For over eight years, Maksim Sulimau has been creating new channels, expanding his audience, and building a following around the world. He now has 3.5 million subscribers in more than 150 countries. How did he achieve this? The fact is that he creates content in 12 of the world’s most widely spoken languages, including Russian, English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Hindi. By doing so, he has been able to reach audiences from multiple continents. These are certainly impressive results.
Hi Max – I’m glad you agreed to do this interview. I can only imagine the kind of schedule you have, as managing more than a dozen YouTube channels seems a fantastic feat. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey?
Hi, of course – I’d be happy to share and tell you all about my experience. Eight years ago, I had the idea to create a YouFact channel where I could share noteworthy information, facts, and stories. At the time, I had very few competitors, so I decided to move forward with it immediately. I was a pioneer in the CIS countries and experimented with different methods. And now, after eight years, I have over a dozen channels covering a wide array of topics, with a total audience of 3.5 million people.
What was the biggest obstacle to becoming a blogger?
Probably the hardest thing was convincing my loved ones that what I was doing was not just a hobby, but a serious job and even a business.
How do you make money from YouTube?
It’s actually quite simple. Everyone has seen the ads that appear at the beginning of a video or the banner that pops up while you’re watching it. These are ads, and you make money by displaying them on your YouTube channel. I also have contracts with global brands, which is another significant source of my income. For instance, recently I signed a contract with Best Buy and that is a big leap forward for me. In 2023 my plan is to work with some of the biggest brands in the United States.
You have 12 channels. How do you manage to keep up with everything?
I am not doing it all alone. I have several teams working on different projects. For instance, my team of twelve people is responsible for creating long videos on YouTube. Another team of four people is in charge of creating short videos on social media platforms. A third team is responsible for developing the mobile application. For smaller projects, I create smaller teams.
How did you find your team?
We have been working with most of the team members for many years. They all came to us through a rigorous screening and interview process. These are people who have proven themselves and whom we can trust.
What new projects are underway?
At the moment, my partners and I work on launching a mobile shopping app called Sharky. It is designed to disrupt the U.S. market with its functionality and efficiency. It will help users save time and money while shopping. I am proud of this high-quality product.
You’ve been invited to be a judge at the Miami Film Festival. How does it feel?
To be honest, I am overwhelmed with pride. I am proud of my business, my team and myself. Being invited to events of such level is a testament to the success of YouFact because it means that my brand is well-known and that I am considered a credible judge for video content creators.
A piece of advice from Maksim Sulimau for aspiring youtubers?
Start now! If you’ve been considering it, don’t wait too long to begin your journey. Do what you are passionate about and strive to do it better than anyone else. I highly encourage people to pursue YouTube as a career because the platform is truly legendary, it has changed lives and brought success to thousands of people.