I've talked about how I had to start content creation from the bottom due to chronic illness/pain. It's difficult getting started as a small creator. I blog about autism and disabilities on my [substack](aaliyahholt.substack.com)
Over the years, I've been bullied for needing to blog on these sites as a full-time job. On Steemit back in 2019, I got harassed by this guy for using Steemit as my "income stream," had such vitriol against me, yet provided me with nothing to explain what I did wrong. "I wasn't contributing." Provided 0 evidence to back his claim. I started talking about these blogging sites. When I used to see my therapist, I explained these sites to her. I explained these sites to a girl I went to school with. I promoted these sites on social media. I even made a video about Steemit when it was popular, when people were angry with YouTube for increasing their partner program requirements. In other words, I tried getting Steemit's new members.
Then he was angry at me for making money. Isn't that what the platform is about?? Didn't y'all create these blogs because you're sick of censorship on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, AND yall were sick of us doing the work, but THEY got the money?? And asked me to check the TOS to see if making money was allowed. Call me crazy, but I had a strong feeling this harassment was targeted. Imagine harassing someone because YOU don't understand, and fail to understand why they depend on the platform. Even non-disabled people may hop on these platforms because the job market is trash. On steemit, I recall someone posting that they quit their job at Aldi to blog full-time. They had more than just Steemit, it shows how these platforms change lives.
Since the guy didn't tell me what I might have done/said wrong, I say I did nothing wrong and it was probably subtle racism (he didn't have smoke for anyone else doing the same thing I did) If I was stealing other people's content, he would have had a point.
Before lockdowns, I won my disability case. Freelance work fits my needs, but it's difficult to get. I have to spend money to make money. I want my own photography/videography business. How can I start that without spending money? I decided that disability benefits can allow me to build content creation. I wouldn't be able to work/hold down a job until content creation is full-time. These sites could've been full-time. My earnings were too low, and it took half a year to get one dollar unless I got lucky and a post did better than I thought it would. I did powerdowns to speed things up.
In 2022, I had to give my grandma 125 dollars of my already limited funds to replace the HVAC system. My blog earnings started dropping in April, around the time Coinbase notified me that I had to report what I made to the IRS. I was unable to make the money back. Which caused me to struggle. Before paying off the heating system, my benefits lasted until there were 2 weeks left in the month, and I collected my crypto earnings, which helped for the last 2 weeks. After the 125, I was running out with 3 weeks left. If I couldn't gather anything, I had to hope no emergency popped up. Most of the money came from Steemit, and I added what I got from Hive into the mix. If I do or say something wrong, you have to tell me.
I agreed to help with the heating system when my earnings were still stable. This happened in December 2021 when we learned about the state of the furnace. Earnings started dropping in April 2022. I tried changing up my content to no avail.
I want to stress I did NOT intentionally put everything in the Hive basket. I still have a long way to go getting into the YouTube Partner program, I tried Amazon affiliate links and couldn't make the required sales. Couldn't get supporters on Kofi/Patreon.
Perhaps I could have curbed the harassment had I explained that your votes help me see where you're at. Say you're voting for GTA, that tells me you like GTA. If you aren't fond of Fortnite, you don't vote for it as much. If everything is flopping, it's hard to pinpoint what you like. As a result, I may push out content you don't like instead of content you want.
My earnings are back to how they were pre-COVID. I noticed a difference when I started getting better equipment to improve the quality of my videos. Perhaps it showed initiative to the viewer. It showed them that I'm serious. I started back in August of 2020 when I bought a new laptop and a PS4. Then got my a new mic. Bought a gaming laptop. Capture card for my gameplay etc. Had I saved for a PS5, I could've saved my earnings. Instead of waiting for the blog or YouTube to take off. I could've saved 30 bucks a month for a PS5 and bought one during the holiday season.
Instead of waiting for people to support me, I do what I can on my own. Let the viewer see I'm serious about YouTube, and then let them send a tip on Kofi or join my Patreon.
Post more BTS so people see the work. These are my regrets. Even when I was in my broke unemployed era, I could've asked me mom to get me a camera for my birthday as long as it wasn't too expensive.
I said I noticed a difference when I got better stuff. Perhaps if I can build my gaming PC, save for A PS5, maybe rolling out current gen console game could bring people back or draw in a new audience. Show my work so viewers know change is coming, its gonna take a minute but your support will speed things up.
Also, I didn't know fake accounts were upvoting my posts until Adam from HW downvoted recent posts and disappeared. Didn't bother to leave a message explaining
what happened.
I had to hunt them down to find out.
Perhaps people saw the fake accounts, assumed I bought them, and stopped supporting me when I didn't know they were fake. No one likes a cheater. I cant address something if I don't know whats going on. Had someone told me, I wouldv'e made a video explaining that I had no idea the accounts were fake.
hiveblocks