Experiment going viral!

Shwepps said:

How are you doing now, OP? Did you find info on how much money have you already made?
P.S. Brilliant trend, very interesting experience.

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Well I made it through my first month! I got paid just under $400. It's nothing like what the pros get off youtube but for someone like me who has pretty much zero actual training and skills (everything I did I did with my own research and common sense knowledge on using video editing software, thumbnails, copyright free music, etc.). I've probably spent about a total of under 10 hours this month on my experiment channel so it's pretty easy money but don't quit your day job lol.

I haven't been uploading as much in the past 2 weeks so I noticed after 2 of my viral videos have slowed down to a trickle, everything else was slowing down like subs (I'm over 14K subs now from just this month alone), and I think I made about $18 bucks on patreon from 4 patreons haha!

Very interesting. So far no issues with copyright or reused content or any warnings/notices yet. So I guess I'll continue month #2 the same approach and keep posting more videos consistently to see if I can make the same amount next month.

I have noticed something though....it also depends on what niche your videos are targeting that determines who much money you get per click/views. I think for the amount of views that I got this past month in total of all my videos on this experiment channel (over 1 million views total), my payout is really small. I was watching some other videos sharing about how much money they make for their views/videos and some videos that get 1 million views easily get paid out 2K-10K or even higher. So depending on what niche you are in, you might be earning less per click/view vs another niche that pays out double or triple per click/view. So the niche I'm in right now with this experiment channel is not a high payout rate, but easy as heck at least.

Onto month 2 and I'll keep updating later on.....

Nice job Op... A few questions..
1) Did get monetization by simply editing other people's videos?
2) Were the videos a TV show or something that was aired on TV? Say soccer or basketball
3) Did you buy any promotional service to make your video go viral? Like posting on reddit etc
4) how long did it take to approve your channel?

MR.PDTECH said:

Nice job Op... A few questions..
1) Did get monetization by simply editing other people's videos?
2) Were the videos a TV show or something that was aired on TV? Say soccer or basketball
3) Did you buy any promotional service to make your video go viral? Like posting on reddit etc
4) how long did it take to approve your channel?

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1) yes
2) no, just from other youtubers channels
3) no, nor did I post it or share it to any other platform
4) once I reached 4000 watch hours and 1k subs, I applied and got approved for monetization in about 3 days I believe. It was very fast.

I have another experiment I am planning but I wonder if "information" is something that can be copyrighted?
I've only heard of copyright for things like videos and music but I haven't heard or seen of any copyrighted things for using pictures that aren't mine
or using information that I have taken from another youtube channel. Are these things that can be copyrighted? I don't have the answer and I'm sure I'll
find out myself as soon as I try my next experiment channel.

My idea is to basically take information and edit it the video myself. There are a ton of niche markets out right now dealing with information. I won't go into what particular
field or topic, but you could literally think of it yourself and get a good idea of what I'm talking about. It seems that one can simply take valuable information from any source
and just regurgitate it yourself and make a video about it. I know of a few channels that seem to do this already and they have immense success and no apparent copyrights
so I'm assuming you are allowed to take information that is not your original own and monetize off it as long as it's not a direct rip or copy of the exact same video.

I'll keep you posted on this next idea and see how that channel does when I launch it in a couple weeks or whenever I have enough time.

Just do it and then tell us about your results

Just an update: I haven't worked much at all on my experiment channel since I last posted. It's just sort of on cruise control and the videos I have up are trickling in cash for me still. I just got paid out again yesterday from adsense another $200 last month. So now in total, combining the first 2 months of this experiment channel, I have now earned $600. For someone like me, I'm really pleased with this project.

Would I love to make 10k, 20k, 50k, a month? Hell ya. Heck, I'd be stoked with just 2k / month, but right now 200 bucks a month is not bad at all! The channel is still up and running....*knock on wood* and no issues yet with copyright or request for take down.

I did notice something interesting.....the views went down a lot in North America but recently someone big must've shared it in South America because I was getting a ton of comments, subs, and views from South/Latin America lol. One of my videos which died down to about 500 views a day suddenly jumped to 85,0000 views in 48 hours and I was getting a lot of spanish commenters LOL. So it seems that just leaving my videos alone and doing nothing sometimes can still go viral if the right person comes along and decides to share it on their social media and BAM, it gets another injection of viral fever. So my top two videos now are at 700,000-800,000 views each. The rest are just chugging along between 5,000 - 50,000 views. I think I have posted a total of 12 videos now. Really easy work, only takes me about 10 minutes to edit the original video and make it into my version.

