Bug Books: Joey Paul Online: Authortube: Trying New Things

Monday 24 May 2021

Authortube: Trying New Things

AUTHORTUBE: TRYING NEW THINGS

Having been on Authortube for a number of years now, and only really just starting to see growth in my channel, I thought that I would give you some tips on how to try new things and branch out of your comfort zone, should you already be on Authortube, or thinking about joining. I've talked before about things to avoid (found here) and mistakes I've made (found here) but this is simply about what to do when you're already out there, and finding that your circle of subscribers is getting the same kinda content all the time.

#1 TAGS & COLLABS
When I first started I didn't really know anything about tags, and I didn't really understand what the point of them was. Because I'm such a planner, I had my first year of videos all planned out, and didn't really have space for anything like a tag or the like. It was only when I started seeing them pop up and the engagement that they got, that I started to realise that they were a great tool for new viewers to have some idea about who you were as a writer/author and also to come visit your channel. Since then I try to do new tags as much as I can, and even leave spaces in my content planner for the chance to find a new one, or even make up one myself.

Which brings me to collabs. These are an amazing thing to try. Last year I did a number of collabs and found that it helped bring my channel into the community while also having a fun time of it. I think the first ever collab I did was with Dal Cecil Runo when she was just starting her channel and it was a tag that we'd both worked on together. It didn't do brilliantly view wise, but we were both very small channels and that would explain it.

So if you have the chance to reach out to someone you watch, and admire, and like, then go for it. See about brainstorming ideas with them. It doesn't have to be a tag, it can be a group of tips, where you give some and they give some, and it keeps the viewers from their channel on yours and vice versa. There were, in 2020 a number of projects that I was a part of that helped me grow my channel up to where it is now. I don't regret any of them.

#2 NEW FILMING/TYPE OF VIDEO
It's only been this year that I've started doing the monthly weekly vlog, where at some point in the month I record a week long vlog and then post it on the last Sunday of that month. It's actually really been a lot of fun and while there's a steep learning curve with a tripod and camera and mic, rather than my usual set up of a webcam, I feel like I'm getting there. It's brought a different kind of content to my channel and has allowed me to play with the editing software and a different filming location.

This can all be a hell of a lot of fun, and while sometimes it might feel a little weird (I haven't filmed outside of my house yet!) it can be a great way to branch out of your comfort zone and share more of your writing life with your viewers. The good thing is you can make it your own. You don't have to follow other people's way of doing things. It's your vlog, and you can do what you want with it.

#3 LIVESTREAMS
I am at a disadvantage when it comes to livestreaming. I don't have a lot of awake time, and because of being in the UK, usually when I'm up and about and ready to be writing, it's way too late for the US viewers and during the day for some of the other viewers so they're at work and the like. That said, I have done some livestreams. I did one when I hit 500 subs, and I've been on Savy's Authortube sleepover livestream once as well.

I talk about these being a good way to branch out, because while you may start small with only a few people coming, it's all about building it up. Authortube is changing to the point where it's more livestreams some months than it is other kinds of videos. That's not a bad thing, and it allows everyone to write together, especially during the NaNoWriMo months and the like. If you have the chance to be a part of them, then go for it and you might seem your growth increase because of that.

So there we go, my three trips for trying something new when it comes to Authortube. If you have any tips, feel free to pop them in the comments below!