This video should be part of middle school and high school curriculum. It's important for people to understand the reality of becoming internet famous or a KZfaq Superstar who gets to buy Lamborghinis etc.

It’s the old saying “the people who make money in a gold rush are those selling shovels”

As a "hobby level" KZfaqr, I can say everything in this video is very accurate. There is definitely a path to make big bucks on social media, but most who "make it" work really really hard to get there. Very difficult to do as a side hustle.

I also wonder the longevity of even the successful creators. Even if they don't burn out, is this a career that can last you 10-15 years while making enough while saving for retirement?

Content creation being compared to the gold rush is perfect. It's not something people should be relying on for any kind of stable income; don't look at the highest earners/most popular creators and assume that can someday be you.

This was a really informative and worthwhile video, even for someone who has no interest in becoming a content creator.

Omg I actually felt so bad at the start for skipping the ad 😭😭

Great video, love all your work! As an educational creator with over 100K subscribers, I would add one more non-financial benefit: the benefit of helping people learn something (that I am sure you, as educational creators yourselves, share). When I created my channel, it was because there wasn't good content online educating people about philosophy, not because I ever thought I could make money doing it. It is still strange to me that KZfaq wants to pay me for just doing something I love, and that mentality (treating it as a hobby, not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good) helps me not feel burnt out too often.

This entire video was spot on. I spent 4 years on KZfaq and Twitch trying to make it (didn't quit my job, don't worry) clawing my way to 2000 subs on YT and barely above 500 followers on Twitch. Needless to say I didn't make enough to even call the income I generated lunch money. I learned a lot about making content and gained a fair few skills I use in my career. Content creation is no picnic and it's not the dream job people make it out to be in their heads. It's easy to get sucked in by the content creator gurus, the tool developers and the platforms themselves but trust me when I say it's rough trying to even turn it into a side hussle. Don't get me wrong. Making content can be a fun endeavor but the emotional toll it takes is quite high. Unless you know for a fact that you'll never get enamored by the attention and purely do it for fun - which, by the way, is a very human thing to fail at - you'll quickly feel like a worthless piece of poop every time your video barely gets a couple of views or your post barely catches any attention. One thing I feel you got wrong was citing talent as a factor for success. Talent is a misleading term to use as it implies to most people that you need to be born with certain skills and affinities. For sure, we are attracted to particular facial and physical characteristics which are part of our genetics. However, you can become an expert at pretty much every skill if you spend the grueling amount of time required. To that effect, if you already have a skill you're good at and can identify an under-represented market within the platforms you can fill with your skill, then you may have a decent chance at a side-hustle.

This is exactly why I'm not a content creator. It's just not for me even though I love that you guys do it. Also after 3.5 years unemployed I FINALLY got a job! Thanks to your videos I know just what to do with my finance salary too!

One of the main reasons I left Instagram was because I was obsessed with likes and follows. It didn't even pan out the way I wanted either. I became disgusted with myself - that I would tie my identity to that. So after a long hiatus from Instagram I nuked my profiles forever.

A bit late to the party, but one thing I recommend is starting cheap with KZfaq. If you check almost any popular KZfaqr, you can see extremely low budget videos early on. Just work with equipment you have and as your channel grows, you can upgrade. You will have less pressure to get views (you most likely will not for a while) and because the videos are not as fancy, you will spend less time with each video and avoid burnout. Fantastic video as always (I'm binging them) and I learned a ton.

Need to make this a required video for aspiring creators to make informed decisions.

Oh, My Friends, you nailed it. I am a full time youtube creator and fall into that "successful" category and yet still barely make enough to justify the time. So, so very good.

I realized that the secret to making a million is saving for a better investment. I always tell myself you don't need that new Maserati or that vacation just yet. That mindset helped me make more money investing. For example last year I invested 80k in stocks (with the help of my Financial Advisor of course) and made about 246k, but guess what? I put it all back and traded with her again and now I'm rounding up close to a million.

this was amazing to watch as always but as a creator it’s even better. i’ve been trying to do this for 14 years and only in the past 8 months has it taken off. and it’s only taken off on 1 or 2 platforms. i have a full time job and this is like 2 jobs sometimes. i worked in social media for 5 years and saw the burnout in real time and the toll it takes. my content is really geared towards not being burnt out. i make sure to put my irl people first as much as i can but it takes a toll when things don’t succeed. any way, amazing video and channel as always!

How you guys don't have millions of subscribers is beyond me. The content is always great and informative.

Nice to see you two again. Creating content is a lot of work, it's still just a side hustle for me and I enjoy doing it. I average around $200 a month, nothing to live on but it's nice to have that extra cash coming in.

What a great analogy. There's a lot of tools, softwares, and services you need to buy in order just to make 1 content decent. And then there's also issue where creators are chasing algorithms until they burnout and lost their personality.

Thank you so much!!! No1 talks about this on youtube and you only hear stories from the people that made it. Thank you fur running the numbers.

For US citizens you are definitely right, but for someone in the poorest of the developed countries or most of the developing countries, let alone other parts of the world, playing his guitar and getting $2000 per month is a dream that would put them well above the average income of their country....

