Did I mention yet, I’ll be on stage at a conference in Berlin, September 25?
It’s really exciting to have this opportunity and I’d love to get a coffee if you’re around.

Aside from that I’m doing my best to enjoy summer while also editing the next episodes.
What have you been up to?

💛 Valentin

10 Years of being a creator

Joanna Zhou, aka Maqaroon, is one of Austria’s largest YouTube creators, with over 4 million subscribers on her main channel.

What it’s like to have an audience of that size and how has she been able to create trending videos for over 10 years?

Those are just some of the questions I had after meeting her at a YouTube meetup in June. So I asked if I could come visit her at her studio to record a chat and a studio tour. She was super excited for it and happy to share her lessons.

Against most advice she is still a solo creator, not hiring editors, camera people or writers.

The pandemic has shown her that things can change quickly and once you have a team you are responsible for them. She enjoys doing all steps of creating and it allows her to make videos on her own schedule.

Compared to everyone else I had on the show so far, Joanna has already reached many goals many creators dream of: millions of subscribers, two gold and three silver play buttons, being able to live a life on her terms from YouTube income alone. All while working on something that is fun and brings joy to people.

So it is humbling to hear she is still striving for a good work life balance.

Watch the full Conversation - Listen to the extended audio version

…

Infiltrating VidCon

What’s it like to attend VidCon, the largest creator conference that brings together creators, fans, and industry players?

Zackary Smigel, the internet culture explorer, went there to give you a firsthand look and uncover the realities of being an internet celebrity—the good, the bad, and the ugly.

While VidCon is intended as a place to connect, learn, and do business, the conference has lost some of its luster in recent years. However, it provided Zackary with the perfect opportunity to investigate how different creators handle fame, fans, and fortune.

The 47-minute video had me hooked from beginning to end, offering a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the creator bubble.

…

Branding and Bonsai

Whenever you start learning about a new thing or get into a new hobby YouTube (and the other algorithms) quickly pick up on it. Showing you relevant videos from trusted sources but every once in a while it also surfaces a more obscure perspective.

So when I saw a video titled What Can Bonsai Teach Us About Branding? From a channel with less than 200 subscribers. It was a pleasant surprise to discover a hidden gem on the internet.

The core message is that both involve shaping and nurturing something over time to achieve a desired outcome. They both require planning, care, and attention to detail.

The 5 main points of the video gave me very different perspective on branding as I develop the Orbit brand into a staple of the creator economy.

If you’re interested in helping with that do let me know.

My favorite things this week

Watch

Jay Alto starts a daily YT series

Julian Fredrick encourages you to pick up a hobby

Dani Connor takes her dream photo

Ali Abdaal’s faster typing course is now free

Life of Riza shows how she organizes her ideas

Listen

Business WTF (DE) is two founders sharing their journey

Try

Cal.com is better scheduling tool

MotionVFX has a 50% sale*

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