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Since it’s conception in 2005 YouTube has become one of the most used websites on the internet – giving it’s users free access to everything from music, how-to videos, trailers, vlogs and more funny cat videos than you could ever hope to watch…believe me I’ve tried. But the last few years has seen a rise in the birth of YouTube stars; but what is a YouTube star and how do they go from making videos in their bedroom to making money?
There are many different types of YouTube stars – some funny, some giving fashion and lifestyle advice, some playing games and some just getting blind drunk. But one thing they all have in common is their knack for appealing to an audience that is ready to feel part of something. This is where YouTube has become a game changer; unlike other platforms, it’s created a community atmosphere among its users and content contributors. YouTube videos have always relied on people watching them, otherwise they get lost in the hundreds of thousands of videos that are uploaded worldwide everyday – these YouTube stars have created a bond with their ‘subscribers’ in order to stay at the top and produce content that their fans want to see.
The amount of money you’re able to make from YouTube also depends on how many Subscribers you have. Businesses will pay the creators of these ‘channels’ to host their ads on their videos and promote their brand or their services in the videos themselves. If a Channel becomes part of the elite YouTube Partner Programme, they will actually pay for each of the comments a video receives and hand over a percentage of the revenue they make on the advertisements. It’s a two way game, and one that mimics pretty much every other business model you’ll come across – you scratch their back and they’ll scratch yours.
One YouTube star that has most recently become an inspiration to many other budding video contributors is Grace Helbig of YouTube channel it’sGrace, an adorably awkward but very intelligent young entrepreneur who has proven that the possibilities of YouTube far expand anything you or I could have imagined. Grace started out making daily videos; each day has its own theme such as ‘Talk Back Tuesdays’ where she’ll be “commenting on comments” and responding to her fans, albeit in her own quirky way, but that’s why we love her right!? Grace has seen her own merchandise fly off the shelves as well as selling out live shows with her YouTube pals and real life best friends, Mamrie Hart (Mametown) and Hannah Hart (My Drunk Kitchen) across the UK and America.
This year has brought more than fame and fortune for Grace – she’s written a book Grace’s Guide: The Art of Pretending to Be a Grown-Up to be released later this year, wrote and starred in her own film with Mamrie and Hannah in Camp Takota, been nominated for 4 awards. Won ‘First Person – People’s Voice’ at the Webby Awards, been interviewed by Chelsea Handler as well being announced as the star of E!’s new pilot comedy talk show. Grace doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon, and quite frankly I’m glad, as we’re being constantly inundated with talentless ‘stars’ being churned out by mass marketing gurus and being force fed the same material; I can only hope that more YouTubers are lucky enough to follow the trail blazed by Grace. As of the beginning of October Grace’s channel had over 1.9 million subscribers and received over 54 million video views.
My top 5 ‘must subscribe’
1. Grace Helbig – obviously…
2. My Drunk Kitchen – because we’ve all been too far gone to cook anything that resembles food
3. RoseEllenDix – making weekly videos with her Fiancé Rosie Spaughton, Rose is fast becoming the UK’s answer to Grace Helbig
4. Boyce Avenue – you know that really popular song you love to hate? Well Boyce Avenue have most probably done a cover, in which case it’s okay to love that song openly
5. Jenna Marbles – Two words; Kermit and Marbles
By Talia Maguire
