VidCon 2019 is just a few days away and thousands of creators, publishers, brands and fans are set to gather for what promises to be the best celebration of online video ever.

While the Creator and Community Tracks are a fantastic fit for creators and their audience, the Industry Track focuses on those professionals who create, produce, publish, distribute, and monetize online video for brands and publishers and is packed with strategic advice and actionable takeways.

Every workshop, panel, discussion and fireside chat is aimed at entertaining and informing one of the most exciting and fast-growing industries in the world.

For VidCon10 we've picked out 10 panels, sessions, workshops and keynotes that we believe vidIQ users with Industry Track tickets will find enormous value in attending.

 for the rest of the sessions available between the 10th and 13th of July 2019.

10 Industry Track Sessions You Shouldn't Miss: VidConUS 2019

Industry Keynote - YouTube Sparks Opportunity

For the past few years, YouTube has made some major announcements from the stage at VidCon about features which have changed the way the platform operates. This year Neal Mohan, YouTube's Chief Product Officer, and other YouTube creators, take to the Headliner stage as they discuss new product updates and other developments for the platform. Get a seat early, because YouTube keynotes are always packed out!

Why Small Screens Dictate Big Creative Decisions

One of the biggest frustrations for online video creatives is the demands of varying screen sizes which dictate different shots and cuts needed for every video platform. However, Robert John Davis, Head of Digital for Ogilvy US, is in a very unique position to discuss a few tricks of the trade for creating effective videos, and will prove that smart creative strategies will lead to lower production costs, but much more flexible video assets.

Advanced SEO Strategies to Drive Viewership and Rankings

Did you know that 2% of Google searches end up with a user clicking on a video that answers their question? Do you need some advanced SEO Strategies to take advantage of that opportunity to help dramatically increase your own video views? Join Justin Briggs for a must-attend session where you'll learn the tricks of the trade for increasing the views your video gets because it was returned in a Google search. Every creator, brand, and publisher needs to understand SEO for both Google, and for YouTube, and this session is a great place to start.

Screw Viral: How to A/B Test Your Creative to Perform for the Long Haul

Industry professionals will know the Harmon Brothers from their extraordinary advertising videos which have gone super viral. Campaigns like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, Purple, Poo-Pourri (see below), and Lume have set the standard for viral marketing, but the Harmon Brothers leave nothing to chance, exhaustively testing not only titles, thumbnails, but a wide range of other factors. In this workshop, Daniel Harmon will teach you how to A/B test your creative strategy so it performs for you in both the short, and the long term.

Creator Star Power: How to Break Through to a New Audience

How can brands leverage creator insights from the most successful YouTube influencers to help drive views and engagements for their campaigns? We all know that influencer marketing can be a difficult terrain to navigate but on this panel, the opportunities for brands to lean into YouTube trends and build up strong and productive partnerships with some of the most influential YouTubers will be discussed. If you're a brand, or an influencer, this will be a must-attend session.

The Insights Every Creator Needs to Know: Attracting, Retaining + Monetizing Audiences

In this session, industry professionals will have a front row seat as top executives from Nielsen reveal a true data-driven look at what makes successful video content succeed. With the biggest dataset in the world, Nielsen will be able to confirm what kind of videos are captivating viewers, and how to convert those views and engagements into solid business revenue.

The popularity of podcasts has sky-rocketed in recent years, and many marketers and other creatives are embracing them as part of their overall distribution strategy. Not only do they have a relatively low barrier to entry, they are also a very effective way for building audience engagement. Join VidCon founder Hank Green, plus executives from WNYC Studios, and the Ramble Network, for a discussion on the current state of podcasts, and podcasting culture. Oh, and don't forget to check out vidIQ's very own podcast for the online video industry, 

Stand Out on Instagram: Best Practices Every Creator Needs to Know

Instagram, with over 1 Billion users, is one of the most popular platforms for creators, brands, and publishers to connect with their audience. Besidone Amoruwa, strategic partner manager of Beauty, Lifestyle and Gaming on Instagram’s Emerging talent team, will be at the Industry Track to talk about all things Insta. She'll be discussing the latest product features for creators, as well as giving us a wealth of tips for building success on the site.

