The Think Media Podcast: Episode 403 - Over 50? Here's How to Make Money on YouTube (Without Tech Skills)
Release Date: April 8, 2025
Host: Sean Cannell
Guest: Denise Jordan, Creator of Homemaking with Denise

Introduction

In Episode 403 of The Think Media Podcast, Sean Cannell welcomes Denise Jordan, an inspiring example of success on YouTube beyond the typical younger creator demographic. At 73 years old, Denise has built Homemaking with Denise into a thriving channel with over 88,000 subscribers and millions of views. This episode delves into her journey, strategies for growth, monetization methods, and offers invaluable advice for individuals over 50 looking to venture into YouTube without prior technical expertise.

Denise Jordan's YouTube Journey

Denise began her YouTube journey around 2017-2018. Initially experimenting with various content types, she engaged in collaborations to build her network and audience. This collaborative approach was pivotal in her early growth.

• Starting Out:
  Denise joined multiple collaborations, often discovered through YouTube's community tabs and comments sections, allowing her to connect with other creators and expand her reach.
  Quote:
  "[...] help me begin to build an audience and it also helped me begin to build skill set." [03:38]

• Consistency:
  Maintaining a consistent posting schedule was crucial. Denise committed to at least one video per week, sometimes more, which helped in both audience retention and skill development.
  Quote:
  "I would do at least a video a week. Sometimes I would do two videos a week." [04:42]

Four Essential Tips for YouTubers Over 50

Denise shares four cornerstone tips tailored for individuals over 50 aiming to start and grow their YouTube channels:

1. Believe in Yourself

   Confidence in your unique experiences and voice is fundamental. Denise emphasizes the importance of recognizing that your life experience offers valuable insights to viewers.
   Quote:
   "You have to believe that you have something to offer and know that there are people out there that want to hear your voice..." [06:05]

2. Niche Down

   Focusing on a specific niche allows creators to cater to a dedicated audience. Denise's pivot to homemaking content, based on viewer feedback, significantly boosted her channel's growth.
   Quote:
   "I narrowed down my topic so that I can provide the information that people want to hear." [07:28]
   Timeframe: It took Denise approximately three to four years to fully identify and stick to her niche.
   Quote:
   "I realized what was sticking, what they wanted to hear was they wanted to hear about things related to the home." [09:47]

3. Invest in Yourself

   Acquiring new skills, especially technical ones like video editing, is essential. Denise highlights her journey of learning Adobe Premiere and other tools to enhance her content quality.
   Quote:
   "I invested in learning how to create video. [...] I learned on Adobe Premiere, which is probably one of the ones with the steepest learning curve." [15:08]

4. Be Okay with Criticism

   Expect and accept criticism as a natural part of being on a public platform. Denise discusses handling negative comments constructively while filtering out purely harmful feedback.
   Quote:
   "You just have to take it with a grain of salt. [...] If you're just trying to be a troll, I'm just going to delete it." [16:40]

Finding and Narrowing Your Niche

Denise’s journey underscores the importance of experimenting with different content types before settling on a niche that resonates with the audience. By analyzing viewer comments and engagement, she identified homemaking as her true calling.

• Experimentation:
  Denise tried various topics, from DIY projects to general life advice, which initially yielded inconsistent viewership.
  Quote:
  "I started out with a little bit of this and a little bit of that, not knowing exactly what my channel was gonna be about." [02:00]

• Selection Based on Feedback:
  Through active engagement and feedback, she realized that homemaking content was what her audience desired, allowing her to specialize effectively.
  Quote:
  "What was sticking, what they wanted to hear was they wanted to hear about things related to the home." [09:47]

Investing in Skills and Continuous Learning

Denise emphasizes the necessity of continuous self-improvement, especially in technical areas like video production and editing.

• Learning Video Production:
  Her commitment to mastering Adobe Premiere and other video tools was instrumental in producing high-quality content.
  Quote:
  "I invested in learning how to create video. So I would encourage someone that is just learning this Skill set..." [15:08]

• Educational Resources:
  Denise utilized Think Media’s resources, such as the Video Ranking Academy, to enhance her understanding and application of YouTube strategies.
  Quote:
  "I bought a course called VRA to help me also learn some of the ways to not only create videos..." [15:08]

Handling Criticism and Building Resilience

Navigating negative feedback is a significant component of maintaining a YouTube channel. Denise shares her approach to managing and leveraging criticism.

• Constructive Feedback vs. Trolls:
  She differentiates between well-intentioned criticism and malicious trolling, choosing to engage constructively or delete harmful comments accordingly.
  Quote:
  "If people are just being nasty, I just delete them because I don't want negative vibes on my channel." [18:06]

• Positive Impact:
  Denise highlights the positive feedback she receives, such as viewers appreciating the practical tips that improve their homemaking skills.
  Quote:
  "One of the things that probably the most positive comment that I get is that I have taught them how to do something..." [19:02]

Lessons from a Nursing Professor Background

Denise’s academic background as a retired nursing instructor provided her with skills that translated well to content creation.

