Still pinch myself that it happened. Thanks to all of you for making my dreams a reality!

16 months. That has been the length of my YouTube journey as Frankie Tech. Since that fateful day in June, 2018 there is probably nothing that I have spent more time doing, more effort thinking about and more money on than Frankie Tech. After celebrating hitting 100k subscribers last weekend I have received a lot of messages like “here’s to 200k, 500k, one million subscribers!” and while it is definitely exciting to envision the future, I think it’s also good to look back and appreciate the journey. How exactly does someone build a channel of this size? What is the setup? What do you film? Why do you film? And what’s with all this “Just Keep Swimming” nonsense? These are all questions I have been pondering, so I share now some thoughts on how exactly this journey happened.

It’s not about the setup, it’s all about the content.

I don’t know how many messages I’ve received over the past year saying something like “nice video, but you really need a studio setup, you need to make your videos more professional, you need some cool lights, some cinematic shots! You need to MKBHD up your channel!” Now there are lot of things from this list that I completely agree with, and there definitely are improvements that can be made to my setup. But chasing the perfect setup can also become the biggest mistake new content creators make. I have seen many channels spend so much time with creating the perfect “setup” at 100, 1000 or even 10k subscribers, that they forget the main point people are watching in the first place. It’s all about the content!

Now looking back, did anyone know that I filmed almost all of my street tech videos with an iPhone and just the built in mics? (and shout out to the iPhone’s video quality it really made street tech a reality) Did anyone know that I was using a cheap $5 tripod and $30 mic from Boya, a company most people have never even heard of? Finally, did anyone notice I have been filming on a $10 dollar cork bulletin board from Ikea, on a bed, in my tiny Hong Kong apartment? Now don’t get me wrong, my setup is not good. It could be so much better (and it will get better!). But the point I make is that it was good enough for me to get started and focus on what people really care about: sharing my thoughts and experiences with new tech in a candid and honest way. In my own way. A great setup is just that: a great setup. It won’t matter much to viewers if they don’t feel a genuine passion and effort from the creator. In a way I’m glad that my setup has been so limiting, as it has forced me to improve my content in other ways that really address the “why” people come to Frankie Tech.

My typical “no frills” setup. I know what you’re thinking! “That it!?”. Yep! That’s it!

Consistency, Creativity & Being Yourself.

Another thing I have learned from this journey is that releasing videos very much becomes a ritual for both myself and for my viewers. While I don’t think it’s necessary to stick so precisely to a schedule I do think it’s important for my audience to know when videos will typically drop (and you’ve probably noticed but Tuesdays and Thursdays tend to be the days of greatest output for the channel). This consistency allows for me to also engage with my audience in meaningful ways, and I really do a make a point to respond to every comment I get (something that is becoming more challenging the larger you grow!). One of the mistakes I made a few months back was trying too hard to create content so frequently, it actually detracted from the viewing experience. Quality over quantity really is the truth on YouTube (and in life!). I definitely plan to have a much more balanced yet consistent approach to posting videos. I am happy with my current 3-5 videos a week output, as it allow for me to focus and create a balance with other things like my full-time job, my wife and 4 year old daughter. In the grand scheme of things, Frankie Tech would not exist with those others, so its important to keep priorities in line when you are a content creator.

Another aspect of content creation I think a lot of people forget about is creativity and embracing your own uniqueness. One of the biggest mistakes I feel YouTubers make is trying to imitate the MKBHD’s and Unbox Therapy’s of the world. Just think about it: why would someone want to come watch your version of “Unbox Therapy” when they can go and watch the real Lew?! If people watch your content, subscribe and then stay for more, they are there because of YOU! Embracing my own style, delivery, creativity and quirks has been one of the most powerful decisions I have made doing Frankie Tech. Do some people hate my voice and hand gesturing? Yes. Do some people hate the fact I like to talk a lot? Yes. Do I get comments from people saying they can’t stand my street tech videos? All the time. There’s a saying in Latin culture my mom always reminds me of: “No sos una moneda de oro para caerle bien a todos”. Translation: you are not a gold coin to be loved by all. The reality is, there will always be trolls, haters and other who just won’t like you on YouTube as in life. It’s ok! Being myself and creating the content that I feel best reflects my creativity (all the music used on Frankie Tech are my own productions) my humor (just keep swimming & and PUBG Showdowns - TAKE THAT! OH YEAH!) and my personality (anytime anywhere street tech baby!) is the way to go. It’s the only way to go.