Measuring Branded Content Success on Social

Shareablee are back to the Industry Track for another round of killer insights into the value of social video. What makes advertisers take notice of your content, and how to really prove ROI are just some of the topics that Tania Yuki, Shareablee CEO and Founder will discuss.

Influencer marketing is a major strategy for a huge number of brands in 2019. But which influencers drive massive views and engagement, and which can prove a turn-off for that brand's target audience? World-class expert Cassie Roma shines a bright light on the influencer industry to help brands create the most impactful strategy when it comes to collaborating with influencers.

If you want to take your YouTube channel to the next level and 

 then make sure to download vidIQ. It will help you research YouTube, analyze videos, audit your own channel, and take actionable steps 

VidCon 10 logo with event details and colorful shapes, Anaheim CA, July 2019

VidCon celebrates its 10th birthday this week, so let's take a look at the top 10 must-attend sessions at the Industry Track.

VidCon 2019: 10 Industry Track Sessions You'll Want a Front Row Seat For

VidConUS kicks off on the 10th of July 2019, and it promises to be the most entertaining, informative, and educational yet. We've already given you our pick of the 

10 Community Track sessions you shouldn't miss

, and now we bring you 10 of the must-attend panels and workshops from the Creator Track.

The vidIQ experts will be out in force (don't forget to check out our booth!) covering a range of topics from ranking in search to creating 

 that drive CTR, to understanding video velocity - you won't want to miss those sessions. We've picked out another seven that we feel will be hugely valuable to any creator. Check out the full 

10 Creator Track Sessions You Shouldn't Miss: VidConUS 2019

Matching Your Videos with Search: The YouTube Secret Revealed

The man behind vidIQ, CEO Rob Sandie, will discuss the impact that answering the questions that people are asking on YouTube can have on your channel. If you hit the sweet spot it can be a game-changer and drive significant views and subscribers your way. Rob will give you his top secrets for ranking on search so this is one session you'll want to be in the front row for.

Understand Views Per Hour: Why Velocity Matters

Star of vidIQ's YouTube channel, Rob Wilson, takes to the stage to discuss why it REALLY matters how fast you get views and engagement for new videos on YouTube. He's going to take you on a journey about video velocity, and you're going to pick up a ton of actionable takeaways to apply to your YouTube channel that day.

Jeremy Vest, the Director of Marketing here at vidIQ is one of the biggest experts in the world when it comes to custom thumbnails. In this workshop he's going to share his thumbnail secrets that have helped his clients get billions of views on YouTube! He'll confirm the importance of emotion, branding, and visual storytelling so creators can achieve the highest CTR possible for their content. We're biased, but this session really is a must-attend for all YouTube creators.

Beating the Grind Without Losing Your Mind

Burnout is a real concern for creators and influencers, but how do you find that work/life balance when you have targets to meet? Drawing from years of work with creators, mental health professionals, & community managers, among others, Kat Lo will discuss the common pitfalls creators face and how to build a realistic strategy for self-care.

Viral YouTuber Ash Blodgett knows the difference between having the next viral hit and building an engaged and dedicated audience. In this session she'll break down the stategies you need to achieve your online video goals.

Gaming content is one of the biggest verticals on YouTube right now which means it's also one of the most crowded and competitive. Alex from LowSpecGamer will walk you through how to build a strategy for growth so you find your niche and find your voice on Gaming YouTube.

How to Make Money as a Creator and Keep It

Devin Weber, VP of Operations at Braille Skateboarding, is an expert at the financial side of being a YouTuber (check out her 

). In this session, she'll be giving the audience solid-gold tips on subjects such as as taxes, savings, and health insurance, and bringing them up to speed on financial management.

Trying to grow your YouTube channel but not sure where to start or what to do? The team behind YouTube Studio will be here to teach you how to evaluate your YouTube performance and how to become your own expert growth hacker.

The awesome Matt and Stephanie Patrick always bring incredible value to creators at VidCon, and this session will be no different. They are going to guide you through data analytics and what it means to translate those numbers into actual strategy.

Be Copy(right) and Maximize Your Content Creation

Copyright issues can be a minefield - both for the creator seeking to use images or music under fair use, and for the licence holders behind that I.P. Join a panel of experts who will take a deep dive into understanding copyright so you can be one step ahead to making a living out of being a full time content creator.

