Why am I reviewing YouTube Influencers?
One of my new year resolutions for 2019 was to spend a few hours each month reviewing YouTube Influencers to find out what they do that makes them an influencer, how they produce their videos so as to become an influencer and WHY I felt they were or were not an influencer.
All this came about because nearly early every week for the past four years we are asked by people wanting to earn money producing YouTube videos what it will take to become a YouTube Influencer.
My definition of a YouTube Influencer is someone who builds what appears to be substantial following on the video platform of YouTube, and who thereby seems to be able to set trends and provide information to YouTube viewers who are looking to purchase a specific product or service.
Overall, the majority of the more successful of these men and women who have been deemed YouTube Influencers would be clearly classified as being very attractive looking. However, there are some who seem to be very influential to YouTube viewers but clearly have a face for radio.
By saying that I would conclude just about anyone could be a YouTube Influencer if they set their head to being an influencer.
To Keep From Getting Sued
Now, I know most..if not all..of you are going to ask who were all of the YouTube influencers I reviewed?
When I started this quest my intent was to list each YouTube influencer I reviewed , but… (and there seems to always be a BUT that develops whenever you put yourself out there and review what someone else is doing) after several sessions resulting into a large number of hours sitting across the desk from my attorney, I unfortunately have been advised it probably would be best if I did not list ANY of the hundreds of people, places and things I reviewed on YouTube since there was a 99% chance that one, if not all, who I reviewed would show me how influential they are by filing some sort or type of lawsuit.
That is very unfortunate advice and I challenged this counsel from all sides and saw that there was no way to tell you who I reviewed unless I go each of them to sign a release.
However, I was advised that what I can do is tell you, using general terms that do not imply or would be construed to indicate any individual YouTube influencer, what percentage of YouTube Influencers were doing Right or Wrong. Of course, that is as long as what I reviewed each YouTube influencer on is based on something I have tremendous experience in doing or have an expertise in doing that is relevant to what they are doing or not doing.
OK..now that I have gone through that legal disclaimer…let’s get down to business.
What YouTube Influencers are Doing to Influence You
Let me start off with say that there are a lot..actually 93% of the 483 YouTubers who have been on someone’s list of Top YouTube Influencers or on someone list of Top Influencers who use YouTube in addition to other social media platforms, who are actually Awesome Influencers. I was quite surprised to see so many people producing quality videos.
However, will over 60% of the Top YouTube Influencers were doing something during the video that could be improved upon.
What they were doing that made them influencers had to do more with what they were marketing than how they marketed a product or service. Those product representatives who represented top of the line or more popular merchandise and products naturally had a leg up on being influential. Things that are already popular make being an influencer easy when they were repping a product everyone wanted or loved.
What Did I Base My Review on?
Several of the many things I have always wondered when someone has been deemed an influencer are:
- Why are YouTube Influencers considered influencers?
- What is it YouTube Influencers are doing that makes them an influencer?
- How are YouTube Influencers doing influencing me?
Yes, the last question on if they influence me is the big one since if they can influence me they probably are influencing over 85% of the global consumer base.
The Answer to These Questions
Here is what I looked for in each of the YouTube videos produced by each of the YouTube Influencers I reviewed.
- Quality of Video Production
- Quality of Audio
- Effectiveness of their Storytelling
- How clear was their Call to Action
The Results
Only 28% of the YouTube Influencers that are being listed in a number of Top YouTube Influencers have a quality video production.
68% use smartphones as either their only video recording device or when using their smartphones do not use them correctly.
23% of YouTube Influencers use some sort of professional audio set-up..either a boom mic or lavalier mic.
56% surprisingly did have an effective method of storytelling which was probably why they are being hired as influencers.
Only 43% of the YouTubers I reviewed this year actually had a clear Call to Action to their video. Way too many assumed their story was compelling enough to get consumers to contact or purchase something.
Conclusion
After spending nearly a year of my life reviewing YouTube videos I really believe that anyone who buys a smartphone should have to complete a full semester of photography and videography training before the button for videos is activated.
It really is a shame how many people who have been listed as a YouTube Influencer who would benefit greatly if they produced at least 40% of their videos in a studio instead of out of their bedroom.
Consumers are not stupid and are getting tired of being treated as they are stupid. Yes, smartphones are now capable of producing some above-average videos. However, how the smartphone is used can make viewing those videos literally nauseating.
It is those awfully produced smartphone videos that consumers just will no longer tolerate. Consumers have many other videos to choose from and will gravitate to videos that are well lit, have clear audio and use HD cameras. Poorly produced videos uploaded to YouTube by a YouTube influencer really make me question what it is they influence or who they influence.
Then maybe it is the people who list these YouTube users making them influencers on YouTube.
Either way, there is a lot of room for improvement for a large number of YouTube Influencers.
Please let me know how I can-help
