YouTube Creators Hub Podcast Summary
Episode Title: YouTube Changed Her Life With Alexa Saarenoja | She Made $37,000 In ONE Weekend
Host: Dusty Porter
Guest: Alexa Sara Noia
Release Date: November 22, 2024
Introduction
In Episode 426 of the YouTube Creators Hub podcast, host Dusty Porter engages in a compelling conversation with Alexa Sara Noia. Alexa, a former architect and designer, transformed her career to inspire individuals over 40 to pursue their dreams on YouTube. With over 20,000 subscribers from just 130 uploaded videos, Alexa shares her remarkable journey of leveraging YouTube to create a meaningful impact and a sustainable income.
Origin Story
Alexa’s journey began abruptly when she lost her job as an adjunct professor due to policy changes that no longer allowed foreign contractors. Faced with the challenge of supporting her three children in a foreign country where she didn’t speak the language, Alexa turned to YouTube as a solution.
Alexa Sara Noia [02:36]: "I was like, I'm going to turn to YouTube and I'm going to try to make a better financial future for myself and my family."
Starting her channel in May, Alexa quickly realized the potential of YouTube not just as a platform but as a pivotal tool for financial stability and personal growth.
Channel Growth Strategies
Alexa emphasizes the importance of niching down, targeting specific demographics to foster rapid growth. She focuses on helping Gen X and baby boomers grow their YouTube channels, leveraging her extensive experience to provide valuable insights.
Alexa Sara Noia [05:52]: "I'm a big supporter of niching down for sure. And I definitely think that the 40 Plus, Gen X, big boomers, etc., are really clocking to YouTube right now."
Her strategy involved creating content that was both inspirational and educational, sharing her learning journey from various YouTube courses and applying those lessons in real-time.
Content Strategy and Video Types
Alexa adopted a consistent posting schedule, uploading three videos per week: one trending video, one behind-the-scenes glimpse into building her creator business, and one tutorial-based video. This triad formed the pillars of her content strategy.
Alexa Sara Noia [08:40]: "I did three videos a week and I tried to do one trending video every week."
Her trending videos, often with clickbait titles like "I made $37,000 in just one weekend," attracted significant views and subscribers, while her tutorial videos maintained high retention rates among her existing audience.
Dealing with Analytics
Although not heavily focused on analytics, Alexa tracks key metrics weekly using Google Sheets. She prioritizes impressions, click-through rates, and average view duration to gauge her channel’s performance.
Alexa Sara Noia [11:34]: "I try to have around 6% average view duration. I would love it to be near 50%, but like I said, with different strategies you have different things happening."
Alexa’s approach is more about the cyclical nature of her channel’s growth rather than obsessing over individual video performance. She maintains a healthy perspective, understanding the ebb and flow of views and focusing on long-term growth and value provision.
Time Management
Balancing motherhood and content creation, Alexa employs a scrappy, all-in approach. She utilizes small pockets of time throughout her day to record videos, often involving her children in the process to maintain authenticity.
Alexa Sara Noia [12:38]: "I would bribe them. It's going to be donuts and ice cream day. Like whatever I could do."
Her relentless determination and ability to adapt her creative process around her family responsibilities highlight her resilience and commitment to her channel.
Monetization
Alexa employs multiple revenue streams to monetize her YouTube presence:
- Ad Revenue: Through the YouTube Partners Program.
- Coaching Services: Offering one-on-one coaching sessions for $200 and a high-ticket six-month coaching program priced at $3,800.
- Affiliate Marketing: Generating around $20 per month.
- Ebook Sales: Bringing in approximately $10 per month.
Alexa Sara Noia [24:16]: "I have affiliate marketing too, which I make like a whopping 20 bucks a month on."
Her primary income is derived from her coaching services, which have been in high demand since subscribers reached out seeking personalized guidance.
Promotion of Services
Alexa promotes her coaching services subtly within her videos, often mentioning them in response to viewer requests rather than through aggressive marketing. Her transparency and responsiveness have organically driven interest in her offerings.
Alexa Sara Noia [25:21]: "Every once in a while I might say, hey, if you're feeling overwhelmed with this information, I have a link in the description below. We can work one-on-one coaching calls."
Future Plans
Looking ahead, Alexa plans to:
- Launch a course to further educate her audience.
- Develop a paid membership for her community.
- Continue collaborating with other YouTubers to expand her reach.
- Focus on sustainable growth by gradually adding more variables once her current systems are stable.
Alexa Sara Noia [27:59]: "I just want to build at a sustainable pace. So that's my plan to keep with what I'm doing right now and not add any too many more variables in right now until I feel comfortable with this and then move on to something else."
Keys to Rapid Success
Alexa attributes her rapid growth to:
- Transparency and Authenticity: Sharing her struggles and successes openly.
- Value Provision: Offering actionable insights and educational content.
- Community Building: Engaging with her audience and fostering a supportive environment.
- Consistency: Maintaining a regular posting schedule despite personal challenges.
Alexa Sara Noia [31:51]: "Being 100% transparent and authentic, like I have nothing to hide. I show everything."
She believes that by giving away valuable information freely, she builds trust and attracts viewers who seek more personalized support through her coaching services.
Conclusion
Alexa Sara Noia’s journey from losing her job to becoming a successful YouTuber and coach is a testament to resilience, strategic niching, and authentic engagement. Her ability to balance personal responsibilities while maintaining a consistent and value-driven content strategy has not only enabled her financial independence but also inspired a community of creators over 40 to pursue their passions on YouTube.
Alexa Sara Noia [33:31]: "This is what working with YouTube does for me. I show up for my kids happier now that I have an income that I’m enjoying."
Dusty Porter commends Alexa’s achievements and looks forward to her continued growth, inviting listeners to follow her journey and utilize her insights to elevate their own YouTube channels.
Notable Quotes:
- Alexa Sara Noia [02:36]: "I was like, I'm going to turn to YouTube and I'm going to try to make a better financial future for myself and my family."
- Alexa Sara Noia [05:52]: "I'm a big supporter of niching down for sure."
- Alexa Sara Noia [08:40]: "I did three videos a week and I tried to do one trending video every week."
- Alexa Sara Noia [11:34]: "I try to have around 6% average view duration."
- Alexa Sara Noia [12:38]: "I would bribe them. It's going to be donuts and ice cream day."
- Alexa Sara Noia [24:16]: "I have affiliate marketing too, which I make like a whopping 20 bucks a month on."
- Alexa Sara Noia [25:21]: "Every once in a while I might say, hey, if you're feeling overwhelmed with this information..."
- Alexa Sara Noia [31:51]: "Being 100% transparent and authentic, like I have nothing to hide."
- Alexa Sara Noia [33:31]: "This is what working with YouTube does for me."
For more insights and to follow Alexa’s journey, listeners are encouraged to check out her YouTube channel and the show notes provided in the podcast episode.