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This post is translated by ChatGPT and originally written in Mandarin, so there may be some inaccuracies or mistakes.
Introduction
Well, to put it simply, I've started a YouTube channel. It's like the excitement of launching a blog and wanting to share it with everyone.
Exploring Different Presentation Methods
In 2020, alongside my deepening focus on programming, I wanted to present my interests through another medium. Essentially, it’s like blogging, just with a different approach. Of course, I will continue writing my blog as well.
Creating videos presents a greater challenge for me. First, there’s the anxiety of being in front of the camera, coupled with my usual lack of speaking habits, which resulted in noticeable filler words, pacing issues, and figuring out what the audience wants to see—these are all considerations that writing alone doesn’t require (at least for me).
Beyond filming, I also learned video editing. While it’s not the special effects type of YouTube, this method significantly enhances the potential for creativity and is quite enjoyable.
I firmly believe that whether through text, voice, or video, each communication channel has its uniqueness and cannot replace one another. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, and video is precisely the medium I want to try out recently.
Due to the nature of video, it can be more effective in spreading information compared to plain articles or even podcasts. Plus, it can leverage YouTube’s recommendation system to reach interested viewers. Rather than just delving deeper into programming, I hope to learn more interesting things in this vibrant era.
Moreover, there are some topics that are challenging to convey through articles or that struggle to attract readers (like Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Sonic Pi, etc.). These subjects, combined with video and hands-on demonstrations, create a stronger impression and make it easier for viewers to take action right after watching. Of course, once I find a suitable presentation style, I might even start a podcast.
I admit I have a varied interest—besides my current profession, I also want to explore various fields. As I mentioned earlier, the deeper I go, the fewer resources I find in Chinese, and there are fewer people to share with, so I hope to attract like-minded individuals through this medium.
Deepening Professional Skills and Self-Management
Interestingly, YouTube itself is a community, and any skills needed to manage a community apply here as well. This is something I want to experiment with this year—Growth Hacking.
YouTube has always been a platform I wanted to try. Although I'm unsure about the outcomes, as an engineer, I believe in the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) spirit: it’s okay to start with something and improve later.
As I progress, I often find that I have a great idea or a well-developed side project, yet no one seems to notice. This can be quite frustrating (at least for me). Hence, YouTube serves as a living practice ground, where various metrics—like views, watch time, and exposure—help me analyze the content I create.
In Taiwan, I haven’t noticed any channels with a similar focus as mine (if there are, feel free to let me know). While there may be some in the front-end and back-end space, many focus on specific niches or programming languages, and some just livestream. I haven’t seen a broader-focused YouTube channel, nor one that edits videos in a truly YouTube-like manner (at least, I think so, haha).
Balancing Personal Content vs. Audience Interests
Another interesting topic is how to balance the content I want to create with what the audience wants to see. I’m still searching for the right answers; I've only uploaded six short videos so far, and there’s a long journey ahead.
My short-term goal is to have my content seen by more people because that’s how I’ll know what to improve and where adjustments are needed.
Typically, engineers seeking information or knowledge usually don’t turn to YouTube (unless it’s for conferences); instead, they rely on online platforms like Udacity, Coursera, and Egghead. While I’d like to delve into deeper content, that might limit this channel to a niche audience, making it similar to writing a blog.
Insights
I think that engineers aiming to start a YouTube channel need to realize that making videos can significantly reduce your efficiency.
Programming is inherently a solitary and quiet task. Now, you have to juggle coding, managing the camera, engaging with the audience, and scripting—all of which is much more tiring than I imagined. I don’t know if others have had this experience, but after coding for too long, I sometimes forget how to talk!
The most painful part is video editing; it can easily consume six to eight hours. Sigh, there’s still so much to learn! QQ.
I feel there are still many areas to improve during this trial phase, but if you're interested in programming, remember to subscribe and check it out!
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