Sooo helpful! I try to explain this stuff to folks but they always get caught up in the glitz and glamor to think critically of content creator jobs. Thanks for posting.

I've seen a big trend toward my favorite creators taking months to make several hour videos...and it seems to be working. Those videos churn out literally millions of views when some of their shorter work was less than 20 minutes with not nearly the views that the feature length one does. Content creation as a way to attract and develop community for a business is also another way to engage the power of the medium.

Another great video! I love seeing the highs and lows of being a content creator. It's important for people to get the whole picture before jumping in head first.

Thank you for sharing this video and the harsh reality of being a KZfaqr! I am a new creator on KZfaq and finding out quickly how challenging this can be. Some people definitely have it easier getting noticed while the rest of us are busting our bottoms for numbers. I have a full time job and KZfaq is just a part time gig, but I would love to be able to make it full time. It’s not easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is! Keep up the great work Two Cents and keep on pushing forward KZfaqrs!

Gee, it's almost like being a KZfaqr should be taken as a hobby, not a profession. Also, the censored pig on Onlyfans 😂😂😂

Amazing video! Definitely a dose of realism! Also just remember that being part of that 5% isn’t as hard as it sounds because most videos and creators really don’t have their act together or take content creation seriously. Do a thing for a few years with decent video and sound with relevant topics and you’ll be fine. Be intentional when you stream/post youtube videos. I made like 1k last years from only a few months of streaming on twitch. Key is make content 1-3x a week put yourself out there and be consistent and constantly look for ways to make stuff better. The issue is that being that consistent means a lot of stability in life most people don’t have. I had health issues late last year and had to stop. Hoping to get started again though. I have a few friends that earn over 50% of their income from content creation. It allows them to do gig economy work and earn money in other ways (investments, gigs, etc). Many of my streamer friends are musicians though and most have some sort of team (mods) helping them.

I did not skip the add before this video, but the two ads, plus the add in the middle of the video plus the one at the end. I have no problem with ads, but on KZfaq there are just too many of them. So many that if you don't block them, the site becomes unusable. That's why I tend to support channel in different forms...

Thank you for the video I needed that honest assessment of being an influencer. I've heard it all before but never in such a digestible way.

I always felt like those “how to be a KZfaqr” KZfaq channels were a bit of a pyramid scheme. It’s a fun side hustle, but the stress of every decision I make online determining my income for the month would be unbearable.

Great catch on "totally disrupts business strategy". Look what happened with youtube in Russia - one click of the button in google HQ - and ALL of youtubers there were left without and income immediately.

This is something I have been wondering about. I have observed that those with specialist skills like health professionals and lawyers do very well on social media. Its been good for a few breakout stars but the majority of people who do well on social media already had the training and life skills for financial stability anyway.

Sure, I am a content creator but, I never quit my day job. If anything this has helped me perfect my own personal life skills like time management and public speaking. There are only a few that manage to make this concept a true career.

It is a job. Does it add value to the marketplace? is the real question.

Great couple you are guys, always bringing good info.

I think ur videos are so entertaining that once its start we have to watch it in full. Love uh both.

this is the best 2 Cents video I've ever seen. Very real and very to the point. I'm going full-time this year and this prompted me to lock in on tracking my revenue even more closely.

Great video! Good is your best cold open to date. That was quite funny, lol. I loved the Sauron analogy with KZfaq.

Loved the Sauron reference in your graphic.

Another fantastic video, I need to bookmark this link to share with some younger relatives. And really cool tattoos, guys!

Love this! I never realized that corporations and schools that encourage the creation of influencers had such a shady motive. Yeesh.

Thank you for this video. It makes me feel much better by having a regular job. I do get most of the benefits mentioned from my company. We kind of seem allured that people on KZfaq are making tons of money, but that's for very few people.

As always great videos! Love you guys

❤❤❤ thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience 🙏. New into this and glad to know the numbers and harsh reality.

love ur videos and can not wait for next one

thx for all the info and help. yall are amazing and love when we run the numbers

Very insighful and informative. I enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work.

I appreciate this video because I've been thinking about this topic a lot

Eye opening! Thank you

Thank you for the video, those are some valuable cents. I don't think it's sustainable for most people to be a full-time content creator, but as a side hussle, it can probably offer you some benefits.

god ive always freaking loved you guys. keeping it real, thanks for the content : )

This just opened my mind that maybe I should stick the work i have, before really deciding to quit something that's not well for my social anxiety. Keep hustling before doing something I want to do full time.

super helpful, thank you guys so much for the great content!!!

I’m straight up going to show this to my students in class next week! Thank you!

Being a solid content creator requires diversification and being a savvy businessperson. It is very difficult to launch to success on one platform alone.

I value y'alls videos more than you can imagine!

I have to admit, in respect to the gold rush metaphor, that PBS supplies some pretty darn good shovels and picks for media; like the Sears and Roebuck catalogue during the real gold rushes.

Great video guys!

Great vid, thanks for shedding some light on the hiden reality of content creator's financial and personal life.

Next video: "Are 'Instragram Influencer' or 'Life Coach' real jobs?" Short answer: No

Awesome video, love you work

Great insight 👍🏾

i do some content creation, but i realise that i will never get money from it, and don't plan to do so, i just do it as a hobby.

