Start Creating Podcast with Alan Spicer

This week on the #StartCreatingPodcast we talk YouTube verifications, new laptops, my flu and How to make money online!

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These days everyone is hoping for a quick fix to fame. Everyone is looking for that shortcut that will catapult them from their boring 9 to 5 grind into a YouTube, social media superstar that has products thrown at them for free, unlimited money, passive income from the fame and all because they uploaded 1 single video and went VIRAL!

I'm sorry to burst your bubble but "going live" is not that easy, takes a lot of planning, even more luck and only truly lasts until people get bored of the content. You dont see the "Charlie Bit My Finger" boys doing world tours and rolling in money. Chris Crocker isnt on TV this morning still crying about the mistreatment of his favourite pop star Britney Spears. 

The aim in itself is ludicrous and hugely subjective. If you have a channel with no videos, no social media reach, no advertising money and no other social media presence .... you will struggle to get your first 100 views let alone 100,000! If you have 100 videos and on average get 50 views per video, then a video that gets you 20K views over 6-8 months is you "going viral" for your baseline, and that wont make you millions.

To go "viral" you need to do the leg work and build a foundation for success first, before you even stand a chance to stand out! 

TWEET ME YOUR QUESTIONS USING #STARTCREATINGPODCAST - GET YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED ON THE PODCAST!!

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The Secret To Growing on YouTube - I have been on YouTube for 7-8 years and for 2 1/2 of those years I have been making YouTube help tutorials and tips videos. I am about to hit 10K subscribers in the coming months and I have a secret that everyone can use to do the same. You have to make people care and offer them something worth their time.

When growing on social media there are a few things to bare in mind, here is my secret formula.

1 - Lead with Value - Give them something they want.

2 - Slowly introduce personality.

3 - Be stubborn - Stick with your niche, keep going, keep investing and getting better.

4 - NEVER Give Up!

The older I get the more I realise that life is a non stop opportunity to learn more about the world. In fact the older you get the more knowledge is forced into your head even if you wasn't looking to learn something new. Now I am not suggesting that you just lock yourself a way in a cave with only pot noodles and an xbox for company to avoid learning more... embrace then knowledge.

I have learnt more about the world, myself, business and the inner workings of other peoples lives than I ever learnt from school or the education system. And what helped me learn so much... simply living. I can now appreciate how much my mum must've done for me when I was a little kid now that I have a step daughter of my own. All those late nights, middle of the night wake up calls. All those times she had to bite her tongue or fight the urge to slap me in the head for asking the same stupid question or doing the same thing i've been told not to do 1Million times. You learn by proxy that life wasn't truly the way you thought it was when you was young, in your teens or even then getting your first job.

Now education doesn't have to come from living the patterns of life but can also come from expanding your bubble of knowledge. The more I learn, the move services I am able to offer my clients. When I first started my YouTube channel I was hoping to educate people via videos to grow their channel. I soon learned that I could also teach people 1 on 1 with reports and video calls. I learnt how to edit my videos better for clients which led to more clients wanting to work with me. Maybe you can see the cycle... even time a client asks me to learn something new, or I have to learn something to make something work... it becomes an asset and a skill I can add to my tool kit.

Even this podcast was a lesson that I felt I was forced to learn - not in a bad way. I need to expand my brand and make it easier for people to find me. If its easier for you to listen to me on a podcast rather than a Youtube video, then I would be silly to shut you out and ignore your need. So, I learnt how to make podcasts and 15 weeks in... I am now making podcast for my clients.... a lesson that was very quickly and toolkit asset worth my time and money.

Learning doesn't have to have an ROI of money - But if you do embrace the learning that life throws at you, you'll never be bored.

TWEET ME YOUR QUESTIONS USING #STARTCREATINGPODCAST - GET YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED ON THE PODCAST!!

Looking to work with me? Sponsorship or Consulting - [email protected]

Sometimes I find myself just sat in silence enjoying the calm. I don't mean meditate, I just mean that 5 minutes of calm before the storm has to start again. Have you ever just sat there for 5 minutes and enjoyed the silence - no tv, no podcast, no audiobook, no toddlers, no partners, nothing to do for just 5 minutes of brain relaxing space with the madness of every day life. I am a firm believer that from time to time you need to just STOP and enjoy the bubble of nothing.

Also in this weeks podcast I share my thoughts and feelings on where YouTube have been for the last 1-2 years and where I predict it will go in the coming weeks, months and years in the future.

