How She Went from $300 in the Bank to Making $227k a Year (Featuring Sarah Funk)

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HOW SHE WENT FROM $300 IN THE BANK TO MAKING $227 A YEAR

GUEST-STARRING SARAH FUNK

We all dream of getting paid to do what we love, but what exactly can you get paid for as a content creator?

Sarah Funk of @sarahfunky is sharing all the details of her many income streams as a content creator: the struggles she faced during her first year, the multiple sources of income she now generates, and her best tips for getting started as a YouTuber. For those who want to go full-time as content creators but are worried about the financial implications, this episode is a must-hear!

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If there’s one social media platform that I believe is underutilized, it’s YouTube. With over 2B users and more than 4B video views each day, the opportunities for exposure and success are huge. However, becoming a successful YouTuber goes beyond publishing decent video content. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to start a successful YouTube channel, we’re breaking down 5 key factors you need to know to get the ball rolling.

We’ll be talking to Sarah Funky, a travel influencer who started her channel with zero followers back in 2015. She’s since grown it to 128k dedicated subscribers and has leveraged her influence into multiple successful businesses. If there’s anyone who knows what it takes to build a YouTube channel from nothing, it’s Sarah! Here are her tips for getting started.

Start with a Clear Vision and Niche
Sarah bought her first website in 2015, but never saw growth or made any money for a few years. It wasn’t until she honed in on a very specific niche - NYC travel - that things took off.

Sarah advises settling on a niche from the get-go so people know what they’re following you for. If you’re not sure what that is, experiment with different ideas and put yourself out there until you’re able to hone in on it.

By focusing on all the cool things to do in NYC, Sarah not only blew up on Youtube - but she’s pivoted into many other businesses.
Take Calculated Risks and Commit to Consistency
Sarah believes that being successful means consistency. The only way for her to make it happen was to quit her full-time job. So she took the risk at the end of 2016 and traveled for a year in an attempt to become a full-time influencer. After that, she returned home with no job or money.

She moved back in with her parents at 29 and committed to publishing a high-quality video every Thursday for five months. By May of 2018, one of her videos went viral and changed the course of her career.

It was only after months and months of failure and staying diligent without reward that she saw any real success. She believes that risk combined with consistency is key.
Learn to Adapt and Build Multiple Revenue Streams
As Sarah’s channel grew and brands began to notice, she capitalized on the momentum and built it into various revenue streams. She not only made money from ads but partnered with travel boards, got paid to visit other countries, started a tour company, and became a travel host on Instagram.

Then COVID happened and Sarah pivoted quickly because people were afraid to travel. She knew she needed to change her business model so that it wasn’t dependent on travel. That translated into digital products, freelancing as a show host, selling tours on YouTube, consulting brands and many more!

Sarah’s best advice on adapting is to look at the holes in the market that you can fill and think about how you can create content around that.
Listen to Your Audience
Sarah might have multiple revenue streams now, but they came from nothing. She’s constantly in tune with what her audience is saying and what they’re asking for, so she can launch new products and services accordingly. That’s how her new travel concierge, itinerary planning service came about.

You can do the same by checking in what your audience is saying in the comments section. Make note of what they’re asking for, how they feel about the content you’re currently creating, and deliver new content or services that align with what they want.
Make Every Relationship Mutually Beneficial
Sarah believes that it’s best to be open-minded when others don’t support you and understand that criticism sometimes comes from a place of love. To minimize tension, hire out as needed and connect with like-minded individuals that can support you. If you want to get your loved ones on board, Sarah advises making the experience mutually beneficial so that it’s a win for everyone.

Sarah and I both believe that there’s no better time to become an influencer. With platforms like YouTube and Instagram, the barriers to entry are low and give you full creative freedom. If you utilize Sarah’s strategies above in tandem with your own ideas, we’re confident you’ll build your own brand and business in no time.