Marques Brownlee attributes the success of his YouTube channel to being in the tech space for a long time, consistency in content, and having a unique style and voice. He started receiving products to review in the early days of his career, focusing on the stats and hard metrics of the products he reviews. He evaluates a product based on its purpose, design, and functionality. He discusses features that he thought were great but didn't catch on, such as high-resolution screens. The smartphone industry is unlikely to reach "peak smartphone" as new trends continue to emerge, including folding phones. The future of the automotive industry lies in electric vehicles, with Tesla leading the way. Marques Brownlee explores new kinds of videos and podcasting, emphasizing strategy, creativity, and innovation. He discusses his gear limitations and the importance of collaboration and storytelling techniques. He found his voice as a creator early on, prioritizing high-quality production and realism. He overcame perfectionism by adapting and trusting his instincts. He relies on gut instinct and viewer feedback rather than data. YouTube comments can be divided into three categories: useless first hour comments, thoughtful comments from viewers, and comments from people who found the video through search. Marques Brownlee took a hiatus from YouTube to focus on school and came back with a new video format and renewed drive. His daily schedule is divided into production and pre-production/post-production days, with ultimate frisbee as a personal hobby. He believes engineers should prioritize improving smartphone cameras. Engaging and working with influencers as an early-stage startup requires offering something of value and personalizing the approach. The future of creators supporting themselves financially relies on diversifying income streams. Marques Brownlee's biggest challenge is improving video production quality. His long-term goals include expanding his company into a media company with multiple YouTube channels, a podcast, and potentially making a movie.
What does Marques attribute his channel's success to?
Marques Brownlee attributes the success of his YouTube channel to a combination of factors, including being in the tech space for a long time, consistency in his content, and having a unique style and voice. The key points are:
- Being in the tech space for a long time
- Consistency in content
- Unique style and voice
- Providing a history of tech products
- Gradual upward slope in popularity over time
The early days
- Marques Brownlee started receiving products to review in the early days of his career as a YouTuber, beginning with laptop accessories and paid software.
- It took about six years before he started receiving phone-related products.
- He was curious about the hackintosh world and building PCs, but he was more interested in the final result rather than the building process.
- In his current videos, he focuses on the stats and hard metrics of the products he reviews, as they determine how well the product will work for the viewers.
- Building an audience and advice for creators are important aspects of the early days.
How does he go about evaluating a product?
When evaluating a product, Marques Brownlee focuses on determining whether a feature is a gimmick or something that will be used on a daily basis. He believes that actually using the product is the best way to evaluate its usefulness. While benchmarks and technical specifications are important, the actual feel and user experience of the product cannot be quantified. Brownlee also mentions a specific example of a phone with gesture control, which initially seemed cool but turned out to be limited in its usefulness, leading him to classify it as a gimmick.
- Marques Brownlee evaluates a product by considering its purpose, design, and functionality.
- He believes that a product should solve a problem and have a clear purpose.
- He values good design and believes that a product should be visually appealing and intuitive to use.
- He emphasizes the importance of functionality and performance, stating that a product should work well and meet the expectations of its users.
Features that Marques thought were great that didn't catch on
Marques Brownlee discusses features that he thought were great but didn't catch on. He mentions high-resolution screens as an example, acknowledging that it may not matter to the average person. He suggests discounting his opinion on screens if it's not important to the reader. The discussion also touches on the idea of diminishing returns with smartphones.
- Marques Brownlee discusses features that he thought were great but didn't catch on
- High-resolution screens are mentioned as an example
- Acknowledges that high-resolution screens may not matter to the average person
- Suggests discounting his opinion on screens if it's not important to the reader
- Discussion on the idea of diminishing returns with smartphones
Peak smartphone?
The smartphone industry is unlikely to reach "peak smartphone" as trends constantly change and new ones continue to emerge. While phones are improving and lasting longer, the next trend remains uncertain. Folding phones are also emerging as a new trend in the industry.
