Three key factors contributed to her break:

1. Content burnout from constant exposure to traumatic material
2. Revenue pressure maintaining a full production team while views declined
3. Social media scrutiny, particularly intense in the true crime niche

However, Eleanor’s strategic approach stands out. She built a second lifestyle channel, “Ellie Neal,” three years before this break, creating an alternative platform to maintain audience connection through lighter content. This dual-channel strategy demonstrates the importance of diversification and authentic relationship-building with viewers.

Eleanor’s handling of this transition sets a precedent in an industry often demanding constant content output. By prioritizing mental health while maintaining audience engagement through her second channel, she exemplifies how creators can build sustainable, long-term success on YouTube.

Her experience reinforces a vital lesson: taking strategic breaks isn’t just acceptable—it’s sometimes essential for longevity in content creation. As the digital landscape evolves, creators who can balance consistency with self-care will likely find the most sustainable path forward.

Resources

• Register for my FREE Masterclass
• CLICK HERE to get the Audience Attraction System
• Add your name to the YouTube Bootcamp waitlist so you are notified when space becomes available!
• Add your name to the 1:1 Coaching waitlist!

YOUTUBE OPTIMIZATION PLUG-IN I RECOMMEND

TubeBuddy [Use the code ErikasBuddy to get 20% off]

MY FAVORITE BUSINESS TOOLS

Course Creation: Looking to create a course? Kajabi is the BEST platform hands down. I use this for my course after extensive research on all the other platforms.

Live Calls and Interviews: I use Ecamm for my podcast interviews, both audio and for YouTube that you see here on YouTube. It makes it super easy to share my screen and create the split-screen with my guest. I’m not super techie and this software is really easy to use!

Webinars and Live calls: I use Zoom.us for my group coaching calls in my private membership group for female YouTube creators. It’s also the software I use to record my Road to 100k YouTube Subscribers Masterclass!

THE BEST YOUTUBE/PODCASTING EQUIPMENT

After interviewing HUNDREDS of successful YouTube creators, and being asked all the time what equipment I recommend for YouTubers, I created a list! Click here to see all my recommended equipment for YouTubers!