Aspiring Creator

In this week’s episode of Aspiring Creator, I talk about why YouTube views are tanking for established creators right now, why the algorithm has stopped surfacing videos to subscribers across the platform, and how I ended up with two failed monitor videos in a single week. If you're building a creator business and want the unpolished version of what's working (and what's not), this one's for you. New episodes every Wednesday 🚀 ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Two Failed Videos In One Week 💀 04:26 - Why Established Channels Are Cooked 🔥 12:44 - I Replaced Monday.com With Claude 🛠️ 19:09 - Quickest Press Trip Ever 🛫 20:16 - Good Metrics, Bad Views 📉 21:51 - Can't Reach My Own Audience 🚫 💬 SOCIAL STUFF ▸ Instagram: @petematheson ▸ LinkedIn: @petematheson ▸ Website: https://www.petematheson.com/

In this week’s episode of Aspiring Creator, I talk about the creator tools I'm building with Claude (a Monday replacement, brand tracker, contract checker + more), whether pausing long-form for 2 weeks to test shorts is worth it, and why Samsung (not Howl) might actually be the reason creators aren't getting paid affiliate income. If you're building a creator business and want the unpolished version of what's working (and what's not), this one's for you. New episodes every Wednesday 🚀 ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Paris with Huawei ✈️ 03:00 - Is Samsung the real affiliate problem? (not Howl) 🤔 08:28 - The creator tools I'm building with Claude 🛠️ 20:09 - Taking two weeks off to test shorts 📱 25:26 - I just ordered the DJI Pocket 4 📸 💬 SOCIALS ▸ Instagram: @petematheson ▸ LinkedIn: @petematheson ▸ Website: https://www.petematheson.com/

In this week’s episode of Aspiring Creator, I talk about having 0 sponsorships booked for Q2 after our biggest quarter yet, building an AI system with Claude to automate brand outreach, and how persistence finally got Apple to send us products. If you're building a creator business and want the unpolished version of what's working (and what's not), this one's for you. New episodes every Wednesday 🚀 ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - The short form vs long form debate 🎬 05:15 - We have an empty sponsorship calendar 👀 08:44 - Why I said no to a paid brand event ✈️ 12:40 - Stop sending rate cards to brands 🛑 14:51 - Claude meets brand deals (automating the process) 🧠 21:39 - Is Samsung the problem? 💸 23:02 - How we got Apple to notice us 🍏 LINKS 🖥️ Studio Display XDR Review: https://youtu.be/hQCzpUfBpqg 🎬 Becky’s YouTube Producer App: https://youtubeproducer.app/ 💬 SOCIAL STUFF ▸ Instagram: @petematheson ▸ LinkedIn: @petematheson ▸ Website: https://www.petematheson.com/

In this week’s episode of Aspiring Creator, I talk about why short form is starting to out-earn long form, what brand trips are really like behind the scenes, and how AI saved me £3.5k on a surprise tax bill. If you're building a creator business and want the unpolished version of what's working (and what's not), this one's for you. New episodes every Wednesday 🚀 ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Brand trips explained ✈️ 10:21 - Why brands prefer shorts 💸 16:43 - A smarter way to sell sponsorships? 🤔 19:41 - Why Adobe Creator Live stood out (a lot) 🌟 30:05 - Why big creators skip brand trips 👀 33:54 - AI vs the council (AI won) 🏆 35:26 - $3,000 a month to post videos? 👀 💬 SOCIAL STUFF ▸ Instagram: @petematheson ▸ LinkedIn: @petematheson ▸ Website: https://www.petematheson.com/

In this week’s episode of Aspiring Creator, I talk about my experience at MWC (Mobile World Congress) and Samsung Unpacked, the current reality of sponsorships on YouTube, and why I’m seriously reconsidering the future of my website with the new AI advances. If you're building a creator business and want the unpolished version of what's working (and what's not), this one's for you. New episodes every Wednesday 🚀 ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - The Reality Behind Big Tech Events 🎪 09:50 - The Only Tech Events I’d Go To Now 🎟️ 12:19 - Why I’m Pausing My Website (For Now) 🌐 18:26 - Why Brand Deals Aren’t Landing 📬 21:56 - The 24-Hour View Trap on YouTube 🎯 25:55 - Fixing Our Brand Outreach System 🛠️ 30:25 - How Creator Brand Trips Actually Work ✈️ 💬 SOCIAL STUFF ▸ Instagram: @petematheson ▸ LinkedIn: @petematheson ▸ Website: https://www.petematheson.com/