Folding phones and new trends
Folding phones and new trends:
- Current state of folding phones as a proof of concept
- Limitations of folding phones such as creases and large bezels
- Potential future usefulness of folding phones as they unfold into a tablet
Tesla and the EV market
Tesla and the EV Market Summary:
The future of the automotive industry lies in electric vehicles (EVs), with Tesla leading the way as the "iPhone of cars." Key points include:
- EVs offer advanced features and smartphone-controlled apps, making them the natural choice for tech enthusiasts.
- Even low-end EVs provide quick acceleration and a zippy feel, emphasizing their performance capabilities.
- Sound is less important in the EV market compared to high-end cars, shifting the focus to other aspects.
- The success of the EV market heavily relies on the development of a robust charging infrastructure.
- While Tesla currently leads in terms of technology, there is still progress to be made in making EVs practical for the majority of consumers.
Getting older and staying relevant
Getting older and staying relevant as a creator is a common concern for creative individuals. Marques Brownlee, in his video, expresses his fear of becoming out of touch with new trends and being seen as the "old guy." However, he finds solace in feeling more immersed in the tech world, which may slow down the process of becoming outdated. He also acknowledges the success of older tech journalists and YouTubers.
New kinds of videos and podcasting
The most profound aspect of the topic is Marques Brownlee's exploration of new kinds of videos and podcasting, with a focus on strategy, creativity, and innovation in different mediums.
- Marques Brownlee discusses his interest in diversifying the content he creates, including car videos, production-related videos, and a podcast where he can talk to other creators.
- He wants to engage in conversations with other creative people to gain insights and strategies as he progresses in his creative career.
- Marques Brownlee mentions trying a 360 video format for a studio tour, but struggled to find other productive uses for it.
- The challenges of storytelling and preparation involved in shooting 360 videos are discussed.
- The speaker mentions using 360-degree videos for real estate and car tours, but expresses limitations in using cameras for certain spaces.
Does Marques feel limited by gear?
Marques Brownlee discusses his gear limitations as a creator, highlighting the challenges of shooting certain scenes and the lack of a YouTube network for resources and advice. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration and learning from other creators, as well as developing storytelling techniques as a valuable skill.
- Minor issues with cameras, but overall satisfied with image quality
- Lack of autofocus on red camera can be challenging for certain shots
- Transition to using drones for car-related content
- Challenges of shooting the back of a car
- Lack of a YouTube network for creators to access resources and advice
- Importance of collaboration and learning from other creators
- Need to develop storytelling techniques as a valuable skill for creators
Storytelling techniques
Storytelling techniques for creators are important in interviews and reviews, as they allow for the creation of interesting narratives by comparing products to their predecessors and competitors. Additionally, incorporating personal branding and future plans and aspirations into storytelling can enhance its impact.
Tech vs Marques as the star of the show
- Marques Brownlee's approach to creating content in the tech industry is focused on highlighting the technology itself.
- He believes that the tech should always be the star of the show, rather than his own personal perspective or humor.
- Marques compares his approach to that of a car reviewer who considers the context of other cars they have driven.
- While he acknowledges the importance of his own voice, he emphasizes that the main focus should be on the technology.
Marco Castro asks - What advice do you have for new creators on YouTube?
- Find your own unique perspective and voice instead of imitating others
- Consistency is crucial for gaining an audience on YouTube
- Luck also plays a role due to the saturation on the platform
When did Marques find his voice as a creator?
Marques Brownlee found his voice as a creator early on, with a focus on high-quality production and realistic visuals. This emphasis on quality and realism has always been a priority for him, and he believes it should be everyone's goal. He attributes his passion for high-quality tech to his upbringing and personal preference. As he gained access to better equipment and resources, his commitment to producing the best content became even stronger.
- Marques Brownlee found his voice as a creator early on, prioritizing high-quality production and realistic visuals.
- He believes that quality and realism should be the goal for everyone.
- His passion for high-quality tech comes from his upbringing and personal preference.
- As he gained access to better equipment and resources, his commitment to producing the best content grew stronger.
Overcoming perfectionism
Overcoming perfectionism in content creation:
- Marques Brownlee, a self-described borderline perfectionist, shares his experience of feeling the need to perfect his work.
- In the fast-paced world of technology, it is important to adapt and evolve production methods.
- Making the best content possible and trusting one's instincts are key in overcoming perfectionism.
