How This 27-Year-Old Runs a +$4000/Month YouTube Channel

Jamie Penney’s entrepreneurial journey started when he was in college. 

He dabbled in area of interest websites and a journey vlog on YouTube efficiently till the current Google updates, however he actually discovered his groove when he centered his efforts on a interest he needed to earn more money: flipping furnishings.

In 2019, he launched his YouTube channel, Furniture Flippa. 

Unsurprisingly, the journey has been crammed with ups and downs and loads of studying alongside the best way.

And through the years Jamie has been working to diversify his revenue, incomes from YouTube advertisements, associates, sponsorships, and promoting the furnishings he flips, amongst different avenues.

He just lately launched a membership neighborhood for furnishings flippers, and he’s increasing his attain on Fb, Instagram and past.

He’s incomes over $4k per 30 days from this enterprise, to not point out different revenue he has coming in from his different area of interest websites.

On this interview, Jamie shares all the main points of his journey in addition to many concepts for diversifying away from Google and constructing a profitable YouTube channel.

Preserve studying to seek out out:

• How he bought into area of interest websites
• How his first YouTube channel did
• How he bought began together with his furnishings flipping YouTube channel
• How he gained traction on YouTube
• How his revenue has developed and the place it comes from
• His advertising technique
• His ideas on web optimization
• His content material creation course of
• His favourite instruments and assets
• His major problem
• His biggest accomplishment
• His greatest mistake
• His recommendation for different entrepreneurs

Meet Jamie Penney

My title is Jamie. I am from Newfoundland, however I presently reside in Vancouver, BC. I lived in Newfoundland till I completed highschool. 

After highschool, I moved to Nova Scotia for a yr to play aggressive hockey, however then returned to Newfoundland to finish my education at Memorial College of Newfoundland (MUN).

Rising up in Newfoundland, I performed loads of sports activities, specializing in hockey primarily, however I additionally loved spending time open air fishing, dust biking, mountain biking, mountain climbing, snowboarding, and so forth. I used to be a zipline information for five years, too!

After ending post-secondary faculty (BBA), I moved to Halifax, NS, and labored as a realtor in new dwelling building for 2 years. I additionally dabbled in actual property videography presently. 

Whereas residing in Halifax, I started often flipping furnishings to make a number of further bucks, which is once I began my web site, Furniture Flippa.

After 2 to three years of residing in Halifax, my girlfriend and I moved to Vancouver, BC, the place my girlfriend attended a year-long trend program. We have now now been in Vancouver for 3 years!

Why He Created His Web site

Once I was in college, nonetheless residing at dwelling, I heard about on-line companies together with YouTube channels and niche websites. 

I created a number of area of interest websites and began making journey YouTube movies; I used to be studying the fundamentals of those on-line companies. 

I started seeing minor success with area of interest websites, incomes a pair hundred bucks whereas nonetheless a pupil. I used to be extra curious about my web sites than faculty! 

My journey YouTube movies weren’t gaining any traction, however I discovered a ton about video enhancing. My channel, Jamie & Tay, taught me use Adobe Premiere Professional. 

Though I gave up on it earlier than any success, I feel it actually helped me in the long term with Furnishings Flippa and stepping into actual property videography. 

After studying about making money online, I additionally discovered some individuals on YouTube flipping and portray furnishings to earn money. It was not as well-liked in 2018 as it’s now, that’s for certain! 

I gave it a attempt in my mother and father’ basement. 

I purchased a desk for reasonable on Fb, painted the bottom and stained the highest, after which bought it for a $200 revenue. Having the money in my hand from that undertaking made me notice which you can make a good aspect revenue by flipping furnishings. 

I quickly moved to Halifax, the place I had a home with a storage. It was excellent for somebody like me who loves tasks, so I began shopping for items of furnishings from thrift stores and on-line, and I used to be fixing and portray them to promote for revenue. 

I didn’t actually know what I used to be doing once I began, however with every undertaking I discovered increasingly. 

With out fascinated by it a lot, I took a video of my tasks, how I did them, and posted them on YouTube.

I created the primary Furnishings Flippa YouTube video on August sixth, 2019. My second and third movies began getting some views, like 10-30 a day, which was attention-grabbing to me. 

Trying again, these movies have been horrible, however they nonetheless bought some views and nonetheless do to at the present time! 

I continued discovering furnishings tasks to do as this interest made a little bit of revenue by itself. I used to be actually extra curious about determining how I may construct a YouTube channel as a result of I assumed that may be fairly cool!

In March 2020, Covid took the world by storm, and in Halifax, Canada we have been on a strict lockdown. I had simply begun as a realtor, so this actually made issues difficult attempting to begin a profession in actual property.   

