Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Aiken
Hi Anthony, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In 2020, our daughter, Vivian, was 2 years old. Our routines were so disrupted from the pandemic, and our weekly routine left some new holes in my schedule. My wife, Alaina, had returned to her normal work schedule, and my new routine consisted of dropping her off at work, returning home, laying on the couch, and zoning in and out of consciousness while our daughter watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I’d get off the couch, make her lunch, and after lunch, put her down for her nap.
As this new routine developed, I started to think, “Vivian is only going to be this little for a very short time, and I’m never going to get this time back. Do I really want these to be the memories we made together?” I decided that I would seize the opportunities that were created by this disruption in my schedule, and we went out to explore the State of Florida.
I had always been an avid YouTube consumer and the business side of YouTube was also very fascinating to me. I decided to combine the new opportunities with my interest in YouTube and see where we ended up.
After everything opened back up, I had less time, but by then, we had developed some new routines and some new income that allowed for us to continue traveling. The memories we have made together is invaluable and the skills we have developed have already opened some doors which we did not previously know were possible.
We are ecstatic about the unknown adventures and experiences which , no doubt, await us in the future as well!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Often I would watch YouTube videos by other creators which I thought were inferior in quality. I would think to myself, “I could do better than that!” I was wrong! My first videos were awful!
There was certainly a greater learning curve than I expected. I do not have degrees in media or marketing, so I had to learn photography and videography, lighting, shot composition, and simple editing techniques. I have to study the psychology behind what makes captivating titles and thumbnails and how to tell compelling stories that make people want to come back week after week.
Additionally, on the business side of things, I had over-estimated the money that we could be making through YouTube’s partner program and how quickly the channel could grow. I eventually learned that brand deals and digital products are how influencers and creators make most of their revenue, so I had to learn about partnerships and negotiations.
There are big misunderstandings about the industry that can feel kind of isolating as well. The fact is that it’s a lot of very hard work to pitch for opportunities, negotiate the deals, shoot the content, edit, do the revisions, earn views, and develop an audience or community. Also, most people do not even understand the work side of it either. While we appreciate the open doors and opportunities that we have been given, the perception of viewers and friends and family members is that we “play all the time,” or that we “have all this money” when, in fact, that’s not the case.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
There are actually a couple of things that set us apart from other YouTubers and social media influencers in the space. First, we are a family with young children. That is surprisingly a perspective which is often lacking in the Disney and theme park travel space. The vast majority of videos are made by adults who present the theme parks from the perspective of adult travelers, but we provide information and reviews which are tailored for families with young children.
Secondly, we do not only cover theme parks. Most Florida vloggers and travelers primarily focus on the theme parks, but we particularly enjoy opportunities to explore and see the other attractions that Florida has to offer. We enjoy aquariums, museums, zoos, playgrounds, and so much more. Our children have learned so much while we have been traveling and making memories together,and we want to inspire and encourage that experience for all families!
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
This whole venture has been a risk, and there is still an element of risk involved.
The first risk for content creators is making the decision of putting yourself on the internet before the potentially judgmental eyes of the entire world. It has often been said that the number one fear is public speaking. Historically, most public speaking takes place within a specific location before a limited viewing audience, but anything on the internet can be viewed almost limitlessly around the world. That’s incomprehensibly staggering, and it prohibits a lot of people from even getting started.
The fact is, however, what scares most people in putting themselves out there is not what millions or billions of strangers may think of me or what I’m doing, but what about the people in my life who know me personally? What will they think? The fact is that we have been misunderstood and judged in many ways because of what we do.
Financially, we have funneled thousands upon thousands of personal dollars into getting this business started, and at this exact point in history, we just break even on expenses. Our hope has been that the income would be significant enough to earn back the money that we have spent and also to put money away for our future. At this point, we still don’t know what the future will hold for that. (In the interest of full transparency: we do put money away for our children every month since they are featured in our content).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aikenadventures.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/aikenadventures
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/aikenadventures
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/aikenadventures
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/aikenadventures
