₦airaland Forum

This is not much of what should have made it here, but I can't contain my joy, so I just decided to share.

For anyone who might have been wondering if Youtube actually pays, Yes, they do.

I started Youtube about a year ago, and actually got monetized about 4 months back because Youtube has some requirements you must meet before you get monetized.

Actually, my major reason for starting was not to make money from it, I just wanted to do it. But when you make money from something you love to do or do for fun, no matter how little it is, there's this sense of accomplishment that comes with it, which is what I feel now.

And the only way from here, is UP.

If you are less busy or you are just interested in watching how I spent my first Youtube payment, I did a vlog on that and don't forget that a "subscribe" goes a long way. Thank you.

Watch:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEdZJBrA6fg

It’s no news that content creators are on the increase at the moment, and everyone is either starting a blog or becoming a YouTuber. That is amazing really. But beyond the effizy that comes with being tagged a ‘blogger’ and the vibe that ‘Hi guys! Welcome back to my channel’ gives, do you really know what you’re getting into?

I’m sure you’d be able to pick up one thing or the other from my experience as both a blogger and a YouTuber. So I have decided to outline some factors to consider when making the big decision, as I compare both blogging and Youtube.

DISCLAIMERS:

1. Everything mentioned here is based on my perspective and opinion, and most importantly, my personal experience.
2. The mention of "blogging/blogger" in this article does not apply to "entertainment or gist bloggers". I am referring to people willing to create very specific niche contents.


Weighing 10 Factors Before Starting A Blog Or A YouTube Channel

1. Starting Up

This is one of the most important things to consider. The truth is, for YouTube, apart from your face, and a video recorder which could be your phone or a camera, you really don’t need anything to start up a YouTube channel. YouTube has already been set up, you just create your own space there and grow.

But to start a blog, this could be a bit different. You might need to buy a domain name, pay for the hosting of your blog and also pay for a website design. ‘Might’ because, there are free platforms that offer free hosting, domain names and free website templates to users. But if you want a more personalized domain name and blog, then you’d be paying for it.

So for me, I’d say that, apart from having to deal with procrastination and the numerous excuses of not having enough equipment to start with, when all you basically need are your face and a video recorder, a YouTube channel is easier to start than a blog.


2. Personal Inclination

Before you start a blog or a YouTube channel, you might want to ask yourself basic questions like ‘Am I comfortable in front of a camera?’ ‘What is my writing skill like?’

If you love the camera and enjoy talking and filming videos, then YouTube life is a better option. But if you write pretty well and you are able to communicate better through your pen (not literally) than talking, then you’d find blogging easier.

If you are comfortable doing both like me, well, you could make a choice based on other factors, or you could do both. But what if you can neither write nor camera-friendly? Well, I think blogging can still work for you.

This is because, when creating content for your blog, your audience does not need to know who creates the content. They just want to read something. So, you have the option of hiring someone to write for you. But when it comes to YouTube, you cannot hire someone to film your videos for you. You are part of the content your audience wants to see, so there’s really no hiding place. Joo get?


3. Time

If you think a 10 minutes video on YouTube took only 10 minutes to produce, then you dunno warris going on. YouTube takes a whole lot of time! So if your schedule doesn’t give so much time for yourself, then YouTube would most likely not work for you.

This is because growth on YouTube is very much dependent on your consistency, so you have to continually find time to film videos and edit videos, which takes hours.

Although blogging also takes time, because you have to write and keep editing until you have an almost perfect post. But when compared to the time demand of YouTube, it is a child’s play, honestly. So, if you have the luxury of time, then YouTubing won’t be a problem. If not, you might want to stick to blogging. And if you have extra time, you could definitely do both.


4. Profitability

Money! Owo!! Ego!!! Kudi!!!

I know this is an aspect that quite a number of people would be really interested in. Anyway, as a blogger, I started making money from my blog in its third or fourth month. Amazing right? On the other hand, I didn’t get monetized on YouTube till my channel’s eleventh or twelfth month.

