The reality of being a naturist content creator: the termination of my YouTube channel - part 2.
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With the recent termination of my YouTube channel, I am at a crossroads within my business here at The Nude Blogger (TNB) and wanted to give you all a candid insight into what it’s really like to be a naturist content creator. So whilst this termination feels like a loss that I am grieving within my business, it has forced me to reevaluate my standards and shift my priorities moving forward.
Throughout this whole process, I feel myself moving into a more mature era here at TNB where I will no longer risk it all for inconsistent community guidelines, demanding consumers and unpredictable algorithms. I am, instead, focusing on creating in a way that supports more safety, security and stability for myself, my business, my community and my livelihood.
It has been a slow and considered process, but a necessary one that requires me to be thorough. So, thank you for your patience as I have been figuring how best to navigate this situation and move forward with grace, integrity and acquired wisdom.
Now, let’s take a look back on how got here and how we’re moving forward.
Reality check - what you may not realise…
Whilst it seems that people love to indulge in endless amounts of online content, it feels as though many either forget, or do not realise, that quality content creation takes time, money, resources and, especially in a naturist content creator’s case…PERSEVERANCE.
I think we can all agree that ‘naturism’ is already niche, right? On top of that, it is a heavily censored topic that is severely penalised across all the major social media platforms.
So, imagine trying to make a living as a content creator whose aim is to educate the public about the naturist lifestyle (so as to remove the stigma associated with it), cultivate a more body-positive culture (by actually showing non-sexual nudity) and provide an informational hub for fellow naturists by sharing quality content that they can research and enjoy…
Let’s just say that it comes with more than its fair share of endless obstacles and constant challenges. I would know.
Due to the very nature of what it is that I do and share, I am instantly penalised and put on the back foot. For me, and I’m sure other naturist content creators (especially those who actually show uncensored nudity like I do), things are already and automatically more challenging than that for the ‘average’ content creator who produces ‘socially-acceptable’ content that is palatable to the mainstream. For instance, not being able to monetise my YouTube channel or never having been allowed to advertise on any of my social media platforms are just some examples of the very real struggles that I have had to face over the years in trying to grow my business and audience in a world where there is already so much noise and distraction.
Unlike many content creators who make their money off of advertising and/or monetisation, I have not been able to do either. So, if I don’t have adverts on my website and I wasn’t able to monetise my YouTube channel…how, exactly, have I been able to make a living?
It has been the voluntary support that I have received over the years on my Patreon that has allowed me to pursue TNB full-time. It is this same support that has also enabled my community (and maybe even you reading this) to access all the free resources that they have for as long as they have. You see, if it weren’t for the people who have signed up to my Patreon over the years, none of my YouTube (or most of my work for that matter!) would have been possible because I simply would not have had the means, time or resources to have been able to do what I do…especially on YouTube.
Me filming on the naturist island of Le Levant, in France, in July 2023.
Travelling to various naturist destinations around Australia (and the world) costs money! Think plane tickets, camper van hire, accomodation costs, the cost of all of my filming gear, editing software…the list goes on and on and on. Plus…that all takes time and planning. And, it’s actually the post-filming production that is some of the most time-consuming, but is also the not-so-glamourous part of the process that most of you don’t see. All the public sees is a 30 or so minute finished product, packaged neatly and uploaded, ready to be enjoyed.
But, let me tell you now…you cannot be producing, creating and sharing all of the content that I do if you are working another job. This is a full-time gig! Even though I started TNB back in 2016, there is a reason that I wasn’t producing video content up until the beginning of 2020…and that’s because, first and foremost, I couldn’t afford the gear…let alone the trips! When I launched my Patreon in January 2020, it was the following month that you then saw the launch of my YouTube channel; because it was with my first payout from Patreon that I went out and purchased all of my filming gear!
A picture of me filming my first ever YouTube video in January 2020 with all of my new filming gear.
Before Patreon, and with the way things were going, TNB was not sustainable because it was not financially feasible up until this point. But, I was passionate about my blog and I was determined to make it viable…so I needed to make a decision and get creative…and so I launched my Patreon in January 2020…and here we are, almost 4 years later.
Now, with the recent termination of my YouTube channel, I am at yet another crossroads in my business and know I need to make some big decisions for the security and longevity of TNB.
Creating quality content in the ‘TikTok era’ - unrealistic demands and expectations.
In a TikTok era where 15 second videos are all the rage and quantity is prized over quality, it seems that people are growing impatient and almost carrying with them a sense of entitlement when it comes to content consumption. Expecting free content every other day or so from the content creators they love; not being able to discern between quality content that has heart and takes time, and fast content that is just there to appease their appetite for a moment in time.
