Do you have a dream of doing something wonderful for the Kingdom of God? How about starting your own business or a side hustle in YouTube or blogging? In the beginning, it may seem like it would be easy to do. I’ve had people say that blogging is easy and anyone can do it. Oh really?
For the onlookers, any of the above endeavors will look easy and not give serious thoughts to what is involved in doing any of it. For the person struggling to get their blog site or YouTube channel to grow, it may seem like you’re being asked to scale Mount Everest or some other impossible tasks. Fear Not!
I would like to share some truths that will help you in overcoming the fear of putting in the hard work needed to succeed. I’ll be sharing from the experiences I have in blogging and creating content on YouTube. The principles will be the same. So, I encourage you to keep reading.
If you ask the guys from, Think Media and VidIQ, they will say that you need to approach YouTube like you would run a marathon; not a sprint. Who are they? These two companies are dedicated to helping YouTubers to grow their channels and how to turn it into a business.
As an experienced blogger, I can attest to what they’re saying. What are we talking about?
A marathon takes a long time to complete. Humans can’t run 26 miles in 10 minutes. Can they? It takes good endurance and stamina to run such a race. It’s not like running a 50-yard dash! Guess what? The same thing applies to growing a YouTube channel, a blog or a brick-and-mortar business.
How long does it take? It really depends on what you’re doing and the level of competitions. I am in a niche centering on Christianity and serving the people in that community. Online ministries are not the most profitable of niches but it’s worth it. It is always good to have a sober view of what your market looks like. Does the following verse sounds familiar?
27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him,
Luke 14:27-29 NASB ’95
The point is, it helps to have a sober view of the undertaking. A sober view of the current marketplace makes it easier to decide on a strategy. It will also help lower the anxiety level when you take on the hard work of building a blog site or YouTube channel. Because I took such a view, the changing landscape didn’t totally screw me up.
I had taken a hiatus from content creation in 2016. I came back to a whole new ballgame in 2022. My niche became saturated with Christians doing things similar to me. The diversity of Christian contents has exploded. The blogosphere is not the only place to see explosive growth. YouTube is getting a ton of Christians are now creating Christian related contents on their platform.
What does this mean? It means that I have to work harder to earn your view. However, I can’t just write anything. I have to create contents that is valuable to either the reader of the blog post or the viewer of my YouTube channel.
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 NASB ’95
Here’s my point. I’m not going to earn that view, overnight. It will take time and I have to work towards earning those views on both platforms. For this to occur, I need to learn what it takes to keep the reader’s attention or the viewer watching my video. I’ll give you a hint. I can’t do the same strategy for both platforms.
Here’s another word of encouragement. Don’t be afraid of your mistakes. It’s going to happen and it’s nothing to feel bad about. Learn from your mistakes and grow. If you looked at my old YouTube videos, you will discover a bunch of poorly done videos. For one, the texts was very difficult to read and I was using a cheap webcam.
10 For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel—these are the eyes of the Lord which range to and fro throughout the earth.”
Zechariah 4:10 NASB ’95
The above two mistakes were not the only ones. A more important error on my part is a lack of commitment and a willingness to be consistent and realistic about my goals with that channel. The same thing applies to the blog site, too. I overcame this problem by making a serious commitment to my YouTube channel and the blog site.
In 2021, I had a couple of false starts. In January 2022, I start creating videos in earnest! Once I made the decision to be serious about my YouTube channel, the rest became easier to deal with. I soon discovered VidIQ and Think Media and began learning what it takes to succeed. Wouldn’t you know it? They indirectly helped me with my blog site.
Here’s another food for thoughts. Don’t waste your time in comparing yourself to others. You will only wear yourself out with useless anxiety with needless comparison. If anything, you would be better off seeing how you have fared over a period of time. I’ve done this with my YouTube channel and my heart is encouraged by the improvements made over time.
4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.
Galatians 6:4 NASB ’95
It is worth noticing that you’ll make improvments at 1% at a time. Over time, it will multiply and your viewers and readers will thank you, for it. I did not start off with a full knowledge of creating thumbnails. I had to go through the process of learning what it takes and apply it to a blog header image. In my case, I used a free copy of GIMP. For beginners, I’d suggest Adobe Photoshop Elements.
I will end this article by saying, “Avoid the shortcuts!” You will only suffer for it. Over time, I have seen some YouTubers steal contents from popular prophetic voices on YouTube and posted it to their channels. I’ve rarely seen them give credits or where I can go to see the original contents.
These people stole someone else’s content and hope to earn money in YouTube Partnership Program. These thieves do nothing for the Kingdom of God. It’s bad enough when non-Christians do it and we should not be doing the same thing. As for YouTube, they will be in the right when these thieves have their channels shut down. Do you think God will honor such things?
20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
1 Peter 2:20 NASB ’95
Your hard work will be worth it in the long run. Don’t be discouraged if people aren’t flocking to your place of business. It will take time to build a blog site, YouTube channel or any other business. For me, I have to learn how to create a quality blog post or YouTube video and that means becoming skilled in my craft. For I never know who may see it and appreciate it.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work?
Proverbs 22:29 NASB ’95
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before obscure men.
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