Today I’m going to show you the YouTube channel small channel growth template I use to get an ROI from my video marketing efforts.
In fact these are the same methods that generated a $93,352 recurring profit with a tiny YouTube channel.
If you start using it, then I’ll bet you a $10 (figuratively) that your channel will see some growth.
Once done, you’ll see results go from results like this:
To better ones like this:
And no, it does not involve getting your mum to subscribe and watch all your videos.
YouTube makes it easy for anyone to create a channel, share content with a large audience and grow their following.
Whether it is gaming videos, tutorials, beauty videos, unboxing videos, or product review channels.
YouTube offers an audience for it all.
If you want to start a channel but you’re scared of the competition out there, you don’t have to worry.
YouTube generates 1 billion hours of video on the platform every day, and it has become the second-largest search engine right after the big G.
And as Google owns YouTube, it ain’t going anywhere.
Its users and non-users alike log onto the platform to search for videos that address their search query.
So, how do you attract viewers and keep them watching?
In this article, you’ll find tactics and tips that will help you grow your small channel and get more valuable YouTube subscribers.
It will also help you if you want to create your first YouTube channel.
First though, let’s take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
30,000 Foot View
Success on YouTube BEGINS with a bit more than just keyword research and SEO.
Sure, that stuff needs to be done; and will be part of this post further on down.
But it all begins with understanding your ‘why’.
The reason for wanting to grow a Youtube channel in the first place.
What’s Your Big Reason?
The first thing you must know the answer to is “what are you trying to achieve?”
If you cannot get clarity on that, then it’s something you need to iron out right away.
We are all motivated by different things.
Not of us all are motivated purely by money but it’s ok if you are.
Maybe you truly want to spread a message.
If so, YouTube is the perfect platform to reach your intended audience.
What you must have first though, is a clear goal and a plan to execute it.
Stop The Hacks
If you have bought some products in the past on YouTube growth, chances are you have been taught a hack or two.
People trying to game the system.
If you do that, then you are always trying to run your YouTube channel with one eye open.
Google is not stupid.
And while loopholes appear now and then and get exploited, the holes get plugged up quickly.
Buying YouTube subscribers is one example of what not to do.
So if a hack worked for you a short while and now does not, then that’s life.
Gaming the system is not a long term strategy.
Run a legitimate business and people will genuinely want to consume your content.
Why do people watch videos?
No matter what you are looking for on YouTube, you’ll be able to find thousands of videos with tons of views.
So imagine having your content appear right in front of people.
Folk don’t just go on YouTube because they’re a tad bored.
They go there to learn, and most importantly – spend money.
Note: We recommend the Keywords Everywhere to get data.
Anything over 1000/mo and a CPC (Cost per Click) of above $0.50 is gold.
Moving on…
One of the reasons people ‘think’ that their videos get watched is due to some search engine magic.
All YouTube really cares about is if your Youtube video gets clicked on.
The very first time a person watches your videos it’s due to the video title and the thumbnail which we will look at in more detail later
But as soon as the video starts to play, it’s the human element that kicks in.
They will watch because of who you are and the message of your video.
If they like what they see, then you’ll get more subscribers over time.
And what do many humans respond to?
Telling Stories
We all love a good story.
And your videos should tell a story.
Not in the traditional sense, but there should be some form of fun in there.
The first thing, as mentioned earlier, is the title and the thumbnail.
Those two things are what draws a person in.
Once they are in, you need to get them excited.
You can do that by being you, telling some personal stuff and doing that will resonate with people.
At the end of the video you can provide more content in the form of end screens, YouTube cards or directing them to other social media.
And then you interact with your peeps who are kind enough to engage.
Make sure you reply to comments
If someone takes the time to leave a comment, take the time to reply.
Ok, so now time for some concrete steps on what to do.
Videos – Make Them For Others
The ideal thing for you to do is create YouTube videos around a passion of yours.
If you are not passionate about your chosen topic, you are destined to fail.
Then combine that passion with what it is that your audience wants.
