4 HIDDEN YouTube Features That Will DOUBLE Your Subscribers

Summary

This video script reveals four YouTube features creators often overlook to boost subscriber count. It details how optimizing video retention, using a special URL to prompt subscriptions, strategically asking viewers to subscribe, and linking long-form content to YouTube Shorts can significantly increase engagement and viewership. The speaker shares tested strategies and psychological tricks that have doubled subscriber growth, emphasizing the importance of providing value before asking for commitments.

Takeaways

• 🔍 **Retention Optimization**: Utilize YouTube's 'Trim and Edit' tool to remove dull parts of videos, improving audience retention and making your channel more attractive to subscribers.
• 🔗 **URL Subscription Prompt**: Add a special code to your channel URL to prompt visitors to subscribe, leveraging choice architecture to increase the likelihood of subscription.
• 🗣️ **Strategic Subscription Asks**: Timing is crucial when asking viewers to subscribe; provide substantial value first, then make the request, tying it to the value provided to logically persuade viewers to subscribe.
• 📹 **Leveraging YouTube Shorts**: Use the 'related link' feature in YouTube Shorts to connect them with longer videos, converting 'fast-food subscribers' from shorts into more engaged, long-form viewers.
• 📈 **Viewer Retention Analysis**: Analyze viewer retention graphs to identify and edit out parts of your videos where viewers lose interest, which can lead to higher audience satisfaction and channel growth.
• 🎞️ **Video Editing for Engagement**: Edit your videos to ensure they start strong and maintain interest, as a video's initial segments significantly influence whether viewers continue watching.
• 🔗 **URL Manipulation for Engagement**: Manipulate your channel URL to include a prompt for new visitors to subscribe, making the subscription action more accessible and visible.
• 📊 **Data-Driven Content Improvement**: Use data from your video's performance to make informed decisions about content improvement, focusing on areas that need enhancement to better engage your audience.
• 📲 **Mobile-First Strategy**: Consider the mobile viewing experience when creating and editing videos, as many viewers consume content on mobile devices, and ensure your call to actions are mobile-friendly.
• 🌟 **Value-Driven CTAs**: Craft your calls to action (CTAs) around the value you've provided in your content, making the ask more relevant and appealing to viewers who have already gained something from your video.

Q & A

What is the main claim of the video regarding YouTube subscribers?

The video claims that it's possible to double your YouTube subscribers in about 5 minutes without creating a new video by utilizing certain overlooked features on the platform.

What is the first feature discussed in the video that can help improve subscriber retention?

The first feature is the 'trim and edit' tool in YouTube Creator Studio, which allows creators to remove boring parts of their videos to improve audience retention.

How does the video suggest using the 'trim and edit' tool to optimize videos?

The video suggests using the 'trim and edit' tool to surgically remove parts of the video that correspond to dips in the audience retention graph, thereby making the video more engaging and improving subscriber retention.

What is the psychological trick mentioned in the video that can double subscriber gains?

The psychological trick is asking viewers to subscribe to the channel at a point in the video where they have already received value, thus making the request more likely to be accepted.

How does the video recommend timing the request for viewers to subscribe?

The video recommends waiting until at least halfway through the video to ask for a subscription, ensuring that the viewer has received substantial value before making the request.

What is the term used in the video to describe subscribers gained from YouTube shorts?

The term used to describe subscribers gained from YouTube shorts is 'fast food subscribers,' implying they are easily acquired but may not be as engaged as other subscribers.

How can YouTube shorts be used to convert 'fast food subscribers' into more engaged viewers?

The video suggests linking long-form videos directly to YouTube shorts, allowing viewers who enjoy the short content to easily transition to more in-depth content and become more engaged.

What is the special piece of code that the video mentions can be added to a channel URL to prompt subscription?

The special piece of code is '?sub_confirmation=1', which when added to the end of a channel URL, immediately prompts viewers to subscribe when they click the link.

What is 'Choice architecture' as mentioned in the video, and how does it relate to YouTube?

