Alternative uses of YouTube

August 2, 2010 - 12:00 pm

Tired of watching singing puppies and people falling over?  We explore how you can learn new skills and even kick-start a career using YouTube 

Self help how-tos 

Aside from entertainment, YouTube has hidden gems of skills you can learn from experts. Ever wanted a celeb make-up make over or to learn how to trim your hair?   How about saving a packet on gym membership with video workouts from professional personal trainers at your fingertips?  There’s an added bonus of constant updates so you won’t get exercise video fatigue or bored with your routine either. 

Maybe beauty isn’t your bag.  Check out videos of how to do useful DIY house bits like fixing a shelf or grow your own veg with gardening gurus.  Focusing on the less physical, why not learn a new way of communicating, practice a foreign language before jetting off on holiday, or take up sign language…handy! 

Business building 

Lauren Luke is one of YouTube’s biggest success stories.  After jacking in her regular job in 2007 to sell make-up on eBay, the 27-year-old from South Shields started filming make-up tutorials in her bedroom, after being pestered for beauty advice and make-up looks. 

From little acorns grow great oaks.  Since starting filming celeb look-alike make-up vids, home grown talent Lauren Luke has attracted over 34m hits with no formal training as a make-up artist at all.  

Her hard work paid off when make-up brand Barry M offered her the chance to create her own exclusive looks with their products.  Since then, the Lauren Luke brand has gone from strength to strength with her own make-up line and her own column in the prestigious Guardian Newspaper. 

Fame Game 

As well as boosting careers, YouTube has created stars and viral phenomena including a host of hit adverts such as Evian’s viral babies and bizarre global success stories like the Mentos Mint and Coca Cola experiment.  The popular video site has also churned out its first video star- Brooke ‘Brookers’ Brodack, who was snapped up by film content provider Carson Daly.  

 Brookers was spotted thanks to her unique videos, including Zuma, a spoof of a Romanian boy band video that earned her over 1m views.  

So whether it’s fame or fortune you’re after…or just hints from experts to make your life a little easier or diversify your skills, there’s lots more to YouTube than cute animals and silly pranks. 

Let us know your fav uses for YouTube!