Is YouTube a viable career option?

There are so many options if you want a career in the creative industries. You can work as an actor, a designer, a musician… the list goes on. But have you ever considered working in digital media?
We all know that the internet is packed with insiders who have made careers out of posting funny clips, photos and videos online. Whether it’s Vine, Instagram or YouTube — there are now more digital influencers than ever before.
But just how much of an influence do these digital stars actually have? Are aspiring models, singers and gamers watching them simply because they’re one of the only people who does that sort of thing for a job? Or are we about to see an influx of followers who want to follow in their footsteps and make a living from posting on social media sites?

How much do digital media influencers make?

In the last year alone, the number of social media stars earning $100,000 per year has risen by an impressive 75%. With so many people realising that they too could make a living from posting on platforms such as Instagram and YouTube, it’s no wonder that many young people are trying their luck at it. If we look at some of the most popular social media stars, we can get an idea of how much they make.

Some of these YouTubers are earning millions of dollars per year, but the majority of them are earning regular salaries. The same is true of Instagram influencers, who earn a very healthy living, but are unlikely to be strolling along a beach in their swimwear anytime soon.
If you’re hoping to earn the big bucks from posting on a social media platform, you’ll need to have a lot of patience, a lot of luck and a healthy dose of creativity.

What is the job like?

If you’ve ever considered a career in digital media, you might want to know what the job is actually like. After all, it’s one thing knowing how much you could be earning and what your career path might look like — but it’s another thing entirely knowing what the day-to-day is actually like.

One thing you should know is that the job isn’t as easy as it might seem. You’ll need to come up with ideas, write scripts, film the videos of find a space to film them in and edit the videos, among other things.
And, although you’ll likely have a social media manager helping you with the nitty-gritty side of things, you’re still expected to spend a lot of your time on the creative side of things.

So, can you make a living from YouTube?

As you can probably tell, YouTube is a very competitive platform. And, although the number of people making a living from it has increased dramatically in recent years, you’re expected to be able to compete with the very best.
If you want to make a living from YouTube, you’ll need to really know your stuff. You’ll need to be able to create engaging social media posts that your followers want to see. You’ll also need to be able to generate conversation around your posts and keep people coming back for more.
And, even if you do manage to get your videos to go viral, you won’t find yourself earning a regular salary. You’ll earn a one-off payment for the adverts that run on your videos, but you won’t be paid again or be able to rely on this income in the future.

If you’re hoping to make a living from YouTube, you need to be prepared for disappointment. It’s a highly competitive field, and you’ll need to really know what you’re doing in order to make a decent living from it.
You’ll also need to be prepared to deal with criticism, both positive and negative. After all, people will be commenting on your videos, and there’ll be no escaping what others have to say.
If you’re still keen on a career in digital media, you can expect to earn a regular salary, have plenty of time for a social life and be able to work from home.