Why Numbers Ruin Everything
Last month (or possibly the month before) I made some big changes to the content I uploaded on my YouTube channel. After 7 years it felt a little stale and the cookie cutter beauty videos were becoming tedious to film and edit. As an 'experiment' I started filming and uploading a vlog every day and suddenly the creativity and instant engagement that I fell in love with was back and I was enjoying the platform more than I had in years. The feedback has been almost entirely encouragement and support - which is amazing - with only a couple of people saying they really weren't in to it - I'd expected considerably more - so I was feeling really good about the change.. until someone asked me a question.
[show_shopthepost_widget id="2727195"]I think it was on instagram live, they said 'I noticed you've been losing a lot of subscribers, how do you feel about that?'. My initial thought was 'wow! I can't believe anyone else would have noticed that' but as is often the case with these live chats my response came from nowhere and was as much a surprise to me as anyone watching. I have noticed that I'm losing followers on YouTube but after announcing a change like I did I had to expect a cull. I suppose what the viewer was really asking was whether I was disappointed that the number was moving in the wrong direction and I can't honestly say that I'm not at all bothered but it's not how I measure my success. Since changing my content I'm seeing more views (and I'll be straight with you, more revenue) than I have for months and although I'm losing subscribers I'm losing the right subscribers. Another YouTuber recently posted about negative comments on her vlogs and I told her the same thing, you have to ride out the negative and over time your audience will change.
In the end you'll be left with the good eggs who enjoy your content and support you when you feel the need to switch things up to keep it interesting. Without the people on the other side of the camera it would be very dull indeed so I want those people to be 'my kind of people' far more than I want them to be a huge number of people. When you focus too much on numbers you can't get them out of your head, every time you post, every time you film or photograph you think 'what will they say? will they like this? should I be doing things differently?' ..as the kids say 'you do you' and you will gather a following of people who like what you do.. whatever it is.
Speaking of numbers (fabulous segue, I know) my outfit here is from Everything5Pounds.com and I am so impressed. They sent me a voucher to buy a couple of items and review the site and although I've only placed one order i know I'll be back to place another. I was a bit put off initially because I thought it would be very cheap materials and those 'teenage going out clothes' that are just not my scene (you know.. the skin tight, cropped topped, Kardashian shizz) but there's a huge selection and lot of it is ex high street brands. I'm not sure if they're seconds or just end of line but these jeans are from H&M! The blouse no longer has its label but it would feel very much at home in Oasis, I feel. Shoppers can leave reviews to help others choose items from the site and lots that I read gave clues to the brand you were buying so if you have the time and the patience there are some serious bargains to be had. It's a bit like Primark/TK Maxx.. if you have the drive you can find some amazing stuff for a steal.[show_shopthepost_widget id="2727192"]They did give me a code to share - MIKHILAFIVE - it's only 5% and the stuff is dirt cheap to begin with but hey, every 25p counts, right? Have any of you found anything awesome on the site? *this is not sponsored but they did give me £20 worth of free clothes ..full disclosure