Yoma James Kukor: Running a Startup and Growing My Creator Brand to Over 200K Followers
Yoma James Kukor shares the story of how he grew his creator brand to 200K+ followers by discussing his passion for business, finance, and personal development…
Creator Brand: Yoma James Kukor
YouTube: 127K subscribers, 348K views
Instagram: 66.6K followers, 40 posts
TikTok: 2.4K followers
LinkedIn: 13K followers
Twitter: 3K followers
Full time creator: Yes - and entrepreneur
Hey Yoma! Who are you and what is your creator brand?
Hey everyone, I'm Yoma James Kukor. You may recognize me mainly from my YouTube channel, although I’m also on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Twitter under the same handle. I share and provide insights into business, entrepreneurship, personal finance, and self development.
I began my journey as a creator back in 2013, although back then it was a casual hobby more than anything. It wasn't until 2022 that I decided to take this journey seriously, fully buying into the confidence I had in sharing my persona publicly. Despite the occasional criticism, it's all part of the process and it's what I believe makes the foundation of a creator.
In 2023, I decided to dive headfirst into becoming a creator despite having a busy schedule running a tech startup called Vendoir. As you’ll find out, content creation isn't an overnight success, but a journey that requires consistency, continuous improvement, and a focus on delivering value.
Yoma with his YouTube 100K subscriber award
How did you come up with your creator & content idea?
My journey into building my Yoma James Kukor creator brand came from a blend of my rich history in business and finance mixed with my passion for sharing knowledge.
I've worn many hats in the business world, from running a successful tech start-up to angel investing, and I've amassed an abundance of experience in various aspects of a business - whether it’s building a company from the ground up or acting as CEO. I understand the process, the diligence, the planning, and the strategy that goes into it all, and I realized I had a ton of insights that could help others.
My drive to produce content got a major boost when I saw the misconceptions people had about investing, a field I'm incredibly passionate about and have been involved with for over a decade. I felt there was a void that needed to be filled—a channel that could guide people on the path to business success and intelligent investing, shedding light on the reality that it's a steady, step-by-step process, rather than instant success.
This combined with the nudging from friends and family who thought I should bring my wisdom to a broader audience really helped the idea of creating a dedicated channel for sharing my experiences and knowledge.
The joy I get from the process, from conceptualizing to editing, to finally seeing viewers benefit from the content is the true reward. Every now and then when I receive messages from followers who have benefited from my insights, it fuels my passion to keep at it, making content a truly fulfilling and awesome journey.
What is your content creation process?
My content creation process is really quite thorough. It starts with a topic that I have some knowledge in, although I don't always have to have complete mastery over it. That's where scripting comes into play and creating a structure for my video. I don't rigidly stick to a line-by-line script, because I prefer to freestyle my message between the main story points I want to make.
I aim for my videos to last around eight to ten minutes, which is statistically the ideal time frame for viewers to engage. I spend quite a bit of time on editing, which can be about four to five hours for an eight-minute video. I shoot multiple clips and then select the best for the topic at hand.
“The joy I get from the process, from conceptualizing to editing, to finally seeing the viewers benefit from the content is the true reward.”
Overall, the creation process is quite complex, taking about two days for an eight-minute video including scripting, shooting, editing, and selecting the perfect thumbnail designed by a professional. When I feel like the result matches the initial idea and message I'm trying to convey, I publish it at the right time of the day (usually the evening), considering the best hours for engagement.
The whole process is a considerable amount of work, requiring organization and a strong focus on structure. And let's not forget passion and love for the content itself, which fuels me to keep pushing and improving every day - I honestly go to bed excited to start creating content and publishing videos the next day.
From understanding the algorithms and focusing on SEO, to investing in better equipment and expanding on other platforms like TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram, my content creation process is about adding value to the audience and continually striving to do better.
What is your marketing & promotion strategy? How are you growing your brand?