I haven't started the next project yet which is ripping information off of top youtube channels and just regurgitating it my own style and seeing if I can cash in on some of the wealth that is being massively generated by those channels. That's why I was asking in another post about whether or not people can get copyrighted for information (which I don't believe you can). I've received copyright strikes in the past on my other channel for videos and music, but I've never heard of someone getting copyright strike for paraphrasing or rewording information from another source. After all, the original source that I'm going to get the information from probalby isn't even original either! They most likely got that information from their own sources. So who is to say who is copying who and who can claim they have the rights to particular "information".

I'll keep you updated again maybe monthly about all this. I'd love to try and make some merch/tshirts (as I mentioned before) to try and make some more income. Because my channel is now pretty decent sized with plenty of views, I think if I simply created some tshirt designs of my "channel/content", I'd be able to sell more than a few! The idea is to have the design sent to a tshirt printing/distributing company so that when someone orders from me, I can just place the order to that company and have them ship it directly to the buyer (basically like dropshipping) and I'd pocket the margin. I've never tried this before but just my idea running around in my head....does this sound legit and doable?

Why don't you buy another Adsense account and keep running both the channels ?

krishnaverma said:

Why don't you buy another Adsense account and keep running both the channels ?

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Right now both my channels are linked to my one adsense account. Is it allowed by google adsense to own more than one account? I wasn't sure. Would I have to enter in totally different names/address/bank account or can I open a second adsense account with the exact same information as my first account?

New update: so after just 2 months of starting this experiment, I have officially hit my very first 1+ million views video!!! One of my videos was hovering at around 700-800K then I noticed it went viral AGAIN the past 48 hours hitting over 200K views to cross the 1 million views threshold. In 12 years of having a youtube account, this is my first video that has crossed 1 million views. The 2nd viral video is getting there too, still at around 900K but should be there in another month unless it goes viral again, also.

I don't know how this happens. I just leave it on autopilot and it seems that if you're lucky, some people who must have a lot of following themselves share your video and it goes viral for a few days. This happened to me a few times already on this experiment channel. The views slowed down and subs slowed down a lot and then the video goes viral again and subs running back up to a couple hundred subs per day. I had plateau'd at around 10K subs but now I'm up to 17K subs thanks to another shot of virality.

I don't know who shared it or who did something to it but the graph shows how it was steady and flattening out....then suddenly it skyrocketed vertically and if this keeps up, who knows how high it will go? Stay tuned as I keep regular updates on my experiment journey.





the money is not much, but this video didn't start monetizing until i think around 500k views after I had it manually reviewed to overturn the "not suitable" status.

I'm just showing the graph for the purpose of how it plateau'd for a while and then someone or something just made it go viral like mad again. You can see it jumped from 700ish up to 1+ million in just 2-3 days.

oatmeal said:

New update: so after just 2 months of starting this experiment, I have officially hit my very first 1+ million views video!!! One of my videos was hovering at around 700-800K then I noticed it went viral AGAIN the past 48 hours hitting over 200K views to cross the 1 million views threshold. In 12 years of having a youtube account, this is my first video that has crossed 1 million views. The 2nd viral video is getting there too, still at around 900K but should be there in another month unless it goes viral again, also.

I don't know how this happens. I just leave it on autopilot and it seems that if you're lucky, some people who must have a lot of following themselves share your video and it goes viral for a few days. This happened to me a few times already on this experiment channel. The views slowed down and subs slowed down a lot and then the video goes viral again and subs running back up to a couple hundred subs per day. I had plateau'd at around 10K subs but now I'm up to 17K subs thanks to another shot of virality.

I don't know who shared it or who did something to it but the graph shows how it was steady and flattening out....then suddenly it skyrocketed vertically and if this keeps up, who knows how high it will go? Stay tuned as I keep regular updates on my experiment journey.

the money is not much, but this video didn't start monetizing until i think around 500k views after I had it manually reviewed to overturn the "not suitable" status.

I'm just showing the graph for the purpose of how it plateau'd for a while and then someone or something just made it go viral like mad again. You can see it jumped from 700ish up to 1+ million in just 2-3 days.

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What types of videos do you create and how do you promote them?

a very interesting read indeed...but since you are avoiding the big question everyone keep asking, let me make it simple for you

1. Are you uploading compilation videos? Like Funny fails, or amazing soccer moments, ronaldo best trick shots etc ?
2. Are you making Top 10 videos ? Like top 10 2018 songs etc?
3. Are you making product based videos? like interior of audi, samsung s6 etc
4. Celebrity based videos? like top celeb taking bottle cap challenge etc
5. News based videos ? like whats happening in media this week etc

That's some of the video that has the potential to go viral ...IMO ofcourse

Yes thanks for the questions!
There are PLENTY of good juicy trends/niches to capitalize on and you named some of them right there!