Your audience will care about certain things within a certain niche or topic.
You need to find out what that is and then craft content around that.
Also understand that your videos should not be for everyone.
If you want to grow your Youtube channel, the first step is to identify your target audience
Recon Work
A business without customers is dead in the water.
And a Youtube channel without viewers as akin to a business that has no customers.
Now a viewer might not be a customer in the true sense, but they are very similar and should be treated as such.
Very few content creators think this way.
They are too focussed on vanity metrics such as views.
So really a YouTube channel needs to find the customers first, then retain them over the long term.
The first step is to find YouTube content that is already successful.
You do that by going to other Youtube channels in your niche.
Sort the videos on that channel by ‘most popular’ over the past 6 to 9 months.
Do this for a bunch of channels, not just one.
Watch the videos that are popular.
Do not have a scarcity mindset and skip stuff.
Watch them all and take notes.
- How long are they?
- What is the call to action?
- What is the title and video description?
Note the video(s) you are recommended to watch next.
Important: Only on this on channels with recent videos.
Ignore big channels that have not uploaded a video in ages.
An interesting thing to note is the view to YouTube subscriber ratio.
We do this really to see what is out there in our niche and what is successful.
Forums and Communities
You can also do some research away from YouTube.
Forums are a great place to get ideas on what your ideal audience really wants.
The questions they are asking, the problems they are having.
Certain people feel safe in forums under a fake username and can often be bolder.
Reddit is a great place to look for ideas.
Join these communities.
Post, ask questions and if you stick around long enough, you will get some great intel that you can use further down the line.
What Kind of channel?
As you are probably well aware of, there are a lot of different kinds of channels out there.
Some are VLogs.
Others are How to or reviews or gaming…etc
When you know the type of channel then you can get a better grip on the kind of content.
A ‘how to’ channel should educate and show people how to do things.
Someone who wants to know how to add a plugin to WordPress wants just that.
Do they want your rants, or opinions on things?
Probably not.
By defining the type of Youtube channel you have, you get clarity on the type of videos your YouTube users want to consume.
Knowing this also helps with content ideas, whether to make long or short videos and more.
YouTube Analytics
If you already have a channel and subscribers then look at the numbers as they never lie.
Not only do you need to understand your analytics, but you need to be able to make changes based on the data you have.
Otherwise what’s the point?
Now once glance at your data can be enough to get you reaching for the painkillers but let’s try and simplify things.
The Who
No, not the band but the people who are watching your videos.
We can break this down into:
- Unique viewers
- the number of vids they watch
- Demographics
- If your subscribers or new visitors are watching videos.
Location
This is what can be quite interesting to me.
Where are people finding out about your videos:
- YouTube search
- Ads
- Browse
- Suggested
- Channel
- Other
This will show you where you are strong and where you could improve.
I’m quite good at search for example, but recently began seeing amazing results with browse due to implementing some of the stuff in this article.
Timing
In this area you can see real time analytics.
This means how your videos are performing over the past 48 hours.
You really can see a lot of cool information in your YouTube analytics.
Practical Steps
Research the Right Keywords
Once you have a niche, keyword research is the first thing to do when starting a new channel on YouTube.
Choosing the right keywords for your niche may skyrocket your videos to the top.
Choosing the wrong keywords may bury your videos in the search results.
Here’s how to find the right keywords and to ensure you have a ton of content ideas to attract new viewers.
List the Broad Keywords
This means you should list the keywords that are common in your niche.
For example, if you are in the fitness niche, your broad keywords will be:
Weight loss
Belly fat
Dieting
Cardio workout
These are broad keywords that everyone is creating videos about.
But you’re not going to optimize your videos using these keywords because they are too competitive.
Type the Broad Keywords into YouTube Search
When you type the broad keywords into the YouTube search tab, you hope to turn the keywords into several long-tail keywords.
YouTube will suggest several keywords which viewers search.
Also, a neat little trick is to use what is called the underscore technique.