VidCon 2019 logo with event dates July 10-13, digital video conference branding image

VidConUS kicks off on the 10th of July 2019! We bring you 10 of the best panels and workshops for the Creator Track that you shouldn't miss if you're serious about YouTube.

VidCon 2019: 10 Creator Track Sessions You Need to Attend

 has always been the flagship convention for YouTube fans and creators, but with the explosion of interest in other video platforms like Facebook and Instagram, it’s now a must-attend event for anyone passionate about online video. The event is split into three different tracks - Industry, Creator, and Community.

 is for those interested in everything online video, including the culture, the content and, of course, the creators. It's a chance for viewers to take a deep-dive into everything YouTube and beyond. There are over 125 Community Track panels, Q&A’s, parties, and meet-ups in total between 

. In no particular order, these are our 10 stand-out sessions from the Community Track, but check out the full 

10 Community Track Sessions You Shouldn't Miss: VidConUS 2019

Want to know how the top creators keep on top of, or even ahead of, the very latest content trends? This looks like a fascinating discussion that any video creator at VidCon will want to attend. Keeping an eye on Internet trends will give you a head start on your competitors so don't miss it!

The incredibly exciting thing about online video is that the barriers to entry are super low. That means that there's a constant stream of new creators coming through and taking the space by storm. VidCon is shining on spotlight on 5 creators you should be aware of, as they discuss the success they have found in the past year.

Has there ever been a more creative or inspiring time to be a beauty creator? The Community Track is bringing together some of the most innovative make-up artists online right now as they discuss their talents and skills. This is an absolutely must-attend session for any aspiring MUA looking to create video content around their expertise online. The awesome Mykie from Glam&Gore is just one of the creators taking part:

Have you ever turned to YouTube to recreate a dish or dessert you've seen on TV or in a movie? Join a host of chefs who had the same idea, and have turned their content into billions of views and engagements. If you have a passion for food or cooking, join this session as the experts discuss their ideas for creating, or replicating, some of the most iconic recipes in pop culture.

Your Life Online and Off: Privacy and Finding the Balance

We have created a culture of sharing our lives online - but how much is too much to share? Are you very clear about your own boundaries or are you happy to be an open book? This very important session will discuss where many creators draw the line and how they have established what is, and isn't, off limits.

Harassment is a very real issue for many online video creators, and this session discusses the strategies that have been developed and practiced to cope with online abuse. This will be a very enlightening and supportive session for any creators (and viewers) who want to keep a safe online presence.

Animation content is huge on YouTube and other online video platforms, and the community is one of the tightest and most supportive around. Join some of the top animation creators as they discuss collaborations and other ways of working together. SomeThingElseYT is one of the featured panellists:

One of the many incredible achievements of VidCon has been the ability to bring people together to celebrate everything online video. Whether it's your first time at the Community Track, or you're a veteran of the event, the feeling of finding your "tribe" is unforgettable. This panel discusses how they found their people, and built a strong community around their content.

I Build; You Build: Let's Build a Discussion Together

Science plus entertainment is a winning combination, and online video has given many creators the opportunity to show off their wildly creative inventions to billions of people via YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and other platforms. Join the names behind the Glitter Bomb Trap, Remote Control Shopping Cart, and the Tomatoes in Salad Remover Robot, as they discuss what it takes to be an inventor/creator in online video.

Our last pick is a panel that addresses one of the most pressing issues facing video creators in modern culture - that of burn-out. Creators who can talk openly about the difficulties they have faced, or are experiencing right now, have a positive impact on the community and help to move the conversation forward. This session will include actionable takeaways that creators can put into practice.

VidCon celebrates its 10th birthday this year, and it promises to be the best and biggest event yet. We take a look at the must-attend sessions for VidCon's Community Track.

VidCon 2019: 10 Community Track Sessions You Shouldn't Miss

Making content around video games on YouTube has to be some of the most fun you can have on the platform, but getting discovered, maybe not so much.

It's not going to be as easy as hitting record on your next Minecraft building session or wiping the floor with everybody in Fortnite. So the purpose of this post is to help you get discovered on YouTube playing games in 2020.

6 Tips for Starting a Gaming Channel on YouTube

But even if you don't have a gaming channel, don't fret because a lot of this advice I can be applied to several different genres of video on YouTube!

