🎥 How to Succeed on YouTube: Tips and Advice for Small Creators
Are you a small YouTuber struggling to get views and grow your channel? Do you feel discouraged and unsure of how to improve your content? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many creators face these challenges when starting out on YouTube. But with the right strategies and mindset, you can succeed and build a thriving channel.
In this article, we’ll share tips and advice from experienced YouTubers on how to grow your channel and get more views. We’ll cover topics such as consistency, audience engagement, video ideas, and more. So let’s dive in and learn how to succeed on YouTube!
Table of Contents
– **Introduction**
– **Tip 1: Start Messy and Have Courage**
– **Tip 2: Get Clarity on Your Niche and Audience**
– **Tip 3: Be Consistent and Don’t Give Up**
– **Tip 4: Focus on Audience Engagement**
– **Tip 5: Experiment with Video Ideas and Packaging**
– **Tip 6: Collaborate with Other Creators**
– **Tip 7: Use Data and Analytics to Improve Your Content**
– **Tip 8: Stay Up-to-Date on YouTube Trends and Changes**
– **Tip 9: Build a Community Around Your Channel**
– **Tip 10: Have Fun and Enjoy the Journey**
– **Conclusion**
– **FAQ**
Tip 1: Start Messy and Have Courage
The first step to succeeding on YouTube is to start. Don’t wait until you have the perfect idea or equipment. Just press record and start creating content. It’s okay if your first videos aren’t great. You’ll learn and improve over time. The key is to have courage and not let fear hold you back.
As Sean Cannell, founder of Think Media, says, “You have to start before you’re ready. You have to start messy. You probably have a million questions, but you have to just start posting videos. Just try something. Don’t overthink it because we learn by doing.”
Tip 2: Get Clarity on Your Niche and Audience
To succeed on YouTube, you need to have clarity on your niche and audience. What topics do you want to cover? Who is your target audience? What value can you provide to them? These are important questions to answer before you start creating content.
As Roberto Blake, a YouTube educator and creator, says, “The more that you can put yourself in the shoes of viewers and go through YouTube and browse around and see what’s going to make you as a viewer be interested in a particular video versus another video, it might give you more perspective.”
Tip 3: Be Consistent and Don’t Give Up
Consistency is key on YouTube. You need to upload videos regularly and stick to a schedule. Don’t give up if you’re not getting views right away. It takes time and effort to build an audience. As Casey Neistat, a popular YouTuber, says, “Give yourself 10 years at this craft, making videos, posting them online, getting made fun of for at least five of those years, and then maybe at the end of 10, maybe you’ll have a little bit of success.”
Tip 4: Focus on Audience Engagement
Engaging with your audience is crucial for building a loyal fan base. Respond to comments, ask for feedback, and create content that resonates with your viewers. As Matt Gielen, founder of Little Monster Media Co., says, “The way we design the algorithm is actually such that we want to give audiences the video and other content that they’re going to be most satisfied by. And so if the audience doesn’t really care whether you upload it at 3 in the morning or 7 at night, then the algorithm shouldn’t care either.”
Tip 5: Experiment with Video Ideas and Packaging
To stand out on YouTube, you need to have unique and compelling video ideas. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things. Also, pay attention to your video packaging, including your title, thumbnail, and description. These elements can make a big difference in whether viewers click on your video or not.
As Sean Cannell says, “There’s really two kinds of people. Maybe you’re already a professional, a business owner, so you already know you’re going to start a DIY channel helping people fix stuff around the home. You know that you’re going to start a real estate channel to get leads, clients, and sales in your local community. You know you’re a musician that uses Ableton, so you want to start doing music tutorials. You already have clarity. But there’s this whole other category where someone’s listening to this, they know they want to start, but they’re unsure. They have a million questions about what niche, what topic, what about this, what about that. I would encourage you to just start posting videos. Just try something. Don’t overthink it.”
Tip 6: Collaborate with Other Creators
Collaborating with other creators can help you reach new audiences and grow your channel. Look for opportunities to work with other YouTubers in your niche or related niches. You can do collab videos, shoutouts, or even guest appearances on each other’s channels.
As Roberto Blake says, “Find yourself a community. I do love that about YouTube. There’s a community of people constantly, it’s every day, it’s 24/7 of people checking in on each other, testing video ideas, and things like that.”
Tip 7: Use Data and Analytics to Improve Your Content
Data and analytics can provide valuable insights into how your videos are performing and what changes you can make to improve them. Use tools like YouTube Analytics to track your views, watch time, and engagement metrics. You can also use A/B testing to experiment with different video titles, thumbnails, and descriptions.
As Matt Gielen says, “When you have some of these questions, they immediately kind of think about algorithm. Replace the word algorithm in their question with the word audience. That’s going to give you a better answer because we’re aiming to serve the audience. The more you focus on understanding what your audience wants and finding the best fit with them, the algorithm is going to match that.”
Tip 8: Stay Up-to-Date on YouTube Trends and Changes
YouTube is constantly evolving, so it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and changes. Follow YouTube blogs, attend conferences, and join online communities to stay informed. You can also use tools like TubeBuddy and VidIQ to optimize your videos and stay ahead of the competition.
Tip 9: Build a Community Around Your Channel
Building a community around your channel can help you connect with your viewers and create a loyal fan base. Encourage comments, respond to feedback, and create content that resonates with your audience. You can also use social media to engage with your fans and promote your videos.
As Casey Neistat says, “The goal is to build the lifestyle. If I get discouraged in the journey and it causes me to quit, I actually lose because the goal was to just stay on the journey.”
Tip 10: Have Fun and Enjoy the Journey
Finally, remember to have fun and enjoy the journey. YouTube is a creative outlet and a way to express yourself. Don’t get too caught up in the numbers or the competition. Focus on creating content that you’re passionate about and that provides value to your audience.
As Sean Cannell says, “Don’t allow discouragement to cause you to quit. It’s okay to get discouraged, but don’t live in that because then it’s going to cause you to quit