Marques Brownlee’s Life and Career as a Content Creator

Entertaining and accessible, Marques Brownlee’s in-depth video reviews of the latest and greatest technology have made him one of the biggest vloggers in the world. The content creator’s YouTube channel, MKBHD, began with a simple at-home studio setup and has attracted more than 15 million subscribers. In 2018, Marques was named the Creator of the Decade by the Shorty Awards, an annual awards program honoring social media creators. He graduated from the Stevens Institute of Technology, majoring in business and information technology. The Verge, Forbes, CNET, and Time Magazine have featured Marques.

Marques has become one of the most popular tech YouTubers because of his tech videos. Here are a few facts about Marques:

1. 1. Marques began his YouTube channel while in high school. When Marques Brownlee was fifteen years old, living in Maplewood, New Jersey, he uploaded his first video to YouTube with his thoughts on the Media Center Remote that came with his new HP laptop.
2. 2. Marques edits his own videos. Over the years, he says he’s had to function like an octopus or someone with, as he says, “eight different arms, and each arm does a dedicated job a little bit differently. One of them is a camera person, one of them is rigging audio. One of them is doing lighting, and one of them is writing.”
3. 3. Marques interviews leaders in technology. MKBHD’s creativity and high production value have caught the attention of millions of viewers and tech industry heavyweights and former presidents. He has received a guided tour of a Tesla factory by founder/CEO Elon Musk. Marques has also interviewed philanthropist and Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, former US president Barack Obama, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant, actor Will Smith, and fellow YouTuber MrBeast.
4. 4. Marques hosts several shows. In addition to his YouTube channel, Marques hosts the Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast, a tech podcast for gadget lovers and tech heads about new features and products. Since 2019, Marques has hosted Retro Tech, a YouTube Original series produced by Vox Media Studios, where he discusses tech gadgets from the past.
5. 5. Marques plays ultimate. Marques is a semi-professional ultimate player with New York Empire in the American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL).

Marques Brownlee has years of experience shooting, editing, and uploading content to YouTube. You can expect these five highlights and additional tutorials from his session on how to make compelling videos that go viral, available exclusively on MasterClass:

1. 1. Create compelling visuals. It is essential to post supplementary footage to engage viewers. Marques shares how to shoot B-Roll and source stock footage. “I can assure you, no matter what the topic is, it doesn't have to be product videos, B-Roll will always enhance the video and make it better and more useful,” Marques says.
2. 2. Make what you want to watch. Select a topic that you are knowledgeable about and that interests you. Marques also emphasizes focusing on the video and less on how you will make money from it. “Pick a topic that you could make videos about for fun and never make a dime and still have a ton of fun doing it,” he advises. “That'll translate through to the audience. Everyone can see you having fun. And if you actually do get the opportunity to turn it into a job, it won't feel like such a job.”
3. 3. Package your content. After you shoot and edit your videos, you need to package the content. Find the right title and thumbnail for the video to grab the audience and make them want to click on your video. “A good rule of thumb is to include the main topic of the video in some place in the title of the video,” Marques says.
4. 4. Pick the right camera. Marques discusses different cameras you can use for every budget and why smartphone cameras are best for online videos, while expensive cinema cameras are better suited to make videos for the big screen. However, he says, “the best camera is the one you have with you.”
5. 5. Put yourself in your viewers’ shoes. Marques will teach you the best way to speak to the audience and how to modulate your voice to sound natural and friendly. “I find that conversational style of video typically translates best to giving people information as if you're having a conversation with them,” he says. “And it helps when you're speaking into the mic to think about [it] as if you were talking to another person.”

For additional perspectives on creating content for social media, consider the following sessions and classes on MasterClass:

1. 1. Devon Rodriguez on painting realistic portraits: Devon Rodriguez is a visual artist from the South Bronx. He found a way into the visual art world via social media; posts of his artwork have gone viral on TikTok. Watch Devon’s session to learn how to paint realistic portraits and market your content on social media.
2. 2. Issa Rae on creating outside the lines: Comedian, actress, and filmmaker Issa Rae got her start with the breakthrough YouTube web series Awkward Black Girl. Watch Issa’s class to learn how to find your voice, develop your story, and build an audience.
3. 3. Kris Jenner on the power of personal branding: Kris Jenner, the matriarch of the Kardashian-Jenner empire, has proven that self-awareness isn’t just the foundation of happiness; it’s the key to wildly successful branding. Watch Kris’s class to learn how to harness the power of social media and monetize your brand.

Learn how to grow your audience, whether you’re an aspiring vlogger or social media influencer with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons from Marques Brownlee, Ninja, and more.