Why Medium Is a Better Platform for Me Than YouTube
After dabbling in both vlogging and blogging, I’m more successful on Medium because I feel real here
“My name’s William but as all my friends do, you can call me Will! Welcome back to my channel!” That’s the opening line that I manufactured after studying hundreds of vlogs before I launched a YouTube channel. It could be that I’m still not in a groove on YouTube. Another thought I’ve had is that like all newbies I feel the need to recycle other’s ideas and content including those uninspired introductions.
I don’t believe I’m camera shy or that I’m uncomfortable being above-the-line. In fact, I think I’m a bad publicist because of how I light up and easily charm the cameras and reporters over my client’s. However, there’s something about when I create content where the camera just cannot seem the full picture of me. I launched my Medium account and YouTube within a week of each other, with the latter coming first. Being in quarantine and finally having time to reflect inspired me to embrace my inner storyteller.
I know that I’m a multimedia storyteller who loves to create content that inspires others to trust the process of becoming that we all experience. Both my Medium and YouTube were made to give people a behind-the-scenes look at my life. A life that has been called an inspiration, been used as an example, and a life that at only 23 has worked the Oscars red carpet twice. In trying to always inspire and entertain others I started ending my videos by saying, “And remember anything you want to accomplish, remember me Will said, ‘You can and Will!’”
But the problem with trying to offer advice is that no one seemed to be listening. Personally, I don’t watch those YouTube growth hacks or any of those videos. I just think that there’s no shortcut to creativity and talent. And from working in entertainment PR I know it’s all a game of luck when it comes to being discovered. But I also know that you can have your viral moment but if you just can’t cut it, it’s on to the next one. That’s why I see the YouTube trends but I often avoid them.
There’s always been pressure on social media to chase trends. Chasing trends is how you grow, it’s how you engage, and it’s how you start to get noticed on socials. Yet, I also firsthand the power of being a trendsetter and not just a follower. And that’s what I want to be, I want to be someone who sets a new standard, offers new insights, or at the least says something that’s more interesting. Writing on Medium has helped me do just that. When I’m writing on Medium I don’t feel like I have to be, “on” all the time. Blogging has been the best thing that ever happened to me when it comes to being creative.
Again I have my bias towards writing over video. I majored in writing in undergrad, I work in PR, and throughout college, I ran a little blog. Yes, I love taking pictures with friends and posting them for the world to see yet another bottomless mimosas spot. But even in working with images, I love finding that copy that just elevates the feeling or the idea captured in the picture. My experience vlogging just hasn’t left me satisfied as when I see people resonate with my writing.
Maybe I’m taking YouTube a little too serious, maybe I don’t take Medium seriously enough, I can’t say really. All I can say is that I’m happy whenever someone connects with my content. I create to offer hope. I create to entertain others. And I create because I have always been a storyteller at heart. Unlike other creative outlets, writing also gives me permission to fail and think.
Video and photo are not as forgiving as words. If I make a mistake I can fix it in real-time. Visual mediums are more permanent with little room to really change things around. To each their own how they get creative. I genuinely also wish each person luck as they pursue their passions.
I now know that, at least for me, I have to be kinder to my on-camera self. That Will is just as much me as the version of me writing this post. We’re both trying to connect with others and let them know that falling down doesn’t define them, it’s about how you pick yourself up. While I doubt I may ever be a video personality I know I’m okay with that. I’m okay with not blowing up on a video platform because after all, I’m a writer at heart.
As long as I can continue to create phrases or sentences that make others smile, laugh, and help me find career growth then I’m fulfilled. Just in case you may be wondering, after all, I never know who could be reading this, my YouTube handle is William Samayoa. Yes, my handle is just my name and it’s my name because I’m proud of who I am, who I’ve become, and who I could be. Just like you should be proud of who you are and how and where you find success.