I began making extra furnishings movies. I joined a web based discord chat that a big furnishings YouTuber referred to as That Shabby Man had talked about in one in all his older movies. I began sharing my tasks and was studying increasingly concerning the interest. 

I shared a nightstand video within the discord group chat, That Shabby Man shared it to his YouTube channel, and it then obtained over 5000 views within the subsequent few days. 

Listed below are the stats for that video: 

This helped me get a pair hundred subscribers and elevated my watch time, which helped me hit monetization numbers for YouTube on the time. 

November ninth, 2020 was my first day of YouTube advertisements monetization. 

Being monetized motivated me to make extra movies and to proceed flipping furnishings. 

YouTube is humorous, as a result of my subsequent 2 movies after the one That Shabby Man shared are my 2 most watched movies on my channel to at the present time. 

One presently has over 415,000 views, and the opposite has over 685,000 views. 

I posted these movies on September eleventh and the twenty second, 2020. Initially, they did not take off, however in late October 2020 the preliminary video started getting loads of views, round 1000-2000 per day, after which it hit its highest ever at slightly below 11,000 views in a day. 

This helped me get an extra 1000 subscribers. Then, in January of 2021, the following video took off within the YouTube algorithm, getting 2-3k views per day, however this video maintained its place within the algorithm for a lot of months getting 500-1500 views a day. 

To at the present time these 2 movies have earned me round $9,000 and nonetheless make about $40-50 per 30 days collectively.

Fairly cool contemplating they have been made nearly 4 years in the past.

I continued making movies, about 2 to 4 per 30 days, and I additionally created a web site together with the Furnishings Flippa YouTube channel following the everyday area of interest web site system. 

This labored for a bit, however the Google algorithms simply destroyed them in recent times. 

Nonetheless, on September sixteenth, 2021 my girlfriend and I made a decision to maneuver throughout Canada to Vancouver, BC. We bought our home with a storage and started renting a 2-bedroom condo. 

At this level, I used to be going to proceed doing smaller tasks, however I simply did not have the house for it in my condo. I solely made 3 movies in 2022 and I started specializing in my different online income sources that started rising quicker.

I used to be engaged on some area of interest websites and a pair started rising properly, reaching $10-20k per 30 days. I began rising a group, hiring good writers and VAs to assist me develop these websites. 

However then these websites have been hit a number of instances by the Google updates in 2022, then destroyed as soon as once more in 2023, and once more in 2024! 

Jaime’s Comeback

I made a decision it was time to get again to creating Furnishings Flippa movies. 

On the finish of 2023, I made a number of small movies from my condo however they didn’t do nicely. I feel taking a while off could make it harder to get issues rolling once more.

Initially of 2024, I made a decision I might go full-time on Furnishings Flippa and get issues going. My solely concern was I had no place to do these tasks. 

I started trying to find a storage to lease at an inexpensive price. After 4 viewings, I discovered one which was inexpensive and enormous in measurement, a double storage, and I rented it!

My first storage video was an MCM espresso desk restoration. I may inform painted furnishings restored again to its unique wooden look was a well-liked pattern for movies, so I gave it a go. 

This video began off decently, then was picked up by the algorithm for a bit, getting as much as 140k views. 

I continued making movies, and my newer movies are between 10k to 170k views and climbing. Since gathering extra YouTube views I’ve had a lot of sponsorship alternatives and I’ve been lining them up since.

Here’s what my YouTube analytics appear to be this yr, you’ll be able to see I began renting the storage in January, and issues began rolling once more after that first restoration video: 

Once I submit a video I get a good enhance in views, which correlates with watch time, subscribers, and a income enhance. It’s regular, and I have never been as constant as I needs to be with video output.

I’m additionally within the means of rising different social media platforms, however nonetheless must study extra about them. 

On Instagram, I hit 3000 followers with 1 video reel getting 130k views, and I’m curious to study extra about how Instagram is monetized. I additionally submit on TikTok with minor success in the mean time.

I nonetheless work on a number of area of interest websites simply so as to add to my revenue, however these aren’t working on natural site visitors anymore, principally social site visitors. 

How A lot He’s Incomes

Relating to making a living via Furnishings Flippa, I’ve categorized it into YouTube advertisements, associates, sponsorships, Fb video advertisements, and promoting the precise furnishings I flip. 

YouTube advertisements

In 30 days I make round $750 – $1200 with solely a pair movies. 

After getting again into making movies, YouTube advertisements at the moment are changing into a second thought. YouTube advertisements don’t make you extraordinarily wealthy except you will get hundreds of thousands of views per 30 days. 

I’m doing all the pieces I can to extend my views and hope to extend this quantity regularly. 

Affiliate revenue

For affiliate revenue with Furnishings Flippa I simply use Amazon. I add hyperlinks on all my movies of merchandise I exploit and other people can click on. I additionally add affiliate links in my blog posts.

