Working with a contractor who gets your vision is rare — but when it happens? It changes everything. Here’s how I went from Q-tips on Instagram to a YouTube channel that brings in paying members — and the video editor who helped me make it happen.

It started with Q-tips — quick tech hacks I shared on Instagram.

They were a hit. Easy to make, super shareable, and high engagement. People loved them. I loved creating them.
But like everything else on Instagram… things changed.

Reach dropped. Algorithm drama. And suddenly, I found myself thinking — “what if I brought this energy over to YouTube?”

Spoiler: any platform you choose is going to take dedication.
But what I learned quickly is that YouTube gives you a faster return on your effort — if you have a real strategy.

At first, I didn’t.

I posted a few “tech and systems” videos. I even uploaded a full Scribe playlist. One of them — Scribe vs. Tango — started climbing (4K+ views and counting). But I wasn’t taking the platform seriously. I had no funnel. No conversion strategy. No email list growth. I was just… playing.

Then everything shifted.

I made a decision to pivot my business and go all-in on helping Online Business Managers.
And when I looked around, here’s what I saw:

• A bunch of fluffy programs that sounded good but didn’t deliver

• Coaches who taught theory but skipped the execution

• And OBMs who were still confused about what this role actually is

That’s when it clicked.
YouTube would be the “what.”
My community would be the “how.”

But to make that happen, I’d need to treat my channel like a business asset — not a hobby.

And I knew the person who could help me do that: Ericka, of Wax Design Lab

Why I Hired Her (And Why I Still Work With Her)

YouTube is that girl — but only when you treat her right. I didn’t need just an editor. I needed someone who could:

• Help me align my goals and my channel with a bigger vision

• Do SEO research and optimize videos so people actually found them

• Make my OBM-focused content (which isn’t the sexiest) fun to watch

• Coach me on how to show up as me — not as some overly polished robot

• Make my videos convert, not just collect views

Ericka did all of that and more.

The Onboarding That Set the Tone

By the way, Ericka's onboarding backend was Chef's kiss from the initial payment, contract signing, intake form (which was helpful not long-winded) the systems, I needed, the portals she needed - I felt guided and I loved this.

From the jump, it wasn’t “send me your footage and I’ll cut it.” Ericka asked:

• “What are your goals for the channel?”

• “Where do you want this content to lead people?”

• “How many videos can you realistically post a month?”

We set a target of 8 videos per month. (Reality check: that month I got to 4. I was doing too damn much.)

But those 4 foundational videos changed everything:

🎥 How to Become an Online Business Manager (with no experience in 2025)
🎥 Online Business Managers vs Virtual Assistant (what's the difference?)

🎥 What is an Online Business Manager?

🎥 How to Price Your Services as an OBM

These weren’t just videos. They became assets — evergreen pieces of content that still drive leads and sales today.

The Results That Speak for Themselves

Here’s what happened after just 90 days of working together — with some plain-English context for the non-data folks:

Subscriber Growth: +625%

I started with just 12 subscribers. After 90 days of working with Ericka, I hit 87 — a 625% increase. (We're at 120+ now, and I’ve only posted 15 videos!)

What that means: More people finding my content, staying for it, and choosing to follow me because it felt valuable and professional.

YouTube Search Ranking: Top 3 for OBM Keywords

My videos now show up on the first page for terms like “Online Business Manager,” “OBM vs VA,” and “How to Price OBM Services.” And even ChatGPT is recommending my videos to others that don't even know me. Wanna see the research we did on this. Watch Ericka's video here.

What that means: New OBMs searching for help? They find me. Not by accident — by Ericka’s keyword strategy.

Below is a video of me showing up in ChatGPT.

Watch Time per Video: 104.3 Hour Increase (and still climbing)

Before working with Ericka, my total watch time sat at 121.3 hours. After just 90 days together, it jumped to 225.6 hours — that’s an increase of over 104 hours, organically.

Below is an image of my "before" working with Ericka for my Watch time.

Below is an image of my "after" working with Ericka for my Watch time.

What that means: Her edits, pacing, and visuals keep folks watching longer — which tells the YouTube algorithm, “Hey, this video is worth showing to more people.” That’s the power of optimization, editing, and real strategy — not just posting to post.

Leads from YouTube? Constant.

My last 8 paid community members came directly from YouTube. They watched a video, clicked to book a free OBM discovery call, and converted. YouTube has become my #1 traffic generator for my website. I'm so happy I don't have to do the stanky leg on Instagram to see sales.

What that means: The content works even when I’m asleep. This funnel runs 24/7.

What Can’t Be Measured (But Matters Just as Much)

Here’s the thing: You can’t always quantify things like:

• Critical thinking

• Proactive attitude

• Eye for detail

• The "I’ll think for you so you don’t have to" energy

But if you’ve ever worked with a contractor who needed you to lead every step — you know how rare this is. Trust me, I've tried the Fiverr contractors - the ones who can edit your videos quickly but still need you to hold their hand. The ones where you feel you still need to be the guidance on telling them how to do their job. Working with Ericka was a breath of fresh air.

• She decides where to cut, zoom, add effects.

• She makes judgment calls when things feel “off.”

• Ericka chooses the music (you may think this is small, but try doing this yourself-major time suck!!)

• She asks questions before it becomes a problem.

• She made me better on camera. She made my brand sharper. She made my content watchable.

• And most importantly: she never made me feel like I had to be perfect.

I wasn’t a YouTuber. I was just a girl with a message. And she helped me show up as myself — not as a scripted, hyper-polished version of who I thought I had to be.

Long story short, hire somebody who does a lil bit more than edits and post your video.

If you’re skimming, here’s what you need to know:

• I went from posting to post ➝ to building a lead-generating, authority-building platform — with Ericka’s help.

• My subscriber count grew by +625% in 3 months.

• My videos now rank on Page 1 for OBM-related keywords.

• My watch time increased by over 100 hours, meaning more people are watching and staying.

• My last 8 paid community members came from YouTube directly.

• Ericka didn’t just edit — she strategized, coached, optimized, and owned her role.

• The soft skills? Unmatched. She’s proactive, detail-obsessed, and makes me look good without me lifting a finger.

Hire her before her calendar fills up.
Because when people figure out what she really brings to the table? It’s a wrap.

Want the full story? Scroll back up and take notes — or Check out my YouTube Channel to see the results in real time.

Thank you so much for reading!

Keep up the momentum with one or more of these next steps:

📊 Hire Ericka for YouTube Video Editing Services. Better do this before her Spring slots are filled: Get all the details for her packages and services here. 

📣 Sharing helps spread the word, and you’ll look like a total genius when someone receives this blog recommendation from you. + Posts are formatted to be easy to read and share.

📲 Hang out with me on another platform. I’m on Instagram, Youtube, and Threads. Don’t be afraid to say hello if you hang out on any of those. DM me and say hello.

📬 Sign up for the Back Office Blueprint Community and Directory. My YouTube channel gives you the "what" this community gives you the "how" and you'll get everything you need to start your online business management business in one location. Get more details on the community here.