0 subscribers in 2026 - can I make it?
Yes, you’ve read that right. I am starting a Youtube channel in 2026, as a 34 year old mum who recently moved from the UK to Serbia - and I am quite sure no one will watch it.
In a world of fast paced/high volume short form videos and carousels filled with curated scrapbook style photography - Youtube may be a dying platform. The field is saturated with millennials (like myself) quick to give advice on anything and everything. Everyone seems to be an expert in their field.
Long gone are the days where you pick up a camera and talk. The audience expects a well executed cinema style vlog, or high paced instructional content filled with creative animations, or even a professionally lit podcast with well-known guests.
That expectation is extremely intimidating and genuinely makes you think - Why bother?
~~~But maybe, that doesn’t even matter!~~~
See, Our Balkan Diary started as an idea as I was moving to the balkans. I claimed the handle and domain and it stayed as a place holder…until now. I have posted a few images and videos here and there, with a few catching traction. However, the thought of real people actually seeing our life and therefore judging it, honestly sucked the fun out of creating.
The FEAR
The main obstacle when starting social media is fear…
of FAILURE
JUDGEMENT
being LIKEABLE
of not being PERFECT
being BORING.
So, we didn’t post
Until now!
We have re-focused and reminded ourselves why we started this - not for others, but for ourselves. To document our journey. Because let’s be honest our story is pretty unique - we met on the internet, lived over 1000 miles apart for nearly 2 years, we have 2 failed attempts at uniting in other countries. I left behind a job I loved, sold my house and relocated with my son (who is now thriving and speaks better Serbian than me!).
When we were moving countries and trying to gain information on visa applications or even what life is like in the Balkans, there was not much available. I know there are many assumptions about this part of the world and I have been blown away by the beauty and hospitality of the people.
We also felt we could help those living in long distance relationships and give hope that it isn’t what forever looks like. We also thought people would find it fun to see how it is to learn a foreign language - real time (as a normal person and not some genius polyglot). Also, we have started the adventure of buying a home and are very sure any like minded adults would be interested in seeing the renovation on a balkan home.
It was actually great to take some time, really come of up with our focuses and create a ‘content strategy’. Ergh, I cringe as I say it. But we are doing this for fun, a creative outlet and genuinely hope we can help others. We want to share our experience as a record or ‘diary’ for ourselves to look back on and really wish for others to learn from our many mistakes to take the leap to create the life they have always dreamed of.
As we say around here “life slow - achieve dreams”.
This is the start of us tentatively dipping our toes in creating content - wish us luck!
If that sounds like your bag, click on the socials to follow our journey. Feel free to watch the video above and we hope to see drop by again.
