Devon Canup reveals his most profitable faceless YouTube channels

Summary

In this interview, Devon addresses skepticism about his claim of earning over $1.5 million with faceless YouTube channels. He shares insights into the challenges of revealing his channels publicly due to past demonetization and the competitive nature of the industry. Devon discusses the importance of niche selection, content sourcing, and the role of creativity in YouTube success. He emphasizes the value of long-format content for revenue and provides tips on avoiding common mistakes, such as rushing the ideation process or not emulating successful strategies granularly. The conversation offers a candid look into the world of faceless YouTube channels and the strategies behind their profitability.

Takeaways

• 😀 Devon made over $1.5 million with faceless YouTube channels, which sparked skepticism and criticism from some viewers.
• 🔍 Devon addressed the criticism by showing actual channels making six figures per year, but did not disclose specific channel names to protect them from potential malicious actions.
• 🚫 In the past, Devon's channels faced demonetization by YouTube due to grey-area content, leading to a significant drop in income.
• 🤫 The anonymity of faceless channels helps Devon avoid revealing his business operations publicly and protects the channels from being targeted.
• 📈 Devon's revenue example shows one channel made over $650,000 and another with 188 million views in a year made about $108,000.
• 🎯 Success in YouTube niches can vary greatly and depends on factors like audience trust and the type of content being produced.
• 🛑 Devon emphasized the importance of sourcing content legally to avoid copyright issues, which can lead to channel shutdowns.
• 💡 To avoid copyright strikes, Devon suggested studying successful channels in the niche, understanding the content sources, and applying best practices for transformative use.
• 📚 The production workflow involves separate roles for sourcing footage, writing scripts, and editing, with tools like Trello for project management.
• 🌐 Devon hires editors from different regions due to cost efficiency, but this requires careful quality control to ensure cultural relevance in the content.
• 🔑 The key to success in creating faceless YouTube channels is long-term commitment, learning from successful examples, and adapting strategies over time.

Q & A

How much money did Devon claim to have made with his faceless YouTube channels?

Devon claimed to have made over $1.5 million with his faceless YouTube channels.

Why was Devon initially hesitant to show his faceless YouTube channels publicly?

Devon was hesitant because in the past, when he became well-known for running faceless channels, he faced an influx of competitors and his channels were demonetized, causing a significant drop in his income.

What was the impact of Devon's viral video on his faceless YouTube channels?

The viral video led to a rapid increase in competitors within his niche and eventually resulted in his channels being demonetized, drastically reducing his monthly earnings.

How did Devon address the skepticism from people who doubted his success with faceless YouTube channels?

Devon addressed the skepticism by showing actual revenue numbers from his YouTube channels, proving that they are indeed making six figures per year.

What is the typical revenue pattern for a successful YouTube channel according to Devon's experience?

According to Devon, a typical successful YouTube channel follows the 80/20 rule, where 20% of the videos make 80% of the revenue.

How does Devon source footage for his YouTube channels without running into copyright issues?

Devon hires people to find clips and ensures they are resourceful in sourcing content that doesn't violate copyright laws. He emphasizes the importance of using content strategically and being aware of the content's ownership.

What is Devon's strategy for dealing with potential copyright claims on his YouTube channels?

Devon adopts a long-term perspective, acknowledging that channels may get taken down but can be easily replaced. He focuses on creating new channels rather than worrying about individual channel losses.

What are some best practices Devon suggests for avoiding copyright issues when sourcing content for YouTube?

Devon suggests studying the biggest channels in the niche to understand where they get their clips, using overlays or color grading to transform the content, and ensuring the content is transformative rather than just reposting others' work.

How does Devon structure the production workflow for his YouTube channels?

Devon structures the workflow by having separate roles for sourcing footage, writing scripts, and editing. He uses project management tools like Trello and Google Docs to manage the process and ensure quality control.

What is Devon's approach to hiring editors for his YouTube channels?

Devon hires editors from locations where there is a cost advantage, such as the Middle East and Eastern Europe. He ensures they are good at their job by conducting rigorous interviews and testing their skills through a trial period with a reduced rate.

What advice does Devon give to people starting out with faceless YouTube channels regarding the idea selection process?

Devon advises spending a significant amount of time studying content within a niche to understand the market opportunities. He emphasizes the importance of finding a niche and content format that feels right for the individual, rather than jumping into a trend that doesn't align with their interests or values.