KATIE STECKLY
You need to have some level of dedication and commitment where you say, like, ‘I’m doing this because I really love it and because I want to grow creatively and because I want to be better at what I’m doing,’ not because you want to gain instant success.
Katie Steckly is an OG YouTuber and has been on the platform since 2009. She is also a freelance travel videographer and makes videos for a living full-time for her clients or for her YouTube channel, Katie Steckly. She co-hosts a podcast called The Bossy Women Podcast that celebrates female entrepreneurs in the Waterloo/Kitchener area in Ontario, Canada.
She is passionate about teaching entrepreneurs, aspiring creators, and small business owners the power of showing their face to the world with online video.
In this episode we talk about how Katie went from being terrified of public speaking to regularly making speeches as student council president of her college. We dig deep into why and how you should stick your channel even if it’s not growing as quickly as you’d like — she’s been on YouTube for 10 (!!) years now.
We also touch upon the hard facts about being a female entrepreneur, whether that’s on YouTube or tech, the biggest challenge she’s facing as she approaches her first full year doing freelance videographer, and the benefits she’s gotten from having a YouTube channel, even if she’s not rich and famous.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or on your favourite podcast platform.
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Roxine’s Notes from the Interview
If you are starting out on YouTube anytime, you just need to be in it because you really love it. You really can’t let the numbers define your success because as soon as you do that you’ve already lost.
Even if you’re as lucky as somebody like Peter McKinnon to grow within 9 months. The first month is still gonna feel like it’s hard.
-- Katie Steckly
The wonderful thing about being an unknown is that you can make mistakes without huge repercussions
Some reasons and benefits to do YouTube, aside from being famous:
Documenting your life
Gaining a skillset to help you break into a career path
Confidence
Better public speaker
More outgoing in social situations
Be more articulate
How to know if you’re passionate about something: Would you do it for 10 years even if you never get paid?
If it’s a Yes, GO for it.
How did she get certain that YouTube was her passion?
When she started, full-time YouTube wasn’t an option. But she kept doing it even then, and that made her feel certain that she was passionate about this.
Ask yourself: Would you watch this if you weren’t you? If you never got views for it, will you still make it?
Some reasons not to monetize YouTube videos?
Worse user experience
Can’t control ads that YouTube shows
Some strategies to grow a channel
NOT vlogging (fun, but not effective)
How many have you found new channels through a daily vlog?
3 videos a week
2 search-friendly (how-to’s, tutorials, etc)
1 vlog
Pick a niche
People would know what to expect from you
Easier to make videos and have ideas
To test a new niche: Pick 1 month and do it for a month
Consistency
At least once a week
Selected Rapid Fire Q&As
What's a podcast or book that you recently recommended to a peer?
Who is a someone (could be mentor or online person) whose work has most impacted your life?
Her mom!
What’s an achievement you’re most proud of in the last 1-2 months?
Flying to Ecuador to do travel videography
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuOYy97AYnA/
What's something you think everyone should do more of or at least try?
Create and carve out in your schedule to do it
Commit an hour a day working on her YouTube videos
Who is one person whose video, interview, or podcast you would 100% click on when you see it on your feed?
Since this is The Creator Maker Life Podcast, what's your favorite part about what you do and the life you lead?
Being able to look back at the end of the day and say, “I did that.”
Selected Links from the Episode
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ieHmLt4gHw
WE NEED MORE FEMALE CREATORS by Audrey Ember
How Peter McKinnon gained 1 million subscribers in under 1 year
How I Built a #1-Ranked Podcast With 60M+ Downloads by Tim Ferriss
Nomadic Matt’s Travel Con
Sara Diestchy’s 1 for me, 1 for them rule of thumb
People Mentioned
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