'Choice architecture' refers to the idea that people are more likely to take action when presented with a clear and easy option. In the context of YouTube, it's used to explain how prompting viewers to subscribe or like a video can increase the likelihood of them doing so.

How does the video suggest leveraging the power of YouTube shorts to grow a channel?

The video suggests leveraging the high reach of YouTube shorts by linking them to longer videos, thus converting viewers who are drawn to the shorts into subscribers of the longer content.

What is the new strategy mentioned at the end of the video for channels to get millions of views?

The new strategy hinted at the end of the video involves channels with zero subscribers getting significant views on their first video, suggesting a focus on content discovery and optimization rather than just subscriber count.

Outlines

00:00

📈 Optimizing Video Retention to Boost Subscribers

The speaker, with 16 years of YouTube experience, reveals four overlooked features that can significantly increase subscribers. The first feature discussed is the 'Trim and Edit' tool in YouTube Creator Studio, which allows creators to enhance viewer retention by removing uninteresting parts of their videos. The speaker explains how dips in the retention graph indicate audience disinterest and suggests using the tool to edit out these sections. They provide a step-by-step guide on how to use the 'Trim and Edit' feature to improve video retention, which can lead to more views and subscribers. The example given demonstrates how trimming a video can potentially double the number of subscribers gained.

05:01

🔗 Prompting Subscriptions with a Special URL

The second feature is a trick involving a special URL code that prompts viewers to subscribe when they visit the channel. The speaker instructs viewers to add a specific code to their channel URL, which triggers a subscription pop-up. This method leverages 'Choice architecture,' making it more likely for viewers to subscribe when presented with a clear option. The speaker emphasizes the effectiveness of this approach, suggesting it can be used in various places like social media or email newsletters. They also discuss the psychological impact of asking for subscriptions at the right time in a video, suggesting that providing value before asking increases the likelihood of viewers subscribing.

10:01

📹 Converting Short Form Views to Long-Term Subscribers

The third feature highlighted is the use of YouTube Shorts to attract subscribers. While Shorts can quickly gain views, the speaker notes that subscribers from Shorts may not be as engaged. To convert these 'fast-food subscribers' into loyal fans, the speaker introduces a new feature that allows linking long-form videos to Shorts. This linking strategy helps in directing viewers from Shorts to more in-depth content, potentially turning them into long-term, engaged subscribers. The speaker provides instructions on how to add related links to Shorts, emphasizing the importance of this strategy in the current competitive landscape of short-form content.

🚀 Exploring New Strategies for Viral Growth

The final paragraph teases a new strategy that has been helping channels gain millions of views, even with zero subscribers. The speaker mentions channels that have achieved high view counts on their first videos, suggesting that there are effective methods for rapid growth. While the specific strategy is not detailed in this paragraph, the speaker implies that there is a deeper level of optimization and strategy beyond the four features discussed, hinting at advanced techniques for exponential channel growth.

Keywords

💡Audience Retention

Audience retention refers to how long viewers continue watching a video before losing interest. In the video, the speaker highlights that dips in retention signal boring parts of content, and these moments can significantly impact a channel’s growth by decreasing its recommendation by YouTube’s algorithm. The script suggests using the 'Trim and Edit' tool to remove these dips to improve retention.

💡YouTube Creator Studio

The YouTube Creator Studio is a tool for creators to manage and optimize their content. It provides insights like audience retention graphs and editing tools, such as the 'Trim and Edit' feature mentioned in the script. The speaker explains how utilizing these features can help creators enhance their videos post-publishing, thus improving subscriber growth.

💡Subscriber Milestone

A subscriber milestone, such as reaching 1,000 subscribers, is a goal many YouTube creators aspire to achieve. The video addresses creators' frustrations when their views increase but their subscriber count remains stagnant. The speaker provides strategies for overcoming this hurdle, focusing on retention and optimization of videos.

💡Trim and Edit Tool

The 'Trim and Edit' tool in YouTube’s Creator Studio allows creators to remove unengaging sections from their videos after they've been published. The video explains how creators can use this feature to eliminate parts that cause dips in audience retention, improving viewer satisfaction and potentially boosting subscribers.