Gut instinct vs data
The balance between gut instinct and data in content creation is discussed in the transcript snippets. The speaker relies mostly on gut instinct and viewer feedback, rather than data, when deciding what videos to make. They emphasize the challenge of fitting structurally sound information into concise and understandable videos. The importance of finding valuable information for the audience and presenting it succinctly is emphasized. The debate between relying on gut instinct or data is explored, with data being seen as more reliable and important for successful companies like Apple.
YouTube comments
- YouTube comments can be divided into three categories: useless first hour comments, thoughtful comments from viewers who have watched the video, and comments from people who found the video through search.
- First hour comments are typically useless.
- Thoughtful comments from viewers who have watched the video are valuable.
- Comments from people who found the video through search are the most useful.
- Personal attacks in YouTube comments get drowned out.
- Having a thick skin is important when dealing with YouTube comments.
Austin Ryder asks - In the early years of his channel, Marques took a several month hiatus from YouTube, but then came back with a new video format and seemingly renewed drive. What happened during those months off that led to the channel becoming what it is today?
Marques Brownlee took a several month hiatus from YouTube during his senior year of high school to focus on finishing school, improving his grades, and applying to colleges. After the hiatus, he came back with a new video format and a renewed drive, posting videos five days a week. This period coincided with his excitement about going to college and having a more flexible schedule.
Winston asks - What’s your daily schedule?
Marques Brownlee's daily schedule is divided into weekdays and weekends, with weekdays further divided into production and pre-production/post-production days. He dedicates his nights to playing ultimate frisbee or practicing. On weekends, he focuses solely on ultimate frisbee and does not work. Marques maintains his fitness through ultimate frisbee and has a gym in his basement for weightlifting exercises.
Ultimate frisbee injuries
- Personal experience of breaking a finger while playing defense in Ultimate frisbee
- Underwent surgery to fix the bone
- Has a plate and screws in place to reinforce the finger
Amad Khan asks - Are there any problems that you see or face that you really wish engineers/developers would solve?
- Marques Brownlee believes that engineers and developers should prioritize improving certain aspects of technology, particularly smartphone cameras.
- He acknowledges that some progress has been made in this area but believes there is still room for improvement.
- Despite this, he overall thinks that the current technology is functional and of good quality.
Christian Giordano asks - Any tips on how to engage/work with influencers when you are a very early stage startup with little or no money?
The key points for engaging and working with influencers as a early-stage startup with limited funds are:
- Offer something of value to influencers, such as exclusive content or a behind-the-scenes look.
- Personalize your approach and do research on the influencer, rather than sending generic emails.
- Create a win-win situation by providing something that enhances the influencer's content.
- Individual creators have the potential to support themselves as businesses in the future.
The future of creators supporting themselves financially
The future of creators supporting themselves financially is reliant on a combination of sponsored content, affiliate marketing, and YouTube ads. Key points include:
- Creators need to diversify their income streams to overcome challenges in monetizing their content on platforms like YouTube.
- Income streams can include ads, affiliate income, merchandise sales, paid subscriptions, and platforms like Patreon.
- Offering unique and high-quality content that viewers can't easily find elsewhere is crucial.
- For successful creators, YouTube ads make up around 40-50% of their income.
- Sponsored content accounts for approximately 20% of creators' revenue streams.
- Affiliate marketing contributes another 10% to creators' financial support.
His biggest challenge as a creator
- Marques Brownlee's biggest challenge as a creator is improving video production quality and bridging the gap between YouTube videos and movies.
- He aims to create seamless storytelling and visuals without any barriers.
- He struggles with handling multiple tasks simultaneously and wishes to delegate responsibilities to others.
Long-term goals
Marques Brownlee envisions his company expanding into a media company with multiple YouTube channels, a podcast, and a production aspect. He also expresses interest in creating long-form content and potentially making a movie in the future.
- Marques Brownlee's forward-thinking is focused on the next two to three years.
- He envisions his company expanding into a media company with multiple YouTube channels, a podcast, and a production aspect.
- He expresses interest in creating long-form content, such as 45-minute to hour-long videos.
- He potentially plans to make a movie in the future.