#1 Gaming Channels on YouTube: Find YOUR Niche

Let's first discuss the types of gaming content getting discovered in gaming in 2020. In order to figure that out, we have to ask ourselves, well, what is YouTube? Ultimately, YouTube is a search engine. Now, that may seem obvious, but have you ever made a video titled Bob plays Minecraft episode 12? That's what I'm talking about. Nobody is going to search for the words Bob plays Minecraft episode 12, and the next thing we have to ask ourselves is, well, what are we doing with search engines?

And the answer is answering questions. Whenever we think of something we need to know, we type it into YouTube and try and find a video that's going to answer that question or cover that need. Perhaps it's just to find something funny to watch to get you through your lunch break. With that in mind, the types of content that I want you to be focused on when trying to get discovered in gaming on YouTube would be tips and tricks, reviews, tutorials. Like this one:

Cover a glitch that you found in a game or an Easter egg that you found. Maybe nobody else has found it. The next time the game you're playing has some DLC that drops, pick it up right away, review it, and let people know if they should spend their money on it. Maybe you bought it and it was a terrible mistake, but that's a great video right there.

If you're struggling to come up with ideas on what you could be covering around your game, check out 

. Type a search in for the game you're playing, and see what people are watching in real-time. What videos are getting the most views right now?

Not only will this help you figure out what your competition's doing, but it'll also help you figure out what questions people may be asking about your game which brings me to the second topic we need to cover, and that is focusing your channel on just one game.

The best thing you can do for your channel is to become an authority on the game you're playing. If you like to play Call of Duty, then you need to be making Call of Duty videos so YouTube views you as the Call of Duty authority. The more videos you make on one game, the more data YouTube has to focus on when it's trying to figure out what videos to recommend to people when they type in Call of Duty.

Now, for a lot of gaming channels, that's a huge ask. Hey, one game per channel, that's it. If you don't want to make a new channel every time you play a new game I totally understand, and there are plenty of examples of people who didn't have to make a new channel whenever they played a game that they don't normally play. However, I want to stress two things:

One, play a game through and through. Make sure that game is the primary game on your channel at least for a time.

Secondly, when you do finally pivot be sure that the next game you're playing is at least similar to what you were playing before. If you're a Minecraft channel, it'd probably be best if you played another survival, building, crafting game. If you're a Call of Duty channel, it'd be best if you played another first-person shooter. These changes will help you keep your current audience from going and finding somebody else because they already like games similar to the one you're playing.

If you're playing a game that's relatively popular and you're just having some trouble coming up with ideas, maybe check out 

Type in specific channels and see how other people are covering the games that you're covering. Based on how your competitors' videos are doing, you're probably gonna get some good insights into what you should be doing next.

#5 Don’t Upload a Single Gaming Video Without Doing the Work

The next thing we need to address is upload frequency. It is tempting, especially in gaming, to record hours on end of content and break it up into several videos so you have something every single day, and I understand that temptation. However, don't do that.

Since we already have you thinking about making tutorials and reviews, those videos are going to take time, and I would highly recommend spending that time crafting each video to perfection.

, make sure your titles are researched as are your tags and your description. Do the work because that's going to pay off.

Every new video that you post is going to be a new opportunity for somebody new to discover you, so make sure every video is helpful to that end. If you would like to play a game through, make a long-term let's play series, that's okay, but I want you to do that knowing that what you're doing is helping your current audience stay engaged, which there's nothing wrong with doing that, but it does take time away from crafting those more discoverable, searchable videos.

#6 Become an Active Part of the Gaming Community

So, I've told you to stick to one game. Do tutorials, do reviews, and try not to upload ‘Let's Plays’ every single day, but how do we expand and how do we discover different types of content we can make to not only keep our audience engaged, but keep us engaged with the game as well?

And that's where the community comes in around a game. When covering games on YouTube, try to immerse yourself in the community around it. If the game has a modding community, that's great. You can make a video that just kind of showcases different mods every week. If it's a building game like Minecraft, try and find servers that feature amazing builds. Tour them, show people new things they've never seen before.

You'll find once you're discovering different communities within a game that people are creating challenges and playing the game in ways that no one ever imagined. Try to do one of those challenges on your channel or better yet, come up with a way to play your game that no one's thought of before and you make the challenge for someone else to do.

