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Did you ever consider pursuing a career in tech vlogging?

You will have the opportunity to review gadgets and devices available in the market, with consumers depending on your verdict on whether they should but a certain product or not.

It may look like an easy and glamorous job, but you don't have an idea on the amount of work that comes into play if you become an online tech reviewer.

Source: Screenshot taken from Alvin Villanueva's Instagram account

GMANetwork.com had the pleasure of interviewing one of the budding tech vloggers in the Philippines, Alvin Villanueva, who is behind the channel 'Alvin Tries Tech.'

Less than a year after he uploaded his first vlog about tips on buying a laptop, he now has more than 125,000 subscribers.

Alvin describes his experience of being a tech vlogger as fun and never boring.

He said, “Para doon sa mga interested na gawin 'yung ginagawa ko na mag-review ng mga gadgets or tech stuff, masaya siya, nakakalibang siya. 'Yun agad 'yung una kong masasabi.

“Lagi kang may bagong aaralin, lagi kang may bagong nalalaman, may bago kang matsi-check na gadget.”

Still, there are a lot of things you need to factor in if you are seriously considering dipping your toes and making a career out of reviewing gadgets.

Here are some tips from Alvin that you should consider to make your tech channel a successful one.

Learning never stops
One of the things Alvin stressed during our exclusive interview is that tech vloggers needs a wealth of information before they speak in front of the camera and review something.

He tells GMANetwork.com, “Para sa mga naka-graduate, if you are expecting na after mo grumaduate hindi na kayo mag-aaral ulit, mali kayo!

“In our career, kailangan lagi tayo natututo, kailangan open tayo to more knowledge and in my case, 'yun talaga 'yung nag-work sa akin.

“In starting out my channel, until now I always do my own research, I always improve, I always study what is best and how can I improve my content.”

He also researched a lot about vlogging, reviewing styles, and how to work on YouTube before starting his own channel.

He added that there is no excuse for you not to do your homework because the information you need is just a click away.

“May mga studies 'yan guys, and very available on the internet, hindi siya mahirap hanapin. So I suggest, gawin n'yo yung research n'yo kasi 'yun 'yung madalas na misconception ng mga tao, na passion will get you where you want to go.

“Passion is only a part of the formula. So aside from passion, kailangan mayroon tayong knowledge to supplement 'yung passion natin.”

Alvin also stressed that through learning, it will be easier for you to simplify tech jargons for your viewers, making your video content more appealing to everyone.

He noted, “It takes a lot of study para ma-simplify mo ang isang bagay. Madali para sa aming tech vloggers na magbasa lang ng specs pero 'yung reality, para masabi namin nang maayos 'yung experiences namin, para ma-lay out namin nang maayos 'yung video, kailangan may level of mastery doon sa dini-discuss mo.”

Importance of collaboration
He also encouraged collaboration with other tech vloggers to polish your content and learn a thing or two on how they do things.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alvin M. Villanueva (@alvintriestechyt) on Jan 7, 2020 at 2:12am PST

Alvin believes that you cannot grow your channel if you will just isolate yourself from the rest of the industry.

“For me, it really serves a big key to your success. Madalas kasi iniisip natin when we are doing content creation, mag-isa lang naman tayo, nasa bahay lang naman tayo.

“Minsan kasi it pulls us back, when we are trapped in our own houses na wala tayong kausap and sarili lang natin naiisip natin.

“Kasi, there is a lot of knowledge that you can get from other tech YouTubers and from other people in this industry. And if you are consistently talking to them and if you are doing collaboration with them, again dito pumapasok 'yung knowledge. You learn from other tech YouTubers.”

Every support counts
Starting a channel is never easy and the support from the people around you matters a lot.

Drawing from his own experience, Alvin said that he is forever grateful for every support he received.

“From what I experienced, sobrang laking bagay ng pagiging supportive and I'm very thankful for the support of my family, friends, my colleagues and as well as my viewers and subscribers, kasi very overwhelming 'yung support na binibigay nila.

“Nakakatulong 'yun talaga na ma-push ka pa lalo para habulin 'yung dream mo.”

Starting from scratch is never easy. But just like how Alvin persevered on building his YouTube channel, you can also make a career out of reviewing gadgets if you are passionate and determined to learn the ropes of the industry.

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