Without giving away exactly the type of video I'm 're-editing' and uploading, I can tell you that I don't use ANY promotional help because I don't know how to haha. The only thing I have done is jumped onto a niche I noticed was "there for the taking" and I just put up titles that are similar to the viral ones, and make sure I put up really catchy thumbnails for the video (I add text to the thumbnails). I really had no idea what to expect which is why it's an experiment. I have very little technical skills in this area, but one thing I do consider I have is a very strong ability to see things others miss. I'm good at picking out "golden nuggets" and I have a very creative mind that is constantly churning 24/7 of "what about trying this? how about doing that? why can't we just do this?"
I've naturally activated my reticular activating system (if you are not familiar with this, please google it, it's very interesting read and TRUE), so I'm able to find the things that I want and I would call this "sharp eyes" skill.

I do this in everything. I'm extremely adept at scouting and analyzing potential, but I lack in the technical and managerial skills. I don't have the technical knowledge and skillset to do programming, marketing, making stuff....I'm clueless about it, but I'm down with the "ideas", knowing what would work or at least have a high chance of success.

I've always wanted to band together with a group of people who are in the same boat. They could bring the technical skills on how to get things done, while I bring the leadership/visionary on which way to go / direction and vision.

But I won't get too far ahead of myself. This isn't by any means big time success hehe. It's small change on the side compared to what the real pros out here are doing and I can only wish I could make 10k, 50k, 100k a week/month like they are. But for now, I'll gladly accept $200-$500 / month extra on the side for doing almost nothing but using my ideas and the raw materials that are out there for me to use. I really don't expect this experiment channel to last long. I'm sure as it keeps growing and gets more exposure, somebody is going to report it when they recognize it's not my original content. I just found a good source to use that isn't copyrighted and the content owners either a) don't know I'm using their material or b) don't care because they are not networks or a company or anyone/thing super big. I like to think of myself as "turbocharger". I don't drive the car...the engine does all the work, but what I bring to the table is more air and more power to the engine to make it faster and more powerful. That's my niche, that's my capitalization. That's basically what I'm doing.

oatmeal said:

I've naturally activated my reticular activating system (if you are not familiar with this, please google it, it's very interesting read and TRUE), so I'm able to find the things that I want and I would call this "sharp eyes" skill.

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What method did you use?

CoolAdvisor said:

What method did you use?

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Everyone has it, but not everyone is consciously activating it. You just need to "program" your mind to focus on the things you are looking for. It's the same thing as writing out your goals. When you write them out / put them on paper / focus on them, you are subconsciously programming your mind to actively seek it even when you are not trying. That's why you'll notice often that you pick up on things when you are in that particular state. It's often been said like this, "you get what you focus on" or "you see only what you want to see".

oatmeal said:

Yes thanks for the questions!
There are PLENTY of good juicy trends/niches to capitalize on and you named some of them right there!

Without giving away exactly the type of video I'm 're-editing' and uploading,.

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Those were just "yes or no" type questions

Per Your hopes to monetize your channel via other options.

Idea1
Dropshipping, from my experience, doesn't show where your getting the stuff from. And if you partnered with someone or made your own store you could couple it with your patreon and youtube channel for more cash.
Even if your channel got unmonetized this money would still come in long as the video stays up.
On my own store I have Youtube videos from Months ago still bringing in random traffic.

Idea 2
T-spring can be a bit costly. the overhead returns could be better and I personally know of a few different print on demand custom items on aliexpress. You could do way more that just t shirts. shoes bags shirts jackets ect.
Or, you could contact a local or us based T shirt print place.
or again find a partner who could do some of this side for you.

Idea 3
CPA. Pretty sure there is a CPA affiliate link or offer for every darn niche out there.
While my background is Dropshipping and youtube, I could easily see throwing a CPA link into your video and description bringing in a few bucks. Of course keeping them topic associated.


At the very least you have traffic, convert it BEYOND just a few youtube bucks seems like the next easy step to me.

Also Im pretty verse in paypal and patreon did you have a specific Q on it?

Takurah said:

Per Your hopes to monetize your channel via other options.