The easiest way to grow any channel on YouTube is to provide value. Although it's tempting to record four hours of gameplay footage and break it up into eight 30-minute videos, that's not going to get you discovered.

Become an expert in your game and answer the questions that people are searching for around it.

 then make sure to download vidIQ. Join over 1 million other users and use vidIQ to help you research YouTube, analyze videos, audit your own channel, and take actionable steps 

And if you’re really serious about growing your YouTube views and subscribers, sign up for exclusive access to the 

 and learn how to launch a successful YouTube Channel in just 30 days.

YouTube gaming logo with Nintendo Switch controllers and "Gaming 2020" text on screen

Ready to start your gaming channel on YouTube? Here are 6 tips to give you a heads up on the competition.

How to Start a Gaming Channel on YouTube

Tax Day is April 15th if you are resident in the US, and If you're lucky enough to make any kind of income from YouTube you have just a few days left to file your personal income tax return including your Schedule C for any self-employed earnings you received in 2019. If you haven’t filed yet, we confirm 10 types of expenses you can deduct if you are a YouTuber in the USA.

We spoke with Devin Weber the VP of Operations for 

. Devin is a Certified Public Bookkeeper and Enrolled Agent with the IRS. She has managed the finances for Braille Skateboarding for 6 years and is one of those rare people who enjoys preparing taxes.

 This post is intended as purely informational. You should always consult a professional tax attorney or CPA if you are unsure about your tax filings.

3 Essential Things to Know About Filing Taxes as a US-based Video Creator

Before we dive into the expenses you can claim as tax-deductible let’s take a look at some essentials that every YouTuber or video creator that’s making a living online should know:

The bottom line is if you earned more than $400 from YouTube in 2018 you need to declare that to the IRS. If your income from YouTube was more than $600 in 2018, Google is legally required to provide you with a 1099 form (

). If you’ve worked with any brands or sponsors as part of a YouTube collaboration or promotion, and you earned more than $600 from those sources, each brand or sponsor will also need to provide you with a 1099 form. Even if they do not provide you with a 1099, you know you earned that money and you should report it as part of your total receipts.

#2 There is No Gray Area for the IRS When it Comes to Declaring Income

According to Devin, far too many people claim tax deductions are a ‘gray area’ but when it comes to the IRS there are absolutely no gray areas, to them it’s “black or white" and while you as a contractor might believe you can slip questionable expenses through, the IRS is not here to play. You better be 100% confident that, if you got audited, you could argue and win the case for that expense. If you don't and you feel like you're getting away with something, don't take that chance.

An IRS audit will shine a spotlight on every part of your financial history, and uncover every penny of unreported income, and every penny of expenses that were really personal rather than business use. That is something you really, really want to avoid.

However, the IRS understands that it costs to live and to run a business as a freelancer, so there are so many deductions they allow you. At the end of the day, it’s foolish to keep any income hidden, as, in most cases, you legitimately can find deductions to balance out the majority of that income.

#3 You Can File an Extension (On Paperwork not Payment)

Filing taxes in the US can be an overwhelming experience and the 

IRS does offer the option to file an extension

 if you need it. However, if you believe you will owe the IRS money on 2018 earnings, you will still need to submit that payment on April 15th 2019 - the extension is simply an extension of time to file, not an extension of time to pay.

10 Tax Deductible Expenses for US YouTubers

For the IRS to recognize a legitimate business expense that qualifies as tax-deductible, it must be classed as both ‘ordinary’ and ‘necessary’. You can find out further information regarding these rules on the 

For any YouTuber, the process of video creation is going to come with some kind of cost, especially if that creator wants to publish content with higher production quality. Even if the creator films with an iPhone (more about that in section 4), the chances are they might progress to a dedicated camera and microphone as well as other hardware. Keep the receipts and as a dedicated video creator, you can absolutely claim back these expenses as tax-deductible.

It’s a super talented creator that can upload every video they make to YouTube without any tweaking or editing. If you invest in a computer that you use to edit and upload, you can claim that purchase as part of your tax-deductible expenses - as long as the main use of that computer is for your business. Yay.

If you create or edit video content from home and have a specific area dedicated to that pursuit (i.e. a desk or a corner of the living room or bedroom), then the IRS will allow you to claim a percentage of your home costs (rent, utilities) against that.

