that aspiring creators can learn from, particularly about planning, niche selection, and channel sustainability. Let’s delve into why Jason’s situation serves as a cautionary tale and how to avoid similar pitfalls when building a YouTube career.
1. The Risks of Over-Reliance on a Niche
Jason built his channel around No Man’s Sky, an indie game with a rocky launch but a passionate player base. While niche content can help creators grow quickly by appealing to a dedicated audience, it also presents significant risks:
Over-specialization: Jason effectively put all his eggs in one basket. By focusing almost exclusively on No Man’s Sky, he became heavily reliant on the game’s continued popularity. If interest in the game wanes, so does his channel’s viability.
Lack of flexibility: Over the last year, Jason has attempted to transition to other games, but with limited success. His audience, built around No Man’s Sky, has shown reluctance to follow him into new territories, as evidenced by fans begging him in the comments to return to the game.
Lesson: Build a brand around yourself, not just a single topic. Diversify early to ensure your channel remains sustainable even if the primary niche declines.
2. Financial Instability and Poor Planning
Jason’s reliance on unpredictable YouTube income compounded his financial challenges when his wife’s steady job was lost. This reveals two key mistakes:
Unstable financial reliance: YouTube revenue can be inconsistent due to algorithm changes, CPM fluctuations, and seasonal variations. Jason’s decision to depend on this unstable income stream was risky.
Poor investment choices: Building a channel exclusively around a small indie game, while passionate, limits growth potential. Expanding into related niches earlier could have mitigated this risk.
Lesson: Keep a stable secondary income stream while growing your channel. This safety net can prevent financial stress and allow for more strategic long-term planning.
3. Ignoring Audience Feedback
Jason’s polls to determine new games excluded No Man’s Sky, despite his audience’s ongoing interest. This disconnect between creator intent and audience demand further alienated his fanbase.
Lesson: Regularly engage with your audience and adapt to their preferences. Pivot carefully and include them in the transition process.
4. Asking for Financial Support
While crowdfunding can be a valid tool in emergencies, Jason’s request for donations surprised many, given his large subscriber base. Public perception can be unforgiving when a creator appears financially unprepared despite visible success.
Lesson: Use crowdfunding sparingly and transparently. Demonstrate financial planning and self-sufficiency to maintain trust.
How to Avoid These Mistakes
Diversify Your Content:
Focus on broader themes or genres instead of a single game or topic.
Experiment with adjacent niches to find overlap with your existing audience.
Build a Personal Brand:
Showcase your personality, skills, or unique perspective.
Make yourself the reason people watch, not just the subject matter.
Maintain Financial Stability:
Keep a steady job or side hustle until your channel’s income is reliable.
Save a portion of your earnings for emergencies.
Engage Your Audience:
Involve viewers in your content evolution.
Use polls, Q&A sessions, and feedback to guide changes while respecting their preferences.
Plan for Longevity:
Anticipate the eventual decline of your primary niche and have a backup strategy.
Collaborate with other creators to cross-promote and reach new audiences.
What to Do If You’ve Hit a Dead-End
Rebrand Gradually:
Transition your content over time, introducing new topics alongside existing ones.
Use your current niche as a stepping stone to broader themes.
Learn New Skills:
Develop skills like video editing, graphic design, or public speaking that can enhance your channel and open up other opportunities.
Leverage Your Community:
Build a sense of community and loyalty among your audience.
Introduce Patreon, merchandise, or memberships as supplementary income streams.
Evaluate Your Strategy:
Identify what worked and what didn’t in your channel’s growth.
Analyze successful creators in your desired niche for inspiration.
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Other Statistics
No Man's Sky Statistics For Sky Masters Media
At present, Sky Masters Media has 335,132 views spread across 1,456 videos for No Man's Sky, with His channel publishing over 14 days worth of content for the game. This makes up 60.20% of No Man's Sky content that Sky Masters Media has uploaded to YouTube.