But, my content has never been of the ‘TikTok’ type. I have delivered quality content that has substance and purpose…content that is a full production and not a quick grab for attention or a desperate attempt to keep up with ridiculous trends. It’s not as simple spitting out 30 minute informational/documentary-style videos.
So, with an infinite amount of content coming at us from every direction and screen these days, and with shortened attention spans, it can feel as though people almost expect you to just spit out content; and this sense of entitlement is becoming more and more obvious to me…whether people realise it or not.
When I initially announced that my YouTube channel had been terminated, I was inundated with emails, messages and comments such as, ‘maybe just move to Vimeo, Twitter, Rumble, MeWe…etc’; naming almost any other major and/or alternative platform where I could continue to provide them with free content. And of course, I can understand that this may be their first line of thought. But, I have to ask myself…how many of those people stopped to think about the security of my business? How many of them signed up to my Patreon to show support? How many of them were concerned with how best to move forward in a way that protects my livelihood? How many of these people considered anything other than their continued access to free content?
It feels as though many of us have gotten comfortable unknowingly (or maybe even knowingly) relying on the very few to help keep TNB going…expecting a standard of content for free. Because, yes, most YouTubers are able to provide their audience with free content because they are able to monetise their videos…so everyone wins. But, when you’re not the average YouTuber who cannot monetise or advertise, you can only hope that your community who enjoys your work steps up to help financially support you and your business endeavours…especially in as niche a field as naturism.
The few that make TNB viable - disappointing conversion rates.
Thankfully, I have had the joy of building and growing an amazing community over the years who have rode the waves with me…and it has been the generous few who have kept TNB going.
Let’s have a look at some very bare facts:
Did you know that, across all of my social media platforms and databases (when I did have my YouTube channel), I had a combined audience of over 500,000 people! And whilst this is AMAZING, over a total of almost 4 years, would you like to know how many of those people have chosen to financially support my work by paying for content on my Patreon (where I rely on subscriptions that make up nearly 100% of my income)?
0.09%…
Yes, you read that right. Not even 1%.
Simply said, that’s 99% of my audience who have chosen to only ever enjoy my free content…never contributing a cent toward my business.
Each month, I might be lucky to have 380 Patrons…
Out of 500,000 people…380 people who pay for content.
380.
Even if we now take into consideration that I no longer have a YouTube channel…
That’s still only 380 out 220,000 people who pay for content…
and with my biggest funnel of traffic now redundant…who knows what these numbers will look like moving forward.
There is also the sheer volume of eyes on my YouTube videos once upon a time…over 40 million views across 35 videos…that’s an average of over a million views per video!
So, admittedly, with those sheer numbers, the conversion rates are pretty disappointing given the stats and how much effort I put into sharing quality naturist content that is already hard enough to come by.
To me, it also does not seem fair that this tiny portion of my community have been the ones to carry the weight of ensuring that I’ve been able to continue to create content.
And whilst moral support means the world to me and has been such a motivating force within my business, the very blatant truth is…it doesn’t pay my bills or help to keep my business financially afloat. Because that’s just the thing, this is my business. This is not just some passion project that I am doing on the side. This is my livelihood we’re talking about. And, for a long time and up until I started my Patreon, I was doing it tough. Barely getting by. But the reality is that the more I’ve been able to grow my business financially, the more I’ve been able to give my community. That’s just how it works.
This is not about the money for me. This is about the principle. The principle of having my community value my work the way it deserves to be valued.
So, now, it’s time for me to lead by example and value my work the way it deserves to be valued.
What have I learnt from this YouTube termination?
This termination has forced me to reevaluate my standards; and I trust that it is moving me in the direction of a necessary and more deeply embodied sense of self-worth.
Moving forward from this YouTube termination, valuing my work means prioritising and creating more safety, security and stability within my business. After all, this is my time, energy, efforts, money, resources and livelihood that we’re talking about.
I am learning that it’s time to protect my energy and do business in a way that creates more safety for my nervous system. When I rely almost solely on voluntary subscriptions, I rely heavily on traffic. So these bans, deactivations and terminations are deeply unsettling and unnerving for me and my business.
Being a voice for the naturist community is a privilege I have and will continue to happily take on. Although, admittedly, in the process (and probably thanks to my past, and very public, social media battles), I feel as though I have taken on this ‘martyr’ role of sorts…constantly fighting these ‘David and Goliath like’ battles with these social media giants. Mostly because I’m a rebel with a cause...but partly because I have felt as if I owe the naturist community something in exchange for their moral support, and partly because I have felt as though I have needed to constantly prove myself, my credibility and my authenticity in order to keep their moral support.