And at the moment, I recently just got my first payment which was after a year. So if you are looking for a short term payment possibility, blogging maybe. This is because YouTube has a number of requirements that you might not be able to meet up within the first few months or even the first year (depending on how fast your channel grows), and it could be frustrating, trust me.

But for blogging, there are some tactics that if you know, they could speed up the money-making process for you.

1. Choose to buy AdSense instead of applying for it
2. Write primarily for Search Engines, humans will follow
3. Use SEO method of writing to put out content that would make people find your blog, without you necessarily asking them to ‘check out my last blog post’.
4. Use guest posting services on quality related blogs with high DA. Technically, you can create a resource (I wrote an ebook), then you promote the resource and in turn get a dofollow link back. You can also check for guest posting service on freelance websites, however, you will have filter the services carefully to avoid bad links.

Summarily, if you’re looking for a short term profit plan, then blogging is your best bet, but if you’re looking for more profit over a long period of time, then you should go for starting up a YouTube channel. And as the generous person that I am, I also have a YouTube video on how I got monetized on YouTube. You should totally check it out if you haven’t.

At this point, I think I should also put it out there that as you continue with YouTube, you would spend way more than you would, on a blog.

There would be a need to constantly improve the quality of your videos especially if you’re like me and care about details. So you would want to continually spend on better cameras, better lights, and anything that improves the quality of your content.


5. Shortcuts

When it comes to YouTube, blackhat shortcuts are available. So it’s common for people to buy subscribers, buy views, buy likes and whatnot. So if you are the type that doesn't find this uncomfortable, YouTube is for you.

But when it comes to blogging, there are no such shortcuts. The only thing that looks like a ‘shortcut’ is intelligently manipulating SEO to favour your blog. For example, you could find another blog in your niche to add a link to your blog in any relevant post. When this happens, it increases your page authority and some of your posts begin to rank better in search engines, and this would affect your whole blog positively.

Of course, it might be possible to buy traffic to your blog, I’m not sure, but if you do, apart from the fact that you are the only one who would see the fake traffic, if you have a monetized blog, it could get your AdSense banned. I’m sure you don’t want that to happen.

So basically, what I’m saying is that there are ‘shortcuts’ for blogging and YouTubing. However, shortcuts on YouTube are really not the best, while for blogging, the ‘shortcut’ is also work, only that it is smart work.


6. Power Of Luck

If you’re thinking of adding ‘luck’ to the list, then YouTube is your guy. This is because sometimes, YouTube’s algorithm can randomly select any of your videos and recommend it to its users, and before you know it, more people start seeing it, and there’s more traffic on your channel, and you get more subscribers, all the way up until you ‘blow’. Yes, it’s possible.

However, most times, it does not dependent on any technical factor, just pure luck. So if you have a lucky charm that you think would work, well, this is for you.

Unfortunately, when it comes to blogging, there is really no luck that can quicken your ‘blowing’. You have to diligently work your way up.


7. Clout

Not everyone loves clout, not everyone loves the attention from social media, and that’s totally fine. So before you make your decision, ask yourself which you’d be more comfortable with. Blogging makes it easier for you to be able to write things and get away with them, or not be too noticed by people who are not exactly your audience.

However, when it comes to YouTube, it’s easier for people to be able to put your name to a face and have eyes on you, even if they are not part of your main audience. If you want that kind of attention, you can do YouTube.


8. Technicality

This has to do with what aspect of setting things up you find interesting. If you don’t like the stress that comes with setting up gadgets and knowing or seeing how light and sound works, video editing and all of that drama, then YouTube is not for you, except, of course, you can pay professionals to do all that. But if you can’t, then blogging is a better choice.

But if you find SEO and all those other blogging jargons difficult, but enjoy everything about making a video and editing it, then YouTube is your go-to.

So, technicality depends largely on what your preferences or interests are.


9. Traffic

The honest truth is that traffic on both platforms is not easy to get, especially after the initial wave of ‘I just started a blog or started my youtube channel, kindly subscribe’. It is not easy at all.

