From DJ to YouTuber: how Carlo successfully monetizes his channel with Sellfy

DJ Carlo Atendido is a professional DJ, and he teaches DJing on his YouTube channel. He has been with Sellfy since 2018. At first, he started out with a $1 product, and now he sells dozens of successful products including his mixing courses, and even his own merch.

In this interview, he talks about his journey from making money as successful professional DJ to being a full-time YouTuber and using Sellfy to monetise his channel with over 368K subscribers. We’re excited to share his Sellfy Success Story with you.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m DJ Carlo Atendido. I’m a US citizen and I live in the Philippines. I started out as a DJ and then worked my way up to win championships locally and internationally.

I actually started my YouTube channel in 2014 to begin a new chapter after a particularly rough period in my life. But then, as my channel and business grew, I realized that I really enjoy making videos and helping people out. Due to the pandemic, I’m now primarily a YouTuber and I sell my DJ-ing and mixing courses on Sellfy.  

How did you decide to open a store on Sellfy? 

The more videos I made, the more followers I got with questions like, “What sample tracks are you using?” I realized they liked my music and that got me looking for a way to sell my tracks.

After searching through YouTube and watching other YouTubers sell their own merch, I stumbled upon Sellfy. I didn’t even consider platforms like Wix or Squarespace because I saw that photographers and videographers I followed were using Sellfy. So, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to try it out and start selling. It was pretty funny because I started with one product for $1. And I was like, nobody’s going to buy this crap; I don’t even like it. And when my first purchase happened, I couldn’t believe it.

I was pretty surprised when people bought my tracks for just $1. I was amazed to see how it literally takes $1 to make a difference in one’s life! All I had to do was take the first step and open a Sellfy store.

How do you get traffic to your Sellfy store?

I’ve put a lot of work into my YouTube channel and so I’ve created a good following of loyal DJ Carlo supporters. And then it’s all about my YouTube videos. Followers who like the ideas presented in the video or a track I’m using will usually end up purchasing my stuff on Sellfy. So, I know that when my video has a ton of views, there’s going to be a ton of sales too.

Your favourite Sellfy features for boosting sales? 

The most useful one would be the countdown feature. When you see that you can get 20% or 50% off, you know you have to jump in on the sale and make a purchase! 

My earnings always skyrocket when I use the countdown feature for my sales. 

I also love the email feature. I do my best to make sure that when I deliver a product, I always update it and give my followers more free stuff. I like letting people know about certain product updates. Imagining their excitement over something like that is what makes me enjoy Sellfy’s email feature.

How has Sellfy impacted your business?

Sellfy is my form of entrepreneurship besides being a YouTuber and making money there. 

Being a content creator and a DJ on YouTube doesn’t really make you a lot of money if you use copyrighted material in your videos. I’m really happy that I can use a website like Sellfy that supports my tracks, edits, and videos.

I’m also happy to be working, especially now when we’re witnessing a major shift in the global economy. Despite the pandemic, this year was the year that I made the most ever on Sellfy.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve experienced as a creator?

I guess the power of a following. Delivering free content like YouTube tutorials is a lot of hard work. You don’t always make a lot of money and it takes hours to create a video. You’re giving without expecting something back. So, the day when you reveal you’re selling something comes around, it feels great to see the positive response. It’s uplifting and surprises me every time.

Three things you’d tell someone wanting to start an online business?

I think the number one thing I’d tell someone is that you need to realize there’s nothing to lose. Personally, I didn’t even think I would make a sale. But then I thought why not just give it a shot? That bravery to just give it a shot is more than enough to take the first step. So, you really shouldn’t doubt because there’s no harm in trying it out.

I also think it’s important to believe in your product, and to make a product that you could see yourself using. 

And then the third one would be consistency. Just because you released a good thing, doesn’t mean that it’s going to be good forever. You always have to follow it up and evolve.

Make sure to check out Carlo’s Sellfy store.

To learn more about Carlo’s work, follow him on Instagram and on YouTube.