Here’s an example of that in action:
Copy all these phrases and head over to the next step.
Do a Competition Analysis
For a small channel, you should optimize your video content around keywords that are not competitive.
MorningFame is a great tool to use for research.
That said, intuition is often the best gauge.
Look not only at search volume, but the size of the channels that are ranking.
Consider the age of the top ranked videos as well as the type of video they make to see if you can do well.
If the top ranked videos are by channels with a large following and are over 3-4 years old, then try something else.
Once you have found a keyword, you can start creating your video.
Create Videos that Keep People on YouTube
Despite its multifaceted benefits and potential, many small businesses find video production stressful.
If you’re having a hard time creating videos for your channel, use free stock video websites like Pixabay, Videvo, Pexels, or Life of Vids.
All the videos found on these websites are high-quality free stock videos you can use for marketing purposes.
Your goal should be to keep people on your video for a long time.
The more they stay, the longer your watch time.
This is good for the YouTube algorithm.
Watch time is the total time spent watching a YouTube video since it was uploaded.
And YouTube loves videos that have lots of watch time.
In 2020, Nike’s “Never Too Far Down | You Can’t Stop Us” was the top YouTube ad.
The watch time paid and organic views, and audience retention contributed to making the video the most-watched ad.
Any channel with a high watch time is most likely to show up higher in search results.
So, you need to create videos that keep people watching.
You can even do YouTube live videos if that appeals.
Publish Long Videos too.
Longer videos perform better than short videos.
They attract a lot of total watch time, especially if you stay on discussion instead of going off point.
So make sure you cut out the fluff.
The first 15 seconds of your video intro are important.
Ensure that you make it clear what your video is all about so that they aren’t confused and don’t click away.
Add Pattern Interrupts
If you want your audience retention to be high, incorporate pattern interrupts.
In addition, you can add non-verbal interrupts as well.
These are elements that are different from the rest of your video.
They can be animations, sound effects, on-screen graphics, B rolls, bulleted lists, new background or setting, and more.
Post Frequently
Once again, being consistent pays.
Your channel will grow faster if you plan a content strategy and create content on similar topics.
This will help you attract a certain audience and raise your channel in the algorithm.
Stick to a specific YouTube posting schedule and try to upload a new video weekly.
Creating a video takes time, so do not rush your production process and post junky videos because you want to be consistent.
Captivate Your Viewer
Begin every video with a hook.
If you create a video on a project you’re working on, show the result at the beginning of the video.
This way, you can captivate the attention of your viewers and get to watch the video till the end to see how you achieved it.
You can use stories to pique your viewer’s interest.
People love stories, and when you start telling an interesting story, they will stick around to hear the end.
Always stick to the topic at hand, don’t go off-topic, and then connect back.
This tactic only works from big channels that have a large audience that trust them.
Another way to hook viewers is by keeping the titles and opening credits short.
Attention spans are becoming short, so any long opener discourages people from binge-watching.
Audience retention is one of the main keys to success on the platform.
Leverage the Algorithms
The algorithm on YouTube is a feedback loop in real-time that tailors videos to each viewer’s different interests.
The goal of this system, according to the company itself, are: to find the right video for you and get people hooked!
Search Algorithm: Google-friendly keywords
For a successful YouTube channel, you need to know SEO best practices.
And great SEO starts with understanding what people are searching for on Google.
It turns out, it’s not just videos that they’re looking up; “YouTube” was one of the top search terms in 2018!
Nowadays, when you do a google search and use video as an option (instead of images or text), your video will have priority over other content!
There’s no set rule about which keywords can help rank well.
But you need to make sure your content shows up in the search results.
Optimize Your Videos for YouTube Search
YouTube SEO is a vital component of channel growth.
And very different from Google SEO.
You must ensure your video content is optimized for the YouTube search engine.
Whether you use a keyword tool or your own knowledge, there are some best practices you need to follow.
Assuming you have a keyword in mind then you need to:
- Add that keyword to the title and meta data of the new video.