However, from my experience, I have discovered that it is easier to get more people to watch your YouTube video than it is to get them to read a blog post, except it is something that they desperately need to read.

It was better understanding of SEO that helped me gain more traffic to my blog, even than the traffic on my YouTube channel. And that is what I meant by ‘write for SEARCH ENGINES’. Search engines will make people them come to your blog, without necessarily going after them to check out your latest post.

Basically, as a beginner, it is easy to get 100 youtube views, than to get 100 blog visitors.


10. Niche

Another thing you should know is that the niche of the kind of content you want to create could also influence your choice of platform. What niche do you want to belong to?

For instance, if you want to create lifestyle content, then YouTube is your best bet.

This is because people would rather watch lifestyle-related posts than read them.

However, if you want to create content about subjects like literature, health, and other things that people would prefer to ask Google and read about, then a blog will be a better option.

And if you still want to do both, then you should have different content strategies for both platforms. For example, I blog mostly about skincare, makeup (products) and reviews, and beauty generally, based on what people would rather search for on Google. But on my channel, I do more of lifestyle videos. Although I started out with makeup tutorials, I gradually tilted towards lifestyle as I realised not a lot of people are really interested in watching you do makeup these days, unless you're well known.

So yeah, who is your target audience?


BONUS POINT:

Privacy: If you like to be on a low-key and keep your life out of the public, then it is easier to do that as a blogger. This is because people can consistently read your posts for years and know little or nothing about you. However, it is more difficult to do this as a YouTuber especially.

So yes, I think if you consider all these factors and apply them to your personal abilities, preferences and biases, you should be able to make a very informed decision on whether to start a blog, a YouTube channel, both or none!

I hope you find this really helpful.

**Mimie signed out**

My BLOG: https://mimiejay.com/
My YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/mimiejay

Ccguy:
What's the difference between Maltese and Toypom?

I believe toypom means Pomeranians?

Pomeranians make good watchdogs and will bark when strangers approach their home. Although both breeds are active, Pomeranians are more active and may need more physical activity during the day than do Maltese. Pomeranians also tend to bark more than do Maltese dogs.

Extracted from: https://www.dogbreeds911.com/pomeranian-vs-maltese.html#:~:text=In%20comparison%20to%20the%20Maltese,more%20than%20do%20Maltese%20dogs.

manuel0702:
Great content!!!!

I just bought a 10 weeks old "lhasa apso" and through this video I discovered that a Maltese was sold to me instead. Looks and act so much like ur dog.

Thanks for the video jare.... now I know better.

I will follow your posts to learn more abt this breed. Useful tips are also welcomed

Ehmmm, lhasa apso was part of my options also when i wanted to get a puppy. I think they have similar characteristics and behaviour, your dog might not be maltese o

Jaysleeves:
can I send you an email, my boss needs one ?

Is he in Dubai?

Jaysleeves:
Hello I'm interested in having a Maltese but having difficulty in get one here in Nigeria... how much can one get a pup over there ?

The cost was around 4000AED. 400K in naira as at then.

Goalnaldo:
what about what I said via PM??

I'm yet to see it. I'll check.

Luckydonalds:
7000AED for both eyes or one eye?..
I too am shortsighted and it's very frustrating especially during lectures at school and I have to sit at the back.Im tired of wearing glasses cause it makes me look nerdy

For both. It's cheaper in some places though.

ArcFresky:
Nice read op.

People are hating cos they expected to end the story with blindness, God don disappoint them

Hahaha, they were expecting a "my eyesight got worse" kind of ending

TheGreatIYANU:
With this reply, you've got a follower and Subscriber. Love your spirit.

Lol, Thanks thanks

Goalnaldo:
I just watched your video about how much you made on YouTube. I like your energy and your charisma. Still waiting to see how you will purchase a Lamborghini with $46 funny girl.

ladyF:
What was the cost of the procedure in $ pls

It’s 7000 AED, that’s like $2000.

