https://www.theverge.com/22231657/mkbhd-marques-brownlee-interview-youtube-creator-influencer-decoder
- Started making Youtube videos when he bought a laptop and wanted to share his experience. This eventually snowballed into making all kinds of videos with the laptop, eventually software, mouse, keyboard etc., and thats how it turned into a tech channel.
- Was surprised that he found new things that the first video he watched before buying his laptop did not have, felt that if he made videos, others can make a better buying decision.
- Put out 120 videos in 2020, team of 5 in a 7,000 sq ft space.
- Starting other channels that may not have MKBHD as the face - with multiple people on camera. Mainly from a scalability perspective.
- Being a Youtuber is multiple jobs in one. Writing, being on camera, shooting, editing, promoting, uploading, sharing, content strategy. Like an octopus.
- When he found talented people, started handing over aspects of the above.
- Still edits 99% of stuff.
- Because of the platform, growth is primarily measured by the paltform metrics like viewer retention - do not have view count goals, once had a goal to make 100 vids in a calendar year. Apart from that, mostly its a qualitative thing of just doing better, and the eye test.
- Revenue - youtube ads. 40% youtube adsenxse, 50% sponsored integrations, 10% misc
- adsence
- banner
- prerolls and mid rolls
- integrations/sponsorhips
- merch
- many of the brands are so good, wants to share them anyway - negotiating with them - yeah its good, it might end up in a video anyway but lets work on something
- Works with WME - William Morris Endeavor - they negotiate contracts and deals, get more business, final rate is set by MKBHD.
- Management has become a lot bigger part of his job - to just do things better
- Prefers a 9 to 5 for him and his team, but never switches off as such.
- As long as the audience knows about the sponsorship, it's fine by him. But they do not do sponsored reviews. They are different from sponsored videos.
- Negative reviews about a product did not afffect his relationship with any company
- Youtube is the gold standard. Every instagram.tiktok creator wants to be successful on Youtube.
- Youtube is very saturated. Its been the hardest to stand out and the asiest to get started.