- Make sure the keyword is added naturally in the description and tags
- Actually say the keyword several times throughout the video.
- Maybe even use part of the keyword in the thumbnail.
- Make use of playlists, cards and end screens
- Ensure you add captions
Successful YouTube videos are often well optimized.
Suggested Algorithm
Suggested Videos on YouTube are a personalized collection/series of videos that an individual viewer may be interested in watching next.
This is based on their prior activity.
This means the suggested video is not simply another video.
It’s something customized to each watcher’s personal interests and preferences.
They are shown to viewers on the right side of the watch page under ‘Up next’ on desktop.
Or below the video they’re currently viewing at any point within their mobile app experience.
The Browse Algorithm
When a person goes to the YouTube homepage, they are presented with videos that YouTube thinks they will want to watch.
These choices are based on the individual’s browsing history.
Spend a few minutes watching videos on a random topic.
Then go to the YouTube homepage and see what is recommended.
As a creator, appearing in here is huge.
One way to give yourself a chance is to make videos on the same topics as your competition.
Just with your unique take.
using similar meta data will give you a chance to appear in browse and get huge traffic.
But you’ll need to do this for a series of videos, not just one.
22 More Tips on Growing a YouTube Channel
Here you go!
1- Video Titles
Research shows that the title is one of the most important factors when it comes to how long someone will watch your video.
A bad or unappealing headline might be enough to make them click away and never come back.
Luckily with some simple guidelines any YouTube user can write good titles without resorting to clickbait tactics!
- Try to keep to a maximum of 60 characters.
You can use symbols too to stand out (though in moderation).
An example: https://youtu.be/EIBeAyTDnys
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Other tips are to include dates.
This will show your content in up to date.
But you’ll need to re-record a new video each year.
Finally, add something intriguing.
So rather than just:
- How to lose weight
Add something to evoke curiosity and then get the click.
- How to lose weight – Tip 3 is Amazing
2- Video Thumbnails
The video thumbnail is a very important factor that can grow your YouTube channel.
We judge a book by its cover while a YouTube video is judged by its thumbnail.
So, before you upload any video on YouTube, you need to check if your thumbnail is attractive enough.
Having a thumbnail on your YouTube video is not a requirement.
But if you want to attract more viewers when your video shows up as a suggested video, a custom thumbnail is needed.
When creating a YouTube thumbnail, ensure that you deliver on the promise.
Avoid using clickbait thumbnails that have nothing in common with your video’s title and content.
People will click away if they feel tricked, and this will affect your watch time, and your audience growth will reduce.
This will most likely affect how the YouTube algorithm works for you.
A good custom thumbnail should tease a situation and make viewers wonder what happened before or next.
Canva is the most common free resource.
This is our recommended YouTube thumbnail maker for those of you that want to really stand out.
3 – Optimize your metadata
YouTube’s metadata guidelines highlight two main things when it comes to using keywords:
- quality
- honesty
YouTube users should be honest in their tagging of videos.
Including tags in the “tags” section of an upload rather than the video description.
Quality is also important; try not to overload your content with too many categories or unnecessary descriptions for a video.
This can confuse what demographic target you’re trying to reach, which will end up hurting ratings instead of helping them!
4- Interaction
Although many people think that YouTube channel success relies on content alone, it is important to know how to interact with your fans.
Your viewers will appreciate it if you are engaged in their comments and “heart” the videos they love!
To help identify which of your subscribers enjoy viewing what you put out there for them, use analytics.
This can be done by looking at subscriber growth and engagement rates.
5 – Respect the guidelines
YouTube recently cracked down hard on inappropriate content due to a rising number of underage users.
A video can be deleted from YouTube’s recommendation feature for any type of offensive content.
Not just pornography or sex videos like you might expect.
You should always double-check the community guidelines before you post anything in case there’s something that could get your video flagged and removed.
6- Start a Series
One way to increase the number of people who sign up for your YouTube channel is by creating a video series.
A video series, or playlist, helps you establish yourself as an influencer in the niche.
