How to Start a Youtube Channel: From Zero to $200,000 a Month With Charlie Chang
In the world of digital entrepreneurship, success stories often seem too good to be true. But Charlie Chang’s journey from a struggling graduate to a YouTube mogul earning $200,000 a month is not only real—it’s inspirational.
This article delves into Charlie’s story, exploring how an introvert built a multi-million dollar empire through YouTube and other ventures.
Who is Charlie Chang?
Charlie Chang is a 31-year-old entrepreneur based in Southern California.
His portfolio includes:
- Six YouTube channels
- A staffing company
- Multiple income streams
Charlie’s journey is a testament to the power of persistence and adaptability in the digital age.
Let’s dive deeper into his story and the strategies that led to his success.
The Early Days: Struggle and Persistence
Like many college graduates, Charlie faced uncertainty after completing his degree. Despite his parents’ wishes for him to become a doctor, he found himself unable to secure a job in his field.
This led him to explore various side hustles:
- Photography
- Videography
- Print modeling
- Acting
- Starting a clothing brand
- Running a marketing agency
- Real estate
- Mortgages
Charlie recalls the challenging early days:
“When I first graduated college, I was basically making $0. Seeing all my friends with their high-paying accounting jobs, it didn’t make me feel good. I sort of felt not successful.”
However, Charlie’s persistence began to pay off.
He slowly built his client base and started earning around $50,000 a year.
But the real breakthrough was yet to come.
The YouTube Breakthrough
In 2020, Charlie’s YouTube channel began to take off.
He remembers the moment clearly:
“I think I made $750 in one single day from AdSense, and that’s when I was like, ‘Dang, this could be something big.'”
This realization spurred Charlie into action.
He dedicated himself to learning everything he could about YouTube:
- Content creation strategies
- Monetization techniques
- Audience growth tactics
Charlie’s commitment was intense:
“I started making videos almost every single day. I was like, ‘If I can make this opportunity work, it’s going to be life-changing.'”
His hard work paid off. The channel grew rapidly, gaining 500 to 1,000 subscribers per day. Soon, he was earning $10,000 to $20,000 a month from AdSense alone.
The Journey to YouTube Mastery
Becoming proficient at YouTube wasn’t an overnight process for Charlie. It took him about one to two years to really hone his skills.
He emphasizes the importance of presentation:
“A big thing that got me to be pretty good at YouTube was just being able to present information in a way that makes people want to stay and that they can actually understand.”
Charlie’s advice for aspiring YouTubers includes:
- Continually improving production quality
- Enhancing storytelling skills
- Being persistent: “Everyone needs to go into any business, especially YouTube, thinking ‘I just need to make enough videos until I get one that pops off.'”
- Staying adaptable and ready to pivot content based on trends
Charlie’s YouTube Strategy
Charlie’s approach to YouTube success is two-pronged:
- Creating searchable content: He focuses on making videos that people are actively searching for, such as “how to invest in stocks.”
- Crafting attention-grabbing content: Charlie creates videos that combine curiosity, relatability, and trending topics.
He explains his strategy for viral videos:
“One of my most popular videos is just talking about my different sources of income. Something like that, where you have an age that people can relate to, a big number like 10 sources of income, and then a dollar amount, just really makes them curious to click on it.”
The Business Behind the Videos
Charlie’s YouTube success has grown into a full-fledged media business. Here’s a breakdown of his revenue streams:
- Affiliate marketing: 50-55% of revenue
- Brand sponsorships: 20-25% of revenue
- AdSense: 20-25% of revenue
To manage this growing empire, Charlie has built a team of 26 people, including:
- A COO
- Project managers
- Video editors
- Thumbnail creators
- Graphics designers
- Website managers
The monthly cost to run this team is approximately $20,000 to $25,000, with Charlie leveraging overseas talent to keep costs manageable.
Expanding Beyond YouTube: The Staffing Company
Not content with his YouTube success alone, Charlie has ventured into the world of traditional entrepreneurship with a staffing company.
This new business focuses on connecting overseas talent with businesses, a model Charlie has successfully used in his own media company.
The staffing company offers:
- Full-time positions ranging from $600 to $11,000 per month
- A one-time placement fee business model
- Local recruitment teams to find the best talent
Charlie’s motivation for starting this new venture?
“I want to be more of a traditional entrepreneur where I have equity in a business. And while I have the channels behind me, the marketing, it makes sense to build something that I can use my channels to help grow.”
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs and How to Start a YouTube Channel
Charlie offers valuable advice for those looking to start their entrepreneurial journey:
- Surround yourself with inspiration: “Surround yourself with content and people that are doing it. It just makes it seem like it’s all possible.”
- Learn high-value skills: “There’s tons of skills you can learn within a few months that I think you can start to monetize.”
- Start with low capital: “I’ve never built a company that took up a ton of capital to start. I think doing some type of agency or service-based business is the best way for anyone to get started.”
- Delegate and build a team: “After you hire your first person, you realize, ‘Okay, this is what an actual business is,’ right? Because it’s a business that can run without yourself.”
- Take action and learn from mistakes: “Don’t overanalyze it. Pick something. If it’s the wrong answer, if it’s the wrong thing, then you’ll just learn from that and you won’t make that mistake. If it’s the right thing, then you made a fast decision.”
- Change your environment: “For anyone that thinks they’re in a rut or they want to have a big breakthrough, I’d say one thing they can do is really change their environment or change their routine.”
A Day in the Life of Charlie Chang
Charlie’s typical day starts early, between 5:30 and 6:30 AM. He follows a routine that includes:
- Morning workout
- Work sessions
- Various business activities
His work week typically ranges from 30 to 50 hours of actual work, plus additional time spent brainstorming and thinking about the business.
Charlie sees his work as a lifestyle:
“I try and make my life part of the business, and I enjoy having that mix.”
For leisure, Charlie enjoys:
- Working out
- Watching Netflix with his girlfriend
- Playing pickleball
- Making music
His success has also allowed him to indulge in his passion for cars.
He currently owns:
- An RV Sprinter van
- A Range Rover
- A Ferrari
Reflections and Advice to His Younger Self
Looking back on his journey, Charlie offers this advice to his younger self:
“Carve out my own identity myself rather than try and do things that are expected or that society says is normal.”
He acknowledges his tendency to be a people pleaser and how pursuing entrepreneurship has allowed him to grow:
“Moving here, meeting so many entrepreneurs, getting to pursue entrepreneurship myself, it’s really allowed me to grow as a person and be surrounded by the energy that I’ve always wanted to be surrounded by.”
Conclusion
Charlie Chang’s journey from a struggling graduate to a successful entrepreneur earning $200,000 a month is a testament to the power of persistence, adaptability, and continuous learning.
His story offers valuable insights for anyone looking to build a career in the digital age, whether through YouTube, affiliate marketing, or traditional business ventures.
Key takeaways from Charlie’s success story include:
- Don’t be afraid to explore multiple avenues before finding your niche
- Invest time in learning and improving your skills
- Stay adaptable and ready to pivot based on trends and opportunities
- Focus on creating value for your audience
- Build a team and learn to delegate as your business grows
- Embrace your unique identity and surround yourself with like-minded individuals
Charlie’s story reminds us that with dedication, the right strategies, and a willingness to learn and adapt, it’s possible to turn your passions into a thriving business.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your existing venture to the next level, Charlie’s journey offers valuable lessons and inspiration for the road ahead.
(Source: The “Starter Story’ YouTube Channel, video featuring Charline Chang)