My marketing and promotion strategy for my Yoma James Kukor brand heavily relies on cross marketing, leveraging the power of social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and increasingly TikTok. I have found this approach to be very effective, accounting for about 20% of my overall views.
I also focus on continuously engaging my audience, mainly on YouTube, within a 24-hour window, as this boosts visibility within the YouTube community. Ensuring attractive content presentation, particularly with thumbnails, is a key part of my strategy. If I can achieve a click-through rate of about 5%, then I view that content as successful.
Additionally, maintaining consistent branding across all platforms, including my website, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, has helped solidify my personal brand and increase recognition. I’ve also started a newsletter to keep viewers engaged and updated.
But the ultimate goal of my cross-platform engagement isn't to sell anything; I don't really have anything to sell. Instead, it's to help develop a more educated audience on finance and various money-making routes.
Whether it's providing information on drop shipping or guiding viewers on understanding a company's history and finances, my primary aim is education. I believe in giving valuable advice for free, hoping the return will be in the form of support for my content and wider sharing of my brand. This approach has definitely helped my channel's growth and my brand’s establishment in the business and finance niches.
Yoma’s YouTube page with 127K subscribers
How do you engage with your audience?
What I want my audience to take away from my content is the importance of community engagement and accessibility. I strive to foster a close-knit community across all platforms, whether it's through webinars, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
I make it a priority to respond to every comment and message, showing that I'm genuinely interested in connecting with my viewers and helping them navigate their journey. I’m not some superior being who’s better than anyone else - I’m genuinely interested in you and here to help.
Whether it's about dropshipping, investments, or starting a business, my goal is to provide valuable insights and support to as many people as possible. So, the message I want to convey is clear: I'm here to help you succeed, and I'm accessible every step of the way.
How have you monetized your business model?
I've monetized my Yoma James Kukor brand primarily through AdSense revenue and sponsorships, with sponsorships currently holding the larger portion of my income. In the name of transparency, just last month we made close to $10,000 in revenue from these sources combined.
However, it should be noted that this didn't happen overnight. It took consistency and reaching a certain level of engagement - around 20,000 subscribers on YouTube - before the sponsorship opportunities really started rolling in.
Interestingly, many brands approached me directly once I reached this milestone, asking me to develop videos for them or integrate them into my existing content. But while making money is obviously exciting, I believe it's critical not to make money the primary motivation.
“I love the challenge of running a business too much. I view my content creation and business ventures as complementary and side by side in my overall journey.”
The main goal should be to deliver quality content and connect with your audience. This approach not only improves the quality of your content over time but also naturally brings more viewers and opportunities your way.
However, it's also important to highlight that content creation, much like running a business, can be demanding and time-consuming. It's no longer merely about posting videos, it's a full-fledged operation complete with revenue streams and its own set of challenges.
This crossover is why I don't see myself ever becoming a full-time content creator - I love the challenge of running a business too much. Instead, I view my content creation and business ventures as complementary and side by side in my overall journey.
What are your biggest lessons learned & challenges faced?
One of my biggest lessons I’ve come to realize is just the sheer complexity behind creating quality content, especially videos. I used to think you just shoot an entire video in one go, but that’s far from the reality it’s made out to be.
Each piece is put together from various sources and clips, like a jigsaw puzzle. This was a surprise and a challenge that I had to learn to overcome very early on, and I would advise any future creators to understand this right from the get go.
Perhaps an even bigger challenge for me was recognizing the constant need for improvement and the pressure to produce content that surpasses what I've done before. It's not easy, especially when you feel like you've exhausted all your great ideas.
However, I’ve learned that it's about becoming a student again, observing other successful people and content creators, researching diverse perspectives to generate fresh ideas.
Another significant learning is acknowledging the potential influence of AI in content creation. While AI can generate flawless content, it lacks the authenticity and relatability that humans naturally bring with their minor imperfections.
