Is YouTube a Job?

Many people in creative industries have been ridiculed by others who believe their work isn’t a “real job”. In many cases, people appreciate such careers only when an artist attains great success. The same applies to YouTube. Regardless of the number of views or followers, a YouTuber might have, they may still hear comments like: “YouTube is not a job.” How true is such a statement though? Does developing YouTube content compare to the traditional concept of a real occupation? Well, nowadays, YouTube offers job opportunities for many people. Many content creators on this platform work with schedules and deadlines, just like in traditional jobs.

Is YouTube a job? Yes, YouTube is a job. In order to succeed as a YouTuber, one needs to follow specified work hours and work under somebody else’s authority. That’s similar to any other occupation out there. Successful YouTubers also enjoy a steady paycheck, but any business can go under at any time.

Many people around the world are fascinated by the possibility of leaving their day jobs to earn an income on YouTube. Nowadays, stories of persons coming from obscurity to gain fame and fortune by creating videos for online audiences are not uncommon. But the question still remains, how possible is it to make a living form this platform? In this article, I’ll look at the full-time YouTuber salary and the pros and cons of being a YouTuber. I’ll also answer, is being a YouTuber worth it? And is YouTube a good career? Read on to know more.

In this article you will find out:

YouTube forms some misconceptions about the reach content creators have. A true YouTuber goes beyond YouTube to grow their influence and income. They define strict work hours for themselves in order to meet deadlines and expectations of audiences. Additionally, they follow the authority of their viewers when necessary to create engaging content that’s worth seeing. They know how to navigate business and brand offers in favor of their content.

YouTube is not only a real job but a real career. It is as real as any other profession could be, but it needs passion, discipline, hard work and consistency.

For some reason, some people assume that even the most influential YouTubers are simply waiting on their AdSense paycheck to come in every month. That is utterly false. Similar to any organization, the content creators who want to turn their content into a career look for diverse income streams. Many of them communicate with brands and work on alternate platforms.

Some of the largest content creators have transformed their humble channels into full-blown companies with employees. The employees work effectively to ensure the company continues to earn money regardless of whether YouTube disappears one day. Hence, the perception that YouTubers are idiots depending one just one site to keep the money rolling is narrow-minded. That’s especially so in light of the brand deals many YouTubers are doing every other day.

Vloggers on YouTube are diverse. Daily vloggers pour into planning their daily lives around what would make excellent content for their audience. If something tragic happens, they have to define a fine line between opening up to their viewers and retaining some privacy. Similar to any production studio, daily vloggers spend lots of money on equipment to capture their stories. And edit late into the night to ensure the content is uploaded on time. They’re not free to do whatever they feel like; these people are bound to an occupation they have chosen.

The other types of vloggers are the people who share news, review products, share theories, and discuss topics or events. The amount of research that goes into all those areas usually goes unappreciated by many viewers. The biggest content creators in this field do not simply flip on a camera and start speaking. They pour in time and effort into the pre-production and research process to produce exquisite content.

So, how does a YouTube job compare to a traditional job?

Specified Hours for Work

Many successful YouTubers work with schedules and deadlines. They need to be disciplined enough to complete projects on time. Businesses or brands they partner with expect sponsored videos to meet their standards. If a YouTuber works within a network, he or she is contractually obligated to work based on the requirements of the network. Although they do not possess a shift calendar, vloggers still have to wake up early each morning, seven days a week and work late hours if they want success.

Under Somebody Else’s Authority

YouTubers have a certain freedom to produce whatever content they desire. However, that’s not a good idea all the time, if one wants to become successful. Just as a sales associate works under the authority of a manager, YouTubers are under the authority of their viewers. They need to create content that engages their audience. If they do not, they’ll be “fired”.

Steady Paycheck

Yes, many successful YouTubers technically have a steady paycheck. However, any business can come crumbling down. Any company can begin to lay off workers for any number of reasons. Different industries have different turnover rates, and job security is usually an illusion. Anyone could be out of work at any time because of something out of their control. The same applies to YouTubers. A content creator on YouTube might be receiving viewers, growing their presence, gaining brand partnerships, etc., then some crazy rumor about them comes up and everything comes to a halt. In such a case, one may have to begin from the bottom again just like anybody else who’s lost their job.

Is Being a YouTuber Worth It? – What is the Full-Time YouTuber Salary

Without a doubt, there are still many skeptical people out there who don’t believe it’s possible to earn money online. In reality, there are many success stories of people who’ve found their fortune on the internet. YouTube is just one of the numerous ways to become a web sensation and those who are fortunate enough even become online millionaires.

For any expat wondering how much YouTubers make, check out the following guide:

· In general, Google pays out 68 percent of its overall AdSense revenue to publishers. Therefore, for each $100 an advertiser pays on the platform, Google pays $68 to the content creator.

· The actual rates advertisers pay vary, but they usually range between $0.10 and $0.30 per view. However, they average out at $0.18/view.

· A YouTube channel can get an average of $18 per 1,000 advert views. That equates to $3-$5 per 1,000 content views.

Pros and Cons of Being a YouTuber

Just like most things in life, being a YouTuber also comes with several advantages and disadvantages.

Pros of taking up YouTube as a career:

It Allows a Person to Follow Their Passion: YouTube gives writers, entertainers, producers and directors a chance to follow their passion. It also enables them to connect with different people from across the world.
No Degrees Required, No Age Limit: Making videos for YouTube does not require any college or university degree. Talent is sufficient if one knows how to resonate with his or her audience. Additionally, there’s no minimum age requirement to start a YouTube channel. Many musicians and artists have found an online audience and closed mega deals all thanks to YouTube.
No Need for a Physical Office: A person can set up their YouTube channel from anywhere and at any time. They can start it in their kitchen, bedroom or backyard with just some good video shooting equipment and catchy scripts.
Minimal Pressure: Sure, YouTube is competitive and it’s difficult for one to make their mark. But all a person needs is to understand their audience and know what content is most revered.

Cons of being a YouTuber:

The Cost of Creating Fine Content: Having a million-dollar idea is excellent, but funding is necessary is moving it forward. Creating videos using a smartphone is great, but for those who are aiming higher, having decent equipment is crucial. Using high-quality YouTube gear and hiring talent for videos could enable the production of top quality content. However, both of these methods cost money.
Consistency Is a Challenge: It’s not easy for many YouTubers to produce content consistently with similar quality. Channel owners might not have adequate content to do a follow up of a certain series. Or a video might not be as effective as the prequels, which can lead to loss of viewership.
It Takes Time: Even if a YouTuber’s content is focused on trends, it is difficult to get a consistent audience. 300 hours’ worth of video content is uploaded every minute to YouTube. Users on the platform are spoilt for choice, so not all videos are watched.
Plagiarism: Setting up a YouTube Channel is not difficult, but ideas do get copied. Many brands follow up on plagiarism cases aggressively, but humble channel owners don’t even have the means to know if their ideas have been copied.

Is YouTube a Good Career?

A career in YouTube comes with its own advantages and disadvantages and the choice really depends on a person. It takes money to produce impressive videos and there’s no shortage of haters on the worldwide web.

To succeed in YouTube, a person needs conviction and vision. Do they have the talent that will capture the attention of online audiences? How much faith do they have in their content? Does it have the potential to challenge the mainstream and traditional content? Are they ready to work late nights, shoot and edit videos frequently, develop scripts, not have a regular paycheck and collaborate with entertainers? If the answer is yes to those questions, then a career in YouTube is worth exploring.