One thing I forgot to mention in the video was Affiliate links, This is another way KZfaqrs bring in money, there are programs you can sign up through with Amazon or more recently through KZfaq themself. You can add product links in the description of a video, hopefully, ones related to the content. If a viewer ends up going to the link and making a purchase the channel gets a small % and costs the buyer nothing extra. We made a few hundred from these but I kind of forgot to include them till recently. So if you see random links on KZfaqrs pages that is most likely what that is.

Honestly I think art channels that focus on marketing are so important nowadays because a lot of artists depend on networking and marketing themselves

o the delicate balance of wanting to make youtube cash and not wanting to sell out to sponsors 😔

I feel like not a lot of people talk really transparently about income and revenue etc so it's really refreshing to see honest info!

Your videos are some of the only artist vlogs I’ve ever watched more than once… and your transparency with useful info is primarily why. Your talent and humor keep me coming back. So *chef’s kiss* and congrats on being monetized. I went back and liked any videos I may have forgotten to the first time. That 100k subs plaque will no doubt on the horizon

I think one of my pet peeves with art channels that focus on marketing is a lot of them are just there to sell their glorified courses, give super generic advices that anyone can find with a quick simple google search and also never show their 'successful' store that gave them good income etc. Same applies to KZfaqr marketing videos. Most of them tells you the things you want to hear but don't give any info about their own business and what worked for them personally. Which is why I'm always a huge fan on your videos. Absoloute massive fan of your first video and was how I found you as I was looking up marketing info for artist on KZfaq. Your thumbnail caught my eye. Keep up the good work man!

Love your videos and your sincerity and openness about how the business side of art/illustration works right now. I work as an illustrator doing art for Pathfinder RPG for Paizo, but I had no idea of many of the things you have talked about. Besides your content is always so polished, well edited and clear. Thank you :)

Congratulations on a year+ of resting your weary bones and stretching those editing muscles 💪

As someone who’s been toiling away in the shadows to start their channel for uhhh months, this info is super helpful!! Thanks man :)

I started watching your videos and i didnt realise I follow you on instagram. Thank you for your service, sir.

That video you shared about expenses was the first one I found that brought me to you! I love your transparent videos about money in relation to art. It helps me have a more realistic perspective on my own goals.

Another great video that's bound to help a ton of artists!

Any chance you can make a video about how you taught yourself? Tutorials or classes you used, inspirations, how you developed a process, concepting, scripting, and any roadblocks along the way. I really like your methodical, analytical approach to things, and I've love to hear more about your thought process. Either way, congrats on getting monetized, your work is great and you deserve it! Hope to see you at again conventions this year too.

I’ve been watching since your money talk video. I’m so glad you pursued this and your niche is something artists need and want. I’m also new to doing my own KZfaq videos. I’m learning as I go and I hope to be monetized one day. :)

You know, one of my biggest complaints in senior year of my BFA in college was that they DIDNT do any sort of training on marketing, how to work with the gallery system etc. Your channel is golden for all of that information, and I have taken a lot from it, thanks @inkwell

Uugghh...Monday morning after a fun weekend hurts. 😜 Inkwell posting a cool video makes it all better. Thanks, buddy! 🤗👏

I loved the transparency here! As someone who recently started learning art, I found your channel to be a breath of fresh air compared to some other art channels. Keep it up!

Very well explained Dustin!! Keep em coming! 💛

my fav art youtube channel

This is so inspiring! I recently launched my channel, and videos like this are what keep me going. Thank you for your transparency, and I wish your channel/art journey all the best!!

Your videos have really reignited my motivation to create art again tbh. I had always wanted to try my hand at something like an art fair/artist's alley, but there weren't any resources that were transparent with the upfront costs/work that went into it and it always seemed too risky for me to jump into blindly. Thanks to your videos I was finally able to make a solid roadmap towards achieving that goal!

It was the enamel pin video that got me, I love pins! Unfortunately you didn't have any pins when I sought you out at San Diego comic con last year 😢. I did buy your art though to support your art, and your work is beautiful 🥰

I hope you keep on growing, your content and transparency in it means a lot.

honestky i've only know of like 4-5 fully dedicated art channels that are striving. The brand matters more then the art is what I've gathered from the successful ones. Though I'm happy that you were able to get monetized in the first year. Not a lot of channels hit that milestone. Hopefully it'll actually become something later in the years.

The first video of yours that the algorithm server up to me was “How Much Money I Make As An Artist (With Exact Numbers)” and that video did not disappoint. I’ve watched every video since.

Oh wow, I caught you in the very beginning on your first video?... Wttffff. I had no idea lol

I always find your videos really insightful. As someone who used to be heavily in the AA scene 7 years ago then stopped once i got an industry job, seeing what it has evolved into has been crazy. I still love to see what others are doing though which is why your channel is one of my favorites on youtube! It's nice to see someone thoroughly explain some of the things that used to be more hush hush amongst those in the scene. Thank you for sharing it all! It's not easy for anyone to be so open about their financials in running a business so thank you for providing that information! Your self analysis on the end about growth I think was really practical and a great way to think about it. It seems like a great start for something that you started as supplemental income in these days where it's harder for artists to get reach on social media. Some of your videos, like the enamel pin one, have great evergreen potential, so I look forward to hearing about year two as you continue to grow. If you decide to do one that is! You briefly touched on it, but video editing is definitely a completely different wheelhouse from creating art. It seems like artists these days have to learn how to wear more and more hats to make it independently. Hopefully you're able to speed up some of that process with your gained experience in the coming year. Until then, looking forward to the next one!

