I tried Faceless YouTube Automation for 200 days
Entertainment
Introduction
After spending 200 days immersed in the world of faceless YouTube automation, I felt it was time to share the unfiltered truth about my journey. Let's rewind to day one.
The Beginning
I sat down at my computer, eager to explore ways to earn money online. My initial attempts included dropshipping, which I found to be e-commerce for lazy people, affiliate marketing plagued with unrealistic expectations, and Forex trading - I even paid a guru to trade for me, only to discover my dog seemed to perform better. Then, a video about faceless YouTube automation appeared on my homepage. The term "automation" caught my eye; it promised easy income without much effort.
After watching numerous videos and seeing claims of individuals making hundreds of thousands with faceless channels—where the content creator remains off-camera and outsources most tasks—I was convinced to give it a shot. Little did I know what I was getting into.
The Reality
I started with a list of potential YouTube channel ideas and quickly selected one. This was my first mistake. I teamed up with my friend John, which turned out to be a good decision. We hired a video editor from Upwork, narrowing down our choices to an experienced candidate and an enthusiastic underdog. We chose the underdog.
Our first video took much longer than expected, and when we finally launched it, the results were disappointing. Getting no views was disheartening, but we were determined to continue. After a couple of weeks, our first videos began to gain traction, bringing in millions of views and decent revenue. However, our success was short-lived.
Unforeseen Challenges
The next batch of videos failed to replicate our earlier success despite being of higher quality. This led to feelings of frustration as I questioned why we couldn't regain our audience. During this tumultuous time, I stumbled upon valuable insights on Twitter from a thought leader named Wano, which put everything into perspective.
I learned two critical mistakes we made:
- We chased new audiences instead of nurturing our existing viewers.
- Our channel was focused solely on viral hits, neglecting the importance of building a loyal audience.
This revelation led to a major reassessment. We realized our channel was becoming a cash grab, utilizing trends and clickbait but lacking sustainable audience growth.
Finding New Opportunities
Despite these challenges, our initial results were somewhat unrealistic for beginners, given that our team had considerable experience. We decided to pivot our strategy towards exploring white spaces—saturated niches with high demand and low supply on YouTube. We focused our efforts and even launched a newsletter to share our findings and ideas.
Eventually, we created a list of 100 video ideas tailored to an identified target audience. Unfortunately, I fell prey to shiny object syndrome and got distracted by another emerging trend. Although our new channel performed decently, we ultimately lost interest as it lacked long-term viability.
Key Lessons Learned
Through trials and tribulations, we came to several conclusions regarding our faceless YouTube journey:
- Move Quickly and Experiment: Don’t strive for perfection; aim to test and see how the market reacts.
- Focus on One Idea: Diversifying too early leads to distractions; commit to one thing.
- Set Stricter Deadlines: We were too lenient in our schedules, impacting productivity.
- Invest Early: We initially hesitated to spend money, which cost us more time and energy.
- Build an Audience, Not Just Views: Focus on loyalty and recurring engagement rather than short-term spikes.
- Have Realistic Expectations: Understand that it takes time, effort, and financial investment to succeed.
The Bigger Picture
Interestingly, the real opportunity in YouTube automation lies not in AdSense revenue but rather in building an engaged audience. In an age where attention is the most valuable commodity, those who invest in creating and nurturing their audiences today will wield power tomorrow.
The plan for the future is to develop multiple brands that resonate with an audience. This underscores the importance of nurturing community over seeking viral hits. The path may be arduous, but the potential rewards are immense.
If you’re considering delving into faceless YouTube automation, be mindful that success hinges on identifying the right ideas and sticking to them.
Keywords
faceless YouTube automation, YouTube journey, audience engagement, content creation, market testing, video editor, white space, expectations, challenges, lessons learned.
FAQ
What is faceless YouTube automation?
Faceless YouTube automation refers to running a YouTube channel where the creator does not appear on camera, often outsourcing tasks like content creation and editing.
What challenges did you face while trying faceless YouTube automation?
I encountered difficulties in consistently generating views, understanding audience dynamics, and managing the production process efficiently.
How much did you invest in this journey?
Up until now, I've spent between $ 7,000 to $ 10,000, and I've made back less than a fifth of that amount.
What are the key takeaways from your experience?
Some key lessons include the importance of testing quickly, focusing on a single idea, maintaining strict deadlines, and understanding that success on YouTube requires time and investment.
What should someone expect when starting faceless YouTube automation?
Expect a challenging journey involving time and financial commitment, as well as numerous iterations before you find what works effectively.