However, it takes some working out to understand what percentage you can claim against. A very simplified example is ff your home is 1,000 square feet and, the space that you use is 100 square feet, well then 10% of all the costs of your home are going to count against your home office. You can find out more about writing off home office expenses in this 

You can legitimately claim against Internet and cell phone costs - but only the business portion of the usage. If a YouTuber buys an iPhone for $1,200 and they use it for personal stuff 40% of the time, and they make and edit their videos and upload them and answer comments 60% of the time then, they can only take 60% of that cost as an expense, not the 100%.

So many business owners make the mistake of taking 100% and that is not correct You will, if you get audited, owe money. Find out more from this 

Running any kind of freelance business carries its own supplies costs, and it’s no different for YouTubers. For instance, alongside cameras, mics, green screens, etc, a science channel may have a legitimate reason to purchase a microscope or lab equipment, while a beauty blogger might need to invest in the latest Jeffree Star palettes or Kylie Jenner lip kits as part of the reviews they upload to YouTube.

Braille Skateboarding not only invests in skateboarding equipment, but they also claim expenses for any props or extra equipment they use in shoots (

For any serious YouTuber, the process of video creation can be costly. However, different creators will have different expenses depending on...almost everything. Luckily, the IRS will let you write off supplies directly related to your business if they are ‘necessary’ and ‘ordinary’ which means that YouTubers shouldn’t be held back in purchasing equipment if it directly relates to them earning a living. Just keep every receipt and confirm on every receipt the video that particular supplies relate to. If you're unlucky enough to be ever audited and the IRS discovers a claim for, say, $300 worth of mascara, you can provide evidence via that video you created around the best mascara brands of 2018 that generated 1.2M views. The IRS will think that’s acceptable.

Office supplies also fall under this category so go ahead and claim that printer and ink, those folders and binder clips, that dry erase board, and that desk and chair.

No matter how talented a video creator you are, there will be some skills you are going to need help with as part of your YouTube journey. You may take on an assistant, or outsource help with editing, social media, costume design, bookkeeping, or 100 other things, and the chances are those businesses or individuals will require payment for their services. The good news is that you can claim against those expenses!

However, just as any company or individual you work with on a freelance basis should legally provide you with a 1099, you need to do the same for your subcontractors if you have paid them over $600 in 2019. Those individuals can then report the income on their own taxes.

Anyone you pay money to as part of being a YouTube creator is a tax-deductible expense for you, but reportable income for them (via a W9 form from them which confirms their name, address, and SSN). Remember, the IRS wants those taxes no matter who it is so if you deduct it and it goes to another person, they better report it.

#7 Travel Expenses (National & International)

There are a huge number of video creators whose sole focus is on publishing content around travel. Naturally, a good deal of expenses may be incurred as part of their business so keeping a very clear record of receipts is vital. There may be other creators who rack up expenses around travel throughout the year and may be able to make these tax-deductible if they can prove that travel was essential to the business of being a YouTube creator.

But beware - here comes one of those gray areas we talked about. To the IRS, there is a VERY clear distinction between business use and personal use when it comes to travel expenses. For instance, if you have a YouTube channel and you fly to Paris and you do an episode about the hidden gem bistro's of Paris as part of a holiday, you need to separate out the business part of it. Say, you are in Paris for 10 days and, for five of them, you're doing filming and business work, then for half of the time is business, and half of the time is fun. You can claim half of the travel expenses (50% of hotel costs, flights, etc) but you cannot claim for the whole trip if the whole trip is not dedicated to business.

Also note, the IRS only gives you a 50% tax deduction on meals and entertainment so, if you spend $100 on food, you're only going to get a deduction of $50. Again, check with your CPA if you are unsure, these are only guidelines.

#8 Local Travel Expenses Related to YouTube Business

Did you know that if you travel locally on YouTube business - say, to a coffee shop to do some editing, or to Target to pick up supplies - you can claim local transportation expenses? Not only can you claim on the mileage (currently at 55 cents per mile but this differs every year), but if you keep your receipt, you can also claim for any parking expenses. Any local travel expenses incurred, even toll charges can be tax-deductible if you keep proof of payment.