Furnishings Flippa doesn’t earn loads on Amazon Associates; nonetheless, I feel there’s a play on Instagram which you can make this work for those who can develop your following. 

I will likely be testing these sooner or later. Final yr, with out making any new movies, my Amazon Affiliate revenue was $904.20. For the final 30 days, it was solely $35.81—not so good.

Having my Google site visitors disappear has prompted my affiliate revenue to go down on Furnishings Flippa to principally nothing. 

My content material on YouTube is extra centered on entertaining as a substitute of instructing and answering questions, so I really feel this reduces affiliate revenue. 

Should you give attention to answering questions and exhibiting “” content material, you’ll be able to probably improve affiliate conversions there. Proper now, I’m specializing in growing views to extend sponsorship alternatives.

My different web sites made $1744.73 on Amazon within the final 30 days, and I hit the Creator Rewards numbers to obtain a bonus of $1800, 2 months in a row now. I additionally earned $245.86 from the Amazon Influencer Program. 

Sponsorships

I’ve been signing a lot of sponsorship offers recently, and in the mean time that is what’s capturing my curiosity. I’ve had sponsorship offers prior to now and I often would take decrease numbers and settle for that.

With growing viewership, I’ve elevated my sponsorship earnings per video. I’ve signed varied offers over the previous few months, anyplace starting from $1000-2500 per video, and generally I settle for the product plus cash 

With views growing, the sponsorship charges additionally will increase.

Membership neighborhood

I began a community. It’s presently free however will likely be a paid neighborhood sooner or later. I’ve over 150 members. I additionally collect emails from every member. 

The community will change into a month-to-month subscription program. It’s going to embody programs, bonus content material, and a dialogue platform for individuals to study from one another about furnishings refinishing. 

This can be a main focus for me proper now. 

Fb web page

I had a Fb web page that had 30k followers. 

When energetic it was making $500-1000+ per 30 days from video advertisements. I might share some revenue with different furnishings flippers as a result of I shared their movies, too. 

Nonetheless, the account related to the web page was hacked, they modified the e-mail on the account and it disabled the account that was working the web page.

The restoration course of is principally not possible as Meta assist is a joke. This web page was referred to as “The Furnishings Squad” and continues to be accessible for individuals to see, I simply cant replace it. 

I had plans to share weblog posts and try different monetization methods, however sadly the hacking occurred.

The advert account on the web page was reactivated just lately, and I nonetheless earn $100 or so per 30 days, however I am unable to entry it.

Not too long ago I began one other Fb web page and have been paying for advertisements to get it rolling once more. 

I’ve observed individuals have been having big earnings with the Fb Bonus Program, so I want to see if I could make that work.

Furnishings flipping revenue

Flipping furnishings might be an effective way to make some aspect revenue as nicely. 

For instance, you could find free or low-cost furnishings on Fb Market or thrift shops. You’ll be able to refinish, paint, or simply clear the furnishings and listing it on the market your self. 

For every flip, I count on to earn $100-600+ revenue, all of it will depend on the undertaking. 

I’ll do 2 to 4 flips a month, usually specializing in one per week. The scale of the undertaking influences the time it takes to finish. 

Different revenue

Within the close to future, I plan to create some on-line merchandise and programs sharing how one can earn cash flipping furnishings, answering particular questions, and so forth. 

I plan to get into Instagram monetization methods as nicely. 

If I have been to begin a video undertaking at the moment and submit it the next week, right here is the revenue potential of that piece 1 month after publishing:

YouTube Adverts: $150 – $600 
Sponsorship: If any… $600 – $1800 
The furnishings promoting itself: $100 – 500 

If I make a sponsored video at the moment, that video is more likely to make on the low finish $850, and on the excessive finish $2700. 

Not unhealthy, and if I could make 2-4 movies a month, it will possibly change into a pleasant revenue. 

Observe that I have never even added in attainable affiliate performs, Instagram prospects, and different potential revenue I may make from this content material. 

Right here is Furnishings Flippa’s YouTube channel revenue for June:

Adverts: $981
Sponsorships: $3450
Free merchandise: $250 + $300 = $550
Furnishings Gross sales: $1000 CAD (2 gross sales)

Further June on-line revenue from area of interest websites: 

Mediavine advertisements: $4725.96 
Amazon Associates, Influencer, and bonuses: $3810.17

When it comes to site visitors, my YouTube channel has simply over 100k views within the final 30 days. 

The Furnishings Flippa weblog used to get some site visitors:

September 2021 = 23,030 pageviews
Final 30 days – 4000 web page views

Google really hit this web site with the well-known Spam guide motion just lately, which is comical because the content material was simply articles sharing my furnishings flips and answering widespread refinishing questions. 

