On April 28, 2020, I hit the 1000 subscribers mark on my YouTube Channel ”ChefPanko”, I started YouTube to make videos to accommodate this website. But instead of that, I started making more and more videos that viewers and subscribers requested. And my channel grew from 50 views in 6 months to 30,000 a month. And it is not a Typo; I got only 50 views in the first 6 months.
My Journey
My original plan was to make a website where I could share what I have learned by working in a professional kitchen. So the goal was to share easy-to-make recipes so that more people started cooking for themself. But as you all might know, I was sidetracked with YouTube. My goal is still the same but slightly modified to accommodate my viewers and subscribers on YouTube.
Future plans
I did a website update on March 1, 2020, and I’m still updating the website. That was also a date when I planned to upload one video every week. I did not skip an upload day since March 6, 2020. But what is my plan now? To accommodate my subscribers, I will make more and more tutorials and how-to videos. I will also still share recipes but emphasize using a certain knife style for that specific dish.
My current goal
My current goal is still the same making recipes and exploring different culinary dishes from around the world. But I changed it a little to accommodate my subscribers in what kind of content they would be interested in. So I will still be doing a review from different brands and more. I also plan to finish my ”cooking guide” there. I will be teaching you guys about knives, cutting boards, and maintenance. But I also have decided to do a complete sushi course where I explain everything in exact detail. This includes making sushi vinegar from scratch, fish filleting, and more. You will learn why I use a specific knife for a specific task. This includes utility, Yanagiba, Gyuto, pairing knives, and more.
Upgrades for my YouTube channel and website
As you all already know, I try to be as transparent as possible. Every review I do will have a disclaimer on how I got the product. But the opinions are all mine, and nobody gets a preview of any of the footage before it goes on YouTube. You will also notice that under each video description, I put links to the stores. I earn a small commission from the sales at no additional cost to you. This helps me to support the YouTube channel and website. So thank you to all who supported me and made a purchase via those links.
1000 subscribers and YouTube Partner Program
It was never my goal to be in the YouTuber partner program, but I was very excited when I received the email that told me that I was accepted to be part of it. This means that I can monetize my videos and put ads on them. It took me 1 year and 6 months to get to this point. Sure the first 6 months were on and off uploading like 1 video a month or not uploading for 4 months. The channel was created on March 21st, 2017. My first video was uploaded on Jan 25, 2019, and that video got like 100 views in total until I unlisted it. I had the idea since I created the channel but never bothered uploading. On March 6, 2020, I decided to do it on a consistent upload schedule, and the channel took off! So it took me basically around 3 years to get to a 1000 subscribers mark.
What is needed to join the YouTube Partner Program
In short, you need to meet these minimum requirements
- Have more than 4,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months.
- Have more than 1,000 subscribers.
My first 2 days of YouTube partner earnings
Like everyone else, you will get excited once you get accepted into the YouTube partner program. It took 48 hours for YouTube to approve my channel since then I have turned monetization on my YouTube channel and I’m happy to announce that in the 2 days, I have earned €0.55.
What will I do with all the YouTube money?
Well, it is not much, but everything will be put back into YouTube. Once I reach enough to buy better equipment, I will use the money to make better videos. Right now, I’m filming with a window light, and I’m always fighting against the clock. It takes days to film a new knife review. Since I want to get the facts correct, I want the knives to be in a new condition before testing them. So I pre-record the knives and test them later. Once the test is done, I will write a review script to accommodate my previous recorded videos. This is why all the knives are new in all the videos and have no usage mark. But I do a complete test that includes resharpening the blades to test the Rockwell. I got great suggestions from all of you guys, and I will implement them in future reviews, like showing the box, food-cutting demos, and more. Of course, €0.55 is not going to be able to pay for everything. That is why I’m thankful for everyone who uses the affiliate link to make a purchase. With that money, I buy new requested knives instead of relying on a knife brand to send one of their knives over for a review.
Thank you!
Thank you all for all the support and comments on the YouTube channel. I like the small community and will continue to build on it. 1000 subscribers sounds unreal! For something I had decided to do as a hobby/side project. And I will do as much as possible to make this community bigger, I consider every feedback and try to implement them as much as possible. Feel free to add any suggestions in the comment section below, and I will try my best to incorporate them into my videos.
▶ If you want to know what knife you should buy you can read the following article ''Choosing your knife''. ▶ On my youtube channel, I have reviewed a lot of different knives. You can watch the playlist by clicking here. ▶ Click here, if you want to search for other kitchen knives on: Amazon. ▶ , if you want to search for other Chinese knives on . ▶ Check out my gear on Kit: https://kit.co/ChefPanko ▶ Check out my recommendation on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chefpanko Full Disclosure: If you purchase from these links I get a small commission that goes towards supporting the channel and website. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases ▶ If you have any questions about Japanese knives made in China or about some of the brands feel free to ask it in the comment section below. Thank you for your support and feedback. ▶ Want to work with me? Please use the contact form by clicking here.
I’m guessing that the next 1000 will come very soon. I’m very confident this site will continue to prosper and grow.
Thank you for the comment and support 🙂