#9 Subscription & Software Licencing Fees

If you are signed up for any subscription services or pay license fees for software or other items directly related to your business, then you can also claim these as tax-deductible. For instance, if you’re a beauty blogger, and you have a regular subscription to a beauty magazine, you can claim against that.

Again, it’s up to you to prove to the IRS that any licenses or subscriptions you list have a direct impact on your business. The subscription had better tie into the way that you're making income, and you need to be honest about the money you’ve spent in order to make an income from YouTube. And, if you can show that it was, you're good. Some examples of the type of expenses you can claim for include:

You can also claim against bank fees incurred as part of running your YouTube Channel which includes expenses like Wire transfers, or if you pay a monthly fee for a business bank account, or incur PayPal charges. If you sell merch, you can also claim postage and packaging expenses, and if you have a PO Box, you can claim for that too!

There is no escape from paying taxes to the IRS, but if you ethically report your income and deductions and you're not lying about anything, you have absolutely nothing to be worried about.

Like it or not, everyone should pay their fair share of taxes. We have firemen and schools and roads that get repaired because people pay their taxes. But Devin states that “you should pay your fair share but not a penny more.” and take full advantage of the tax deductibles that are available to you.

 then make sure to download vidIQ. Join over 1 million other users and use vidIQ to help you research YouTube, analyze videos, audit your own channel, and take actionable steps towards success. Just 

Calculator buttons with wooden blocks spelling TAX and percent sign, finance concept.

10 last-minute tax filing tips for US YouTubers - make sure you claim all your deductibles!

10 Last Minute Tax Filing Tips for US YouTube Creators

With over 2 Billion users, YouTube is in a unique position to guide the conversation around the current health crisis the world is facing. And the platform is encouraging creators to spread the word about social distancing and self-isolation to help flatten the curve of growth of 

With more countries under lockdown every day, the need to stay at home (unless you are a key worker, or need essential food or health supplies) is truly the only way we can contain the spread of this pandemic.

YouTube has been incredibly responsive to the advice given by Governments around the world and are now actively encouraging creators and influencers to '

'. It is asking YouTubers to consider publishing positive videos urging their audience to #StayHome, and creating content that viewers will find entertaining and informative under the #WithMe banner.

The platform has also rolled out resources that offer educational support for children, families and adults over the next few months.

YouTube wants creators to publish content that not only encourages viewers to stay home right now, but offers a way of entertaining and including them in a wide range of activities. Creators who have built an engaged following have the opportunity to support that community with videos that inform, teach, and inspire.

The new initiative, which promotes the #StayHome #WithMe message, is encouraging a sense of community and inclusion among both creators and viewers. YouTube is 

 to ensure your coronavirus videos are advertiser-friendly, factual, and hit the right tone.

, YouTube is curating a range of topics including the following:

The playlists feature a huge range of creators, including late-night talk show hosts like Jimmy Fallon, who have moved their broadcasts to YouTube:

YouTubers who plan to broadcast Premier or live-stream content around the #StayHome #WithMe campaign are also being offered a range of emojis to use for promotion:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you for sharing the message to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StayHome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StayHome</a> through your <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WithMe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WithMe</a> creativity! Let your viewers know about these emojis they can use in chat while you live stream and Premiere. Check out the full list in the reply below. <a href="https://t.co/5rK4GtImzz">pic.twitter.com/5rK4GtImzz</a></p>&mdash; YouTube Creators #StayHome (@ytcreators) <a href="https://twitter.com/ytcreators/status/1241130556055793667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2020</a></blockquote>

 that features informative and educational channels that create content around math, history, the arts, science and many more subjects.

The content is organized by age group with categories for pre school children, kids aged 5 and over, and teenagers. The Learning hub will also provide extra resources around education, such as schedules and relevant playlists.

Microscopic view of coronavirus with red blood cells and YouTube play button overlay

YouTube is encouraging creators to 'spread the word to stop the spread' of coronavirus. Here are some ways YouTubers can play their part in the campaign to #StayHome #WithMe

YouTube to Creators: Spread the Word about Coronavirus

YouTube creators who publish content specifically for children have already suffered a blow from the 

 the platform rolled out in November 2019. Now those same creators face new restrictions from potential legislation aimed at further limiting the reach of the type of content that can be published on the platform.

