Have you ever reached a point where you thought, “there’s more to life than this.” I’m personally referring to social media. I was spending way too much time on it. Partly because I wasn’t putting time into the things that mattered most, and partly because I felt if I wasn’t constantly on it, I wasn’t doing my job well enough. After all, I’m digitally based so it’s critical that I create content regularly. At what point is it enough though? That’s what I had to ask myself. It got to where I was losing the joy of being in the moment, which snowballed into, “I had more fun hunting before social media was a thing” and I had to figure out a way to get back to that.
I started hunting quite a bit without putting anything on social, and it’s funny because I ended up shooting hogs or getting closer to animals than ever before. I’m not saying it can’t be done while still posting to social, but I’m just not that advanced of a hunter yet. The truth hurts!! I have friends that video every second of their hunts and continue to get it done. I envy them!! I noticed I was learning less or missing signs due to not being in the moment and absorbing information, all because I was on my phone. It’s annoying to think about honestly. I loved hunting before social media came about, and I’d give up my business in a heartbeat if I didn’t figure out a balance. I’m happy to say that I think I’ve found what works best for me, and even happier to share it with you in hopes that it can be applied to your life as well. I’d be willing to bet that whether your job relies on digital content or not, you’re also spending too much time on social media.
I noticed that after taking a step backwards and living more in the moment, the weight lifted off my shoulders. Then I thought, “How can I continue to create content without having to be on social all the time too? There must be a solution, a balance, something!” Most of the time I’d post directly to my stories, rather than take a quick photo/video and reflect back on a later time. That’s when I thought about vloggers and how they edit content on the go, with as little turnaround time as possible. This allows them to capture content outside of social, then cut all the content together to be posted at a later date, rather than immediately putting it out for the world to see. It seemed like a happy middle ground: less social media time, enjoying the moment, still capturing quick clips, then posting within a few days versus 24 hours. I understand the desire of “right now,” but really people can just wait a whole hot minute.
The idea of starting to vlog was daunting. So many thoughts surfaced, all of which were negative:
I don’t even have very many subscribers, so the view count is going to suck.
Nobody is interested in “another YouTube channel”
Would anybody honestly want to see lifestyle updates?
I don’t even watch other Vloggers, so why would they watch me?
I don’t want to haul a camera and computer everywhere I go - it’s not realistic
What if the quality isn’t good enough?
I don’t know anything about YouTube’s platform and how to grow it
It’s so much effort to be consistent with making videos
What if I run out of interesting content to produce?
The list goes on. This is what people do when they don’t even give theirselves an opportunity to succeed, and I was doing just that. I was failing before I ever tried, all because my inner voice needed to be adjusted! I’ve now published 23 videos in less than 3 months. So how did I overcome those negative thoughts? I gave myself a pep talk and reminded myself the importance of self love, which cannot be achieved without a nice inner voice. Let’s address each one.
I don’t even have very many subscribers, so the view count is going to suck.
Right, kind of like when you started your Instagram with less than 350 followers at the time. Subscribers don’t happen overnight. Results come with consistency. Also, you have 2,000+ subscribers without even trying. That’s better than 0!
Nobody is interested in “another YouTube channel”
Don’t think of it like another YouTube channel - that’s just the platform to keep your videos in one place. It could just as easily be another app.
Would anybody honestly want to see lifestyle updates?
It’s literally no different than the people that watch your daily Instagram stories. Whether there’s 1 or over 1,000 people that watch each video, it’s worth it because you’re documenting good memories and it shows you’re truly living the lifestyle you promote.
I don’t watch other Vloggers, so why would they watch me?
They might not! Who cares!! Do it for yourself because you want to, not for the acceptance of another person! You don’t enjoy watching vloggers because their content is usually longer (10-30 minute videos), so do something you’re proud of! Make videos that are less than 5 minutes long, several times a week!
I don’t want to haul a camera and computer everywhere I go - it’s not realistic
So don’t. Get a tripod, a wide angle lens that connects to your phone, and record everything from the device that you hold every day - the same device that you post to social with. That’s more relatable anyway. Who can honestly afford to dump thousands of dollars into equipment right away?
What if the quality isn’t good enough?
Good quality comes with time, but you’ll reach more people by keeping it simple. It feels more attainable and therefore more relatable. It’s ok to share where you started and where you hope to be!
I don’t know anything about YouTube’s platform and how to grow it
Approach this situation the same way you would any other. Google it. Research it. Ask questions. Reach out to others who have been successful - the worst they can do is say they don’t want to help, or not respond, which has happened to you in the past and you overcame it . The best growth is by word of mouth anyways.
It’s so much effort to be consistent with making videos
Yep, sure is! It takes effort to be consistent with ANYTHING you desire, but consistency breeds results. This is also the exact reason many people fail - they stop before giving it a fair chance.
What if I run out of interesting content to produce?
Shut up. Unless you’re dead, there’s always interesting content to produce. You’re an adventurer, hunter, traveler, explorer, creator, and you get bored easily, which means there’s always some new (probably overstimulating) event to document.
I imagine that many of these thoughts are relatable, even if it doesn’t pertain to wanting to start a vlog. The way we talk to ourselves is SO powerful. Think about it - we hear ourselves more than the world around us, so might as well be nice. With all that being said, IF you’re interested in starting a vlog on a budget like me, to share your beautiful life or simply document memories, these are the very few items that I purchased, all for less than $200:
Moment 18mm Wide Angle Phone Lens: this was the first step for me because I don’t like self filming with the front phone camera where my face takes up the whole frame. I also wanted to be able to capture more around me, to give viewers a better glimpse of my surroundings. I’ve been super happy with this purchase!! The only complaint is that it’s a bit heavy in my opinion. I usually take it off unless I intend to use it, rather than keep it on my phone 24/7.
Moment Phone Case: if you plan to get the lens mentioned above, you’ll need to purchase the case as well - whichever case fits your phone obviously. I didn’t order this initially because I didn’t read thoroughly enough before ordering the lens. It was super frustrating opening the lens and not being able to use it, so make sure you get both of them!
Vanguard Vesta TT Tripod: Super sleek design so your setup doesn’t feel bulky as you’re hauling it from point A to B. I have a couple of these so that I’m always prepared!
LumaFusion: I did extensive research on video editing apps for iPhones and iPads; this app continued to be the most recommended after watching/reading numerous YouTube videos and articles. It’s a one time payment of $19.99 and it does everything I need it to do, on the go, no matter where I am. You don’t have to have cell phone service to edit either. Obviously you cannot upload your videos to any platform until you have service, but I can work from anywhere which is a must!
I purchased all of these for less than $200 because I got some of it on sale, but even if you pay full price for everything it’ll barely break that total number. That’s it!! Well, except for a phone, which I’m assuming you already have! I cannot say this enough: JUST START. Even if all you can do is pick up your phone and purchase the $20 editing app - just do it already. You will unintentionally grow to be more comfortable in front of a camera, get more creative with each video, and become more efficient at editing over time. I say this from experience, and I’m so glad I started!