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Lothunglo Ezung started her YouTube channel “Lolo Ezung” as a way to share Naga Lifestyle, cooking, tutorials, DIY and shopping experiences with a goal to spread positivity through her videos.
Her vlogging journey began when she uploaded a home garden clip on the video sharing platform. Positive feedback from viewers encouraged her to make more content, and today, her channel has gar¬nered more than one lakh subscribers with 1,01,62,888 views.
Here is what the video content creator shared about her journey in an exclusive interview with Eastern Mirror.
Eastern Mirror: What motivated you to start a YouTube channel?
Ezung: Well, a lot of people have motivated and influenced me to start my YouTube journey and of course having a passion for it also helps.
After my PG course I came back to my hometown and I wasn’t doing anything much, just sitting around the house and then the idea struck me. So, one day I randomly recorded my home garden and posted then people started to appreciate it. The positive feedback that I got from the viewers encouraged me to post more videos and that’s how the journey began.
Eastern Mirror: Did you have viewership in mind when you uploaded your first video?
Ezung: To be very honest, I really didn’t think much about the viewership when I first started. I was doing something that I really enjoyed and was passionate about, so nothing was discouraging for me. But now that the audience is increasing in number, we also have to work and act according to the viewer’s choice and demand sometimes.
Eastern Mirror: Now that your channel has grown with more than 107k subscribers, do you have a team or you do the editing as well?
Ezung: I am my own manager, editor and videographer. However, whenever I need advice or helping hand my family is my team.
Eastern Mirror: From your experience, do you feel that full time vlogging in Nagaland can be financially viable?
Ezung: I cannot guarantee that for all, since YouTube depends on the viewers and lucky is the one who can commercialise their channel.
There are few of us who are doing it out of our passion so profit or loss don’t matter much. But if somebody comes with the intention of making money and becoming rich I would definitely not recommend.
As a content creator myself, how we reach to the audience is very important.
We might invest a lot of time and energy creating content people don’t like and that can be frustrating. Sometimes it’s the kind of content that I like and sometimes it’s the viewer’s choice.
However I feel it’s a risky profession so it’s up to the person if they want to pursue vlogging full time or not.
Eastern Mirror: When you started making videos, did you encounter any setbacks?
Ezung: Yes, there are a lot of setbacks and discouragement but one thing that keeps me moving and going forward in life is that, no matter what comes my way this is my story and passion. Someone’s opinion doesn’t define me. Somewhere deep down I tell myself that this kind of lifestyle is not for everyone.
Eastern Mirror: Your content includes Naga lifestyle, cooking, tutorials, DIY and shopping. If you were given a choice to focus on only one, what would you choose?
Ezung: I’m passionate about a lot of things but if I have to choose one I would choose tutorials which may include cooking or even about our culture and lifestyle.
Eastern Mirror: What do you enjoy the most as a vlogger?
Ezung: Meeting new faces, new places, new ideas and inspirations for my next video are the most likeable things about what I do.
Eastern Mirror: Vloggers from Nagaland who have influenced you the most.
Ezung: No one in particular but the content that I share is mostly Naga lifestyle and my inspiration comes from a Chinese Lady name Liziqi who shares similar interests and about her culture and Chinese lifestyles.
Eastern Mirror: If you are to collaborate with a vlogger from Nagaland, who would it be?
Ezung: I believe among the Nagas, Kents Vlog is one such promising vlogger who loves food and shares our rich Naga cuisine to the world. I would definitely want to collaborate and get to learn and taste the secret recipes he shares someday.
Eastern Mirror: Who is your favourite YouTuber and why?
Ezung: My favourite right now is Michelle Choi. She is a tremendous YouTuber and social media star, who has been impressively captivating her audience by her content as a fashion enthusiast and her daily vlogs about living alone. She operates her lifestyle, promotes various beauty brands, living-alone dairies, food dairies, tutorials, skincare, etc.
Eastern Mirror: On an average, how long does it take to make a video and what’s your weekly target?
Ezung: I usually take a day or two depending on the workload. But some contents like growing vegetables or gardening take months as we have to wait for the final results.
My target per week is to put out at least 2 videos.
Eastern Mirror: If you could be someone else for one day, who would it be and why?
Ezung: Oh well! I never thought about it but if given a chance I would want to be like my Dad for a day. I really wonder where he gets all the energy from because I’ve never seen him get tired. He’s always active and energetic.
Eastern Mirror: What equipment would you recommend for a newcomer?
Ezung: To be a YouTube creator we need to have foundational knowledge of video production. Every creator has his/her own process, based on individual style and goals. Nowadays, a lot of people are able to use their cell phones as their camera and if you are looking for budget friendly equipment, all you need is your cell phone, some good lighting, tripod, an editing app.
Don’t wait for your million dollar equipments! Start now and practice with whatever you have and improve with each video.
Eastern Mirror: Message for those who are planning to start vlogging Ezung: First of all, thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to share my journey and to all my supporters out there, I just want to say that I’m grateful and thankful to you all. Our efforts would be in vain without your love and support. The positive energy and encouragement from the viewers means the world to me.
It’s impressive that there so many new upcoming creators who are doing tremendous job and that is such a proud moment for all of us.
YouTubing is a foreign culture for us Nagas. So it is important to know its pros and cons and make sensible decision before it’s out on the internet. If we are prepared, nothing will harm and discourage you. We have to be mentally sound and be prepared because we cannot always expect good things to happen.
As the world is going digital, YouTube has great impact towards the advancement of technology. We can make a significant impact towards the upliftment of the society by creating a favourable society if we use this platform wisely.