I don't think I can keep doing this.
TLDRThis video script reveals the creator's struggle with declining viewership and revenue on their YouTube channel, which focuses on climate crisis education. Despite being a full-time science communicator for seven years, recent personal challenges and algorithmic shifts have led to a downward trend in views. The creator is now at a crossroads, considering a pivot in content strategy to better engage the audience and sustain their career, while acknowledging the need to support their family.
Takeaways
- 📉 The creator has experienced a significant decline in video views, with recent uploads receiving half to a third of the expected viewership.
- 📈 The creator's revenue is closely tied to views, as it affects earnings from Google AdSense and sponsorships.
- 💼 The business has been operating at a loss for the past two years, with occasional profitable months that kept it afloat.
- 🔻 In 2022, the downward trend in views continued, with only a few videos achieving a successful viewership.
- 🏠 Personal life events, such as the creator's father's terminal illness and passing, and the birth of his daughter, have caused disruptions in content production.
- 🤔 The creator acknowledges that YouTube's algorithm and platform changes may be affecting visibility and views, but does not solely blame them for the decline.
- 📚 The creator has spoken to other educational content creators facing similar struggles, indicating a broader issue in the educational content space on YouTube.
- 💡 The creator plans to pivot the content strategy to focus more on audience demand and questions, rather than solely his own expertise and interests.
- 💼 The creator is considering reducing costs, such as by editing videos himself, but acknowledges this may lower content quality and frequency.
- 🚫 The creator feels a responsibility to provide for his family and may need to consider alternative employment if the channel does not improve.
- 🙏 The creator expresses gratitude for Patreon supporters, who have been crucial for financial survival and is open to further support through Patreon.
Q & A
What is the main concern expressed by the speaker in the video script?
-The speaker is concerned about the declining viewership and revenue of their YouTube channel, which is affecting their ability to continue their full-time job as a science communicator about the climate crisis.
How has the speaker's viewership trend been over the past year?
-The speaker's viewership has been on a downward trend, with only a few videos in 2022 achieving a successful number of views, and the decline has continued into the current year.
What are the three main pillars supporting the speaker's business?
-The three main pillars supporting the speaker's business are Google AdSense for ads on videos, sponsorships for sponsor slots within videos, and Patreon for additional support.
How does the speaker describe the correlation between views and revenue?
-The speaker describes a decent correlation between views and revenue, with more views leading to higher revenue, especially through Google AdSense and sponsorships.
What personal events have impacted the speaker's ability to create content?
-The speaker's father was diagnosed with terminal cancer and passed away, and the speaker also took paternity leave after the birth of their daughter, both of which significantly impacted their ability to create content.
How has the speaker's approach to making videos changed over the years?
-The speaker believes they have been approaching video creation as if it were still 2017, starting with their own knowledge and teaching the audience, rather than starting with what the audience wants to know.
What is the speaker's plan to address the decline in viewership and revenue?
-The speaker plans to pivot the kind of videos they make, focusing on answering questions the audience has about the climate crisis and surrounding topics, in an attempt to create content that better aligns with audience interests.
What challenges does the speaker face in trying to create a new revenue stream?
-The speaker has tried creating exclusive content for Nebula, launching a podcast, and consulting with other creators, but these efforts have not stopped the decline in revenue.
What is the speaker's view on the current state of educational content on YouTube?
-The speaker believes that educational content supported by YouTube's algorithm is currently in a rough spot, and this issue is not unique to them but is affecting other creators of similar scale.
How does the speaker feel about their role as a science communicator?
-The speaker feels privileged to have made a living discussing what they consider the most important issue in the world, the climate crisis, and they believe it is the best use of their talents.
What is the speaker's call to action for their audience?
-The speaker is not directly asking for help but is being transparent about their situation and the changes they are trying to make. They mention Patreon as a way for the audience to support them if they wish to do so.
Outlines
📉 Declining Views and Revenue: The Struggle of a Science Communicator
The speaker, a full-time science communicator, discusses the challenges they face due to a consistent decline in video views and revenue over the past year. They mention that despite creating content about the climate crisis, their videos are not garnering the expected viewership, which directly affects their income from Google AdSense and sponsorships. The speaker also highlights personal setbacks, including the loss of a family member and the birth of a child, which have impacted their ability to consistently produce content, further contributing to the decline in channel momentum.
🔄 Adapting to Change: Reevaluating Content Strategy on YouTube
The speaker acknowledges the need to adapt to the changing landscape of YouTube and its audience's interaction patterns. They reflect on their content creation approach, which has remained largely unchanged since 2017, and recognize that it may no longer be effective. The speaker observes that successful channels now focus on audience demand before creating content, which contrasts with their own method of starting with their own knowledge and expertise. They express a willingness to pivot their content strategy to better align with audience interests and the current YouTube algorithm, despite the uncertainty and potential risks involved.
🚨 Crisis Point: The Future of a YouTube Channel in Question
In the final paragraph, the speaker conveys a sense of urgency and crisis regarding the future of their YouTube channel. They admit that despite efforts to diversify revenue streams and maintain content quality, the channel's financial sustainability is at risk. The speaker is considering significant changes to their content strategy, including focusing on answering audience questions about the climate crisis. They express gratitude for the support from their Patreon community, which has been crucial for their survival, and invite viewers to consider supporting them if they wish to help reduce reliance on advertising revenue. The speaker is determined to fight for the channel but acknowledges the possibility of having to end their full-time commitment to YouTube if the situation does not improve.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Climate Crisis
💡Science Communication
💡YouTube Algorithm
💡Revenue
💡AdSense
💡Sponsorships
💡Patreon
💡Content Creation
💡Viewer Engagement
💡Personal Circumstances
💡Pivot
Highlights
The speaker has been a full-time science communicator for nearly seven years but is considering leaving due to recent challenges.
This year's videos have received significantly fewer views, continuing a trend from the past year.
In 2022, only 4-5 out of 24 videos achieved a successful view count, affecting revenue.
Revenue is correlated with views, impacting Google AdSense earnings and sponsorship opportunities.
The speaker's business has been making a loss for two years, previously offset by occasional high-profit months.
Personal events, including a family loss and the birth of a child, have impacted the speaker's ability to create content.
YouTube's recommendation algorithm may have contributed to the decline in views by not promoting the speaker's content.
The speaker acknowledges the need for a change in approach to video creation to better meet audience demand.
Attempts to diversify revenue streams, such as creating exclusive content and consulting, have not yet been successful.
Cutting back on expenses, such as the editor's fee, is considered but may lead to lower video quality and frequency.
The speaker plans to pivot to creating videos that answer audience questions about the climate crisis.
This change represents a significant shift in the speaker's video creation process and philosophy.
The speaker is transparent about the financial and personal challenges faced and the need for change.
Despite the difficulties, the speaker is committed to making a living discussing the climate crisis, an issue they deeply care about.
The speaker is considering reducing YouTube channel activity or changing the format if the current situation does not improve.
The speaker expresses gratitude for the support received from the Patreon community and its importance for financial survival.
The video serves as a call to action for change and a reflection on the speaker's career and the challenges of being a YouTuber.
Transcripts
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