From Actress to Activist: Using the YouTube Platform for Social Issues with Asia Jackson: Beauty and the Vlog Podcast 141
“Having an opinion separates you from everyone else.”
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How do you take your YouTube career to the next level? For Los Angeles-based content creator Asia Jackson, it’s by using the YouTube platform to speak about important social issues and to give representation to people who are mixed. As an African-American/Filipino, she has been able to use social media to create the #magandangmorenax movement, empowering mixed women of color to love the skin they are in.
As an actor, Asia first decided to start her own YouTube channel so that she could create her own content and her own opportunities. She started her YouTube channel in January of 2016 and, about 2.5 years later, now has 250k subscribers. Although she wasn’t immediately successful, what started as a hobby for Asia has turned into a career.
“Once you hit 100,000 subscribers, that really changes a hobby into a job.”
With a focus on beauty and women’s lifestyle, Asia’s YouTube channel features skincare routines, beauty reviews, fashion lookbooks, and monthly vlogs where she captures everything from acting auditions to the different branded and social events she attends. While being present in the beauty/lifestyle space, the YouTube platform also affords her the opportunity to voice her thoughts on things she truly cares about. She continues to be very vocal about her experiences as a mixed person as well as the sociopolitics surrounding mix identities.
“Your why is bigger than you and your fears and your insecurities.”
10 Key Interview Takeaways
- It’s very important to surround yourself with like-minded people. Being a YouTuber can be a very lonely experience; especially when you’re first starting out. Asia shares that if it weren’t for the people around her who constantly inspired her, she probably would not have continued making content.
- Don’t get caught up in the numbers. It can be really discouraging to spend so much time creating content and feel like nobody is watching it. The truth is, as long as you’re creating content, it will eventually find an audience.
- Put the viral video strategy into practice. If you have a video that goes viral, be strategic in how you follow that up. Upload similar content as soon as possible and continue doing so for a short while.
- Don’t sell yourself out. Asia shares how important it is to build a really nice trust with your audience. Make sure to only take on sponsorships you are passionate about and that are authentic to you and your style.
- Remember why you started your channel. One of the biggest struggles of a YouTube content creator is trying to stay authentic to the reason why they started their YouTube channel in the first place. Never compare yourself with other YouTubers because everyone’s YouTube journey is unique.
- Before going live on YouTube or Instagram, make sure to definitely be in a good head space. Calm any anxiety you might have and avoid going live when you’re hungry.
- Use the YouTube platform for the greater good. For Asia, representation is one of the reasons why she continues to create YouTube videos. She uses her channel to be visible to other people who need to see themselves represented in media.
- The YouTube platform gives you the privilege to have a voice and speak your truth. Use it to say what people need to hear. In Asia’s case, she uses it to speak up about social issues like mixed identities or colorism in Asian communities.
- It’s really important to be consistent with your voice on all of your platforms. Branding-wise, weaving everything together is key.
- Don’t let your fears control the kind of content you’re creating. At the end of the day, creating content about certain topics or social issues is going to help other people and ultimately benefit you and your channel.
Asia Jackson‘s Favorite Items Mentioned in The Podcast!
Canon EOS Rebel 80D Bundle| Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II Digital Camera| LAURA MERCIER Flawless Fusion Ultra Longwear Concealer| MAYBELLINE Volum’ Express The Colossal Mascara| HOURGLASS N° 28 Lip Treatment Oil|
Resources
Asia Jackson’s Video: 10 SHOES EVERY GIRL MUST HAVE!! | WARDROBE BASICS #2
Asia Jackson’s Video: HOW TO BUILD YOUR WARDROBE WITH BASICS
Asia Jackson’s Video: Why I Dropped Out of College & Why It’s Okay to Fail
Jackie Aina’s YouTube Channel
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FREE GUIDES:
How to Create Impactful Content During COVID-19 Pandemic
Getting Started on YouTube: YouTube Niche Workbook
How to get onto PR lists and receive a TON of free product even if you have a small following: PR List
YOUTUBE OPTIMIZATION PLUG-IN I RECOMMEND
TubeBuddy[Use the code ErikasBuddy to get 20% off]
MY FAVORITE BUSINESS TOOLS
Course Creation: Looking to create a course? Kajabi is the BEST platform hands down. I use this for my course after extensive research on all the other platforms.
Live Calls and Interviews: I use Ecamm for my podcast interviews, both audio and for YouTube that you see here on YouTube. It makes it super easy to share my screen and create the split-screen with my guest. I’m not super techie and this software is really easy to use!
Webinars and Live calls: I use Zoom.us for my group coaching calls in my private membership group for female YouTube creators. It’s also the software I use to record my Road to 100k YouTube Subscribers Masterclass!
THE BEST YOUTUBE/PODCASTING EQUIPMENT
After interviewing HUNDREDS of successful YouTube creators, these are the pieces of equipment that hands down get mentioned time and time again. You can’t go wrong with anything on this list!
- 4k Camera: Great for starting out and vlogging
- Lens: This lens is recommended highly by many of my podcast guests, it gives the blurry “YouTuber” background look.
- Audio: If you want to upgrade your set-up, audio should be one of the first investments (after a good camera). This microphone is unanimously the favorite amongst my podcast guests.
- Podcast/Voiceover Microphone: If you are looking for a great microphone for a podcast or video voiceover, this is it! This is the one that you see in all of my videos and the one I’ve recorded my podcast on for years.
- Webcam: For my interviews, that you see in my videos, this is the webcam that I use. Super inexpensive and easy to set up!
- Inexpensive Lighting Kit: Need to pick up some lights but don’t want to spend a ton? This is a great set that will get you started and help improve the look of your videos.
- Ring light: Looking for that beauty look? Invest in a ring light! This is an inexpensive light that does that trick!
Connect with Asia Jackson
Asia Jackson’s YouTube Channel
Facebook Group:
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Podcast Music Credit: Boop by x50 @x50music
Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs youtu.be/o52xQkQWzyU
