How to make money on YouTube without filming videos by yourself (feat. @NateOBrien)

Summary

In this insightful interview, 25-year-old YouTuber and investor Nate O'Brien shares his journey on YouTube, managing multiple channels, and his recent hiatus. Nate discusses the challenges of content creation, the importance of diversifying income, and his ventures outside of YouTube, including a media company and a venture fund. He also provides advice for aspiring creators, emphasizing the value of quality over quantity and the strategy of not reinventing the wheel. Nate's experiences and insights offer a roadmap for success in the digital age, highlighting the balance between creating content and building a sustainable business.

Takeaways

• 😀 Nate O'Brien, a 25-year-old American YouTuber and investor, manages multiple YouTube channels with over 3 million combined subscribers.
• 🚫 Nate has taken a break from posting videos on his main YouTube channel since October 2023, feeling he has said everything he needed to on YouTube and doesn't want to repeat content.
• 🔍 Nate, along with his brother, owns a media company with a focus on finance and software tutorial channels, aiming for search-based content rather than viral videos.
• 💼 He emphasizes the importance of diversifying income sources, rather than relying solely on YouTube ad revenue, which can be unpredictable.
• 🏢 Nate's day-to-day activities now involve managing a venture fund called Road Runner and his media company, moving away from being on camera.
• 💡 His advice for new YouTubers is to identify gaps in the market and create content in areas with high demand but low supply.
• 📈 Nate's revenue streams are heavily reliant on affiliate marketing, with AdSense as a secondary source, and he has experienced issues with sudden drops in AdSense revenue.
• 🤔 Nate is cautious about the future of YouTube with the rise of AI and automation, but believes the platform will adapt its algorithms to maintain user engagement.
• 💰 He has a diversified investment portfolio with the majority in stocks, a portion in index funds, and 5-10% in crypto, stored securely in hardware wallets.
• 🏠 Nate is not interested in real estate as an investment, preferring liquidity and diversification over the potential tax benefits.
• ⏳ Looking ahead, Nate has no specific plans for the next five years but hopes to slow down, possibly start a family, and continue working on projects he loves without financial worries.

Q & A

Why did Nate O'Brien consider making a 'leaving YouTube' type of video?

Nate O'Brien thought about making a 'leaving YouTube' video because he felt he had said everything he needed to say on YouTube and didn't want to keep making similar content, which he compared to being on a hamster wheel.

What is Nate O'Brien's current involvement with YouTube?

Nate O'Brien has taken a break from posting videos on his main YouTube channel since October 2023 and is considering a return when he feels inspired, but he is currently focusing on other ventures.

How does Nate manage his YouTube team and keep track of content?

Nate uses Dropbox Business and Business Plus for his team's workflow, which integrates all the necessary tools into one shared space, including file storage, sharing, tracking sent proposals, and real-time collaboration through features like Send, Track, and Replay.

What is Nate O'Brien's background and how did he start on YouTube?

Nate O'Brien is a 25-year-old American YouTuber and investor who started on YouTube in 2016 when he was 18, focusing on finance content because there was a gap in the market for such videos at that time.

What is the primary focus of Nate's media company?

Nate's media company focuses on owning and operating multiple YouTube channels, primarily in the finance and software tutorial niches, with an emphasis on search-based content rather than viral videos.

How does Nate decide on the success of a YouTube channel?

Nate assesses the success of a YouTube channel based on its ability to generate cash flow and its potential for growth. He is willing to invest in a channel for up to two years of consistent posting before deciding whether to shut it down.

What is the process for finding and hiring content creators for Nate's media company?

Nate finds content creators by posting Google Forms or Type Forms seeking freelance work. He receives hundreds of applications, reviews them, and selects the best candidates, giving them a lot of trust and responsibility from the start.

How does Nate approach affiliate marketing on his YouTube channels?

Nate focuses on creating content that aligns with what people are searching for, such as top investment apps, and then includes affiliate links to those products. He also drives traffic to companies and then negotiates affiliate partnerships based on the traffic generated.

What are Nate's thoughts on the future of YouTube and the impact of AI on content creation?

Nate is unsure about the future impact of AI on YouTube but believes that the platform will adapt its algorithms to filter out automated content. He thinks YouTube will continue to improve recommendations to keep viewers engaged.

How does Nate manage his personal finances and investments?

Nate keeps a significant portion of his savings in individual stocks and index funds, with a smaller percentage in crypto assets. He also maintains a portion of his savings in cash, which he keeps in high-yield savings accounts or short-term treasuries.

What advice does Nate have for people who want to be successful on YouTube?

Nate advises against reinventing the wheel and suggests that people should look at what's working for others and then modify it slightly. He also emphasizes the importance of consistent posting and focusing on quality over quantity.