But, I am done with having to prove myself. Those who know me and my work will know and feel my authenticity and integrity. And, whilst these ‘battles’ were kind of thrilling once upon a time, they’ve become tiresome and I find my all-or-nothing approach biting me in the ass. I firmly believe that my voice is still needed on these major platforms…but, as I have matured, I think it’s time to be more strategic with how I show up on these platforms; because in order to create change, I still need to be in this crazy-ass game in some form.
As you can imagine, having these major crises in my business drains a lot of my energy and takes away a significant amount of my time from focusing on creating content and pursuing projects and tasks that are essential to the functioning of my business. So, I will be moving forward in a way that lowers my risk of having to be in damage control because I want my energy going towards creativity, expansion and progression…not stagnation or regression.
And, as we’re seeing with this termination, when I lose…we all lose. We lose access to the content you love and, instead of creating more of this content you love, I’m sat here writing these blogs and emails and having to figure out a way forward that won’t have me sat back here writing these blogs and emails to you all over again.
So, I am no longer willing to risk it all by being at the mercy of inconsistent community guidelines, demanding consumers and unpredictable algorithms just to keep everyone else happy. When I already walk as fine a line as I do in my work, I have to be able to protect myself. I have to be smarter. Otherwise…there is no more of this work. And…I’m not willing to let that happen.
So whilst I will continue to be an advocate for the normalisation of non-sexual nudity, healthy body image and educating the public about (and removing the stigma around) the naturist lifestyle; I know that this is a community effort and not just a ‘me’ effort. So, it’s time to receive the support I know my community wants to give me, and the support I know I deserve…and I am trusting that my community will rise up to meet me in the middle.
The end of an era - celebrating my YouTube channel.
The termination of my YouTube channel feels like a loss that I am grieving within my business. Something that I have birthed, grown and nurtured with you all for almost 4 years. Something I put so much heart and pride into. So I can also understand that it must, somewhat, feel like a loss for you too.
I feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to share with you all in this way for as long as I did…and I am so grateful for your love for what was my YouTube channel. Over the years, I’ve had countless people approach me and thank me for my YouTube content. Many fellow nudists I would meet on the beach attributing their visit to that particular beach to my YouTube video! Wow.
I am beyond proud of myself for living in integrity and having the courage to share as candidly and as vulnerably as I did on such a public platform as YouTube. Integrity has always been a cornerstone of my business, and I chose what felt in integrity for me at the time when starting up my YouTube channel. In my eyes, it would have felt like a disservice to the naturist lifestyle to have censored my videos just so that I could make money from them through advertising (especially knowing that I ‘apparently’ didn’t have to according to their ‘community guidelines’!). It was a sacrifice I made for the betterment of the lifestyle and my community. Although, ultimately, and unfortunately due to their inconsistent guidelines, it kind of feels like I needed to censor it all anyway. But, it is what it is and I trust that it reached the people it needed to most.
I can take a bow and pat myself on the back for a job very well done. 280,000 people whose lives I potentially influenced, touched, empowered and inspired through my YouTube channel. A legacy that I trust will live on in those it reached and empowered.
As I have matured personally and in business over the years, now what feels in integrity for me is to also make choices that create more security, safety and stability for myself, my livelihood and my business…and I trust that, through this all, the people who can and who care will rise up in support to help me create this. This is what community is all about. This is what is going to help keep this all going. This is what is going to help make it all worth it…and this is what is going to help make TNB better than it ever has been.
For now, I can be proud of what I was able to do and achieve for the lifestyle on such a large platform as YouTube. We had a good innings…and, for that, I am grateful.
I can honestly stand here, with a heart full of pride, pat myself on the back and say that my channel was in a league of its own. One of a kind…and a job very well done. Something that I can, chin up, tears falling from my eyes, look back on with pride, integrity and dignity.
The closing of a chapter is here but, as they say, when one door closes, another door opens…
The ride isn’t over my nudie friends, it’s just getting started. There will be a silver lining.
We will rise.
In the next blog: Something new is launching soon…stay tuned.
Despite various platform deactivations over the years (my very public battle with Instagram in 2017, my Facebook page deactivation in 2020, and now my YouTube channel), severe shadow banning across any platforms that I remain on, the constant removal of content on my various platforms, not being able to advertise on any of these platforms since I started TNB back in 2016…I have persevered.
Believe me, I have persevered. Even when the odds were against me (because they have been and constantly are!) and even when many would have given up on trying to make something out of something that is a constant uphill battle….I persevered. And I will again, only this time…it will be on my own terms.
Because, even when my back was up against the wall…I have made things happen. You want to know why? Because this is about so much more than just me and a lifestyle I dream of and love. This has always been a path of purpose for me. A work of service. This way forward will ensure it continues to be…
Community supports one another through fair and mutual exchange.
The tides are turning…
With love,
Jessa
Xx