Over the past few years we have witnessed the rise of influencers, entrepreneurs and artists through social media platforms.
Among all platforms YouTube has risen as one of the most lucrative direct-to-consumer stages in all of media. On YouTube a user can generate income based on the number of views, subscribers and promotional ads they attract.
For students YouTube has become a precious commodity to build yourself and your brand.
“Working with brands has helped me in turns of maintaining the lifestyle I want to live, especially with affiliate linking opportunities,” Kaela Moore, a third-year journalism major at FAMU, said. “It helps bring additional income as a college student while helping gain connections with brands and having already established relationships it could possibly turn into a career job.”
Moore has worked with brands such as Creme of Nature, BooHoo, SHEIN and Victoria’s Secret.
YouTube, which has 1.3 billion users, has almost 5 billion watched videos every day. This enormous audience can be transformed into a following that attracts people to watch what you do.
With everything in society becoming more digital, brands are reaching to YouTube influencers to push their product to the masses as part of marketing and growing sales while giving influencers a percentage if someone buys from their link.
Charday Graham, a pre-physical therapy major at FAMU, said: “I frequently get emails from big brands about collaborating on projects. They send lots of things to me to help push their brand.”
Many career jobs have turned into positions designated for social media gurus. Employers in today’s society are looking for individuals capable of building their brand through media as a full-time job, without the need for a degree.
HBCU students thrive in the video creation spaces with natural hair tutorials, make-up, fashion and life-teaching scenarios. Environmental science major Jordan Roberts said: “I identify with being an influencer, but I use my platform to spread awareness, and I use my platform for other people more than myself. I work with brands that are for the people. My advice is, don’t do stuff for people, do it for yourself. Be raw and keep it real.”
Roberts, who has 26,000 followers on her channel, recently collaborated with Goodwill for Halloween raising employment awareness and an increase in thrift shopping. Many avenues are opening for influencers and YouTube continues to employ people as self-made bosses.
To learn more about the app or media visit the youtube.com website.