I submitted a reconsideration request and it was authorised a month later, however my site visitors continues to be useless on Google, round 0-10 clicks a day.

Jaime’s Advertising and marketing Technique

I’m simply rising with natural progress advertising, however when I’ve my very own merchandise I’ll probably change some advertising methods.

In the mean time, I submit on YouTube and achieve views naturally from the algorithm with out paying for views or subscribers. 

His Ideas on web optimization

web optimization was once vital for me till Google updates modified the running a blog recreation. Proper now I rely extra on YouTube’s algorithm to develop my viewers with every new piece of content material.

First, I simply give attention to creating good content material, which is essential, clearly.

For a video to do nicely, it wants an excellent title and a fascinating thumbnail. If individuals don’t click on, they don’t watch. 

Subsequent, the video itself must exceed the viewers’ expectations in order that they watch longer, subscribe, and watch extra. 

Then YouTube is extra more likely to present your content material to extra individuals. 

Key phrase Analysis

My previous key phrase analysis course of used to contain Ahrefs and Key phrases In all places, however I canceled these subscriptions. 

Now I create content material I really feel my viewers is on the lookout for and would get pleasure from (and generally simply one thing I get pleasure from!).

His Content material Creation Course of

My movies can take as much as 10 days to make; it relies upon how lengthy the furnishings undertaking takes. 

These days, I’ve been taking up difficult tasks, however these usually go over nicely for my viewers, and it’s serving to me develop. I’ve 63 complete movies.  

I begin by discovering a bit of furnishings that I feel might be restored, refinished, or painted. Then I do a earlier than video, the refurbishing content material video, then the after. The method is straightforward, it simply takes time. 

Then I’ve to edit all of it collectively after.

I do the entire recording and enhancing myself. I exploit Adobe Premiere Professional. I like to recommend discovering an enhancing software program that works for you.

His E mail Listing

I began an electronic mail listing a number of months in the past and am rising the subscriber listing. I plan so as to add hyperlinks in my movies for individuals to enroll and I’ll point out it within the movies. I’m a rookie in the case of electronic mail lists. 

I just lately began a neighborhood, and I get individuals’s emails once they enroll. At present I began a giveaway and have been gaining loads of emails, and will likely be utilizing this technique to develop an electronic mail listing and my neighborhood.

Jaime’s Favourite Assets

I’ve been listening to Area of interest Pursuits for years now, and I’ve additionally listened to the Doug Present. These have been nice for area of interest web sites. 

Nonetheless, my go-to YouTube podcast is YouTube Creators Hub by Dusty Porter. It’s an awesome interview-style podcast of YouTubers sharing how they earn and develop their YT channels. There are a whole bunch of interviews you’ll be able to try.  

The instruments I exploit probably the most are:

• Canva – I exploit Canva every day for thumbnails, photos for social media, and so forth. 
• ChatGPT – I exploit ChatGPT to assist me with quite a few issues. I ask it questions, concept technology, and extra.
• Adobe Premiere Professional – I exploit Adobe enhancing software program to assist create high-quality movies. It’s not required, however I really feel I can create a good-quality video for my viewers.

His Greatest Problem

It may be difficult to maintain your self motivated once you work exhausting to create on-line content material that finally ends up not assembly expectations. 

Additionally, working alone might be difficult. I keep energetic in on-line group chats, and so forth., however real-life interplay is clearly a lot totally different. 

I hope to fulfill individuals who create comparable movies in actual life at occasions sometime! 

His Best Accomplishment

My major accomplishment is simply beginning the journey and reaching an revenue stage the place I do not need to work for another person. 

This was at all times my purpose from a younger age, and I’m glad I began once I was in college. I used to be absolutely working for myself at age 23. 

What He Needs He Knew When He Began

I want I had identified to not depend on Google site visitors for online businesses.

Google updates have prompted most content material web site house owners to lose 90% of their site visitors and earnings in a single day, so you shouldn’t depend on this anymore. Construct one thing actual and dependable. 

His Greatest Mistake

My greatest mistake for Furnishings Flippa was giving up for a yr and never creating new content material. This was a missed alternative to construct a bigger viewers and construct on my actual model. 

That is Furnishings Flippa’s YouTube life:

His Recommendation for Different Entrepreneurs

My recommendation for somebody desirous to create a YouTube channel at the moment is that it’s 100% attainable. It’s not too saturated like some could really feel. 

Additionally, YouTube is rising quick and extra persons are utilizing it annually.

Simply begin. With every video you create, you study one thing new. 

I consider that when you’ve got a ardour for a distinct segment or interest and also you make some movies doing it or speaking about it, the appropriate viewers will ultimately discover you.