Consistency in content creation leads to significant growth; Ali emphasizes making one video per week for two years.
Diversification of income sources is crucial for YouTubers; Ali's revenue comes from ads, brand deals, Skillshare classes, and online courses.
Engaging viewers through visuals every ten seconds and focusing on valuable content are key to Ali's successful YouTube strategy.
Deep dives
Summary of Podcast Episode
The podcast episode features an interview with Ali Abdal, a successful YouTuber known for his productivity and education content. Ali shares his journey from being a medical school student to becoming a popular YouTuber with millions of subscribers. He emphasizes the importance of consistency in creating valuable content, sharing that making one video per week for two years can lead to life-changing results. Ali also discusses his strategies for engaging viewers, including sharing personal stories and creating open loops to keep them interested. He mentions the role of his roommate in his videos and how she has also started her own YouTube channel. In terms of income, Ali mentions that his YouTube channel generates revenue through ads, brand deals, and affiliate programs. He also highlights the success of his Skillshare classes, which contribute significantly to his overall income. Additionally, he talks about the launch and popularity of his Patreon-backed online course, the 'YouTube Academy,' which provides a more in-depth learning experience for aspiring content creators.
Creating Engaging Videos
Ali Abdal discusses his approach to creating engaging YouTube videos. He emphasizes the importance of providing valuable content and not worrying too much about complex storytelling elements. Ali mentions utilizing the ten-second rule, ensuring there is always something visually happening every ten seconds in his videos. While he acknowledges the potential benefits of incorporating more storytelling techniques and open loops, he admits that his channel currently does not focus heavily on those aspects.
Generating Income
Ali Abdal shares insights into how his YouTube channel generates income. He mentions that while ad revenue and brand deals play a role in his earnings, the majority of his income comes from his Skillshare classes and Patreon-backed online course, the 'YouTube Academy.' He reveals that Skillshare classes, which earn him a small amount per minute of watch time, contribute significantly to his monthly revenue. Ali also mentions the success of his Patreon-backed online course, which offers a more in-depth learning experience for aspiring content creators.
Importance of Backlog and Collaboration
The speaker highlights the significance of having a backlog of quality content before going viral. They emphasize the importance of collaborating with a larger YouTuber to gain more exposure and utilize the momentum. By strategically planning the timing of the collaboration and ensuring there is a strong content foundation, the speaker successfully gained a substantial number of views and subscribers.
Optimizing Videos for YouTube Algorithm
The speaker discusses the key factors in optimizing videos for the YouTube algorithm. They emphasize the importance of creating compelling titles and thumbnails that make viewers want to click on the videos. Additionally, engaging the audience throughout the video and creating a desire for more content on the channel are crucial for keeping viewers on YouTube for longer durations. Ultimately, the YouTube algorithm aims to promote videos that attract clicks, maintain viewer engagement, and encourage further watching on the channel.
#503 Has this ever happened to you? About a year and a half ago, I discovered a six-minute YouTube video about note-taking, by someone named Ali Abdaal. After I finished watching it, I thought, "Whoa, I really like this guy." So I watched the next video, which was about iPads. (I had just recently bought an iPad Pro and I wanted to learn how to make the most out of it.) Thanks to the way Ali taught, and his easy-to-listen-to accent, I started binge-watching everything on his channel. Ever since I started paying attention to Ali, things have been really taking off him for him. His brand and community have grown tremendously, and he's even released his own online course. And we've become good friends! I knew I had to ask him to come onto the podcast to share his journey from med school student to creating a YouTube channel, and how he's grown it to nearly two million subscribers, with passive income now coming in from multiple sources. We'll unpack the strategy behind Ali's impressive rise, and if you're interested in YouTube or creating video yourself, we also dive into some tips to help you with the algorithm and taking advantage of what YouTube can offer in terms of driving traffic and finding new customers. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session503.