The Kid’s Internet Design and Safety (KIDS) Act, has been proposed by United States senators Ed Markey and Richard Blumenthal, with the intent to further protect children aged 16 and under who consume online video on social media sites like YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, and others.

The KIDS Act: How it May Could Children-Focused Video Creation

If the bill is approved, it would mean new laws would come into force for social media platforms to protect children and young teens. Those sites would need to fundamentally change the way they both deliver, and promote video content to children.

Under the new law, auto-play videos, recommendations, and push notifications would have to be turned off for any content that is made for kids.

Senator Ed Markey was the co-author of the COPPA Act but wants to extend the protection afforded to children with further legislation. In a 

"Today, kids’ faces are increasingly covered in the glow of their screens, and it’s time to face the chilling reality that some websites and apps are built in ways that harm children. Powerful companies push kids to buy products at every turn online, and top platforms are saturated with disturbing content that no kid should ever be exposed to."

The KIDS Act wants to push through the following restrictions designed to protect children:

The ban on ‘auto-playing’ videos - a feature that has the potential to reel children and young teenagers into spending an unhealthy amount of time online

The suppression of push alerts and badges that may encourage children to extend the time they spend on their mobile devices

The bill limits sites from promoting inappropriate, violent, or dangerous content, and will require those sites to set up a feedback system for reporting that content

Banning sites from pushing content around influencer marketing or marketing that includes “embedded interactive elements”

Stopping websites for promoting alcohol or nicotine products to those aged under 16 years of age

One of the stand-out restrictions in the proposed bill calls out unboxing videos in particular. As one of the most popular trends on YouTube, this content has long encouraged the partnership between creators and brands or influencers.

Unboxing videos, like this one below from the SquirrelStampede YouTube channel, are often sponsored, thereby exposing children to a certain toy or confectionery brand under the guise of entertainment.

The KIDS Act isn’t proposing the banning of unboxing videos - because good luck with that - but would prohibit platforms like YouTube from recommending this content to children. It would also make it illegal for social media platforms to recommend any sponsored content to children, impacting an already fragile eco-system, and further limiting the exposure unboxing creators would get on the platform.

The KIDS Act would also make it illegal for platforms to recommend literally any kind of branded or sponsored content to users under the age of 16.

The after effects of COPPA on YouTube creators who publish children’s content has been significant, and the KIDS Act has the very real potential of limiting their visibility to a critical extent. With restrictions on children’s content being recommended, the number of views and Watch Time a kid’s focused YouTube channel will be severely impacted.

We'll keep you up to date with any news on this issue.

And if you’re really serious about growing your YouTube views and subscribers, sign up for exclusive access to the [vidIQ Academy]

Group of diverse kids playing video games together with YouTube logo in background

After the impact of COPPA, YouTube creators who publish content for children face new limitations from the proposed KIDS Act.

YouTube Children’s Content Creators Face New Woes from KIDS Act

I didn’t think I’d be writing this post 7 days ago. But here we are, being thrown headfirst into a world we don't really understand, with millions of people currently self-isolating, under quarantine, under a potential shelter-in-place mandate, or being asked to work from home by their company because of the current health crisis. It’s an extraordinary and challenging time.

, there has been a significant and understandable uptick in people in the US searching for content around ‘working from home’ or ‘remote working’ over the past week.

vidIQ is a fully remote global company. We don’t have a central office and every member of the company works from home. I asked some of the team for tips about what works for them when it comes to staying motivated and productive. I hope you find them useful.

25 Working From Home Tips from the vidIQ Team

If you’re sharing a house with a partner, come up with your own boundaries. For instance: "If I’m in my office, I’m working," or "between 9am and 3 pm I’m working". Also, I make sure to communicate that if I can't chat, it's not personal, it just takes a long time to shift gears from work to personal.

Be more flexible with your time. I always set myself a 45-minute work chunk where I may break off for 5 minutes to empty the bin, or empty the dishwasher - something physical versus sitting at my desk. Oh and get a comfortable chair.

Get a good pair of Bluetooth headphones. Dishing out a little extra pocket change is worth it for quality audio and blocking out the noises of home when you need to focus on work.

vidIQ has always been a fully remote company so we asked the team for their top tips for anyone new to working from home.

Carla Marshall

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