In the last few years, I have put in a lot of work to grow my Youtube channel to 15k+ subscribers. Matter of fact, since I intentionally began to grow my channel at the end of 2017, I have seen over 13k new subscribers and counting.
My Youtube Channel: A Little Backstory
I began blogging in 2009 and subsequently created a Youtube channel in 2010, but I did not start posting videos until 2011. The purpose of the channel was to share hairstyles and to add a visual medium to demonstrations for the people on a hair forum.
Early on and for several years, I did not even show my face.
Instead, I styled my relaxed hair over music with an inexpensive point and shoot camera. My videos were edited in Windows Media Player until I purchased a MacBook and switched to iMovie.
I took a lot of flack in the comments of my video for not speaking or showing my face, but people still watched and I even began to see subscribers.
Since I created videos to share on Long Hair Care Forum, I was not consistently posting on Youtube. When I wanted to share a new hairstyle or technique, I would create a video to share on the forum. The video was titled for that purpose and I had no focus on growth.
It wasn’t until mid-2012 that I revealed my face as well as my new personal hair challenge to transition my hair from relaxed back to natural. Once I showed my face, I began to gain a few more subscribers, and my comment section began to change.
My main focus was still on sharing what I learned about my hair and the process of transitioning to natural hair. I did not post consistently, but I began to watch other YouTubers, so I began to engage with the natural hair community through comments.
Long story short, in 2015, I began to take my Youtube channel seriously. I purchased a new point and shoot camera with higher quality and I began to plan my content.
Posting regularly helped my Youtube channel organically grow to 2k subscribers over the next couple of years, and at the end of 2017 with 3,000 subscribers I decided to intentionally grow my subscribers fast.
I did a lot of research in 2017 and tried applying the info. By the end of 2017, I learned enough to begin intentionally growing my youtube channel. That led to 5k new subscribers in 2018, 4k new subscribers in 2019, and over 4k so far this year.
How?
Create Videos That Rank
The ultimate goal for any video I create is for it to rank well. Youtube is the second largest search engine, so learning how the Youtube algorithm works is essential to growth.
I still enjoy sharing videos that relate to my personal growth (as opposed to following trends), so my reach is organic growth. However, I research topics and keywords before I create and share a video to ensure it will gain traffic for my channel.
Since Youtube is a search engine, for a video to rank, you have to tell the algorithm where your content belongs and who will be interested. This is done through keywords and tags.
Creating a video about hair will only appeal to people with hair like mine, so I have to tell the algorithm what that audience will search for to find my content.
You can very easily find keywords by typing your video idea into the Youtube search bar and paying attention to what is suggested in the drop-down menu. However, I use Tubebuddy to not just find keywords, but popular keywords that will help my video rank on the first page of search results.
Tubebuddy also has great tools to help create video titles that not only will encourage people to click your video, but also improve your video ranking! The platform will also generate links for marketing purposes that I continue to use for driving traffic to my channel.
I used the free version of Tubebuddy for a year before purchasing a membership, so give it a try for free!
Adding keywords to my video title, description, and tags are how I consistently have videos that rank on the first page of search.
Youtube Is A Visual Platform
Youtube is a platform all about the visual, so even while sitting down to chat, the key to getting people to click and watch your video is interesting visuals.
The first visual I put effort into is my video quality. Over the years I have upgraded my equipment a few times, but even when I had a point and shoot camera, the most important thing was high-quality high-definition video.
Nobody wants to watch a blurry video. No one.
In 2015, I upgraded my camera to a Canon Rebel t5i, and then in 2018, I upgraded to a Canon M50. I like Canon for its color grading on my deeper brown skin tone, but any of the top popular brands will do. Now, even phones have high-quality video capability.
Over the years I have learned that the type of camera matters less than lighting!
Lighting is everything!!!!
I have a ring light and softbox lights, but I prefer to sit in front of a window with a bright light that has either a sheer curtain or scrim over top. Soft bright light will improve video quality and clarity.
The second visual I put significant effort into is my video thumbnail. If your video is put in front of your target audience, how will you get them to click your video over others? The thumbnail.
Having a clear and crisp thumbnail tells the viewer that your video will be high-quality. A clear and crisp thumbnail is also eye-catching, so it will get picked amongst the crowd.
The thumbnail also provides another opportunity for the algorithm to grab onto any text to rank your video. I use Canva to add words to my thumbnails, to create photo grids/collages, and to add any filters or graphics for visual interest.
Audio counts too
I would be remiss if I did not mention audio. Naturally, we gravitate toward what is easy to hear and audio can be used for interest as well.
