My name is Eric Okafor but many people call me by my social media name, Knewkeed. I am a tech YouTuber and a co-owner of the tech blog – howtotechnaija. On YouTube, I simply shoot videos of smartphones, apps and accessories, showing my audience what it can and cannot do. I do all of my filming with a smartphone camera and edit my videos on a laptop. I started a YouTube channel in 2015 as a hobby but ended up quitting my 9-5 job in 2016. I am now a full time YouTuber.
What recipe has led to your success on YouTube?
Uniqueness is definitely a key factor for success on YouTube. Another key factor is the actual message. I am quite passionate about mobile technology and I prioritise my candid opinions about tech over everything else. I’d like to believe that consumers know exactly what to buy after watching my review, as I try to be as thorough and unequivocal as possible. YouTube is the easiest platform for success when you’re consistent and by that i mean, uploading quality videos once or twice a week.
What motivates you to keep pushing out quality videos on YouTube?
Mobile technology is evolving really fast and I’m exciting to demonstrate what the new tech can do. Feedback from my audience. Knowing I’m saving someone from wasting their hard earned money is delightful. I also found out that seeing high quality videos, shot with a mobile phone camera, encourages young tech enthusiasts to do likewise because everyone has access to a phone but not everyone can afford a camera. Filming with a smartphone makes me feel like I’m killing 2 birds with one stone.
How well does YouTube pay?
Money should not be the goal for anyone starting out but it is hard to overlook the potential when your channel is monetised and the income starts rolling. For a full time YouTuber, my stream of income from YouTube is more consistent than social media sponsorships and that’s because YouTube pays me monthly, rather than a one-off. YouTube usually pays about $1 – $10 for every 1000 monetised playback. A monetised playback occurs when a youtube viewer sees one or more ads during a video. Every second of every minute, someone somewhere around the world is up, watching your videos and seeing ads. More than 30% of my views happen while I’m asleep. However, not everyone is going to stick around long enough to do this because it takes a lot of hard work and endurance. There are rules guiding Youtube’s Monetisation that must be adhered to. You must do your research about content that cannot be monetised. YouTube is my full time job and I don’t ever have to leave the house or make appearances in order to pay my bills, which is awesome.
What advice would you give to individuals who wish to create content like yours on YouTube?
First, you have to understand that YouTube is not some “get famous quick” or “get rich quick” type of career path. Making quality videos is not something that happens over night. You need to respect the process, start with what you have and that is your phone or an affordable camera. You can also borrow from a friend or family with the idea that you will improve over many years of experience. Til date, asides the phone I film with, my complete set up of a tripod and mat costs less than five thousand naira. I use natural day light, which is free. The only thing hindering anyone from becoming a successful YouTuber is their mindset. If you keep waiting to make a perfect quality video, you may never do anything. I know the saying, “quality over quantity” is popular here but on YouTube, that’s not the case. You’re less likely to become a successful YouTuber by making five professionally produced YouTube videos in one year, compared to someone who’s published 50 equally relevant home made videos on YouTube in the span of a year. Consistency is key in the profession.