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You have an Android phone, sure. But do you use it to an optimum level? Not many people know the fun and quirky features of their gadgets and that's where Subhankar Dey, TechRunsGadgets comes in!
Being fascinated by technology and desire to make informative videos gave birth to TechRunsGadgets (and how he came up with the name is an even interesting story). Hear it all from the horse'e mouth.
Looking back, where did it all begin?
I started my YouTube journey in the month of October, 2015. I was always fascinated by technology since I was a kid. I always wanted to do something on my own and make informative tech videos for everyone. And seeing big content creators like MKBHD, Geekyranjit, and others, I thought if they can do it, why can't I? I saw the power of social media platforms, and the potential content creators had to make a difference for the better good. This motivated me to create my own YouTube channel, and the rest is history.
What's in the name?
The name of my channel is TechRunsGadgets, and it may sound odd, but the meaning is very simple - "Technology Runs Gadgets." I was playing with words, and then it suddenly hit me. Fun fact: I was riding a bicycle when the idea struck me. Name is very important and I wanted to come up with a unique, but relatable name i.e. related to the type of content I create.
What is your USP in this cluttered space? How does your content give you an edge?
If you see the tech channels nowadays, most of them are about tech reviews, unboxings, etc. My channel is mostly about tutorials that helps everyone use their phones, computers in a more fun and productive way. I make videos on solutions to problems that people encounter in the tech space. And being based in India, growing digital penetration has helped my content reach to places never possible before. That's the power of the internet!
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Please take us through your content creation process. How do you stay relevant and relatable?
A new video begins with an idea. An idea may come anytime and that's why I always note it down immediately, so that I don't forget it later. Then comes the planning phase where I plan, write important points for the video. Now, it's shooting time; a final video may be of 5 minutes, but it might take hours to shoot that video. Editing comes next and it’s the most time-consuming part. Sometimes this whole process might take weeks for a single video. After video upload, it's time for optimization. The latter is very important and involves SEO, an attractive thumbnail among others. After publishing, I promote it on social media. Then, I wait for feedback. That's the whole process more or less.
To stay relevant, I am always on the lookout for new ideas. I might take inspiration from other creators, look into current trends, do some research, and so on. Staying relatable sounds easy, but is a little bit difficult. Viewers don't want the same exact type of videos every time. So, I try to make informative videos that are relatable, but also new and engaging.
How do you take moolah with your efforts?
I started with the intent of just producing quality tech videos for everyone to watch. Back then, I didn't think about earning money. As I continued to grow, I monetized my channel, looked into other forms of monetizing by partnering with brands, etc. This enabled me to bring great content to the table, and also help me pay my bills. A large part of the income goes back into the business, and I keep a small proportion for myself.
How do you maintain editorial objectivity with the influx of brand briefs?
Partnering with brands is a complex process. You have to follow their guidelines, but also stay relevant at the same time. A lot goes behind the process, and one has to work hard to make the whole thing work. I always partner with brands whose products would be useful for my target audience. Viewers' satisfaction is the most important thing.
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Also Read: Interview: Content is intertwined in snippets of our daily life: Ananta Goyal, Bump & Baby
One instance/experience that made it all worthwhile
The best experience has to be the moment when I saw my YouTube Silver Creator Award for the first time. I got it for surpassing 100,000 subscribers on my channel in early 2018. I don't work for Awards, but receiving it was something that I can't explain. It's one of the best days of my life! The Award is a recognition of the journey, the hard work put in, and the love shown by my subscribers. What I am today is all because of my community; I can't thank them enough.
Weirdest brand brief/request ever
There was one instance when I got a brand request from a company that claimed to make an app that helps you earn money just by completing some tasks. They were literally ordering me to put their app link in my most popular videos, and were not even paying me for my participation. The funniest thing is that they wanted to repay me by assuring me my subscribers would increase manifold if I worked with them. It was very weird, and hundred percent not legit for sure.
If not blogging, you would be?
YouTube started out as an experiment, but I was determined to make quality content driven by my passion for creating videos. I am still a student, pursuing BSc in Computer Science from Calcutta University. You can say YouTube is like my part time job; if I was not doing this, I would definitely be working somewhere part-time or doing something else. I believe everyone should start working early, be it a part-time job, freelancing, blogging, etc., it's important.
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A day in your life....
My day normally begins at 6 am in the morning, that's when I get up. I have to get ready for college. As I don't live far from college, I have to commute daily. So, that takes time. And being an avid reader, I utilize my commute time reading, be it a book or online articles. College starts at 10 am and lasts till 3 pm; depends on the classes I have. After that I might hangout somewhere with my friends, and then return home by 6 pm (usually). Then, some studying, maybe YouTube work, or others plans; it depends. Post dinner and all, I study for some time, and then it's time to sleep. Next day again the same thing. Weekends are great, with a lot of time to work on my new video projects. I make the most use of those days.
Message/tips for upcoming bloggers
My message to upcoming bloggers is that do smart hard work, have perseverance, and be consistent. Don’t think about rewards; experiment with new ideas, focus on your content, build a close community, and pay importance to content delivery, so that it reaches as many people as possible. If you are able to do these things well, everything else will follow.
Your Favorite Influencer
I like many personalities across different genres, but if I have to name only one person that would be Marques Brownlee (also known by his stage name MKBHD). He is a very popular influencer and one of the best in the tech space. I was largely inspired by him to start my own YouTube channel.
The Future you foresee for your Personal Brand
I want to be an entrepreneur in the future, and want to take my channel to the next level. Maybe, I will pursue YouTube full time; build my own studio, hire full time employees, and create more amazing content. On the business side of things, I want to offer more to my viewers in the future. Merchandise is one of the options, exclusive content, etc. A few months ago, I completed three years on YouTube, and recently reached 200,000 subscribers. I want to say only one thing, I am just getting started.