Table of contents:
Key takeaways:
- Always Provide Value: Ensure that your videos are valuable to the viewer, whether through entertainment, education, or inspiration. Avoid fluff, long intros, and unnecessary small talk to maintain engagement throughout.
- Drive Curiosity with Titles and Thumbnails: Create compelling titles and thumbnails that spark curiosity or address a problem. The first few seconds of the video are crucial for grabbing attention.
- Find Inspiration and Stay Relevant: Look at what’s trending in your niche, or use analytics to see what your audience is watching. Jump on popular topics, events, or product releases to attract a broader audience.
- Focus on Quantity First: When starting out, focus on creating a lot of content to refine your skills and find your voice. Over time, work on improving quality and, eventually, scale up to high-quality content produced consistently.
Over the past two years, my YouTube channel grew from just over 2,000 subscribers to an incredible 96,000. It’s been a journey, and in this post, I want to share the strategies and insights that made this growth possible.
I’ll be breaking down seven key strategies that have helped me grow my channel—and trust me, number seven will help you get unstuck and create content more consistently. Let’s dive in!
1. Always provide value
When it comes to growing on YouTube, providing value is key—whether it’s through entertainment, inspiration, or education.
Top YouTube leaders like Creator Liaison René Ritchie and algorithm expert Todd Beau emphasize the importance of viewer satisfaction.
It's not just about views but whether people enjoy watching your content and stick around for the full video. So, there is no fluff or small talk—just pure value from start to finish.
2. Create videos you’d want to watch
This might sound simple, but it’s critical: make the kind of videos you’d personally want to watch. If you’re serious about creating for YouTube, start by being an active viewer.
Pay attention to the creators and content that draw you in. Which videos do you find yourself saving to watch later or watching multiple times?
Now apply that same magic to your work—whether it's about pacing, format, or how creators engage with their audience.
And don’t forget to review your own videos—if a section feels boring to you, chances are it will be boring to others, too. Edit it out, change it up, and keep the energy flowing.
3. Drive Curiosity or Solve Problems
Whether teasing an exciting reveal or offering a solution to a common problem, it’s important to drive curiosity from the start.
Take this blog post, for example: I promised to share seven keys to growing your channel and hinted that number seven could help you get unstuck.
This technique—called foreshadowing—creates a sense of curiosity that encourages viewers (or readers) to stick around until the end.
Use this approach in your titles, thumbnails, and early moments of your video to keep your audience hooked.
4. Package your videos effectively
Your video’s packaging—thumbnail, title, and the first few seconds of content—are the most important factors in whether someone clicks on your video. Browse your YouTube homepage on a desktop and see what stands out to you.
Which thumbnails grab your attention? Your thumbnail should be visually appealing, and your title should drive curiosity without being too long.
Remember, YouTube auto-plays the first few seconds of your video when people hover over it—so make sure those first moments draw them in.
And if a video isn’t performing well, don’t hesitate to switch up the thumbnail or title to see if it improves the click-through rate.
5. Research to find video inspiration
Feeling stuck on ideas? Start by searching YouTube for topics you want to cover. Look at the top-ranking videos in your niche: how are they packaged?
What topics are they covering? You can also dive into YouTube Studio’s analytics to see what channels and videos your audience is watching.
This will give you insight into trending subjects or content that resonates with your viewers. Use this information to put your unique spin on a topic and package it in a way that stands out.
6. Capitalize on trends
A great way to grow your channel quickly is by jumping on trends relevant to your niche. In my case, I create tech-related content, so I always make sure to cover big events like Apple or Google product launches.
When iPhone 16 or iOS 18 were released, I quickly made videos discussing the announcements. By tapping into current events, you can reach a broader audience beyond your subscribers and attract new viewers.
But remember, even when covering trendy topics, providing real value to the viewer is what keeps them coming back.
7. Don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis
The final and perhaps most important tip: don’t overthink things. Don’t worry if the topic isn’t perfect or the title and thumbnail are ideal.
Just start creating! A common saying among YouTubers is that your first 100 videos are just practice. Focus on quantity first—find your voice, figure out what works for you, and improve your skills.
Once you have the basics down, you can shift your attention to quality. Over time, you’ll develop systems that allow you to produce high-quality content faster without losing that crucial viewer satisfaction.
Bonus Tip: Use the right tools to streamline your process
That’s it—my top seven tips for growing your YouTube channel! And for those of you interested in video podcasting, I’ve found that tools like Riverside make it easy to streamline the process.
From recording high-quality videos to editing right in the platform with AI tools, Riverside has been a game-changer for my weekly podcasts and live streams. Create your free account today to give Riverside a spin.
FAQs about YouTube Growth
How do I turn viewers into subscribers?
Consistently provide value in your videos and remind viewers to subscribe when it makes sense. Create engaging content that solves a problem or piques curiosity, and build a connection with your audience by responding to comments and encouraging interaction.
Does YouTube take time to grow?
Yes, growing on YouTube usually takes time. It requires consistent content creation, refining your style, and learning what resonates with your audience. Success often comes from improving quality and understanding what works over time.
Is it hard to get 1K subscribers?
Reaching 1,000 subscribers can be challenging, especially at the start. It requires producing valuable content, optimizing your video’s presentation (titles, thumbnails, etc.), and engaging with your viewers. But persistence and improvement over time can help you hit this milestone.
How do some YouTubers grow so fast?
Rapid growth can happen by jumping on trends, creating highly shareable content, collaborating with other creators, and maintaining a consistent upload schedule. Some creators also have a knack for producing content that strikes a chord with a large audience early on.
How can I grow my YouTube channel quickly?
Focus on providing consistent value, create engaging titles and thumbnails, and jump on trending topics. Don’t forget to optimize your video’s packaging and use YouTube Studio analytics to fine-tune your content.
What are the most important YouTube metrics to track?
Viewer satisfaction, watch time, and click-through rate (CTR) are key. These show how much viewers enjoy your content and how often people click on your videos.
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