how to come up with a killer youtube video idea (to blow up your channel)

Summary

This video script reveals a four-part formula for crafting viral YouTube video ideas. It emphasizes the importance of selecting a killer topic, choosing the right format, and adding a unique angle to stand out. The script also discusses using tools like 'One of 10' to find high-performing outliers and validate topics. It concludes with a series of checks to ensure the idea is feasible, engaging, and aligned with the channel's brand, encouraging creators to balance formulaic approaches with creative freedom.

Takeaways

• 📝 The most crucial element for a successful YouTube video is the base idea, not the title, thumbnail, or video quality.
• 🔍 To determine a video's potential for success, consider if it could reach a million views and validate the topic by checking popular videos and their view counts.
• 🔬 Familiarity bias can skew view counts for well-known YouTubers, so look for 'outliers' from smaller channels to identify high-potential topics.
• 🛠 Use tools like One of Ten to find outliers efficiently, which helps in validating topics and getting inspiration for titles and thumbnails.
• 🎯 A 'killer topic' should be strong enough to succeed without relying on the creator's existing popularity or familiarity.
• 📈 The video format (tutorial, challenge, commentary, vlog, interview) should align with the value you want to provide to viewers and stand out from existing content.
• 🤔 The 'angle' or unique twist differentiates your video from others on the same topic, making it more compelling and interesting.
• 🌟 Use superlatives, stakes, time constraints, comprehensive coverage, familiarity, twists, comparisons, and transformations to add an angle and make the idea remarkable.
• ✅ Evaluate your video idea with feasibility, new audience interest, existing audience interest, view potential, brand alignment, and package ability as criteria.
• 🔄 Even if an idea doesn't fit the formula perfectly, if it excites you and you believe in it, create it anyway, as some of the best ideas come from taking risks.
• 📚 The script provides a comprehensive guide and a Notion template to help creators systematically develop and evaluate their video ideas.

Q & A

What is the most important factor in determining whether a YouTube video becomes successful according to Patty Gallagher?

According to Patty Gallagher, the most important factor for a video's success is the base idea, not the title, thumbnail, or even the video quality itself.

What are the three core elements that nearly every successful YouTube video idea can be broken down into?

The three core elements are the topic or subject of the video, the format or type of video, and the angle or unique aspect that sets the video apart from others.

Why is it crucial to validate the topic of a YouTube video before creating it?

Validating the topic ensures that it has the potential to attract views and interest. It helps avoid investing time and resources into a video on a topic that may not be popular or engaging for the audience.

What is an 'outlier' in the context of YouTube video success?

An 'outlier' is a video that significantly overperforms a channel's average views. Outliers from smaller creators are strong signals that a topic has high view potential because they prove interest without relying on familiarity with the creator.

How can one identify high-performing outliers on YouTube?

One can identify outliers by comparing the views of a video to the average views of other videos on the same channel. Tools like the one of 10 can also be used to find outliers efficiently by applying filters to search results.

What is the role of 'format' in the formula for a killer YouTube video idea?

The format determines how the topic of the video is presented. It can be a tutorial, challenge, breakdown, commentary, vlog, or interview, and it provides a reason for viewers to click on the video.

Why is it beneficial to combine formats in a YouTube video idea?

Combining formats can make a video stand out by offering multiple layers of interest. It can also help to appeal to a broader audience by providing different types of value within the same video.

What is the purpose of adding an 'angle' to a YouTube video idea?

An angle elevates a base idea by making it more interesting or unique. It can attract viewers by introducing elements of novelty, risk, comprehensiveness, or familiarity to the video concept.

What are some examples of angles that can be used to enhance a YouTube video idea?

Examples of angles include superlatives (biggest, cheapest), stakes (money, time constraints), comprehensive coverage, lists, familiarity bias (well-known figures or trends), twists, comparisons, and transformations.

What is the final step in the formula for coming up with a killer YouTube video idea, and why is it important?

The final step is to run the idea through a series of checks, known as 'killer criteria', to evaluate its feasibility, audience interest, view potential, brand alignment, and packageability. This step ensures the idea has the highest potential to succeed while aligning with the creator's capabilities and channel brand.

Why is it sometimes recommended to make videos that may not have viral potential?

Making videos without viral potential can be important for connecting with the existing audience on a deeper level, for the sake of creativity and self-expression, and because sometimes these unexpected ideas can become surprisingly successful.

How can one maintain a balance between following the formula for a successful video and pursuing creative ideas that may not fit the formula?

One can maintain balance by using the formula as a guideline for creating videos with high potential while also allowing space for creative exploration and making videos that are personally exciting or meaningful, even if they don't fit all the criteria.