IamCookie:
It will be done and your sight will return to normal. Keep hope alive

Thanks

flyca:
Amen! But I was disappointed after reading based on your headline.

Lol everyone is saying the same thing but that was not my title. It's NAIRALAND that changed the title before moving to frontpage. My original title was not good enough to make people click I guess.

Ishilove:
I will stick to my -10 glasses before village people will hijack my attempt at surgery and render my enemy sightless.

TEAMvido:
pls someone should recommend a very good eye hospital in Nigeria..

I recommend Eye Foundation hospital https://eyefoundationhospital.com/

eni4real:
Op should consider a career in blogging

That heading is typical of Bloggers

'My failed LASIK surgery'

That wasn't even my title. Nairaland changed it before moving it to FP.

angelfallz:
Kpele.

Eshey

rickyboss333:
Haba babe... But u should have used a better heading for your topic na, like "my missed Lasik surgery" or something. You done make fear catch me na.

It's NAIRALAND that actually modified the title.

flyca:
I thought you did the surgery and your vision got worse. Mtcheeeew!

GOD FORBID

Kaymaxi2222:
Pele dear........ I hope you will find a permanent solution soon. Till then be strong and don't mind the name callers.

Lol, yes thanks

tundchip2:
I remember when i was at UCH for an eye related ailment. I was injected in the eye. People still don't believe till date.

What??!!!

IamCookie:
Quite an experience.

Modified:
I want to believe when your nerves get in place , then the surgery can take place, isn't it ?

It's better and advisable to go to the professionals when it comes to health issues.

Yes, the doctor said the new lens will correct the issue and after a a few weeks, I should come back.

Landnaira5:
Opticians in Nigeria overprescribe. That’s what I’ve noticed.

Righhttttttt

fairytale:
I guess I've found my twin. I'm considering this surgery in the nearest future. Then again, is this contact lenses more clearer than using glasses??

Lol twinnie. the glasses and contacts are more like same effect. But I'll go back for the surgery soon, there's nothing like having to see naturally. Ensure to subscribe to my youtube channel twinnie .

meobizy:
Mscheew. This seems more like a copypasta. I'm sure the idiot who penned this paid the mods for it to hit the front page. Just like Nigeria, we can now see that corruption has taken over Nairaland, right before our very eyes.

Lol, this is my story, written by me 100%, I just decided to share on Nairaland and only people with eye problems will find it really useful.

I wrote it on my blog here: https://mimiejay.com/my-lasik-surgery-experience/ and I even did a youtube vlog here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCJqDQziSYQ

Now you can see that I'm not an idiot?

By the way, you don't have to be angry on every post, whatever it is you are going through, you shall overcome, it's just a matter of time, trust me.

So, I am short-sighted. I started wearing glasses 15 years ago officially and that is more than half of my life. WOW!

Well, I’ve gotten used to it over the years so it doesn’t bother me anymore unlike when I just got my glasses. I’d hear stuff like “Oju igo, how far nah?” interpreted as “Four-eyes, how are you?” If you’re one of those people that make jest of people that wear glasses, then, my God will judge you o. Some even called me a nerd. But like I said, I have gotten used to it. I even slay with my glasses, makeup and all.

When I started wearing glasses, I started off as a consistent person but that one is a long story now. Because I avoid wearing my glasses regularly, my eyesight got really worse (what was I expecting, right?). I got used to not being able to see so many things. I even avoided reading billboards altogether.

Even now, I’m still not the regular ‘glasses person’, and considering the fact that the lens of my glasses is pretty thick, I have been playing myself. I get headaches most of the time because I have to strain my eyes and I still wouldn’t wear my glasses *I get coconut head. I no dey hear word*

Last year, after a lot of research anyways, I found out that there is something called LASIK surgery. I didn’t know that something could be done to correct your eyesight. I mean, glasses correct your sight over time or at least not make it worse yeah? But this would permanently correct your sight. Permanently! Yep guys! But I had just one tiny little problem.

SURGERY!

In the eyes!

Ah! What if it goes wrong?