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Looking to work with me? Sponsorship or Consulting - [email protected]  

Sometime you have to push yourself and step outside your normal routine to test yourself. How do you know if you could deal with a situation if you've never done so yourself. This could be a new skill, a new job role, a new piece of software or a new chore. That new piece of software maybe harder use but might be more efficient when you finally master it. Pushing yourself out of your bubble to socialise within your industry might be the key to that lead or client sale you needed to keep your company alive or help it grow.

This week I have been forced to learn new skills for my video editing by a client - something I might admit was needed to do so, and helps me learn new skills or tools to improve my own works. I also had to become full and only adult in the household this week as my other half went into hospital and I had to learn her half of our life, and learn how to be a stay at home carer - the organisation of how to get a 3 year old to nursery mixed with how to lift and clean someone after surgery.

Step outside your bubble and learn a new life sill.

DO YOU HAVE A BACK UP PLAN? - Today I share with you the importance of being self aware and having a back up plan in cases of problems. In my own personal life this week I am facing life challenges that you could never guess or even plan for but if you plan for a long term safety net for the unknown.... it makes it a little easier.

Are you dreaming about shaking of the shackles of the 9to5 grind and becoming your won boss? Have you handed in your notice and just settled down to your first week of work? or are you wondering if its he right move for you, this podcast is for you. Today I deep dive into the hardships that come with going freelance/self employed and the things you might not have considered would be a hurdle in your new adventure. 

  TWEET ME YOUR QUESTIONS USING #STARTCREATINGPODCAST - GET YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED ON THE PODCAST!!

Looking to work with me? Sponsorship or Consulting - [email protected]  

BURN OUT! As the weather heats up in the UK I want to talk to you about mental overheating rather than physical. Mental health when it comes to life, work and YouTube can be the making or breaking of you. I know from personal experience how hard it can be to balance life, building a business, creating regular content for a YouTube channel and maintaining a healthy mental outlook on life.

A few years ago I found myself under a dark cloud mentally. A combination of failing business, poor health, failed personal relationships and other factors led me to fighting my own mental health battle. I don't think that we talk about mental health enough these days and that leads to people over working, over thinking and burning out.

When it comes to personal factors I beg you to take time for yourself. Dedicate 5-10 mins a day if you can to just have some head space. What helps recharge you? Is it a walk on a canal? Is it saving the world in some computer game? Reading? Writing? Whatever you feel  helps you turn your brain off for just a few minutes a day, then do it.

For YouTube creators I suggest you buy yourself time with bulk recording. I know it might be hard to find the first hour or 2 to do this but it will help you. Instead of panicking that you need to make a video every day or every other day,  assess is you are over publishing. Then use that 1-2 hours slot you can beg, steal or borrow on the weekend to record 5-10 videos. These 10 videos you can then drip feed out 2 a week for 5 weeks and then within that 5 weeks bulk record again. What this does is gives you breathing room. No longer are you making a video every day panicking that you don't have an idea for a video or that you're running late. You now have 5 weeks to plan video ideas and videos in the bank to publish for week to come.

Most importantly whether its YouTube, life or work.... be kind to yourself. Give yourself time to power down for just a few minutes or go for a walk for some fresh air. Look after your mental health and it will look after you too.

  TWEET ME YOUR QUESTIONS USING #STARTCREATINGPODCAST - GET YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED ON THE PODCAST!!

Looking to work with me? Sponsorship or Consulting - [email protected]  

I noted in my last podcast that you have more time that you realise. Now it's time to make the most of that time by setting yourself goals you want to achieve and doing the hard work to achieve them! The best way to achieve your long term goal is understand WHAT you want to achieve and WHY you want it. Will it help you? Will it help your business? Is it good for your mental health? Will is lay a solid foundation for your future?

Once you know the WHAT and WHY you need to look hard and deep into the HOW. What is your goal? And be honest with yourself on what you would need to have in place in year 5 to achieve that. Write it down, rip it apart and make a play on all the tiny little steps you will need to take and micro milestones you will need to achieve in week 1, month 1 and year 1 to achieve this. Build one step at a time, and you will get there.

 TWEET ME YOUR QUESTIONS USING #STARTCREATINGPODCAST - GET YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED ON THE PODCAST!!

Looking to work with me? Sponsorship or Consulting - [email protected]