💥 Are These Game Changers?

This week, YouTube unveiled exciting new features at their MadeOnYouTube 2024 event, designed to help creators build stronger connections, grow their channels, and streamline content creation. For 9-to-5 creators, balancing a full-time job with a YouTube side hustle can be tough, but these future updates are packed with time-saving tools that make the journey easier. Here’s a breakdown of five key features and how they can help part-time creators thrive:

[Important, this are upcoming features. You can check out the YouTube blog for more detail, but most of these are under beta mode in specific countries. Due to the sheer scale of YouTube globally, it may take some time for these to be approved and released in your country.]

1. YouTube Communities: Build Engagement, Even When You’re Offline

YouTube's new Communities feature creates dedicated spaces on creators' channels where fans can gather to discuss videos, share photos, and connect over mutual interests. This feature goes beyond simple comment threads, allowing fans to engage even when new content isn't being uploaded. For 9-to-5 creators with limited time to interact, this feature helps keep your audience active without constant attention.

With Communities, you can foster loyalty and build a strong fanbase, all while focusing on your day job. Plus, as your community grows, it can become largely self-sustaining, with fans driving conversations and engagement on their own.

There are a lot of amazing community options out there from Facebook Groups, Patreon, Circle, Skool to name a few. This is YouTubes play to keep us all on platform.

2. Hype: Let Your Fans Amplify Your Channel

The Hype feature lets fans directly support their favourite creators by "hyping" videos. When your audience hypes your content, your video has a higher chance of appearing on a special leaderboard, boosting visibility to new audiences.

For 9-to-5 creators, Hype could be a valuable tool. You don’t need to constantly promote yourself—your fans can do that for you. This means your most dedicated followers can help your content get discovered while you're busy with your day job. The more engaged your community, the more they’ll hype your videos, creating a virtuous cycle of growth.

> Tip: Encourage fans to hype your content by engaging with them and asking for their support when you launch new videos.

I want to caveat that I also have a few red flags waving around this feature. Whilst I remain optimistic that it could really add value, I hope YouTube are also considering:

1. Will it be misused - people selling hypes or using bot networks to falsify engagement?

2. Why are YouTube letting people buy extra hypes? (Other than to generate revenue)

3. This is open to small channels with less than 500k subs. Yep, 500k is a significant number and by no means a small channel. Do they get a huge advantage by the nature of their audience size? And can they directly influence any other creators growth?

Let’s see how it pans out though first because the intention is positive.

3. AI Dubbing: Expand Your Global Reach Without Extra Effort

One of the most exciting tools announced is AI-powered dubbing, which allows creators to translate their content into multiple languages. For creators with global aspirations but little time to manually dub videos, this is a game-changer. AI will generate translated audio tracks in various languages, giving your videos access to a broader audience.

For 9-to-5 creators, AI dubbing saves you from the complexities of translation and opens the door to international audiences without extra effort. The tool even retains the tone and style of your original video, making it sound natural in any language.

4. Gifts & Shopping: Monetize in Real Time

YouTube has paid $70 billion to creators, artists, and media companies over the last three years. Next they are exploring a new income stream called Gifts, a feature that lets fans purchase digital items during live streams to show their support. These gifts provide an additional revenue stream for creators, especially for those hosting live sessions. YouTube is also expanding its Shopping Affiliate Program, making it easier for creators to recommend products and earn commissions.

For part-time creators, this provides passive income opportunities. Whether through affiliate links or live stream gifts, you can monetize your channel even without frequent uploads.

> Tip: Share affiliate links for products that align with your content and audience to maximise your earnings without overwhelming your schedule.

5. Dream Screen for Shorts: Unleash Your Creativity

YouTube is pushing creativity even further with Dream Screen, an AI tool that lets creators generate custom video backgrounds for Shorts with just a text prompt. Imagine filming a video in outer space or a magical forest—all without leaving your home. For creators short on time but big on imagination, this tool allows you to produce eye-catching content without needing professional setups or extensive travel.

For 9-to-5 creators, Dream Screen makes creating visually stunning content faster and easier. You can turn simple ideas into cinematic Shorts without hours of post-production work. Whether you’re filming on your lunch break or after work, this feature helps you produce standout content quickly.

Final Thoughts

YouTube’s latest features offer part-time creators an exciting opportunity to grow their channels without the stress of constant content production. Whether it's building a loyal fanbase with Communities, letting your audience do the promoting with Hype, reaching global audiences with AI dubbing, or monetizing through Gifts and Shopping, these tools are designed to help creators succeed while managing a 9-to-5 and that busy AF lifestyle!

Once they are released, you will be able to leverage them to create a more engaged community, boost visibility, and unlock new income streams—all while keeping content creation manageable.

▶️ Channel Find: This Made My Week

I always say, that if I can create a YouTube channel then so can you.

This week, I stumbled on a video/channel from a brand new creator and it really INSPIRED me.

You see, this creator has NOT:

• Run a channel before

• Used great thumbnails

• Picked perfect titles

• Delivered his message like a stand-up comedian or TV veteran

• Spent ages editing videos

• Used mega fancy equipment

Nope, this fella sits mainly in his campervan and talks normally about the challenges he is facing. He is the definition of “Document your journey”.

The creator has managed to get nearly 3k subscribers, in around 13 videos and less than a week!

Phenomenal growth!

You know how?

Because he calls out exactly who he is and who the audience is. His channel is called “The Over 50 JobSeeker”. Each comment on his videos is from people in the same position who relate with his struggle and are routing for his success and future.

He has nailed the target audience and is proving to be a hit with great results right off the bat. I look forward to seeing where he takes his channel and what the future has in store for him.

In the meantime, check out his video, I challenge you to find something you could not do too?

▶️ The Machine Keeps On Running

One final note.

The whole point of me creating this newsletter was to be real with you. To share what works and what doesn’t for busy creators like me and you. Juggling family responsibilities and a career whilst also trying to find the time to produce videos.

I’m no guru. Not even close. What I can do is give you genuine insight and tips that will help you achieve what I have (Over 12,000 Subs and multiple income streams), far quicker than I ever did.

Sometimes, for me to push a new thing forward (this newsletter and my Medium writing) then I have to take a step backward elsewhere. The last month, this has been YouTube.

I haven’t published in 40 days. (Cue sadness….).

However, looking at my analytics, in that time, I have still maintained the same amount of daily views for my content. Evergreen videos that rank in search engines and YouTube itself.

Whilst I may beat myself up, YouTube is often more forgiving.

I just want to let you know, that whilst consistency is important, don’t despair when other projects or life get in the way a little. It will be ok.