A cheap Lavalier microphone can help improve the audio quality of your videos, or you can invest in a more expensive microphone that plugs into your camera. Either way, good sound quality is part of the package that viewers expect from a Youtube video.
Also, good music can keep people on your video for longer or fill in sound for a visual demonstration that adds to the overall content effect. I use Epidemic Sound to find licensed music for my videos as well as new sound effects.
They Clicked: Now Get Them To Subscribe
Half the battle is won! Learning how to grow your Youtube views through ranking and visual interest is a large part of gaining subscribers. Next, you have to encourage people to subscribe.
How?
Create videos that offer value and be sure to include a call to action somewhere in your video. Remember, Youtube is a search engine, so many people fall into the ‘how-to’ category.
People are usually trying to learn how to improve their lives, and you have something to offer. Any niche can offer value, so do not underestimate what you have to offer.
Educational content is how I am usually found, but I find that people come to Youtube to also expand their possibilities. Whether it be learning how to apply makeup, how to use a new tech device, or simply decide what to wear, people are looking to gain something new from the videos they watch.
Don’t forget that people want to be entertained.
No one will subscribe to a boring channel. Whether you change visuals frequently, you tell a story, or share bits and pieces of your life, give value but make it entertaining.
You do not have to do something outrageous or dangerous to engage your audience. Your personality could be all the entertainment a video needs. Regardless of what you offer, people return to channels that provide entertainment.
Once you have people hooked, ask them to subscribe!
You may think that it’s not necessary to ask people to subscribe, but the research shows that people want to be invited into your space.
Somewhere within your video, you must ask people to subscribe!
Better yet, include a call to action a few times within the video through graphics, an actual verbal invitation, and a link on the end card as well.
Be Consistent
All of the work it takes to create a video and gain subscribers means nothing if I do not create consistent content. Usually, when people subscribe to a channel, they look at past videos.
People, including myself, will not subscribe to a channel that will not post again. The entire point of subscribing to a channel is to easily be able to find new content from a particular creator.
If a Youtuber does not create consistent content, people will not subscribe and many will unsubscribe when new content is posted after an absence.
Also, the Youtube algorithm learns you and your potential audience through consistent posts, so choose a posting schedule and stick to it.
Marketing Is A Must
Getting your videos to rank and creating visually pleasing videos goes a long way in gaining subscribers, but marketing your content leads to faster growth.
Youtube is saturated with creators, so to grow your Youtube subscribers fast, you must go where they are and share your content. This means joining forums, Facebook groups, and other social platforms.
Do not spam people!
No one clicks on the comment that reads: “I also created a video on this topic over on my channel. Subscribe for subscribe!” That approach is obnoxious, disrespectful, and just plain lazy.
Instead, participate in those communities and share your content where appropriate.
However, on your own platforms, shamelessly promote your content.
On my Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube community page I share my content. Why? Because people who follow me want to see what I create and they may share!
Others sharing content is an organic way to reach new audiences, so take advantage of your own platforms to gain more traffic.
Learn From The Pros
I have done a lot of research to grow my Youtube channel for free thanks to other creators who focus on educating content creators. These are the people who read about algorithm updates, who experiment so I don’t have to, and share what they learn for free online.
The person who has helped me gain organic traffic to my channel and learn all about the algorithm is Roberto Blake:
Roberto consistently posts updates on the Youtube algorithm, hacks for creators, new tech, and more. Also, unlike many people who tell you how to grow, his channel has almost half a million subscribers and he has a six-figure business based on helping creatives succeed. What more proof do you need?
The second is Sunny Lenarduzzi. I have learned about branding, marketing, and lots of content workflow information from her videos.
Her approach is the opposite of Roberto, but the value is just as substantial.
As a content creator with a full-time job, efficiency matters. I want free time, so I have to remain organized to consistently create content that is marketable.
Sunny’s content helps me efficiently create quality content and helps me package my brand in a way that expands my reach and market my content outside of Youtube.
Again, her channel has just under half a million subscribers and her eight-figure business is all about helping content creators succeed.
Passion Is Key
Learning how to gain traffic and market my content does me no good if I am not passionate about my topic. A passion for what I share is how I am able to consistently create interesting content.
Chasing new subscribers or dollars is not sustainable.
Without a passion for my topic, whether it be beauty or sharing bits of my life, the discipline needed to push my content out would be nonexistent.
I recognize that many people want to grow their Youtube channel for passive income. Just remember, people can smell a lack of authenticity and that will not lead to channel growth.
Youtube is a great source for online income, but the road to income requires discipline and hard work.
The Bottom line is: If you want to grow your youtube audience, then it takes hard work, staying on top of the algorithm, and consistency mixed in with a passion for what you are putting out there in the world.
