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Last Updated on March 9, 2022 by Work In My Pajamas
This week we had the pleasure of interviewing Kim Dao, an Australian fashion blogger and Youtuber.
In This Post:
1. Tell me about yourself.
Since succeeding in transforming a fun side project into a full-time professional endeavor, I have had the opportunity to move from my home in Western Australia to Japan, where I have continued to write and create the videos I share through my blog and YouTube channel. This all started in 2011, and my videos now reach a subscriber base featuring hundreds of thousands of viewers. The success of these digital endeavors has led to countless other opportunities, including partnerships with several brands that include Etude House, Liz Lisa, and Amore Pacific, as well as quite a few others.
2. How did you get started Vlogging?
My blog acquired a rather sizable audience very early on, and a great deal of the subject matter I discussed in my blog posts required fairly extensive visual supplementation. A number of my readers suggested a medium like YouTube, where I could take full advantage of the video-centric platform while continuing to write for my blog. I’ve done both blogging and vlogging ever since.
3. Who is your target audience?
My audience is mostly interested in fashion, makeup, and travel, but I have found that my blog, YouTube channel, and social media accounts have piqued the interest of an audience that possesses a wide range of interests outside of the aforementioned subjects. In my opinion, this is because many of my posts and videos include references to features of everyday life to which everyone can relate.
4. How do you monetize your videos?
There are several ways I have monetized my videos, and, out of respect for my audience, I believe it is of the utmost importance to be completely transparent in this regard. In addition to advertising revenue generated through the YouTube channel itself, I have struck partnerships with quite a few brands in industries relevant to the subjects that fall within my area of expertise: fashion, makeup, and travel. It is my longstanding policy to disclose the nature of these partnerships, and I will only work with brands I legitimately respect.
5. Do you have any tips for someone who wants to start vlogging?
In order to build a loyal following that will repeatedly view the videos you post to your channel, you should endeavor to be entirely genuine in each and every video you create while also working to establish a personal relationship with the audience. I am constantly engaging with my followers on a variety of social media platforms, and I believe that these efforts have been central to my success.
From a technical perspective, it is important to remember that video production is complicated and requires quite a bit of expertise. Either invest the time needed to understand the equipment and software you will be using or find someone who is willing to help you learn everything you’ll need to know. The overall production value of your videos will have an impact on the level of success you are ultimately able to achieve.
Thank you for the interview, and the tips, Kim!