I will say - what's happening today was unimaginable a few years back, just in terms of AI and the rate technology is moving at. It can be hard to keep up. But I believe that if you stay vigilant, work hard, and continuously strive for improvement, you can navigate through the wild and unpredictable landscape of content creation.
Overall, never let your guard down, always look for ways to grow, and don’t be afraid to learn.
What technology & tools do you use?
The technology and tools I use to help bring my Yoma James Kukor brand to life are quite varied. For my camera, I use a Sony a7S III model. It's a decently high-end one, and cost around 800 pounds when I bought it. I also use a few microphones, including a lapel microphone, which is my preferred one due to its consistency and clarity.
The things you also need to buy besides a camera and mic are good lighting equipment and maybe a phone stand for stability while recording - you can find all this stuff on Amazon, so it’s pretty easy to get started.
For editing my videos I use Wondershare Filmora, which, in my opinion, is better than some of the other competitors as it comes with more features, effects, and transitions.
Apart from these, I use Notion and Todoist to stay organized. Additionally, I've found ChatGPT to be quite handy for grammar checking and for verifying the titles and descriptions of my YouTube videos. Once in a while, I also use some note-keeping tools for scripting. Overall, these are the main tools that help me structure everything.
Not tech specific, but as a beginner I'd really encourage you to start with TikTok as your main platform of choice. Its algorithm is currently very fresh, making it easier for a beginner to gain exposure across thousands of accounts.
Starting with TikTok could help you gain traction and provide the encouragement you need to keep exploring other platforms. It's all about getting the hang of one, and then moving on to another, and another.
Instagram and YouTube can be a bit more challenging, but once you get the hang of YouTube, you'll find it advantageous in the long run due to the opportunities and longevity it offers. However, be prepared for some heavy lifting as it requires a proper approach to branding, establishing trust, and even having some outside credibility apart from your videos.
What future plans & goals do you have for your creator brand?
Great question - what’s in store for Yoma James Kukor? Right now, my focus is living in the present and enjoying every step of the beautiful journey I'm on. But of course, I have dreams for the future too.
I envision creating my own version of Dragons Den on my YouTube channel. My version of Dragons Den would be more than just a TV show replication - it would be a creative revamp, something totally new yet with the spirit of the original concept.
But for now, I'm focused on the present, just trying to take in the interesting and truly remarkable career path I have.
Not necessarily related to myself, but if you’re looking for more great content, I’d recommend checking out these three creators that are always featured on my playlist rotation - Graham Stephan, Gary Vee, and Steven Bartlett. All great individuals to check out among the endless sea of content.
What advice do you have for aspiring content creators?
From my own experience, I can share with you that the path to success as a content creator lies in confidence, consistency, and providing value. It's so important to have the confidence to put yourself out there, even in the face of potential criticism.
This confidence forms the foundation of becoming a creator. And then adhere to consistency. Develop a plan and stick to it. For me, that meant a minimum of three videos per week, which was time-consuming, but it definitely paid off.
Also remember that it's not about you - it's about your audience. What value can you bring to them? With this mindset, you're set up to truly take advantage of the platform and make your mark as a creator.
The journey is going to be challenging, and it will require time and sacrifice. But if you're passionate about it, like I was, you'll find that it's incredibly rewarding.
I’d also say, start now and be consistent with it. Trust your gut and put the work in, because you have no idea where it might lead you.
It's easy to look back and wonder what if - what if I started in 2013 and just kept at it? What if I invested in Bitcoin at the right time? But dwelling on the past doesn't do anything for you. Instead, focus on what you can do in the now.
As for where content creation is headed, I believe traditional TV is making way for a new era of content creation. We're starting to see more game shows and reality shows shift to a more content-focused format, like Mr. Beast's recently announced deal with Amazon.
This trend is just going to continue, especially with platforms like YouTube and Netflix leading the way. So my advice would be to get in now, as I really believe we're at the beginning stages of a massive shift in the way we consume media.
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