Youtube Mentor vs Business Coach: Who Should You Choose And Why?

Image Source: Pexels, Vanessa García.

In the world of content entrepreneurship (particularly video creators), there's a small debate that's been brewing: Youtube mentors or business coach? Who provides the most value when trying to get your business to the next level? Or when you’re trying to pull your channel out of a downward spiral? Which should you choose to guide you on your entrepreneurial journey? This post aims to shed some light on this matter.

Understanding the Basics of YouTube Mentors vs. Business Coaches

Before we delve into the nitty-gritty, let's first understand the basics.

What is a Youtube Mentor?

A Youtube mentor is an expert with domain expertise on online video production and particularly on Youtube that teaches fellow creators on their content journeys. A Youtube mentor can be anyone from a successful entrepreneur with content experience to a seasoned creator. Their backgrounds can range anywhere from marketing, to a tech,  to film. The important here is that they KNOW their YouTube. They all have a vast amount knowledge of online video and how execute goals within that space. Some have free resources, most will certainly have video, and all will have a paid tier of service (eg. an hourly rate, courses, mentorship programs).

What is a Business Coach?

On the other hand, a business coach is a seasoned professional who provides personalised guidance, feedback, and accountability to entrepreneurs or businesses. They help businesses/entrepreneurs identify their goals, create a plan, and navigate through different phases of growth. Their background will range anywhere from military, to retail, to corporate. But do beware of the business coach whose only business has been business coaching, as the scope of advice you could get is very limited.

Now, business coaches will most likely know a lot about online marketing, but not all are well versed in the ins and outs of video content/YouTube. They might be able to give you pointers based on online marketing experience, but advice for audience growth, platform specific troubleshooting, pivoting to other verticals, etc., is not within their purview. That would be were a YouTube mentor is better equipped.

So, Youtube Mentor and Business Coach. What’s the difference?

Now that we have a basic understanding of both, let's dive into the main differences.

1. Domain Expertise

Business Coaches provide a general approach to solving business problems. Their advice is usually based on their experiences as entrepreneurs and is applicable to a wide range of business, be they digital or brick and mortar. They know their way around businesses thing like incorporating an LLC or the best way to make sure you pay your taxes (although unlike lawyers and accountants, they are not certified to give that as advice, merely as suggestions), day to day processes like hiring, documentation and marketing.

On the other hand, a YouTube Mentor provides personalised advice based on the specific needs and goals of your content business. They take into account your unique business model, content vertical, target audience, viewership trends and any other industry specific knowledge when addressing your goals and concerns. This experience (most likely derived from being creators themselves) allows a YouTube Mentor to tailor solutions specifically for your channel and content goals. The best ones will also be able to give you business advice as the Business Coach but in a more informed way through the lens of their experience in Online Video (eg. how to do channel spin offs, register your IP, etc.).

2. Sessions and work

This is a bit based on personal experience but many a business coach is also a consultant for companies which means their way of working is very goal oriented, measured and a bit detached. Some of course are more personable than this, but by and large they are a corporate in the way they engage with clients.

On the other hand YouTube Mentor are more personable. As creators themselves they mostly engage from a place of compassion, patience, and the best ones, with a lot of care for the whole of your needs (eg. asking about your mental health, dealing with online harassment, etc.). Particularly if you are a one on one client.

3. Cost

Youtube mentors have free and paid resources, most will have courses, webinars and one on one modalities. Though the price range varies widely, they are on average cheaper than a business coach.

Why Choose a Youtube Mentor?

Despite these differences, there are several compelling reasons to choose a Youtube mentor over a business coach.

1. Accountability

Some goals we can achieve by ourselves (or rather we can achieve unsupervised because rarely are we not helped or influenced by our peers and close relations), but for other goals you need help. Be that get know how or structure, a YouTube mentor has got you covered. The secret sauce of it all is accountability, having to report progress to someone helps us kick ourselves into action rather than just thought, it is the major reason why mentorship is effective and the defining factor about hiring any kind of assistance.

2. Pacing

With a video tutorial you can learn at your own pace but have no feedback, in classroom setting you can get feedback but be stuck at advancing a the speed of the curriculum. With a YouTube mentor you can get the best of both worlds for your channel, to move through knowledge at your speed while also getting realtime feedback from you mentor.

3. A more experienced peer

A YouTube Mentor isn’t just any old coach, they are first and foremost, your peer. They’ve been in you shoes, maybe even the exact situation you’re in. With their experience you can avoid their mistakes and emulate their successes without all the hard knocks they went through. They know the platform in and out, and also the broader media industry, which is particularly helpful for those content entrepreneurs who don’t have a strong background in media.

Choosing between the two depends on your specific needs, goals, and resources.

In the end, whether you choose a Youtube mentor or a business coach, the most important thing is to keep learning and growing.

Remember, the journey of entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint (unless you’re in TikTok, in that case it’s a sprint). So equip yourself with the right guidance and keep moving forward.

About the Author

As a seasoned producer, social media consultant and mentor for digital creator (with over 12 years of experience in digital marketing), Martin seeks to be of services to creators and brands trying to get to the next nevel of their conten journeys. He co‑founded and was CEO of the successful YouTube comedy channel, Enchufe.tv, boasting more than 27 million subscribers as of this writing. He has developed and produced for film, tv and even podcasts. He hates having flu but enjoys any excuse to get chicken soup.