🚨 Sign up to Experiments in Progress - my weekly newsletter sharing tested tech and behind-the-scenes experiments: https://www.experimentsinprogress.com/ ***** In this week’s episode of Aspiring Creator, I talk about accidentally deleting my entire YouTube channel (yes, really), what actually saved it, and why it forced me to rethink how I’m building the business behind the scenes. I also dive into the Dell monitor review that’s blown up this year, the growing trend of paid growth and bought views (including the MrBeast debate), and whether building products might be smarter than chasing traffic. If you're building a creator business and want the unpolished version of what's working (and what's not), this one's for you. New episodes every Wednesday 🚀 ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Should I Just Make Monitor Videos? 🖥️ 09:56 Leaving the UK? 🌍 13:40 How To Stay Top of Mind With Brands? 🧠 17:11 Where I’m Investing Right Now 📈 19:21 The Chair Scandal 💺 23:14 I Deleted My Entire Channel 😱 32:16 How Do You Get Invited to Media Events? 🎟️ 40:11 Is SEO Dead? 📉 51:08 Is MrBeast Buying Growth? 📈 LINKS 📺 Marcus Jones - No Seriously, YouTube is Starting to Break - https://youtu.be/V9TXWSKt5ww ✍️ How MrBeast Dominated 2025 Using Advertising - https://x.com/MrBeast_Stats/status/2025649596744302686?s=20 💬 SOCIAL STUFF ▸ Instagram: @petematheson ▸ LinkedIn: @petematheson ▸ Website: https://www.petematheson.com/

In this week’s episode of Aspiring Creator, I talk about using AI to analyse and refocus my YouTube channel, whether Shorts actually drive long-form views, and how I’m thinking about tax savings as a UK creator. If you're building a creator business and want the unpolished version of what's working (and what's not), this one's for you. New episodes every Wednesday 🚀 ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Asking AI What My Channel Is About 🤖 10:28 - Do Shorts Actually Feed Long-Form? 📉 12:25 - Where AI Fits Into Our Workflow ⚙️ 15:52 - Losing Access to Brand Events 🎟️ 19:49 - The Enshittification of the Internet 🗑️ 24:32 - Reducing Tax as a UK Creator 🇬🇧 🔗 LINKS Check out the newsletter: experimentsinprogress.com 💬 SOCIAL STUFF ▸ Instagram: @petematheson ▸ LinkedIn: @petematheson ▸ Website: https://www.petematheson.com/

In this week’s episode of Aspiring Creator, I talk about getting threatened by affiliate platform, Howl, after chasing unpaid fees, why I turned down a £14k sponsorship, and the changes I’m making to simplify the business behind the channel - from editing workflows to shorts strategy. If you're building a creator business and want the unpolished version of what's working (and what's not), this one's for you. New episodes every Wednesday 🚀 ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Getting Paid… Then Getting Threatened 💸 07:41 Update on our Editing Workflow 🔗 09:40 Our New Shorts Strategy (+ Why) 🚀 13:47 Fewer Links, Better Conversions 🔗 19:10 Turning Down £14k 💸 22:17 This Was Worth Buying 💰 26:23 Samsung Unpacked Prep 📱 💬 SOCIAL STUFF ▸ Instagram: @petematheson ▸ LinkedIn: @petematheson ▸ Website: https://www.petematheson.com/

In this week’s episode of Aspiring Creator, I’m at CES in Las Vegas and thought I’d do something a bit different — stick a camera on the table at a steak dinner with a bunch of tech YouTubers and get everyone’s honest, off-the-cuff tips on growing on YouTube. If you're building a creator business and want the unpolished version of what's working (and what's not), this one's for you. New episodes every Wednesday 🚀 ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 02:09 - Pete (@PeteMatheson) 03:08 - Dariusz (@DariuszTech) 03:47 - Patrick (@PatrickRambles) 04:11 - David (@DavidAVelez1) 05:37 - Fenson (@Gadgetsu) 07:14 - Mark & Paul (@MarkEllisReviews | @1PaulJ) 09:36 - Pete & Darius 10:39 - Tausif (@TausifHussain) 11:29 - Outtakes 💬 SOCIAL STUFF ▸ Instagram: @petematheson ▸ LinkedIn: @petematheson ▸ Website: https://www.petematheson.com/