💡Choice Architecture

Choice architecture refers to how options are presented to people, influencing their decision-making. The speaker describes how adding a subscription prompt link in URLs taps into this concept, making it easier for viewers to subscribe. By offering a clear, simple action (like a subscribe popup), creators increase the likelihood of gaining subscribers.

💡Emotional Investment

Emotional investment is when a viewer becomes engaged with a video's content on a personal or emotional level. The speaker emphasizes that asking viewers to subscribe after they've received value and become emotionally invested—rather than at the beginning—yields better results. This tactic ties the request for subscription to the content's value, increasing its effectiveness.

💡YouTube Shorts

YouTube Shorts are short-form videos that are rapidly gaining popularity due to YouTube’s competition with platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The video mentions that while shorts attract more views quickly, the quality of subscribers gained from shorts tends to be lower. The speaker advises creators on how to convert these 'fast food subscribers' into loyal fans by linking longer videos to their shorts.

💡Subscriber Conversion

Subscriber conversion refers to the process of turning casual viewers into subscribers. The script discusses different techniques for improving conversion rates, such as using psychological tricks, placing subscription requests at the right moment, and linking content effectively. By optimizing these moments, creators can significantly increase their subscriber count.

💡Impressions

Impressions are the number of times a video thumbnail is shown to viewers on YouTube. The video explains that poor audience retention leads to fewer impressions, which reduces a video's visibility and limits subscriber growth. This highlights the importance of keeping viewers engaged throughout the video to maintain high impressions.

💡Fast Food Subscribers

Fast food subscribers are subscribers gained through quick and easy methods, like YouTube Shorts, but who are less engaged with the channel’s long-term content. The speaker likens them to fast food because they offer a temporary boost but don't contribute much to the channel’s sustained growth. The video suggests strategies to convert these subscribers into more engaged, loyal viewers.

Highlights

Claim that it's possible to double YouTube subscribers without creating a new video.

Introduction of four features that creators often miss to boost subscriber count.

Emphasis on the importance of audience retention and how it affects channel growth.

Explanation of how to use the 'trim and edit' tool in YouTube Studio to improve video retention.

Demonstration of how to surgically remove boring parts of a video to boost retention.

The impact of video retention on YouTube's recommendation algorithm and views.

A special URL code that prompts viewers to subscribe when clicked.

The psychological impact of 'Choice architecture' on viewer engagement.

The effectiveness of asking viewers to subscribe after providing substantial value.

The difference between 'fast-food subscribers' from shorts and long-term engaged subscribers.

How to convert 'fast-food subscribers' into loyal fans using YouTube Shorts linking feature.

The potential of YouTube Shorts to reach a wider audience compared to long-form videos.

A new strategy for channels to get millions of views with zero subscribers.

The importance of subscribers watching videos, not just the count of subscribers.

The promise of a揭秘 strategy for channels to get millions of views seemingly out of nowhere.

