How To Grow Your Dead YT Channel

Summary

This video features Steve, who dramatically revived his stagnant YouTube channel from 150 to 20,000 subscribers. He shares his strategies, including evolving content, focusing on niches, creating high-quality videos, leveraging trends, and crafting engaging intros. He also emphasizes the importance of a feasible content creation schedule to balance life and avoid burnout.

Takeaways

• 📈 **Growth Mindset**: Steve's channel grew exponentially by shifting from casual gaming to focused Madden 19 content, demonstrating the importance of finding and doubling down on content that resonates with an audience.
• 🔄 **Adaptability**: To overcome stagnation, Steve innovated by transitioning from NFL to college football content within the same niche, showing the necessity to evolve in the ever-changing YouTube landscape.
• 🤔 **Fear of Creation**: Overcoming the fear of trying new things is crucial for creators. Steve's success came from stepping out of his comfort zone and experimenting with different content ideas.
• 🎯 **Targeted Content**: Steve emphasizes the importance of being bold and creating content within your niche, even if it's for a smaller audience, as it can provide valuable data and insights for growth.
• 📊 **Analyzing Performance**: Utilizing analytics to understand what works and what doesn't is key to refining content strategy and improving viewer retention.
• 🔥 **Capitalizing on Trends**: Leveraging current trends can quickly draw attention to your content. Steve suggests finding creative ways to incorporate trends relevant to your niche.
• 📹 **First Impressions Matter**: The first 30-40 seconds of a video are critical for engagement. Creators should get to the point quickly to capture and retain viewer interest.
• 🗓️ **Sustainable Scheduling**: Finding a feasible content creation schedule that balances personal life, work, and YouTube is essential for long-term success and avoiding burnout.
• 🛠️ **Quality Over Quantity**: Steve advises taking time to create quality content rather than rushing to produce quantity, which can lead to lower quality and less viewer satisfaction.
• 🔍 **Research and Planning**: Investing time in research and planning during the week allows for more efficient and effective content creation during dedicated recording sessions.
• 👨‍🏫 **Balancing Life**: As an educator and coach, Steve's experience highlights the importance of balancing different life aspects, such as family time and leisure, alongside content creation.

Q & A

What was Steve's initial strategy for growing his YouTube channel?

Steve initially started by playing whatever game was trending or fun at the time without a specific plan or structure. It wasn't until he started a franchise series with Madden 19 that he found an audience and began to grow his channel.

How did Madden 19 impact Steve's YouTube channel growth?

Madden 19 was a turning point for Steve. He started recording a franchise series with one of his favorite teams, which resonated with an audience. This led to significant growth and helped him establish his channel's identity.

Why did Steve's channel growth initially stall after reaching 14,000 subscribers?

Steve's channel growth stalled because he was feeling discouraged as Madden content was going downhill for him. He was also stuck in a plateau, which is a common fear for content creators when they see their growth slowing down or stopping.

What was the first step Steve took to evolve his content strategy?

Steve decided to become an innovator and not just an assembly line worker. He made a significant switch within the football sports niche, moving from professional NFL to college football, which helped him find a new, hungry audience.

How did Steve approach content creation after deciding to innovate?

Steve focused on being bold and creating content that even if he thought only a small portion of people would like, as long as it was within his niche. He emphasized the importance of creating quality content and learning from analytics to improve future videos.

What role do trends play in content creation according to Steve?

Trends are a great way to get a lot of eyes on your content quickly, especially if you capitalize on them early. Steve suggests looking at trends within your niche and the broader sphere, and finding a way to naturally implement them into your content.

Why is focusing on the first 30-40 seconds of a video crucial?

The first 30-40 seconds are pivotal in engaging and locking in your audience. It's important to get the video's point across immediately to avoid losing viewers, as many will decide whether to continue watching within this initial timeframe.

How does Steve manage his content creation schedule?

Steve creates a feasible schedule that balances his work, family life, and YouTube life. He spends his weekdays researching and planning, and then uses his weekends for batch recording and editing, which helps him manage his content creation without burning out.

What advice does Steve give for creators who are struggling with slow growth or a stagnant channel?

Steve advises creators to innovate and not be afraid of creation. He emphasizes the importance of evolving, learning from analytics, and finding a feasible schedule that works for them to avoid burnout and continue growing their channel.

How did Steve's approach to content creation change after his channel started to flatline?

Steve had to get out of his comfort zone and become an innovator. He made a significant switch in his content focus, moving from professional NFL to college football, and started creating long-form series style content, which led to renewed growth.