In this week’s episode of Aspiring Creator, I talk about why affiliate links might not be working the way you think, what I learned from calling out an affiliate platform, and how CES ended up being our most profitable year yet. I also share my honest take on YouTube Promote vs building an organic audience. If you're building a creator business and want the unpolished version of what's working (and what's not), this one's for you. New episodes every Wednesday 🚀 ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - The Video That Got Me a Legal Threat ⚖️ 05:37 - How I Found Someone Reposting My Videos 🔍 07:51 - When a Video Doesn’t Find Its Audience 🎯 12:37 - Are Affiliate Platforms a Scam? (+ the Honey Scandal) 🤔 22:27 - How CES Finally Paid Off 📈 32:31 - Growing Beyond YouTube (+ How I Got to Work with Lego)⏳ 39:44 - Is Now the Right Time to Start YouTube? ⏱️ 🔗 LINKS MegaLag: Exposing the Honey Influencer Scam - https://youtu.be/vc4yL3YTwWk 💬 SOCIAL STUFF ▸ Instagram: @petematheson ▸ LinkedIn: @petematheson ▸ Website: https://www.petematheson.com/

In this week’s episode of Aspiring Creator, I break down what’s been going on behind the scenes this week - from delayed affiliate payments on Howl and the messy reality of tracking commissions, to getting set up with the Panasonic Lumix S1 II. I also share how I’m approaching CES this year and my 2026 goals for the business 💪 If you're building a creator business and want the unpolished version of what's working (and what's not), this one's for you. New episodes every Wednesday 🚀 ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Howl Is Delaying Our Affiliate Payments ⏳ 05:45 - Getting to Grips With the Panasonic Lumix S1 II 📸 09:20 - How I’m Approaching CES This Year 🗓️ 17:39 - What We Keep (and Ditch) From Brand Gear 📦 19:30 - 2026 Goals: Website Traffic, Socials & Digital Products 📊 💬 SOCIAL STUFF ▸ Instagram: @petematheson ▸ LinkedIn: @petematheson ▸ Website: https://www.petematheson.com/

I've relaunched Aspiring Creator and this time I've outsourced everything except sitting in the chair and talking, so kick back and come behind the scenes 😃 In this episode I talk about my Black Friday studio haul, the honest truth about finding a good agency, and the 36-page script that completely got out of hand. If you're building a creator business and want the unpolished version of what's working (and what's not), this one's for you. New episodes every Wednesday 🚀 ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 My Black Friday Studio Haul 🎥 12:22 Taking Time Off Does Hurt Your IG Reach 📉 14:42 My Honest Advice on Finding an Agency 📬 19:36 When Your Script Hits 36 Pages… 😅 26:14 When Other Sites Republish Your Content 📄 💬 SOCIAL STUFF ▸ Instagram: @petematheson ▸ LinkedIn: @petematheson ▸ Website: https://www.petematheson.com/

I've relaunched Aspiring Creator and this time I've outsourced everything except sitting in the chair and talking, so kick back and come behind the scenes 😃 In this episode I talk about the huge range of editing costs I uncovered this week, my accountant’s mistake that ended up costing me thousands. and then take you inside a full BTS Porsche shoot. If you’re curious how creators juggle editing, finances, shoots, and keeping the whole machine running - this one’s for you. New episodes every Wednesday 🚀 ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Are We Paying Too Much for Editing? 🎬 03:59 When Your Accountant’s Mistake Costs You Thousands 💥 12:17 Behind the Scenes of Our Porsche Shoot 🚘 20:35 Streamlining Our Edits: What We’re Changing 🎥 22:53 Power Bins Are Getting Us Closer to Faster Edits ⚡ 💬 SOCIAL STUFF ▸ Instagram: @petematheson ▸ LinkedIn: @petematheson ▸ Website: https://www.petematheson.com/

