The Unfiltered Truth About Creating Content on YouTube (And Why I Quit)
Creating educational content on YouTube is incredibly hard. That simple fact is the reason I had to take a long break from my YouTube channel and newsletter.
But this isn't a post about my personal challenges. It's an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what it truly takes to create quality educational content on this platform and what you should—and shouldn't—expect as a reward for your hard work.
Why Bother With YouTube?
Let's start with the fundamental question: why post on YouTube? The simple answer is that it’s a powerful way to leverage your passion, gain exposure, and possibly generate some income.
The common misconception, however, is that this process is fun, easy, and requires minimal effort. My experience tells a different story. A single 5 to 10-minute video can take anywhere from 8 to 16 hours to produce, depending on the complexity of the topic, the depth of research, and the intricacy of the animations and editing.
If you find that hard to believe, let me walk you through the seven-step gauntlet I navigate for every single video.
The 7 Stages of Content Creation
1. Idea Generation
It all starts with an idea. But it’s not enough to just pick a topic you like; you need to find the intersection of your passion and what people are actually searching for. You have to add something personal—your unique experience or a strong opinion—to make it stand out. Even with a subscriber base, YouTube’s algorithm won't promote your video unless it thinks viewers will be interested. It’s a constant balancing act between what you want to say and what the audience wants to hear.
2. Research
Once you have a topic, you need to validate your ideas and the message you want to deliver. This step is crucial for driving up the quality of your video. When you put your face in front of a camera, your credibility is on the line. I've often been tempted to discuss controversial topics that I know would get a lot of views. But I have a professional life, and any negative blowback could impact my career. For me, and likely for you, this is a hobby. It’s not worth risking your professional reputation. Be cautious.
3. Scripting
Can't you just improvise? For a high-engagement, 5 to 10-minute video, the answer is a firm no. Every second counts. To make every second impactful, you need to prepare your script, often word-for-word. I use a teleprompter for a good portion of my videos. It takes practice to sound natural, but it’s far better than fumbling for words on the spot, which could stretch a 10-minute video to 20.
"Why not just make a 20-minute video?" you might ask. The answer is viewer retention. A longer, less dense video causes viewers to drop off early. YouTube monitors this metric closely. Low retention signals that viewers aren't enjoying the content, and the algorithm will stop showing your video to potential new viewers. All your hard work ends up with no impressions and no views.
4. Recording
With a polished script in hand, it's time to record. This alone can take one to two hours. Unless you have a permanent studio, you'll spend time setting up the camera, lights, and microphone. Then comes the actual recording, which almost always requires multiple takes. As a non-native English speaker, I make plenty of mistakes. This means a 10-minute final video can easily start as 30-40 minutes of raw footage.
5. Editing & Animation
This is where the magic—and the time sink—happens. You have to cut all the mistakes, long pauses, and unnecessary parts to make the video as dense as possible. You normalize the audio, add transitions, and create movement to keep the viewer engaged. If you're creating technical content, animations are often necessary. A simple 30-second animation can take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes to create. A five-minute video packed with animations can easily add another three to four hours of production time.
6. Publishing
The video is edited, but you're not done. You now face another challenge: the title, thumbnail, and description. The title and thumbnail are arguably the most critical elements. You could have the best video in the world, but no one will click on it without a compelling hook. If you're not a graphic designer, creating a decent thumbnail takes time and often results in something you’re not entirely happy with.
You also need to add chapters, tags, and accurate subtitles. For me, subtitles are essential due to my pronunciation. I often get comments about my accent, but as I like to point out, in a professional, multinational environment, you rarely find "perfect" English. Take it as an opportunity to train your ear!
7. Marketing
Finally, the video is live! But your work isn't over. You need to let people know it exists. This means sharing it on social media, perhaps writing a companion blog post (like this one!), and most importantly, engaging with your community. Responding to comments is key to building a loyal audience of recurring viewers.
So, What's the Reward?
After all that effort—idea generation, research, scripting, recording, editing, publishing, and marketing—what’s the payoff?
In my experience, the only tangible reward is personal satisfaction and the mastery of a wide range of new skills.
Don't expect money. My top three videos, each with around 50,000 views, have generated a combined total of roughly €85. The camera I'm using to film cost €800. The math speaks for itself.
The Real Reason I Burned Out
The lack of financial return wasn't why I stopped. The real reason was stress. YouTube pushes a relentless pace. The common wisdom is to publish at least one video a week. With an 8-16 hour production time per video, a full-time job, a family, and the need to stay active (anima sana in corpore sano), it was simply impossible.
This created a crushing sense of guilt. Every moment I spent relaxing felt like a moment I was failing my channel. My mind was constantly spinning with content ideas, even when I was out for a run. Over time, that constant pressure becomes all-consuming. It will burn you out. That’s why I had to stop.
A New Approach: Trading Perfection for Sustainability
So, why am I back? Because I want to give it another shot with a different philosophy. I still want to share my knowledge and experience. I believe I have what they call an "unfair advantage"—25 years of experience in software development, 16 of them professionally, with a long history as a software architect and technical leader. It would be a shame not to share what I've learned.
The only obstacle was the impossibly high quality standard I had set for myself.
To make this sustainable, I have to lower it. I need to accept that the lighting might not always be perfect, that I'll use fewer animations, and that some videos will be unscripted. If I try to maintain the same high standard, I will burn out again. The priority now is to share valuable knowledge without sacrificing my well-being.
Creating content is hard. It's a marathon of seven demanding stages for very little external reward. You should only do it if you truly enjoy the process and expect nothing in return.
If you've read this far, thank you. Consider subscribing to the newsletter to follow along on this new, more sustainable journey. Every view and every share helps us all learn something new.