--- title: The Story of What’s Inside and the Power of Social Media with Dan Markham [DMC Recap] description: Dan Markham stars in the hit YouTube channel What's Inside? with his son Lincoln. He came to DMC 2017 to share his take on why YouTube matters to advertisers. image: https://www.utahdmc.org/hubfs/DMC%2017/Dan-3.jpg --- [![Utah DIgital Marketing Collective](https://www.utahdmc.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Utah%20DMC%20Logo.png?width=175&height=175&name=Utah%20DMC%20Logo.png "Utah DIgital Marketing Collective")](https://www.utahdmc.org/) - [Home](https://www.utahdmc.org) - [Events](https://www.utahdmc.org/#events) - [New Online Events](https://www.utahdmc.org/online-events) - [Code of Conduct](https://www.utahdmc.org/code-of-conduct) - [About Us](https://www.utahdmc.org/#about) - [Contact Us](https://www.utahdmc.org/contact-us) - Slack - Jobs Board - Sponsors - Membership - [Blog](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog) # The Utah DMC Blog ## The Story of What’s Inside and the Power of Social Media with Dan Markham \[DMC Recap\] by [Bryan Phelps](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/author/bryan-phelps), on Nov 7, 2017 10:00:00 AM ![Dan-3.jpg](https://www.utahdmc.org/hs-fs/hubfs/DMC%2017/Dan-3.jpg?width=750&height=573&name=Dan-3.jpg) With 4.9 million subscribers, 650 million video views, and 166 total videos uploaded as of September, 2017, Dan Markham’s YouTube channel *[What’s Inside?](https://www.youtube.com/user/lincolnmarkham)* is the perfect example of achieving success through creativity and ambition. What started as a fun video for his son’s school project has turned into a fulltime career for Dan. With sponsored partners such as Nike, Verizon, Star Wars, and Nickelodeon, Dan and his son, Lincoln, are experts in how to utilize YouTube and gain a following. ## **History of** *What’s Inside?* In January 2014, Dan and Lincoln posted their very first video: "What’s Inside a Baseball?" What was meant to be just a simple school project for Lincoln, ended up receiving a lot of positive feedback from family, friends, and YouTube viewers. Dan and Lincoln continued to share what was inside of many more things, and in December of that same year received their first payment from YouTube: $4. In January ’15 Dan and Lincoln’s channel *What’s Inside?* was officially created and by April ’15 it had 1,000 subscribers. By August 2015, their channel hit 100,000 subscribers and Lincoln was invited on KSL TV to talk about the channel. In 2016, their "What’s Inside a Rattlesnake Rattle" video was ranked the third most viral video of the year. In March of that same year, they were ranked #2 on the list of 100 Most Subscribed YouTube Channels Worldwide, beating out *Justin Bieber VEVO*. Today, *What’s Inside?* has collaborated with some of the world’s biggest YouTube stars.   ## **What Makes It Work?** How do you make high quality, viral-worthy videos? Without even realizing it, Dan and Lincoln had written a recipe for a viral video. According to Dan, you need to make them “edutaining” (a mix of educational and entertaining), make them family friendly, make them authentic, and optimize them for the YouTube algorithm. One writer from GQ had this to say about Dan’s "What’s Inside a Rattlesnake Rattle" video, “Easily the best opening sequence of any video so far, and a title that delivers on what it promised. Even throws in a cute, non-threatening father/son bonding storyline for the masses. Everything a viral video should be.” Dan claims that the family friendly aspect of his videos has not only helped create virality, but has also helped his videos earn more money ever since YouTube updated its creator guidelines for ad-friendly content.   ## **YouTube Tips** - Post regularly - SEO: title, description, captions - Be authentic - Try different things to find what works. - Collaborate to bring in new audiences.   ## **Why Should YouTube Be Important to Advertisers?** There has been a crucial advertising shift within the last few years. Digital ad expenditure surpassed TV for the first time in 2016, and the gap will widen by roughly $10 billion this year. Is your business advertising on YouTube yet? Your competition most likely is, so if you’re not advertising there currently, now is the time to start. **[The Story of What's Inside? and the Power of Social Media by Dan Markham](https://www.slideshare.net/slcsem/the-story-of-whats-inside-and-the-power-of-social-media-by-dan-markham)** from **[SLCSEM](https://www.slideshare.net/slcsem)** Topics: [Event Recaps](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/event-recaps) [Videos](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/videos) [DMC2017](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/dmc2017) [YouTube](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/youtube) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ### About Our Blog This is where you find event recaps, guest blog posts, and other newsworthy items from Utah DMC. ### Subscribe to the Utah DMC Blog ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [Event Recaps (113)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/event-recaps) - [Events (40)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/events) - [strategy (24)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/strategy) - [ppc (23)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/ppc) - [DMC (22)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/dmc) - [News (21)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/news) - [digital marketing utah (21)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/digital-marketing-utah) - [DMC2018 (16)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/dmc2018) - [Blog (15)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/blog) - [DMC2016 (12)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/dmc2016) - [DMC2017 (12)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/dmc2017) - [marketing (12)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/marketing) - [seo (11)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/seo) - [content marketing (10)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/content-marketing) - [social media (9)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/social-media) - [digital marketing (8)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/digital-marketing) - [data (6)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/data) - [video marketing (6)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/video-marketing) - [analytics (5)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/analytics) - [artificial intelligence (5)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/artificial-intelligence) - [facebook (5)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/facebook) - [paid search (5)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/paid-search) - [paid social (5)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/paid-social) - [social media advertising (5)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/social-media-advertising) - [Google (4)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/google) - [advertising (4)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/advertising) - [personal branding (4)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/personal-branding) - [AdWords (3)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/adwords) - [Uncategorized (3)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/uncategorized) - [business (3)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/business) - [ecommerce (3)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/ecommerce) - [jobs (3)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/jobs) - [sem (3)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/sem) - [social media optimization (3)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/social-media-optimization) - [Display Advertising (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/display-advertising) - [Guest Post (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/guest-post) - [Members (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/members) - [Programmatic Display Advertising (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/programmatic-display-advertising) - [SEM trends (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/sem-trends) - [Videos (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/videos) - [YouTube (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/youtube) - [agency (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/agency) - [attribution (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/attribution) - [automation (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/automation) - [content (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/content) - [facebook funnels (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/facebook-funnels) - [job searching (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/job-searching) - [quora (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/quora) - [seo tips (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/seo-tips) - [slc meetups (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/slc-meetups) - [slc|sem (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/slcsem) - [snapchat (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/snapchat) - [CMO (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/cmo) - [CRO (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/cro) - [Community (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/community) - [Dungeons & Dragons (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/dungeons-dragons) - [Facebook Ads (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/facebook-ads) - [Ginny Marvin (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/ginny-marvin) - [Google trends (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/google-trends) - [Google, algorithm, Ted Waz, SLCSEM, DMC (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/google-algorithm-ted-waz-slcsem-dmc) - [Growth (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/growth) - [Hiring (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/hiring) - [James Svoboda (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/james-svoboda) - [John doherty (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/john-doherty) - [Justin Rondeau (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/justin-rondeau) - [PR (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/pr) - [Remarketing (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/remarketing) - [Sales (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/sales) - [Survey (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/survey) - [Virtual Events (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/virtual-events) - [West Barnell (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/west-barnell) - [aaron levy (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/aaron-levy) - [branding (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/branding) - [buzzstream (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/buzzstream) - [casie gillette (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/casie-gillette) - [chat bots (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/chat-bots) - [christi olson (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/christi-olson) - [conversion rate optimization (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/conversion-rate-optimization) - [crawling (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/crawling) - [customer experience (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/customer-experience) - [education (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/education) - [events (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/events-2) - [facebook messenger (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/facebook-messenger) - [google data studio (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/google-data-studio) - [googlebots (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/googlebots) - [hubspot (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/hubspot) - [impressions (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/impressions) - [influencer marketing (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/influencer-marketing) - [influencers (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/influencers) - [joe martin (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/joe-martin) - [lead genereation (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/lead-genereation) - [linkbuilding (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/linkbuilding) - [machine learning (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/machine-learning) - [marketing automation (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/marketing-automation) - [marty weintraub (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/marty-weintraub) - [micro moments (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/micro-moments) - [mobile (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/mobile) - [networking (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/networking) - [networking events (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/networking-events) - [online marketing (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/online-marketing) - [reporting (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/reporting) - [roi (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/roi) - [search (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/search) - [social (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/social) - [utah (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/utah) - [visual sale (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/topic/visual-sale) see all ### Blog Archive - [September 2015 (18)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2015/09) - [October 2018 (17)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2018/10) - [November 2017 (16)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2017/11) - [September 2019 (16)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2019/09) - [January 2017 (7)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2017/01) - [October 2016 (6)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2016/10) - [January 2020 (5)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2020/01) - [July 2020 (5)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2020/07) - [December 2021 (5)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2021/12) - [November 2011 (4)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2011/11) - [January 2012 (4)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2012/01) - [May 2017 (4)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2017/05) - [October 2017 (4)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2017/10) - [August 2019 (4)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2019/08) - [October 2011 (3)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2011/10) - [February 2012 (3)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2012/02) - [October 2014 (3)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2014/10) - [September 2016 (3)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2016/09) - [April 2019 (3)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2019/04) - [September 2020 (3)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2020/09) - [November 2020 (3)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2020/11) - [March 2021 (3)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2021/03) - [July 2021 (3)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2021/07) - [December 2011 (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2011/12) - [March 2012 (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2012/03) - [April 2012 (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2012/04) - [July 2012 (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2012/07) - [September 2012 (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2012/09) - [November 2012 (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2012/11) - [February 2013 (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2013/02) - [March 2013 (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2013/03) - [April 2013 (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2013/04) - [July 2013 (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2013/07) - [September 2013 (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2013/09) - [August 2014 (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2014/08) - [February 2015 (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2015/02) - [May 2015 (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2015/05) - [August 2015 (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2015/08) - [February 2018 (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2018/02) - [April 2018 (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2018/04) - [December 2018 (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2018/12) - [June 2020 (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2020/06) - [December 2020 (2)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2020/12) - [June 2012 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2012/06) - [August 2012 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2012/08) - [December 2012 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2012/12) - [January 2013 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2013/01) - [May 2013 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2013/05) - [June 2013 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2013/06) - [November 2013 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2013/11) - [December 2013 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2013/12) - [January 2014 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2014/01) - [February 2014 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2014/02) - [March 2014 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2014/03) - [May 2014 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2014/05) - [June 2014 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2014/06) - [July 2014 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2014/07) - [September 2014 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2014/09) - [December 2014 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2014/12) - [March 2015 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2015/03) - [April 2015 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2015/04) - [June 2015 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2015/06) - [October 2015 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2015/10) - [November 2015 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2015/11) - [December 2015 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2015/12) - [January 2016 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2016/01) - [March 2016 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2016/03) - [April 2016 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2016/04) - [May 2016 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2016/05) - [June 2016 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2016/06) - [August 2016 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2016/08) - [December 2016 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2016/12) - [June 2017 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2017/06) - [August 2017 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2017/08) - [March 2018 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2018/03) - [June 2018 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2018/06) - [July 2018 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2018/07) - [August 2018 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2018/08) - [February 2019 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2019/02) - [March 2020 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2020/03) - [August 2020 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2020/08) - [May 2021 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2021/05) - [June 2021 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2021/06) - [October 2022 (1)](https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/archive/2022/10) see all ### Contact **SLC|SEM DBA Utah Digital Marketing Collective** Salt Lake City, Utah  ### From Our Blog ### Subscribe to updates ### Connect With Us © 2026 Utah DMC / SLCSEM ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Bryan Phelps", "url" : "https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/author/bryan-phelps" }, "datePublished" : "2017-11-07T17:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "The Story of What’s Inside and the Power of Social Media with Dan Markham [DMC Recap]", "image" : [ "https://www.utahdmc.org/hubfs/DMC%2017/Dan-3.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.utahdmc.org/blog/story-of-whats-inside-dan-markham", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.utahdmc.org/hubfs/Utah%20DMC%20Logo.png" }, "name" : "Utah Digital Marketing Collective" } } ```