This may be the MOST useless video on the site. Because it’s at the end of the site, and it’s about how to use the different functionalities of the site. It’s like watching a preview for a movie you’ve already seen.

Completely Skippable

This video comes with the free version

This video isn’t TOTALLY useless, but there’s a lot of fluff. A LOT of fluff.

He’s got some good insight on a concept called Creative Constaints Which just mean to work within your means, and pick ideas that you know you can create consistently with.

His insights on packaging are pretty standard. Good thumbnail, good title, without talking about what makes those things good. And then his Social Hacking principle is pretty good and bad. You absolutely should use social hacking (the practice of taking someone famous and trying to get them to Collab). How did he do it? He spent 90k dollars on a couch. If you’ve got a spare 100k dollars, I guess it’s not a bad strategy.

Why this video doesn’t work:
Airrack has already lost touch with small YouTube. He’s also in the entertainment niche. His ideas for brainstorming carry some weight, but - his tips on storytelling really only apply to entertainment. So it’s hard for channels that do:
Gaming, Education, Edutainment, Lifestyle, Sales, Production.

What to Watch Instead

This interview is less time, and gets more to the heart of small YouTubers looking for best practices. Watch Here

What to Watch Instead

Same guy, better break down. For Free
Watch Here

This video is okay.
Tommy Dajer - YouTube editor for the channel Yes Theory - breaks down some simple editing concepts.
This is the only video that feels like an actual class, because he assigns a project that the user can work on.
HOWEVER - most of the concepts he talks about feel like “duh”.

Here’s the bullet points: Make a fast intro, choose the right music, make sure to get all the footage you’ll need. Go over your video when you’re done to make sure it still feels good.

There are two interesting points
Tension - Yes Theory builds tension by making dramatic moments slower in the editing, and joyful moments faster.
The Cold Open - This is what you see in a lot of podcasts, where key moments from the video occur on screen before the technical ‘intro’ of the video.

Maybe you’d watch this if you’ve never made a video before. But I doubt it

I’m going to give you the segment title, and then the one sentence summary.

How to know what equipment to use:
Use what you have, and upgrade over time.

How to Transfer and store files :
This is the only useful one, use an SSD instead of an HDD for file transfers. Set up folders in your editing software for ease of access. If you’re short on space you can work from files in the external drive.

How to Build an intro: Cuts, Music, Magic.

How to tell a story: Three act structure, Rising action, climax, resolution

How to do montages: Don’t stay on one scene for too long, pick good music

How to use Hotkeys: Learn Hotkeys

What to Watch Instead

Same Guy - Better Advice - For Free
Watch Here

This one IS lengthier, but the whole thing’s pretty good. If you’re strapped for time though you can check out the following timestamps:

9:03 - The Role of Data in Yes Theory’s YouTube Growth
18:00 - Hiding the Vegetables
43:45 - How Yes Theory Makes Viral Videos

Watch the Full Video Here

Admittedly, this is probably the best class in terms of value/ original insights. I still don’t think it’s worth 200.00 a year though.

The main point of this class is ideation. He does this by introducing the idea of Creative Taste and he’s got a great point. In the comedy world, and writing world, they call this “Your own voice” in the actor’s world it’s “Your style” - Essentially it’s the thing that distinguishes your videos as your own.

He makes the point that at some point you’ll have to move on from stealing like an artist, to crafting your own ideas. (Albeit, this is probably closer to the 75-100k landmark)

He also talks about a process he uses called Mind Mapping - which is honestly still a good practice to get into.

It’s that practice of making a circle around a central theme, and then using branches to connect ideas. It’s important to do this with real pen/ink/pencil so that you can use the side of your brain that is linked more with creativity. It’s also mandatory to do little doodles and drawings, regardless of how bad they are.

He also talks about packaging, but it’s pretty standard stuff, y’know make good thumbnails, titles, etc.