Cars. Content. Chaos: Social Media Influence, Influencers, and The Influenced

Success in social media content creation, particularly in the automotive space, relies on a combination of intentional strategies, continuous adaptation, and a genuine connection to the content and community.

Key strategies and adaptations for success include:

• Authentic Content Creation:

  • Leverage Existing Interests: Begin by filming what you are already doing and genuinely interested in, such as working on unique cars in your garage.

  • Aim for Uniqueness: Instead of copying popular creators, strive to develop your own distinct style and approach.

  • Focus on Genuine Content: Produce content that is authentic and avoid being a "shill" or creating "disgusting content". Strive to keep content "family safe" or "family adjacent".

  • Storytelling and Visual Appeal: Plan shots carefully to create engaging visuals, such as "beauty shots" that provide a sense of "gratification" for viewers. Audio quality is also "super important" and can make or break a video.

  • Embrace the Process: Recognize that creating a single strong automotive video requires "big strides" and an "amazing amount of work," especially when rescuing, starting, or driving a car long distances.

• Personal Development and Adaptation:

  • Develop Public Speaking Skills: Work extensively on being comfortable speaking to the camera, sharing thoughts, and expressing personality, even if you are naturally introverted. Creating content in your "comfort zone" like a garage can help with this.

  • Listen to Your Audience: Pay attention to viewer feedback and be willing to "pivot" your content if segments of your audience are not engaged with certain themes or practices, such as frequently washing cars.

  • Adapt to Real-World Challenges: Be prepared for external pressures, like neighbor complaints impacting your ability to work on cars at home, and find ways to maintain content consistency despite these challenges. This may involve seeking alternative work or storage spaces.

• Community Engagement and Monetization:

  • Strategic Audience Interaction: While the YouTube comment section is popular, engage with your community through various mediums like Instagram, email, and Facebook groups, but be selective about how you post to avoid getting "lost in the jumbled up mix" of social media.

  • Foster a Supportive Community: Appreciate monetary contributions from channel members, which can significantly help fund projects. Also, acknowledge and utilize non-monetary support, such as tools and parts sent by viewers.

  • Build Networks: Create opportunities for enthusiasts to connect, such as by making project cars available for sale to viewers, which helps fund the channel and supports the community.

  • Prioritize Community Well-being: Genuinely care about the community you're a part of and contribute positively to its culture.

• Philosophical Approach to Content Creation:

  • Personal Fulfillment Over Clout: The most important takeaway is to "do whatever you're doing for you" to make yourself happy, rather than chasing clout or money. Align yourself with others who share similar goals of personal happiness.

  • Treat it as a Business (for Automotive Content): If creating automotive content, it's advisable to treat it like a business: avoid getting "attached to the cars," use them for content, and then sell them to fund the next project. This helps manage the "extremely expensive" nature of the hobby in terms of time and money.

  • Live Lowkey: Don't build or modify cars to impress others or to appear wealthy. Instead, build what you genuinely like, live within your means, and maintain a "lowkey" approach.

  • Embrace Inclusivity: Encourage diverse participation in your community, welcoming all types of vehicles and enthusiasts, focusing on "enjoying the vibe" rather than strict rules or flashiness.

While YouTube is often considered a social media platform, some creators, like Dean, view it more as an "old school" platform for sharing videos rather than a space dominated by the "influencer personality" often seen on other social media platforms. He notes that YouTube has evolved into more of an "ad platform" with "super polished production value" compared to its early days.