Really enjoyed this realistic perspective on content creation as a career! I think this is something anyone should watch before considering creating content, even as a side hustle.

This video is so relevant to today. LOVE THIS! I'll be sharing with everyone. Thank you.

Thanks for your "2 cents". Great advice

No joke 0:08 contains better range and acting than 99% of all Insta/TikTok videos. 😂 Nicely done Julia!

Well put guys!

Aouch! I felt that one! 😅

Great video - looks to be a realistic assessment to anyone interested in going down this route. However, I still think it's important to distinguish between those who are "full-time" vs keeping it a side hustle. If making videos is an enjoyable hobby for someone I think they should continue with it, and to just remember that it doesn't need to take more time than it's ultimately worth.

Thanks for being honest!

Great video!

You guys are awesome!

This is one of the best KZfaq channels. Thank you for your honesty!

I thought about being a content creator myself. However, after taking on a fulltime job and realizing that I'm the sort of person who can't give up her days off unless if it's a paid work emergency, it makes me wonder if ever I'll get the luxury to even travel to New York or Los Angeles to become an actress/model. Plus, I need health insurance so yeeeeaaahhh...I'm going to need a HECK of a lot of help if ever I want to "have my own hours" again. I got bullied by my then-partner for wanting to work like a Chinese person (meaning I wanted at least one day off a week, which he didn't like) back in my freelance writing days...Thanks for making this video, by the way! It was rather informative.

Vibing with the new look, Phillip. Rock on.

I have been on KZfaq for 12 yrs, I don't make any money, I just have fun sharing videos. I have never gotten money directly from youtube, a few times I got a referral, but that maybe was enough for me to pay for a dinner.

I miss the mustache...

Thanks for the great vid! Can you run the numbers for singers as well?

Yes, this is the video topic I really wanted to know about, especially in a time when anyone can become an online celebrity

I have a tiny blog about books and reading that i started this January. The audience is just my 4 close friends, who always ask me about a good book to read. So, instead of recommending the same book 4 times, i just publish a small post about it and make a funny pic. And i must say, that I don't make elaborate videos, but even writing a blog post and taking a funny pic is rather challenging since i have a day job, a side hustle at the university and lots of other stuff called life. Yet, since I don't depend on it as my primary source of income, i am actually enjoying the challenge. Besides,this blog serves as a reader's journal, you know, to keep track of books i read, interesting quotes etc.

Loved that LOTR reference

I started my channel as a side project years ago, and then let it sit idle before coming back to it in 2019. I view it as a very difficult hobby with a negative monetary cost rather than a "job". Having finally obtained monetization rights, I reckon that I've made a return of about 25 cents an hour on my hard work. It's an interesting thing to try, and I'm glad to have had the chance to sharpen skills outside of my day job, but it's very risky to try full-time, and the smarter owners of the successful channels all have an exit strategy. It rubs me the wrong way when KZfaqrs have SquareSpace sponsorships, because their ad-read definitely preys on hopeful creatives, encouraging them to sign up for a subscription before they even have a business plan. I personally know someone who's had a website for years through such a service, but their business isn't really even up and running.

I agree with this 100% with first hand experience

Thanks for this. Out of all the "what do I make on youtube" and "can you make a living" this one beats all of them by miles with concrete facts.

Another thing that I like to remind myself of too is that lots of content creators, just like yourselves, are married and that spouse often works at a job completely unrelated to what the content creator is doing. That job is the one that has the stable income, benefits, and retirement plan that can support the creator's less stable income. Even if a person is running a channel themselves chances are good there's support behind them both financial and otherwise that we don't see.

I’d say it’s more of a lifestyle and another stream of income. And yes, Julia, I did hit that skip ad button, what are you going to do about it????? 🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪

Good job guys

Great video. The only question I have is, for example, you mentioned the top 3 percent of youtube creators make x amount, but what is the total number used. Is it anyone who has ever uploaded even 1 video, or is it people who upload weekly, monthly, or in the past month? I ask because I uploaded about 10 videos for my math students a few years ago, but then stopped and just share those videos via Google Classroom. I should be included in the total, but maybe I am depending on how you decided to count a content creator. Thanks.

Good analysis

Nice job you guys

Another issue I see for many creators (if not most) is the diminishing returns in the quality of their videos. The demands of chasing an algorithm do not go well with the creative process, I think. I know restraints and barriers can stimulate creativity, but not when you're constantly under pressure.

Content creation is more aligned to starting a business. It is not a job.

Great video.

Gotta be honest, thumbnails were more clickable when Philip still had the mustache 🙉

The financial bros of KZfaq im curious about their legitimacy though..they will make videos titles with claims such as " how i make $4,000 a week on KZfaq"

5:43 is SPOT ON! Don't battle for status.

Damn this was good! Will keep it as a side hustle/hobby for now.

I'd say it depends on your usage of content creation. If you rely on affiliates, sponsorships, ad revenue, it's rough. But if you use it to advertise another business (say products) it's an effective marketing channel

Really helpful and informative! Please bring back the moustache.