Idea1
Dropshipping, from my experience, doesn't show where your getting the stuff from. And if you partnered with someone or made your own store you could couple it with your patreon and youtube channel for more cash.
Even if your channel got unmonetized this money would still come in long as the video stays up.
On my own store I have Youtube videos from Months ago still bringing in random traffic.

Idea 2
T-spring can be a bit costly. the overhead returns could be better and I personally know of a few different print on demand custom items on aliexpress. You could do way more that just t shirts. shoes bags shirts jackets ect.
Or, you could contact a local or us based T shirt print place.
or again find a partner who could do some of this side for you.

Idea 3
CPA. Pretty sure there is a CPA affiliate link or offer for every darn niche out there.
While my background is Dropshipping and youtube, I could easily see throwing a CPA link into your video and description bringing in a few bucks. Of course keeping them topic associated.


At the very least you have traffic, convert it BEYOND just a few youtube bucks seems like the next easy step to me.

Also Im pretty verse in paypal and patreon did you have a specific Q on it?

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Thanks, I really appreciate your tips!
Yes, I think dropshipping some merch like T-shirts, bracelets, pens, or smallish things would be great! The challenge for a first-timer would be to find a good place that can do this for me and ship orders reliably across the globe for reasonable prices. Do you have anymore places you can suggest if not T-spring? In the world of "merching" (as I know a ton of big youtubers do this) there must be a top 5-10 list of the best places to do your merch stuff much like there is an every other niche....what would you say are some of the top 5 or so sources to do your merch stuff?

Yes, I was also a first-timer on patreon. I set that up for this experiment channel and pleased to say I got a couple dozen patreons in that time so far for about $100 total in pledges. Even though that's small for 3+ months, I'm really encouraged to know that it's possible to make something by just setting up a patreon account and mentioning in my youtube videos for people to support my channel. The question is, how to take this to the next level and get even more patreons? What kind of incentives can I offer them? I assume I can't offer them much because I'm just a re-editor and not the actual original content
creator so it's not like I can give them the inside scoop and dibs on things. I guess I can always send them free merch if I can find a good place to do it. I started to mention their names and give them shoutouts in the videos too for their patreon support....maybe that might give some incentive to viewers to become a patron?

#3 is something I'm very interested in but have zero experience with. I've actually been asking around a lot lately about this CPA / affiliates links stuff. I'm not sure how I would go about finding one. I assume what this is is basically trying to get a company to pay you some money for putting their name or items in my video somewhere (as an ad, a shoutout, or a product placement). I was wondering, what about promo codes? I would be interested in knowing how to setup my own promo code with a company so that I can advertise it on my videos and offer my viewers say 10% or 20% off their order at the particular website if they use my promo code (that I arrange with that company beforehand). That way, every sale I generate for that company, they'd know based on how many ppl used my promo/referral code and they could pay me a commission. I'm assuming that's basically how it works?

Thanks

Update: the channel has been running into some problems lately with "not suitable for most advertisers" yellow dollar sign. I uploaded 4 videos in consecutive days just recently and all
were hit with the "not suitable" yellow dollar sign and usually when I request a manual review, it gets approved and turns green (which is what happened to the first 14 videos or so) but now
suddenly I'm getting not approved and I'm not sure if there's been a recent change or maybe I'm just getting unlucky with the human reviewer because the odd thing is, each videos is pretty
much exactly the same type of content as the previous 14 which were all approved and green. I'm thinking there's been tighter restrictions added to youtube recently ...I wonder if other people are experience more "not suitable..." notices.

I've tried the workarounds like uploading with a generic title and no custom thumbnails, no description and tags and sometimes people say that would make it work and then add the titles and descriptions later after the auto bots don't flag it as not suitable.....but that didn't work either.

No copyright strikes or matched 3rd party content or anything like that...it's just it appears that something that is in my videos which was once okay is no longer suitable for most advertisers hmmmmm.

Anyways, I uploaded a 5th video just about 2 hours ago and made it less "controversial" (basically just tamed it down) and it wasn't flagged as not suitable and has been green dollar sign from the get go and still going....

looks like this channel is about to run dry if I'm not able to use the same content that got me here....

charles666 said:

Enjoy it while you can, you will get demonetized sooner or later

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What was the point of this post? OP isn't even monetized yet.

RushingWind said:

What was the point of this post? OP isn't even monetized yet.

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Oh you must not have been following the journey. I am monetized. I got monetized literally within a couple days of starting the experiment channel because my first 2 videos got 1.2 million and 800k views each. But things have been going downhill since. At least I'm still able to cash out a couple hundred bucks each month but I'm greedy haha, I want more.