Thank you for sharing! I really enjoy yoyr content!

This is fascinating, thank you for sharing ☺☺

Your content's well-articulated and presented to the point that it's interesting to me as someone outside the immediate art scene (though I've worked in adjacent industries). it's p. interesting to see the actual breakdown numbers, likewise with the convention stuff too.

Great video, as always!

There are not many ppl making readers digest, chicken soup for the soul videos about selling your art. 😂 I enjoy clicking and listening while i work.

Amazing and informative ty :)

It might be that the people who follow you aren't typically artists, so they wouldn't be interested in an art marketing channel. So the people who are following you now probably are people in the art world in someway/artists trying to learn from you. So your youtube is a service and advice, that only you can provide, vs your art that is a product. So you are selling two different things from a business standpoint.

Its a matter of time before your blow up!... I will say, I enjoyed this video, the style of editing and your charisma. I have not yet seen your art but I'll probably contribute to a couple watch mins for you...

Thank you so much for making these videos! They are really helpful and entertaining :D

Feeding the Beast, donating some engagement

I find your channel so very helpful thanks for your content it makes a huge difference ❤

Thanks for the info :)

Loving the content, you you should make a vid on how to start locally vending

super helpful! and so true that lots of sponsors reach out for free product reviews but the payoff may not be worth your time. another way to look at it though is sponsors could encourage ppl to create more content, which in turn could help increase your views. but ultimately this will depend on how much time you have

Shorts have done me very little service, minus cat content. My ADHD swing is about to try it again though for the summer. Local art shops have been my only real income, somewhere around 1k. Now I just have to connect with 50 more local art stores... I can see where selling at shows would be wildly exhausting very quickly - Good luck on the channel; you're doing very well on the editing so far as I've seen!

Funnily enough, I'm not an artist trying to learn about marketing. I'm a professional cook, who just happens to find the topic interesting. There is also of course the fact that you are an excellent host for the channel. I binge watched the content of the channel after finding it.

Yeah, the enamel pin video was the first I ever heard of you. Also, could you do a video on the whole acceptance process of cons? I remember you mentioning you'd do a video on that in a previous video. That would be super helpful, and thanks for all the tips you've given on your channel!

Artist marketing is a good niche to carve, I feel theres not many other artists making that kind of transparent content

ok but, studio setup tour when? I will not be teased like this 0:37. lmao

What i learned from this is if i wanna start a art channel. I should do the classic art tutorials that everyone likes. Competition os stiff on them though.

我很喜欢你的视频！非常期待下一个视频：）

Studio tour please 😢

* me liking every video * wow, I'm so charitable, may this endless charity make you rich

Thanks for all the insight! I think my goal of 2025 is to start my KZfaq!!

Although this might be a smaller niche than something like mindless Mr.Beast videos, your knowledge on marketing as an individual artist and willingness to be transparent about your experiences is truly invaluable to people trying to/thinking about making living with art. For artists who hole up just doing their own art, there are no where else to get this kind of information. It definitely opened my eyes about the possibilities when I first came across your videos and gave me hope for brighter future. It also allowed me to value my craft higher. Although digital art is very popular, this profession is still very new especially in this social media environment and you are really a godsend!

Oh wow I just discovered I can concentrate longer with the animal crossing music 😂😂😂😂

I liked and Subscribed because you're not yet a rich youtuber

I was really annoyed when KZfaq changed their policy on the monetization requirements many years ago. I was so close to getting a $10 check after several years of being monetized ;) Something for people to keep in mind is that ad revenue is not very stable as a lot factors can impact it. Like people like me who use Adblock and Ghostery due to security concerns. I guess there's not much point to this comment, other than appeasing the algorithm. Forget paying artists with exposure, I pay with engagement! Top tier customer right here ;)

One of these days ill figure out what im doing wrong

damn I am early

I hope one of these days you hit us with a "brought to you by RAID: Shadow Legends," out of nowhere.

KZfaq now actually put ads on every video, doesn't matter if channel is monetized. So monetization now means that youtube is sharing this money with a creator, which is kinda shady 😅

i'm having my youtube channel since more than 3 years, posting only animation and music, I got monetization this summer only, it take years, unless you show your face, talk,....

Ya boi doesnt like talking to people no more. Starts a youtube channel for a global audience.

CPM cost per impressions?

how do comments help a youtuber out?

That thumbnail 😭

surprised nintendo allowed use of Animal Crossing music with no copyright issues, lol they never miss the opportunity to sue somebody

Massively disappointing to watch.

I appreciate your content so much! Your insight is really a huge help ! Just started my own art KZfaq and i am still trying to get those watch hours in and it is SOOO Hard ! 🫠 Like i really don’t understand what thumbnails work and how to choose a title or tags and get my clickrate up Without selling my soul to gross clickbait :/ It truly boggles my mind, every time i think i know something and try to repeat it it doesn’t work the next time 😂… i just wanna make art and share it with people… should have studied marketing lol 🫠 also fell for free art supplies deal, at least i made sure i am not obligated to say anything at all about the product and have my own opinion… but i think in the future i will say no Just so It doesn’t stress me out as much bc i’m really just a tiny Channel and i have no idea what I’m doing :/