Trust me now, you can relate to this especially if you grew up in Nigeria. So I just waved the whole surgery thought aside that 'ko necestree'. Urmm… I like my glasses. I don’t want to be blind pleaseeee…….

LASIK is a laser refractive surgery that reshapes the front surface (that’s the cornea) of the eyes. It enables light entering the eyes to focus on the retina without the aid of glasses or contact lens. In simpler English, you will see like normal people. It is ideal for patients who are shortsighted, longsighted or those who have astigmatism.

Since I am short-sighted, I opted for LASIK .

Actually, I got to know about LASIK back in Nigeria when someone close to me had his done and for a couple of days, he couldn’t see well and it was just so uncomfortable. Although this went away and he had 20/20 after some days but… I was there. I saw how uncomfortable he was. So I decided there and then that nahh…. this can’t be me.

About a week ago, a friend of mine, here in Dubai had his done and in less than a day, he could see perfectly well. It was that fast! I got gingered and I had to consider it. As luck would have it, where he had the surgery done, they were currently running a Ramadan promo where you pay almost half the actual price. You people will say I like awoof now. But it’s actually a great deal.

I went ahead to book an appointment at the North American LASIK centre here in Dubai and I was told not to wear my contact lens before coming for the surgery. Since I haven’t actually been wearing lens for a while now, I was good to go.

Now To My Experience…

On the day of my appointment, I had to go through a series of tests before the surgery. The first thing was to get my eye-power read. The machine read it to be -6 (minus 6) then a manual test was conducted and it read -5.5. They had to check my prescription glasses as well and it read -5 and -5.5. The doctor goes, “It’s not supposed to read this”. He said two of those readings were supposed to match at least. I almost panicked.

I was then given an eye drop to relax my eye nerves and I went for another test.

It was at this test that I found out I had been wearing the wrong prescription glasses for about 3 years. E shock you?! Me too! I discovered that I should be using a prescription of -3.75 thereabout and the current prescription I use reads -5. I wasn’t sure whether to be angry or happy. Happy because I might not be that ‘blind’ after all.

I proceeded to ask the doctor how I was able to see with the glasses for so long. He told me that my nerves accommodated it and that I needed to get my nerves in place before I can eventually get the surgery done. I was given another prescription and he recommended that I also get daily contact lens, disposable ones.

In short, I wasn’t able to get the surgery done. To think I was already anticipating how wonderful my sight would be and how I would pepper all the haters. It was a sad ending.

Thank you for reading.

HawnsgistMedia:
OMG you must have spent hours editing this video. Your dog is cute btw. Great apartment. Can't be Nigeria. If it's Nigeria, please drop location so I can move to that area ASAP.

Amazing touch with the somgs., I got ready for a moment there. Lol.

All in all good stuff. Well done.

Hehe the total clip was 16 hours, 4 hours on 4 cameras. It took a lot of effort to edit and it came out nicer than I anticipated. Also, I don't stay in Nigeria at the moment, I'm in Dubai. Thanks.

aywhy93:
@mimiejay You're doing well. I watched the video, and you have a nice channel too. 3K subscribers in a bit.

Hmmm it's not easy but we are pushing. Hope you subscribed

Greenarrow01:
First of all. You are beautiful. Very beautiful.
Secondly, you apartment is fuck1ng neat. Fuck1ng fucking neat.
Your puppy is clean too.
Get him/her a companion.

Thirdly, you are wicked lol. You kept teasing the poor dog
Lastly you.broke my heart, saw what's look like male shoes towards the end of your video, standing at the door. I checked your other posts too and saw that you clearly have a boyfriend.
Have a great day ma'am.

Lol, I have a fiance Sorry no vex. Thanks be the way.

Ccguy:
Nice dog. I'd suggest you get her/him a companion. Maybe a cat.
Nice apartment too.

Hmmmm I was actually considering the companion, I was thinking of getting another Maltese puppy because they are generally cool, obedient and give less trouble. Maybe I will, very soon. But cat, I'm not really a fan of them. Thanks by the way.