Calgarians using YouTube for business success

Calgary YouTubers are using online platforms to create business success stories as content creation becomes a widespread job for many.

Getting rich by making online content isn’t happening for everyone, however, CityNews met a couple of successful YouTubers from the city.

Rachel Hardy, musician and YouTuber, says “I do have a full time job, I probably don’t need it, but I really enjoy my job.”

“It was actually a complete accident. I never really meant to get into YouTube. I put out some videos when I was younger because I thought it would be fun to share with my family and then other people started watching it,” Hardy said. “The YouTube algorithm kind of chose me in a way.”

Hardy sings cover songs and millions of people have clicked her videos. Her most popular post on YouTube has over 7 million views.

With her revenue money from YouTube being split with the copyright owners of the songs she covers, Hardy has had to get crafty with her income.

“I’ve had to kind of diversify into releasing on Spotify, and doing merch, and opening a Patreon account, and stuff like that,” Hardy said.

Hardy adds YouTube has acted as more of a platform for her to get recognized rather than her main source of income. She landed a new job in a new city because her employers saw her on YouTube.

Online platforms seem to offer some pretty cool opportunities, and Hardy has some simple advice for aspiring youtubers.

“My biggest advice is just enjoy what you’re doing you know don’t just do YouTube because you want to do YouTube,” Hardy said.

Megan Krepinevich is another Calgary content creator, and while her YouTube videos don’t have millions of views, she uses the online platform to promote her business.

Her content is aimed at advertising her services as a mindset and personal development coach.

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“By utilizing for example the product in all of the content that I’m creating, I’m constantly pushing eyes towards that product,” said Krepinevich.

Krepinevich sees the online space as having few barriers.

“Even within the different types of opportunities that I’ve gotten career wise, it’s really broken that barrier for me where I have worked with people from the states, and I have a client in Germany right now, and truly all over the map. And I think that was kind of the gateway to being able to do a lot of those things,” Krepinevich said.