Content creator Kristine Fernandez: ‘You can make millions’ vlogging

Australians could make millions of dollars video-blogging their lives. Experts reveal their tricks to success.

Vlogging has become the favoured way for young Australians to record their daily life – and it has the potential to earn them millions.

The popularity and success of creating mini films has seen them replace diary journals and photo galleries, and retailers are now stocking toy vlogging sets so children can play and experiment with the concept from an early age.

Social media coach and content creator Kristine Fernandez says vlogging – the conjunction of video-blogging – has becoming a dominant part of our daily social media consumption and a business model for some.

“It’s gradually turning into one of the main ways people document their lives by turning your life into a mini film, mixing the photo album with the diary,” Fernandez says.

Social media coach and content creator Kristine Fernandez says people can make millions vlogging.

She says it can quickly turn into a lucrative business with Genroe statistics last month finding YouTube is the second most daily visited social media platform by Australians (64 per cent) and research last October found 16.1 per cent of Australian internet users aged 16-54 watch vlogs.

Fernandez says multiple streams of vlogging income come from advertising, merchandising and sponsorships.

“Vlogs take time and commitment so it can be a hobby that’s on the side or, if you really love it, it’s the thing you’ll find time for and thrive,’’ she says.

“You can definitely make millions of dollars from vlogging.

“Once businesses realise how powerful vlogging is, it will be one of the most powerful tools they have. Most will have it in their marketing department and training departments.”

FOR THE LOVE OF IT

But those just seeking fame and fortune don’t tend to succeed. The trick is to genuinely love the format and the content.

For YouTube travel presenter Phoebe Lee, who has 72,000 subscribers on her Little Grey Box channel, it was a natural progression from a yearning to be a travel writer. She started with a blog in 2012 and as her confidence grew, her videographer husband suggested they make vlogs.

“It was a hobby for a long time, and I had a few years of learning on the fly,’’ Lee says.

“If I had my time again, I’d combine a good foundation of knowledge about how the algorithms work, with my passion for it. That grows your click rate 10-fold.’’

YouTube travel presenter Phoebe Lee from Little Grey Box.

She used to work for the Queensland government but now travels the world and has had experiences she never imagined she would have, such as staying in luxury hotels. Her vlogs take the form of a travel diary.

“It’s like a video scrapbook of all our adventures in one place,’’ she says.

“It’s very personal but I also have my audience front of mind so they’re right there with me. They’re moments of love and joy and I get to share my reactions with everyone but it’s not a performance. To do it for as long as I have, I just couldn’t fake it.’’

LIKE A DIARY

Fernandez says young people are fans of the “day in the life” diary format of vlogging.

“They’re already well accustomed to documentation on their mobiles and people find it interesting to see someone else live their life because it inspires them.”

Vlogger Ally Sheehan has 40,000 YouTube followers and 50,000 on Instagram.

Popular vlogger Ally Sheehan feels a genuine connection with her 40,000 YouTube followers and 50,000 on Instagram.

“It’s good that I started before you could make money from it because I’ve always been driven by the passion I have for it,’’ Sheehan says.

“I get a lot more joy from the comments than the subscriber numbers. I have the most amazing connection with my audience. One of them wrote the other day that it was like joining my slumber party.’’

Her format is to document her life whether being in the audience at a concert in the US or at summer camp.

“I’m just doing things about my life and if something I find exciting is happening, that’s what I document,’’ Sheehan says.

“It’s like my favourite moments with best friends.

“If a picture tells a thousand works, a video tells a million.”

VLOGGING TIPS

1. On YouTube, people want to sit down and invest time in watching a vlog, like watching a movie. The videos that do well for me are 40 minutes.
2. You want to hook the audience in the first 10 seconds, just like when you meet someone new.
3. If you’re making a movie, it’s about showing, not telling. Don’t say you’re going to a movie, just do it and video the process.
4. The equipment – use a portable Nikon Z-30 with the detachable microphone.

Source: Ally Sheehan