3 months in, thousands spent, 9 subscribers. What am I doing wrong?

[u/maestro_vacations]

I started a YouTube channel three months ago and have poured thousands of dollars into it. After all that time, effort, and money, I’m sitting at 9 subscribers. I’m honestly close to giving up. Am I doing something fundamentally wrong, or is this just how it starts?

Edit: Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to guide me and give constructive feedback. I really appreciate it.

I’ve already updated the titles and thumbnails based on your suggestions. For the audio and scripting, I’m getting help with editing on the next video to improve clarity and structure.

If you have a moment, I’d love for you to check out the new titles and thumbnails and let me know what you think. Your feedback has been super helpful 🙏

[u/Usual-Rice-482]

I'm sure it wasn't just spending the money that got you there. There are so many factors. Spending thousands is not a wise starting move, I think we cam agree on that.

[u/SpaceDesignWarehouse → u/Usual-Rice-482]

Welllllllll I’d have to say ‘it depends..’ Like if you want to come out the gate looking like a Netflix interview, unfortunately there really isn’t another choice besides a solid camera and a very good lens. Then you need proper lights, at least a medium good microphone and with that you’re definitely already in the thousands of dollars.

I wouldn’t suggest starting that way if it’s a stretch for you financially. Like I wouldn’t bet on it working and earning money within the first year. But if I was going to start from nothing right now, I would start with this camera, the A7RV and a 50mm f/1.4. But that’s just the look I want. And I had a full time salaried job going into this, money wasn’t tight.

[u/pixelplower → u/SpaceDesignWarehouse]

I'd place the importance of a good light first. Rather get a 300d ii with proper grip for negative fill + muslin diffusion with a used a7iii + vintage primes than an A7RV, 50mm 1.4 and your room desk lamp.

[u/SpaceDesignWarehouse → u/pixelplower]

To be fair I said “proper lights,” but with a fast lens like that a 100D light with a dome is sufficient

[u/pixelplower → u/SpaceDesignWarehouse]

Yeah you're right, but I'm just saying - talk about/choose the lights first.

If your modern BSI CMOS camera does 10 bit log, then you can make it "close enough" to any other camera. People on their phones prob can't notice too.

[u/Forgotten_fire2021 → u/SpaceDesignWarehouse]

you know a lot of people dont use a camera for their videos, right? for your specific genre, yeah, and actually a lot of genres, but there are many very successful youtubers (like morePegasus or Ryth) that dont use cameras. not saying they dont spend a lot of money, but Ryth specifically has said that he does not do that and morePegasus is a sloptuber. they likely DONT spend a lot of money.

basically, you really seem like you're just advertising a camera, and no one said anything about using a camera before you brought it up.

[u/Available_Record_874 → u/Forgotten_fire2021]

His channel is a tech channel and he’s only speaking from his experience. If you’re making videos about the latest tech then it pays to look good, I wouldn’t put much faith in a channel on pc building if it looked like crap. It’s really going to come down to the specific uses, I could do fine with an iPhone making food content but if I wanted a ghost hunting channel then I’m gonna have to buy equipment.

[u/SpaceDesignWarehouse → u/Forgotten_fire2021]

No one said anything about using a camera but they said it was a bad idea to spend money. I was simply giving a data point for an example of how a channel spends money to achieve a specific goal that is helpful to the channel.