• Educational Skills:
  Her experience in presenting information logically, conducting research, and structuring content was directly applicable to creating engaging YouTube videos.
  Quote:
  "I learned how to present information in a logical manner. [...] that was something helpful." [22:32]

• Visual Demonstrations:
  Utilizing her teaching skills, Denise effectively demonstrates tasks visually in her videos, enhancing viewer understanding and engagement.
  Quote:
  "I arrange the camera so that as I'm pouring the macaroni into the pot, you see the boiling water." [23:53]

Monetization Strategies

Denise explores multiple avenues for monetizing her YouTube channel, diversifying her income streams beyond ad revenue.

1. YouTube Ad Revenue:
   Monetizing through the YouTube Partner Program once she achieved the required subscriber and watch time milestones.
   Quote:
   "I got monetized and then I actually got a YouTube payment deposited into my bank account." [37:04]

2. Brand Deals and Affiliate Links:
   Collaborating with brands and incorporating affiliate marketing to earn additional income.
   Quote:
   "I've had some brand deals and that's another income stream." [52:59]

3. Own Business Ventures:
   Launching her own business, Apron Diva, stemmed from viewer interest in her aprons showcased on her channel.
   Quote:
   "I created an apron business called Apron Diva. [...] people would ask where I got them." [52:59]

4. Digital Products and Courses:
   Developing eBooks, guides, and live courses to offer specialized knowledge to her audience.
   Quote:
   "I'm working on a stain removal guide. [...] and a paid challenge." [54:48]

5. Paid Challenges:
   Hosting low-cost challenges, such as her upcoming laundry challenge, to engage her audience and generate revenue.
   Quote:
   "There'll be three days of the paid challenge after that. Just at a $27, a low income price." [56:32]

6. Consulting:
   Although Denise experimented with one-on-one consulting, she found it too time-intensive and opted to focus on other monetization methods.
   Quote:
   "I do not like consulting [...] I decided I didn't care for that particular stream." [54:48]

Time Investment and Consistency

Denise showcases the importance of dedicating time and maintaining consistency to achieve YouTube success.

• Weekly Commitment:
  Averaging around 30 hours per week, Denise balances content creation, editing, and community engagement.
  Quote:
  "I would guess maybe 30 hours a week, give or take." [58:25]

• Learning and Development:
  Allocating additional hours for training and participating in community coaching programs like Video Ranking Academy Elite.
  Quote:
  "I would say no less than five hours a week when first learning." [60:56]

• Repetition and Mastery:
  Emphasizing that consistency and repetition are key to mastering YouTube strategies, Denise likens her ongoing learning to being back in school.
  Quote:
  "Being a part of the community [...] keeping pressing on so strong." [63:20]

Overcoming Doubts and Mindset Shifts

Denise candidly discusses the doubts she faced when starting YouTube at 64 and how overcoming them led to her current success.

• Initial Doubts:
  Concerns about being too old, lack of expertise in certain content areas, and whether her voice would resonate with viewers.
  Quote:
  "I began to think, oh, you know, am I too old to be doing this?" [33:04]

• Embracing Purpose:
  Finding fulfillment in providing value to her audience, Denise emphasizes that YouTube gave her a purpose and kept her engaged.
  Quote:
  "It gives me a purpose, is what I should say. And my purpose is to be of service to homemakers..." [43:27]

• Encouragement to Start:
  Denise urges those contemplating starting their YouTube journey, regardless of age, to take the plunge without overthinking.
  Quote:
  "Just start. Don't keep putting it off. Just start." [66:33]

Final Advice for Aspiring YouTubers Over 50

Denise offers heartfelt advice to listeners who may feel overwhelmed or discouraged by the lengthy journey to YouTube success.

• Persist Through Slow Growth:
  Continue creating and refining content, reviewing foundational strategies, and staying true to your own path.
  Quote:
  "You just have to keep at it, run your own race, just keep at it and keep doing the things that you need to do to make progress." [65:01]

• Master the Fundamentals:
  Revisit and reinforce basic strategies and techniques to ensure you’re building on a solid foundation.
  Quote:
  "Master the fundamentals and everything else you do will rise." [65:39]

• Start Before You’re Ready:
  Begin creating content even if you don't feel fully prepared, as action fosters growth and learning.
  Quote:
  "Just start. Don't keep putting it off. Just start." [66:33]

Conclusion

Episode 403 of The Think Media Podcast serves as an empowering guide for older individuals aspiring to enter the YouTube space. Denise Jordan's story underscores that age is no barrier to digital success. Through belief in oneself, niche specialization, continuous skill investment, and resilience against criticism, Denise has not only grown a substantial subscriber base but also diversified her income streams effectively. Her journey is a testament to the fact that with dedication and the right strategies, making money on YouTube is achievable regardless of age or technical background.

Connect with Denise Jordan:
YouTube: Homemaking with Denise

Learn More About Think Media Programs:

• Video Ranking Academy: vrapodcast.com
• Viral Video Coach: viralvideocoach.com