YouTube has become one of the most coveted online moneymakers and the surge of videos uploaded on YouTube that have monetizing partnerships with Google (who owns YouTube since 2006) is tremendous. The most popular and profitable topics to make videos about are gaming, comedy, and music but this doesn’t mean that if you’re not playing games, if you’re not funny, or can’t sing you won’t be able to start your YouTube channel. Actually, everyone can start a channel and with passion, time, and dedication, one day you might even be able to call yourself a full-time YouTuber.
Farah Asif
Farah Asif is a Bangkok-based YouTuber who although is originally Thai, ethnically she is a mix of Pakistani with European Jewish roots. Farah moved to Bangkok when she was two years old, grew up here, and has lived in Thailand almost all her life. In July 2015 she uploaded her first video on YouTube and has never looked back.
“I’ve loved and watched YouTube for years and years, mainly beauty and fashion videos, for creative inspiration, knowledge, and to update myself on what’s up and coming,” she said referring to her beginnings as a YouTuber. “One day I finally admitted to myself that I wanted to be on the other side of the screen. I filmed my first video and uploaded it, and the rest is history. It’s been a journey of constantly learning and growing!”
The topics Farah Asif choses for her videos are something she really enjoys and is passionate about in real life: fashion and beauty. She doesn’t mind spending her free time researching and creating content about these topics and this might just be the secret to her success.
Although there are hundreds of thousands of fashion and beauty videos out there on YouTube already, Farah doesn’t think of the competition. “We all have a unique perspective to share even if it’s on the same topic. So I rather focus on creating and supporting my fellow YouTubers than competing with them,” she confessed.
Her audience is predominantly female with only about 8% of viewers being male. The top countries her viewers come from are Mexico, Vietnam, Ukraine, the United States, and, of course, Thailand. But, the hard work she has put into creating videos has also started to bring in some profit. ”Revenue didn’t kick in for the past seven months, but now it’s begun to. I still can’t pay the bills with it, but I’m working up to that!” said an enthusiastic Farah.
Her channel has just topped 1,000 subscribers and her videos have been viewed a bit over 60,000 times. To reach this point, Farah had a few basic strategies: “Be consistent in delivering valuable content (I upload once a week for the moment), support my fellow YouTubers as much as I can (because I love it and believe in growing together), and keep learning and implementing new ideas.”
The topics she covers are mostly on beauty and fashion but, for the sake of variation and of reaching out to various audiences, Farah also uploads the occasional vlog. “I want my audience to get an insight into my everyday life and activities. This helps in building a closer relationship between us; because they come to know me better as a person.”
The funny things is that although she looks for fame and fortune on YouTube, Farah Asif is also reaching out offline, searching to connect with people in her line of business here in Bangkok. With the aim of getting content creators who live in the Thai capital together, she started a Meet Up group called “Beauty and Fashion Bloggers/Vloggers in Bangkok!” which meets once a month at various locations in Bangkok.
The group was opened on December 2015 and since then has grown to include over 170 members. “At first I had intended to create a group for YouTubers only, but then I realized that bloggers are also content creators. The group is open for people from the fashion and beauty industry – from make-up artists to art directors – but also for those who don’t do it as a profession but have interest in this area,” explained Farah.
According to Farah, the qualities of a serious YouTuber can be summarized as follows: hard-working, having a vision or goal for their channel, determination, and persistence. If you think you’ve got these qualities, then go ahead and start your own YouTube channel. It is estimated that by 2017, over 70% of Internet traffic will come from video. Will you be too late for the party?
If you want to join Farah’s group, search for them on meetup.com. Also, check out her videos at youtube.com/farahasifa and keep in touch with her on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Hi Farah, I watched your videos and it’s really very helpful and informative for all the Thailand’s people. It’s really inspired all ladies.