Filming at the top of a Castle in York, England. Anytime, anywhere!

Have supportive friends and family that are your true OG fans.

I remember before starting Frankie Tech that anytime I went out with my best friend Nick, the conversation would always gravitate towards phones. “Here we go again!” My friend would say. Eventually I’d spent 30 minutes talking about my latest purchase or latest release and my buddy would declare, “NO MORE PHONE TALK!” It’s not that he wasn’t into tech, it’s just that he wasn’t as into it as I was. This similar experience would occur with my colleagues, other friends and even my wife, who would entertain my conversations but eventually say “you should write about this stuff, or make a video or something”. I’m sure some of you have experienced this before as well (if you’re reading this you are probably tech obsessed too!) and it’s a challenge sharing your interest in tech with others who don’t feel the same.

Frankie Tech has given me the ultimate venue for sharing my passion for tech with the world. Yet in the end, I couldn't have done it without the understanding and support from my friends and family for cheering me on and believing in my efforts. A special shout out to my wife and daughter, who have sometimes had to deal with a missing father and husband, sometimes on the streets filming a first look, and sometimes just locked in the bedroom trying to finish editing the latest video. They have been so understanding on this journey, even at their own expense. That’s why it’s important that I do find a balance between my tech passion and the rest of my life. Frankie Tech would be nothing without them.

Done looking back, now it’s time to look forward.

If you have made it to the end of this article, thank you. A big reason I have the passion and excitement to continue moving forward with Frankie Tech is because of viewers like you. I am so blessed and privileged to be able to share my love for tech with you guys every week. So that being said, what does the future bring? Why more phones, more street tech first looks, more reviews, more drain tests, more of everything! But beyond that I do have some plans moving forward that I share with you now:

More face to face content: I’ve heard you loud and clear! This is one of those changes that I know I’ve been putting off, due to getting the right setup and audio in place. That said, I definitely plan to start rolling out more face to face content in my videos so stay tuned!
Frankie Tech 2.0: I think there is no doubt the look of my channel is also due for a revamp. Does that mean I’ll be changing my logo and theme music tomorrow? Not at all. But I do think it’s time to change up some of the look of my videos, including title cards, graphics and music. It’s important that a channel stay fresh and so this is definitely high priority on my list of things to do.
Collaborations, events and more: One thing that I definitely want to do more in 2020 is meeting with other YouTubers to create content. I had a chance to meet Andrew Marc David (AMD Tech) in Las Vegas in June and it was a great experience! I hope to do more collaborations with fellow YouTubers who I think are like minded in their approach to creating content. I also plan on attending more events and shows, where I can actually expand my network in tech and create great content in the process.

My first collaboration video with Andrew Marc David (AMD Tech). Such an awesome guy and hope to do future videos with his channel!

The origin of “Just Keep Swimming”

And now the origin of “Just Keep Swimming”. If you don’t know, this refers to the crazy random moment in my videos where my PUBG Mobile Avatar randomly runs to the water and go for a swim. Besides the obvious reference to Dory’s line from Finding Nemo, there is a deeper meaning to this line. At the end of Gattaca, one of my favorite movies of all time (SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THIS GO WATCH THE MOVIE FIRST!) there is a scene where Vincent, the physically weaker brother challenges his stronger and genetically superior brother Anton to one final swimming challenge. As they swim out into the distance, something amazing happens: Vincent wins. Confronted with this impossible result Anton asks Vincent, “How have you done any of this?”. Vincent’s response, “This how I did it Anton, I never saved anything for the swim back”.

Looking back at the past 16 months, this has been my mantra for building Frankie Tech. I didn’t think, I just did. I pushed forward, harder than I ever have done on almost anything before. And here we are. Thanks again for your time and to all of you, no matter where you are, no matter what you do, Just Keep Swimming!

The Real “Just Keep Swimming”