Saw Fran's live Patreon show today.
TLDR;
Yep, daily views are down 90% from Sept when she was on the hampster wheel doing a video per day.
But even now being back on the hampster wheel the views have not recovered. Her channel has basically tanked completely
Lost half the Patrons she gained during the big push a few months ago, and continuing to drop, so it seems that plan didn't work. There just aren't enough patrons coming in to replace the ones leaving, not even close.
She will cancel doing the live Patreon shows as she realises that Patrons just don't engage, only like a dozen viewing today. (Myself and other Youtubers see the same thing BTW, Patrons do no engage with content, they just use it as a donation mechanism).
She has now realised that doing things just to please the Patrons didn't work.
Problem is now that if the views don't recover, and the algorithm doesn't stop punishing her for some reason, then the channel will wither and die. The graph she showed was brutal, the algorithm really seems to be punishing her.
Rent on storage is $1000/month which is much less than I thought. But main problems are taxes and that rent increases are going up like 10% every year. They don't have fixed rental agreements like we do here. Still claims Philly is the cheapest big city in the US.
Unless views recover, I suspect that even if she ditched the storage unit and the workshop, and only had the apartment lab, she would still struggle with just the Patreon and Youtube income.
Doesn't sound good at all
She is so dead set on operating within certain very rigid constraints that failure is inevitable, why should I support that?
Frankly I stopped watching her videos when they turned into soap operas about her personal life and financial situation more than presentations about interesting technology.
I just stop watching all the channels that constantly whine about "the algorithm". I don't care, it is your job to figure it out. I too have a job that sometimes sucks and I don't always get to do exactly what I want.
By some extraordinary coincidence even Mustie1 did a Q&A about Youtube and the Algorithm in his latest video today. Very unusual for him to do that. He did it whilst rebuilding a carburetor. He also added that he has bills to pay on storage and shop space he uses for his youtube work. So in that respect he is a bit like Fran.
That says to me every youtuber has the algorithm in mind.
One thing she mentioned that caught my ear, and also someone commented on the video about it too, is that she said she bannes all "trolls" who leave negative comments.
I'm sure she gets a lot of horrible stuff, but she did mention that she is effectively banning viewers, and that doing this might be contributing to the algorithm punishing her.
Probably not the best approach if you need the get the numbers back up.
She is getting crushed by the algorithm though for probably more than one reason. I wouldn't like to be in that position.
I think we all know she need to reduce expenses, but I think she needs to look into an additional income source as well.
I think we all know she need to reduce expenses, but I think she needs to look into an additional income source as well.
That is a good point. I typically solve lack of money by making more money. Not by spending less.
I think we all know she need to reduce expenses, but I think she needs to look into an additional income source as well.
That is a good point. I typically solve lack of money by making more money. Not by spending less. But I'm prepared to make radical changes.
2) I have additional income sources through branded meters. I've tried to talk Fran into this before but she said logistically it's very difficult shipping stuff from where she is.
At this point I don't think it is possible to reduce expenses enough, she's probably going to have to find a regular job of one sort or another, something that is not all that easy at that age, although if one is willing to work retail or such there are loads of places that can't find enough labor, at least in my area. Last year it took me 45 minutes to find someone at the local big box home center to find someone that was able to cut and thread a piece of iron gas pipe for me. They were that short staffed.
I see several ways out of this:
1) The views and/or Patreon magically recover and the algorithm gifts her the ability to just continue along for another year or whatever. Which I'm sure she'd do it that happens.
2) Radically lower expenses by moving storage/shop and even apartment. But she has ruled that out, so that's that.
3) Get some extra income by getting into some decent profit margin branded merch or something else. My store for example brings in a huge chunk of my income. She has expressed that this is not easy where she is, but doesn't mean it's not an option.
4) Take paid video sponsorships. Even I'd do this if it meant the difference between keeping the channel alive and going back to a day job.
I see several ways out of this:
1) The views and/or Patreon magically recover and the algorithm gifts her the ability to just continue along for another year or whatever. Which I'm sure she'd do it that happens.
2) Radically lower expenses by moving storage/shop and even apartment. But she has ruled that out, so that's that.
3) Get some extra income by getting into some decent profit margin branded merch or something else. My store for example brings in a huge chunk of my income. She has expressed that this is not easy where she is, but doesn't mean it's not an option.
4) Take paid video sponsorships. Even I'd do this if it meant the difference between keeping the channel alive and going back to a day job.
I think you are confirming, that the bottom end of the barrel has been reached, and almost nothing is flowing out of it.
1) I think you stated it in a way, which shows it is very unlikely to happen.
2) Already states it is eliminated. Even if they changed their mind, it is getting late in the day.
3) It is easy to say stuff like that. But if the viewership has already tanked, vary badly. It is partly too late, for that to be viable enough.
4) But if the viewership has already fallen off a cliff, and the trend continues. Sponsors would be reluctant to do it, wouldn't pay much (for low view counts), and would still need arranging.
One thing she mentioned that caught my ear, and also someone commented on the video about it too, is that she said she bannes all "trolls" who leave negative comments.
Yes, but you have to plan and play the game as if you are going to win.
I've seen channel way smaller do paid promotion and/or reviews of stuff.
That is a good point. I typically solve lack of money by making more money. Not by spending less.
Yes, but if you have got, unnecessarily huge outgoings, reducing/changing/eliminating those big costs, can also be part of the solution (financially speaking).
E.g. You're paying $4,000 / month, to Hire/Lease an over the top, expensive car, but only earning $2,000 a month. Ending the car contract, returning the car, and buying a (one off cost) $2,000 cheap, used car. Might be the best way forward. If you can get a higher salaried or additional job as well, great.
I've seen channel way smaller do paid promotion and/or reviews of stuff.
2) I have additional income sources through branded meters. I've tried to talk Fran into this before but she said logistically it's very difficult shipping stuff from where she is.
2) I have additional income sources through branded meters. I've tried to talk Fran into this before but she said logistically it's very difficult shipping stuff from where she is.
I don't understand this. Even if it is difficult to run a warehouse from her location in Philly, she doesn't have to do the shipping herself. She can use a fulfillment company or just do a branding deal with a company that throws her a cut for the sales or an annual licencing fee etc.
It is not that simple. You still need to get production going, do testing, etc. I sell the differential HF probe I designed but the labour & time associated with production, testing, packaging and shipping prevents me from advertising it on a large scale. A fullfillment company will only take care of shipping. My wife can take care of that if push comes to shove.