How to be a Youtube celebrity

Reckon you have what it takes to be a youtube star? Jimmy 0010 gives us some insider tips...

James Hill (aka Jimmy 0010)  is a TV, Radio and online presenter. He’s pretty popular on YouTube and his channel has over 3 and a half million views and nearly 50 thousand subscribers. Through just chatting to his camera in his bedroom he managed to get the attention of BBC bosses and began presenting for BBC Switch while still doing his history degree (he still managed a 1st). He's since presented for BBC 1Xtra and Burberry, not to mention Whatever After Radio (we reckon that’s his proudest achievement!) Here he chats about how he got into vlogging and why he loves it so.

http://www.youtube.com/user/jimmy0010

What made you start recording video blogs?

I was about 15 when I first started uploading to YouTube, when the site was only a few months old and not that widely used. It’s hard to think of YouTube as a novelty, but at the time it very much was. I can remember exploring the site, which was mostly filled with clips from TV shows, and trying to work out the point of it. I eventually came across a few people recording little webcam videos talking about themselves and their lives and it fascinated me. It was amazing to get an insight into the lives of these total strangers and to see the different ways ordinary people  were creatively using this brand new platform. Thinking back, the quality of the videos was actually pretty poor, and the content not particularly mind blowing, but the fact that it was real, ordinary people seemed liberating, and I knew I wanted to contribute myself.

What do you enjoy about it the most?

I always liked making funny videos with friends when I was younger, and I guess YouTube was just an extension of that. Basically, I quite like showing off on camera and being a bit of a tit. The difference with actually uploading these videos to YouTube was that  there was a global audience who had access to these videos, and people from around the world eventually began to watch and enjoy them. It was, and still is, amazing that people in places like America, Australia and China all watch and like my silly videos that I film in my bedroom. I found it the most fun and rewarding way to be creative.

Were you surprised when they started becoming popular?

I was, although it happened over a fairly long period of time so it wasn’t that weird. I knew I wanted to build an audience, so I put a lot of effort into getting my videos discovered and gradually my views went up and up. Occasionally I’d visualize the amount of people who’d watched my stuff and get a bit freaked out. I still can’t believe that nearly 200,000 people have watched a video of me rambling about the opticians. I wasn’t even wearing trousers when I filmed that.

What's the weirdest thing that's happened / comment / encounter etc?

I occasionally (very occasionally) get recognized in the street. That’s cool, especially when I’m with other people. It makes me feel like a bit of a celeb.

I usually quickly ruin it by popping into Greggs for a steak bake or having to borrow money for the bus. It’s not very Beyonce is it?

What do you enjoy the most about vlogging

It encourages me to be creative and to try and be funny which I enjoy. I also love all the tweets, messages and comments from the people who watch my videos. People tend to be very complimentary and it’s nice to think I’m entertaining people and making them a bit happier.

How has youtube helped you as a presenter?

It taught me how to communicate well through a lens, and has made me very comfortable in front of the camera.

How did you juggle it at uni?

To be honest, I didn’t! I left youtube for most of my student years, as I had plenty of other stuff on the go. I also associated YouTube with being a bit younger and felt as though I needed to move on from it. Luckily, when I finished uni I saw things much differently, and got back into uploading videos to youtube.

Can YouTube actual earn people money?

All videos on YouTube have advertising on the page or in the video. In most cases advertisers pay YouTube to place these adverts on their pages, and if you have a lagre enough audience YouTube agree to make you a ‘partner’ and give you a share of this advertising revenue.

The amount of money you make depends on the amount of views you get. If your videos get millions of views, youtube are selling a massive chunk of advertising and you’re probably going to do alright. I know video makers with large audiences who earn very good salaries from YouTube.

What's the toughest side of it?

Sometimes people write mean things, but I have a pretty thick skin so it doesn’t really bother me. I guess the hardest thing is being motivated, and pushing myself to upload regularly and to make the best videos I can.

What tips would you give anyone wanting to do something similar?

Just go for it! Honestly, don’t think too much about it, just make videos you enjoy and you are happy with.