And also provides one place where people can search if they’re interested in something specific.
In order to be successful with this strategy, it has to be based around a keyword.
Do not label it ‘My Holiday’ or something that people are not looking for on YouTube.
So when someone searches on Google, your content shows up more frequently than others.
Because you have optimized it for their search term (or keywords).
Develop a series of videos with a special topic focus for each.
This way, your viewers can watch seamlessly from one of your videos to the next.
You can add all these videos into a series playlist.
And YouTube will automatically recommend the next video in your playlist to your viewers.
If the viewers turned on their autoplay, the videos in this playlist will play one after another.
Here’s an example of this being done via end screens.
7- Use End Screens
End screens prompt your viewers to watch your next video, go to your website or subscribe to your channel.
It is an interactive graphic or .MP4 file that links to any page of your choice.
As its name implies, you can add end screens only at the end of your video.
The end screen should appear in the last 20 seconds of your video.
Look at one basic example here:
You should be creative when using End screen.
Point your viewers to your subscription button, promote another channel, or promote your previous videos.
You can link to merchandising sites, your website, or crowdfunding platforms with a linked end screen (If your channel is monetized)
The end screen feature is versatile and is used for different purposes.
Here’s a guide from YouTube on how to use End Screens to make viewers take action.
8- YouTube Cards
You’re probably wondering what YouTube cards are.
They’re panels that viewers can interact with that come in and out at points you can determine.
The aim being to encourage viewers to view another video that they might be interested in.
You can also send them to your channel page to subscribe if you prefer.
You can add up 5 of them on your YouTube videos which include images, text links or clickable ones–whatever you like best!
They even allow for a little written call to action.
9- Giveaways
Hosting a giveaway is the perfect way to get more subscribers on your YouTube channel quickly.
These giveaways can vary depending on what niche you are in.
For example if you’re into fitness and have videos about that, why not host a fitness gear giveaway?
But if it’s business consulting then hosting an ebook or service will help drive subscriptions as well!
Regardless of which prize type this is, it has to be something worthwhile so viewers want to subscribe too.
Come up with some creative ideas like these and make sure they fit your specific needs best before moving forward
10- Cross Promotion
For anyone looking to promote their YouTube channel, there are 3 easy ways you can cross-promote your videos on social media:
- Posting video teasers to build up anticipation for a new release.
- Behind the scenes footage so followers/subscribers get an inside look at how much work goes into making these videos (it’s not always glamorous!).
- Alerting them when it’s time for a new episode.
11- Joining the YouTube Community
One of the best ways to grow your YouTube channel is by getting involved with those who are doing what you do.
You can network, get feedback and share interests if you’re participating in community discussion boards.
Or on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter.
There are groups for discussing various topics related to YouTube content creators.
If it sounds too overwhelming, start small.
Check out a couple discussions about photography or gaming then try branching off when you feel more comfortable
12-Uploading Your Videos on Facebook
Some people say it’s just the nature of social media, but different social media platforms can be used to your advantage.
In today’s world there are many video streaming sites like YouTube and Facebook.
They all have their own advantages in content distribution and marketing efforts.
When 68% of marketers report success with publishing on Facebook, you should take some time before deciding if it’s for you.
Having good social media management is also super helpful to grow your channel and can be used to promote your videos too.
13 – Other Social Networks
A great way to get new viewers to upload your videos to Pinterest and Twitter so long as you follow the guidelines.
Try it with one video first to get to grips.
Then get into a rhythm.
Good social media management is the key here so you do not get overwhelmed.
You can read more about video on Twitter here:
https://videomarketinginsider.com/twitter-video-mastery/
You can read more about video on Pinterest here: https://videomarketinginsider.com/ultimate-guide-pinterest-videos/
Ideally you can get people off of these platforms and turn them into YouTube viewers of your content.
If you want you can try other social networks like Instagram but just make sure your audience is there.
You’ll want to create a video that follows these guidelines:
14- Embedding Videos On Your Blog
Websites and blogs are an excellent way for YouTube users to share more information with their viewers.
