Introduction
Well, in simple terms, I started a YouTube channel, just like the feeling of being happy to share a well-written blog.
Trying Different Presentation Methods
In 2020, besides continuing to delve into the programming field, I also wanted to present things I am interested in through a different medium. Essentially, it's similar to writing a blog, just a different way of presenting. Of course, I will continue to write blog posts.
Making videos is more challenging for me. Firstly, I have camera anxiety and I'm not used to speaking. This results in excessive words, pacing in the filming, and considering what the audience wants to see. These are things that I wouldn't consider when writing articles (at least, that's how it is for me).
Besides making videos, I also learned video editing. Although it's not a special effects type of YouTube channel, it significantly enhances the possibilities of creativity and it's quite fun.
I firmly believe that whether it's text, audio, or video, each form of information dissemination has its uniqueness and cannot be replaced by others. They each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Video happens to be a medium I want to try lately.
Because of the nature of videos, they are better for spreading information compared to pure articles or even podcasts. They can be recommended through YouTube's algorithm and channels to reach interested viewers. Instead of just focusing on programming, I hope to learn more interesting things in this diverse era.
Furthermore, there are some topics that are not suitable for writing articles or have difficulty attracting readers even after being written (such as Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Sonic Pi, etc.). These things, when combined with videos and practical demonstrations, leave a stronger impression and make it easier for viewers to take action after watching (hopefully). Of course, once I find a suitable way to present them, I might even start a podcast.
I admit that I am more of a generalist. Besides my current field of work, I also want to explore various other fields. For example, the topics mentioned earlier. However, as I delve deeper into these topics, I find fewer Chinese resources available, and there are fewer people to share with. So, I also hope to gather like-minded individuals through this medium.
Cultivating Expertise and Self-Management
What's interesting is that because YouTube itself is a community, the skills required for community management also apply to YouTube. This is something I want to try this year - Growth Hack.
YouTube has always been a platform I wanted to try. Although I don't know how effective it will be, as an engineer, it's good to start with the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) mindset.
At certain stages, you often find that even though you have a great idea and a well-developed side project, nobody seems to notice it. This feeling can be frustrating (at least for me). So, YouTube is like a real-life practice field. It helps you calculate various metrics such as click-through rates, watch time, exposure rates, etc. It's easy to analyze the content you create.
In Taiwan, it seems that there aren't many channels with a similar focus as mine (if there are, please let me know). There may be some people managing channels related to frontend or backend development, but some focus only on specific domains, some focus on specific programming languages, and some just do live streaming. Relatively, I haven't seen many YouTube channels with a broader focus, and not many channels are as "YouTuber" as mine (self-proclaimed XD).
Content I Want to Create vs. Content Viewers Want to See
Another interesting topic is how to balance the content viewers want to see and the content I want to create. I'm still searching for answers, and so far, I've only uploaded 6 short videos. There's still a long way to go.
But my short-term goal is to have more people see my content because that's when people will start noticing and I can identify areas that need improvement.
Typically, engineers don't use YouTube to acquire information or supplement their knowledge (unless it's for watching conferences). They usually rely on online platforms like Udacity, Coursera, Egghead, etc. Although I also want to create more in-depth content, if I do that, my channel will likely remain niche, similar to writing a blog.
Some Realizations
I think if you're an engineer who wants to do YouTube, you need to be prepared for the fact that making videos will significantly reduce your efficiency.
Programming is originally a solitary and quiet task. Now, you have to code while taking care of the camera, interacting with the audience, and thinking about scripts. It's more tiring than imagined. Also, I don't know if you've had this experience, but after coding for a long time, suddenly you forget how to speak.
And the most painful part is video editing. It takes 6 to 8 hours to edit a video. Sigh, there's so much to learn.
During the trial phase, I feel there are still many shortcomings. But if you're interested in programming, remember to subscribe and take a look~