I've relaunched Aspiring Creator and this time I've outsourced everything except sitting in the chair and talking, so kick back and come behind the scenes 😃 In this episode I break down how we’ve ended up with a brand deal on almost every video - and the setup that finally makes it sustainable. We also get into a frank chat with a brand about expectations, plus a few behind-the-scenes upgrades from new gear to DaVinci workflow experiments. If you're curious about how creators actually manage sponsorships, workflow, and keeping the whole machine going … this one’s for you. New episodes every Wednesday 🚀 ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - The Problem With Posting when an Embargo Lifts ⚠️ 06:36 - Talking Honestly With a Brand About Results 📊 15:49 - Why I Finally Bought the Mavic 4 Pro 🚁 19:39 - DaVinci Power Bins could be a Game Changer 🚀 23:08 - The Hybrid Approach to Brand Deals 🔄 27:52 - Black Friday Strategy: Links, Deals & Brand Outreach 🔗 🔗 LINKS 📰 My newsletter: experimentsinprogress.com 💬 SOCIAL STUFF ▸ Instagram: @petematheson ▸ LinkedIn: @petematheson ▸ Website: https://www.petematheson.com/

I've relaunched Aspiring Creator and this time I've outsourced everything except sitting in the chair and talking, so kick back and come behind the scenes 😃 In this episode I talk about how we may have got confirmation that some creators are “legally” buying views to get sponsors, dig into the metrics brands actually check before they approve a deal and share how to actually make the most of CES as a creator. If you're building a creator business and want the unpolished version of what's working (and what's not), this one's for you. New episodes every Wednesday 🚀 ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - How We Map Out a Year of Videos 🎬 05:43 - How to Maximise CES as a Creator 🚀 11:29 - When a Brand Deal Underperforms (And They Want More) 📉 17:44 - Editor Update: Our Capacity Problem 🎬 18:57 - The Metrics Brands Look at Before Approving a Deal 💼 23:57 - Confirmed: Brands Are Being Scammed by Fake Views ⚠️ 💬 SOCIAL STUFF ▸ Instagram: @petematheson ▸ LinkedIn: @petematheson ▸ Website: https://www.petematheson.com/

I've relaunched Aspiring Creator and this time I've outsourced everything except sitting in the chair and talking, so kick back and come behind the scenes 😃 In this episode I talk about why I turned down a $25k sponsorship, how hiring an in-person editor has been game-changing and how I got on LEGO’s radar. If you're building a creator business and want the unpolished version of what's working (and what's not), this one's for you. New episodes every Wednesday 🚀 ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - The Power of Having an In-Person Editor 💪 10:14 - Why We Hired Pros Instead of Buying Gear 🎥 16:27 - Why We Said No to a $25,000 💰 24:45 - How We Got on LEGO’s Radar 🧱 💬 SOCIAL STUFF ▸ Instagram: @petematheson ▸ LinkedIn: @petematheson ▸ Website: https://www.petematheson.com/

This week on Aspiring Creator, I’m back from a OnePlus press trip in Prague - and it didn’t quite go to plan 😅 From rain-soaked camera tests to awkward brand negotiations, this episode dives into the real behind-the-scenes of creator life. If you're building a creator business and want the unpolished version of what's working (and what's not), this one's for you. New episodes every Wednesday 🚀 ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - What Really Happens on Tech Creator Press Trips 📸 04:09 - Do Creators Really Have to Disclose Everything? 🤔 09:58 - Why I’m Probably Not Going Back to VidSummit 🚫 14:26 - Creators with Kids: You’re Playing a Different Game 🎯 17:49 - How We Use Shorts to Test Video Ideas 💡 22:52 - How I Accidentally Upset a Brand 😬 💬 SOCIAL STUFF ▸ Instagram: @petematheson ▸ LinkedIn: @petematheson ▸ Website: https://www.petematheson.com/

I've relaunched Aspiring Creator and this time I've outsourced everything except sitting in the chair and talking, so kick back and come behind the scenes 😃 In this episode I talk about using Claude AI to rebuild our entire project system, smashing Q4 sponsorship targets and how creators can pitch brand deals that work. If you're building a creator business and want the unpolished version of what's working (and what's not), this one's for you. New episodes every Wednesday 🚀 ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - How Claude AI Rebuilt Our Sponsorship Tracker 🤖 05:01 - How we Plan for Dips in Revenue 📈 06:49 - How VidSummit Changed My Approach to YouTube 📺 11:15 - How We’re Reinvesting Brand Deal Money Into the Channel 🎥 13:45 - How Creators Should Pitch Brand Deals (Most Brands Still Don’t Get It) 💡 26:10 - Why I Don’t Bother Growing on Other Platforms 🙅‍♂️ 30:24 - Who Should I Interview Next? 👀 💬 SOCIAL STUFF ▸ Instagram: @petematheson ▸ LinkedIn: @petematheson ▸ Website: https://www.petematheson.com/