I’m sure you all are aware of the slime trend that took the internet by storm in 2015 and the following few years. Instead of begging their parents for toys, many children instead would ask their parents for ingredients to make the viral sensation, such as borax, laundry detergent and glue. My sister, Sarah, was one of the many people who were very invested in this trend and made slime nearly every day for almost a year. One of the YouTubers she encountered to make this slime was a young girl named Maddie Rae.

At the age of 11, Maddie Rae, was also heavily invested in the slime trend. She would regularly beg her parents to take her to the craft store to buy ingredients for slime. However, when she got to the store, she realized that there was no glue left. After asking multiple employees and visiting multiple stores, Maddie was unable to find any glue, so she decided to make her own. She developed a formula for glue that would be designed specifically to make slime. After launching her personal brand of glue, she developed a whole line of slime making products that were highly successful.

There are many lessons that young entrepreneurs can learn from Maddie Rae.The first is to look for problems and solve them. Maddie discovered the “problem” of a glue shortage in most craft stores and decided to solve it by making her own. She also built a business around something she was passionate about and a viral trend at the time. Maddie also developed engaging content on YouTube and social media to really connect with consumers in this niche industry. This content demonstrates her welcoming and fun personality and makes her followers enjoy connecting with her brand and excited about using her products.

Even though slime isn’t quite as popular as it was back in 2015, Maddie Rae’s business is still successful and she is still a “thought leader” in the slime making “industry.” Her story demonstrates the value of problem solving in niche markets.

Also known as the Duchess of Suds, Katie Carson made a splash in the soap making business at the young age of 17. She had one simple goal: “to love people through the art of soap making.” Carson started making soap in a simple soap making class as a teenager and soon fell in love with the craft. She began purchasing her own ingredients and making multiple different soaps at home. She intially started selling these soaps on Etsy but quickly shifted to Shopify as her business grew.

Carson marketed her soaps on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube through short videos with the goal of connecting with people in the soap making community. These involved testing out different recipes and scents. Her clever and relatable videos garned the attention of thousands and she began to gather subsribers. These videos included not only soap creation but the latest trends like reacting to other soap making videos and a soap based off of a popular Starbucks drink. She quickly noticed that her soap sales began to spike every time she posted a successful video.

Katie Carson is an excellent example of how content marketing can lead to business success. While her soap is an excellent product, the main thing that differentiates it from competitors is the personality behind it. Customers are not attached to the cleaning quality of her soap, rather they like her as a person. She is relatable, clever and funny and creates entertaining content. Her subscribers are loyal to the Royal Soaps brand because of the person behind it.

Young entrepreneurs can learn a few key lessons from Katie Carson. First: Don’t be afraid to try something new. Even though there was a lot of room for failure, Carson was willing to make the leap into the soap selling business as a teenager and has grown her brand ever since. Second: Build a business around what you love. Carson’s enthusiasm for soap bleeds into her videos and makes her audience excited about it too. Finally, create relatable content. Customers want to engage with the brand. Good content allows them to feel personally connected to the company. Maybe you aren’t the next Duchess of Suds, but hopefully Katie Carson’s story can inspire you to build a business around something that you love.

With over 17.2 million subscribers, Ryan Trahan is one of America’s most successful young entrepreneurs and influencers on YouTube. With a quirky, fun personality, Ryan is best known for his “Penny Series” YouTube videos: adventures where he tries to survive starting with only one penny and trade for as much money as he can make. He also creates a very of content including reviewing 1 star hotels and airlines or weird Amazon products. Recently, he came out with his own line of candy called Joyride, expanding his brand and merch.

Ryan started his entrepreneurship journey as a highschooler, selling water bottles in his school.He then expanded by starting a YouTube channel and vlogging about running. Over the years, he quickly gaianed a following and a multitude of subscribers. His budget saavy videos launched him into a full time influencer career.

What were the secrets to his success? I would argue that his main asset is his likeable personality. He is incredibly approachable and entertaining. Another aspect of his success could be contributed to his niche content. Instead of just reviewing products like other YouTubers, Trahan also analyzes hotels, airports, amusement parks and restaurants. He is incredibly candid in these videos and leaves viewers feeling like they could be his friend. Additionally, Trahan is an excellent storyteller. Through a series of clips and shots, Ryan is able to craft a narrative that entices viewers to keep watching. There are thousands of comments on each of his videos demonstrating that viewers love to engage with his brand and with him as an individual.

A final notable quality of Trahan’s videos are his positivity. Trahan not only want to entertain his subscribers but leave them inspired – that any normal individual could complete this challenge. This positive branding as well as Trahan’s likeable yet quirky personality has led him to be an incredibly successful thought leader in the YouTube space.