Why I quit a YouTube channel with 370k subscribers

Summary

In this video, Ed from Film Booth discusses why he decided to leave his successful YouTube channel with 370,000 subscribers to pursue a more specialized approach. He highlights the rapid growth and changes on YouTube, emphasizing the need for creators to adapt and focus on niche audiences to make a significant impact. Ed explores the challenges faced by different types of channels and argues for the benefits of becoming a specialist to differentiate oneself and provide more targeted, valuable content. He also announces his new channel, Creator Booth, aimed at entrepreneurs and business owners.

Takeaways

• 😲 Every minute, 79 years of video is streamed on YouTube, almost double that of Netflix.
• 📈 The number of YouTube channels has exploded from 23 million in 2018 to 114 million.
• ❓ Creators should ask themselves if they're keeping up with YouTube's rapid changes and adapting their strategies accordingly.
• 📉 Focusing only on mass-appeal content means unique, critical problems for niche audiences often go unaddressed.
• 🧩 Different types of YouTube channels (gamers, tech, entrepreneurs, etc.) face unique challenges that require tailored strategies.
• 🎯 Targeting the crossover zone for mass appeal can lead to content that isn't specific enough to truly help niche audiences.
• 😕 Examples in videos that are too broad can confuse viewers whose situations are very different, leading to misinterpretation and ineffective action.
• 🔍 There's a significant opportunity for creators to specialize in solving specific, big problems for specific groups of people.
• 💡 Specializing can help creators differentiate themselves, build a more dedicated community, and grow more sustainably.
• 🚀 Transitioning to a specialist approach can be more impactful and generate more dedicated support, even with fewer views.

Q & A

What prompted Ed to quit his YouTube channel with 370,000 subscribers?

Ed decided to quit his channel because he believes there is a better way to make a bigger impact on the world by becoming a specialist in a specific niche rather than catering to a broad audience.

How has the number of YouTube channels changed since 2018?

The number of YouTube channels has increased dramatically from 23 million to 114 million since 2018.

What is the 'crossover zone' according to Ed, and why is it problematic?

The 'crossover zone' is the area where content appeals to the most people in a niche, aiming for big views. It is problematic because it neglects the unique, critical problems of specific viewer segments, leading to less impactful content.

Why does Ed believe becoming a specialist can be more beneficial?

Ed believes becoming a specialist can be more beneficial because it allows creators to address the specific, critical problems of a defined group, leading to more dedicated followers and potentially faster growth despite a smaller initial audience.

What are some challenges faced by different types of YouTube channels?

Challenges include dealing with trends and monetization for gamers, slow news periods and sponsor relationships for tech channels, niche volatility and copyright issues for faceless automation channels, and building credibility and converting views to leads for entrepreneurs.

What did Ed mean by 'pivoting' and how does it relate to his new strategy?

Pivoting refers to changing focus to specialize in a specific niche rather than a broad audience. Ed plans to pivot by focusing on creating content for entrepreneurs and business owners, which he believes he can help most effectively.

Why does Ed criticize the approach of making content that only targets the 'crossover zone'?

Ed criticizes this approach because it forces creators to produce generic content that doesn't address the unique needs of different viewer segments, leading to less meaningful and impactful videos.

How did the channel mentioned in the script grow from 0 to 300,000 subscribers in a year?

The channel grew by specializing in using flow state to become a high-performing individual, targeting a specific niche within the self-help category, which helped them stand out and attract a dedicated audience.

What is Ed's new channel, and what will it focus on?

Ed's new channel is called Creator Booth. It will focus on teaching entrepreneurs and business owners how to write and produce content, grow their YouTube channels, build email lists, create products and services, and turn their channels into businesses.

What advice does Ed offer to other YouTube creators based on his experience?

Ed advises other creators to consider specializing in a specific niche to address the critical needs of a defined audience, which can lead to more dedicated followers, faster growth, and greater impact, rather than trying to appeal to a broad, general audience.