A lot of people still don't get the correct meaning of "Vlogging". Vlogging means sharing your own experience. Everyone has his unique way of telling his stories. Utilize this thing and create a strong connection with your audience. Make your audience feel like that you're a part of their life. If you can make it happen, you'll be a successful creator.


Tell us about your background and journey.

I'm Araf Intisar Dipto. I'm 23 years old and currently studying Engineering at AUST. Traveling works like "Oxygen" for me. Whenever I get time, I pack my bags and go out to explore the unseen. I never took any financial support from my family to travel since I always tried to be self-sufficient. My journey as a "Travel Content Creator" started in 2019. Also, I'm working to establish a digital tour agency known as "TourHobe." So basically, now I'm a Content Creator and an Entrepreneur.


When did you first decide that you wanted to create content and how did you start?

When I first bought my camera, I didn't know that I would make travel content. I was planning to shoot some random videos to save my memory. But after purchasing the camera, I went to Meghalaya on a road trip with my friends and shot all the moments I experienced. 

After getting back to Bangladesh, I edited the videos, posted them onto YouTube, and got massive audience responses. Though my only intention was to save my memories, somehow it turned out as a "Travel Vlog," and I got labelled as a "Travel Vlogger" by the audience. This was the starting, and then I travelled to so many places all over Bangladesh and India and made some fantastic memories and some amazing content. The audience liked my travelling videos so much that I crossed 100K Subscriber Milestone within one year, and probably this was the fastest 100K for any Bangladeshi travel vlogger.



Is vlogging and YouTube content creation a financially sustainable career?

Look, Vlogging and Youtubing is a creative field. However, like all other creative fields, this needs passion and dedication too. But, if someone continues to post regularly, maintaining quality, this field can bring great opportunity for his financial state. Also, PR packages and Sponsorship proposals are some of the most significant revenue streams for content creators. For example, I've earned more from this content creation field in a month than I would have earned if I did any conventional job. 

Yet, for a fact, there are barely a handful of people who even consider vlogging as a full-time opportunity. It is primarily because of the lack of resources and brands that would help them be groomed appropriately. Nonetheless, just like most digital shifts, this too will have many of our citizens accepting it and embracing it. After all, who would not like to explore the world from the edge of their chairs?



Who is your favorite creator, and why?


My Favourite creator is "Lost LeBlanc." I've been following him since 2017. The way he makes his videos feels like I'm traveling with him and experiencing all the activities he's doing. This feeling of mine connected me with him as a loyal audience. 

He inspired me in such a way that whenever I make travel content and talk to the camera, it feels like I'm talking with my audience. So naturally, whatever I do, I try to reflect them through my lens so that audience can get that "Raw feelings."



How and where do you find inspiration to churn out content?

I've my theory for this! This theory is called "SST," which stands for "Self Satisfaction Theory." So the thing is, whenever I create any content, I create that for myself, not for the audience. This self-satisfaction helped me to create better content. But, of course, the audience also plays a massive role in inspiring a content creator. 

Whenever I get positive comments from my viewers, it inspires me to deliver them better content. Sometimes we get bullied by some people, but I always remember the excellent audience over the lousy audience.



What does your typical day look like?

Usually, I'm not a morning person. I wake up late and have a cup of coffee. After that, I watch some random content on YouTube while having my Brunch. Then I work sometimes, and after finishing them, I go out and meet my friends. After coming back from the hangout, I have my dinner and start working again. 

I usually edit my videos at midnight because I think that time my creative mind works well. I like that calm environment for my video editing mood. Then I go back to sleep at 4 or 5 am. This is what my typical day looks like.



Which is your favorite book and why?

To understand my favorite book, you'll have to understand me first. Look, I'm the kind of person who loves to take risks and loves to push himself to the edge. From the very beginning of my adulthood, I've always believed "Ideas are easy. Implementation is hard." So the books related to self-development always inspire me.

The name of my favorite book is - "Zero to One." This book talks about building a company from nothing to something and explains the entire journey during this process. It gives you an adrenaline rush to get out there and start something from the ideas that you absorb.



What piece of advice would you like to give to future and aspiring creators?

I think I'm not capable enough right now to advise the future creators. I still have a lot to learn for myself. Despite that, I would share some suggestions for them which I should have followed a long time ago.

Firstly you'll have to be very disciplined if you want to post regular content but always choose quality over quantity. A lot of people still don't get the correct meaning of "Vlogging". Vlogging means sharing your own experience. Everyone has his unique way of telling his stories. Utilize this thing and create a strong connection with your audience. Make your audience feel like that you're a part of their life. If you can make it happen, you'll be a successful creator.

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Interviewed by - Saba Parveen