Every time you make a video you should also write a blog post.
By blogging about the topics in your videos, you can provide additional content that will help people learn form.
If you already have a blog up and running, try embedding your YouTube videos onto it.
A blog post with a video embedded in it also benefits from helping your site with its bounce rate.
15- Growing Your YouTube Channel With Ads
Utilizing Organic growth for your YouTube channel is great, but learning how to promote your YouTube videos can speed things up.
In order to drive viewers and YouTube subscribers, you will want to create an ad within the budget that suits your needs.
You can learn more about YouTube ads if you are a beginner here: https://videomarketinginsider.com/youtube-ads-beginners/
16- A Trailer
Do an intro video for your channel to show off and introduce yourself and your content on YouTube.
It doesn’t matter if you already have a few videos on the homepage, always be ready with your introduction in case someone new arrives
17 – Trending Content
Out of all the options for a YouTube channel, if you want your content to be successful it makes sense that you would need to post videos people will enjoy.
Making sure every video is trending can seem like an impossible task so what are some ways we can create engaging content?
One option could be using popular trends in our niche or online media as inspiration.
As long as they align with what your channel has been focusing on and offers entertainment value, then these types of videos should attract more viewers and subscribers!
18- Branding
One of the most important tips you’ll need for a successful YouTube channel is authenticity.
It doesn’t matter how good your content might be, if you’re not “real” or “genuine,” it’s going to come off as fake.
This will affect how viewers see you and your YouTube Channel.
When YouTubers take the screen, they should strive to connect with their audience by being themselves.
This will attract people that are right in line with what they want, which is subscribers who like them!
Subscribers stay around long-term when brands have an authentic presence on social media channels such as Youtube.
Don’t be a copycat trying to mimic popular trends.
19- Community Posts to Promote your YouTube channel
The last thing you want to do is bore your viewers with content.
Sometimes, it can be difficult to come up with something creative that will keep them engaged for the entirety of a video or live stream.
Luckily, there’s an easy solution: create polls!
Polls are quick and efficient ways to get people involved in what they’re watching while simultaneously keeping their attention.
Interacting on social media by voting or commenting on posts about topics related to those interests is fun.
20- Email
You might not think of this, but you can use your email to grow your YouTube channel.
By combining it with the emails on our website we’re sure that both will be helpful in promoting fresh content and generating more traffic for all areas.
Send your subscribers links to your new videos so they don’t miss out.
You can even ask your list to subscribe to your channel.
Use this addition to the end of your link:
?sub_confirmation=1
This works for all YouTube channels
- Locate your YouTube url/channel name.
- Add the modifier ?sub_confirmation=1 to the end of your channel name
If you have a fantastic relationship this can help with audience retention as these people will be more inclined to watch your Youtube videos.
21- Follow Marketing Holidays
There are a million ways to get your content viewed by people, but sometimes the simplest methods work best.
Use holidays or popular movies as opportunities to post videos that will catch more eyeballs than you think!
22- Collaborate
Collaborating with other YouTubers is one of the most effective ways to grow your YouTube channel.
Connect with other YouTubers and collaborate to do a video.
This will expose your channel to other people who’ve not heard about you.
When another content creator with strong influence talks about you and what you do, people are more likely to check out your channel.
If they like the content you’re putting out, you’ve got a new subscriber.
If you do your research, have realistic expectations, and don’t overwork yourself, you’ll be successful in the YouTube World.
Summary
So whether you are small or not, you should want to grow your YouTube channel.
Over time the number of YouTube subscribers you have will increase.
It’s up to you how you want to promote your youtube channel but there are many options as you have seen.
The video content is one part of it but you need to do your recon beforehand to ensure you create videos your audience wants to see.
You can use youtube to start or grow a business along with using it as a platform to spread your message.
Thank you for reading this article.
We have more content on our blog.
Finally, if you share this article on Facebook or give it a Tweet, we might shed tears of joy.
Cheers!