Transcripts

what if I told you there was a way to

double your YouTube subscribers in

around about 5 minutes without creating

a single video you call me crazy right

and with these glasses you're probably

right to do so but after 16 years of

making videos on the YouTube platform

I'm here to tell you that there are four

features that a lot of creators miss

that actually make all of this possible

all you need to know is what they are

and how they work work and your channel

will be flooded with tons of new views

and subscribers in fact when we tested

number three on this list in one of our

videos it doubled the amount of

subscribers we gained with only a few

minutes of extra work but before I break

down how I did it let's tackle the first

feature on the list it's a simple yet

powerful tool inside the YouTube Creator

Studio it will save a retention on your

videos and make your channel a magnet

for subscribe criers many of you are

constantly stuck in a state of fear and

anxiety over the growth of your channel

you're wondering why your views are

going up and while you're no closer to

that fabled 1,000 subscriber Milestone

even though you think you're trying

everything if that is the case this is

probably one of the big reasons why

notice these small dips and tiny drops

in the graph well they're actually a big

problem they represent critical moments

where your audience has lost interest

and clicked away

if your retention graph looks anything

like this it's a clear indicator that

certain parts of your videos are boring

your audience these stale and dull

points in your audience retention graph

signal to YouTube that your content

isn't satisfying the audience and

therefore not worth recommending to more

viewers and if your content isn't being

recommended that kills Impressions

meaning that nobody sees your content so

you don't get views and you're

definitely not going to to get any more

subscribers but there is some good news

even after you've published your video

to YouTube there is an opportunity to

salvage these retention black holes

there is a tool in the desktop YouTube

studio called trim and edit that allows

you to surgically remove those boring

parts of the video and the best part is

this tool only takes a couple of minutes

to use which is a lot better than

spending hours on a brand new video so

let's walk through an example together

to show you exactly how we might save

one of your videos in the YouTube Studio

go to the content screen then find a

video you want to optimize and click on

the analytics button next in the

analytics section you want to scroll

down to the bottom and you'll see

audience retention graphs a brief

analysis of this graph shows that there

is value in the second half of a video

because the audience retention graph is

flat no one is leaving but perhaps it

takes too long to get to this value here

earlier on in a video we see a prolonged

decline in retention and then it picks

up at a chapter Tim stamp where the

video shifts topic this would suggest

fluff filler that's boring to the viewer

so with all of this in mind let's head

on over to the editor section of the

video you can see an option here called

trim and cut click on that now to remove

a part of a video drag the timeline over

to the bit that you want to cut and

click new cut a red box will appear drag

this over the section you want to remove

and align this with the dips you saw in

your retention graph you can make

multiple Cuts if you need to and preview

it to see what it looks like like when

you're done click save and depending on

the size of a video and the number of

edits you've made it might take an hour

or two for the changes to be reflected

in the public video that viewers watch

now obviously you'll probably want to

pay a bit more attention to the edit

than I have done here so that the video

that's left still makes sense to the

viewer the key principle here is that

once you upload a video to YouTube you

can add new footage to that video but

you can remove footage that your

audience clearly isn't interested in and

when you add that to the fact that you

can completely redo the packaging the

title and the thumbnail it always means

that a video that was struggling on on

YouTube has a chance to be resurrected

okay so now you know how to double your

subscribers by optimizing the retention

on your videos let's move on to the next

feature this is without doubt one of the

oldest subscriber tricks in the YouTube

Playbook but it only takes 30 seconds to

set up open up a new tab in your browser

and go to your YouTube channel homepage

then I I want you to look at the URL and

the address bar and it should look

something like this now this is where

things get a little interesting we're

going to add a special piece of code to

the end of a URL that will make it so

that whenever someone clicks a link they

are immediately prompted to subscribe to

your YouTube channel so place a cursor

at the very end of the channel URL and

type in this exact text the new URL

should look like this and now when you

click enter you immediately get this

popup asking if you like to subscribe

it's pretty good right and if you want

to test this for yourself click the link

in the video description and you can

also copy that special bit of text

you'll need and paste it on your url now

obviously you don't just have to use

this link in your video description it

could be in your social media posts your

email newsletter the reason it's so

effective is because it Taps into

something called Choice architecture

this basically means that people are a

lot more likely to take action when

they're presented with a clear and easy

option to do so and if you stick around

until the end I'll show you a very

visual version of choice architecture

but first we need to look at a

psychological trick when we tested it on

one of our videos it literally doubled

the amount of subscribers we gained with

only one to two minutes of extra work

for example as you can see from this

graph without using this feature we

gained 931 subscribers but with this

feature we gained over 2,000 subscribers

more than doubling our growth rate which

is pretty crazy but just before I share

it with you I do have to confess

technically this isn't n a YouTube

feature but this technique has got such

amazing results for our Channel whenever

we use it that I've got to share it with

you and all that it requires you to

Simply do is ask your audience to

subscribe to your channel now that

sounds pretty obvious and outdated at

this point doesn't it but let me explain

the key to this technique is nailing

when you should ask somebody to

subscribe to your channel I don't know

about you but something that really

frustrates me when I'm watching a video

is when in the first 30 seconds of a

video when the Creator should be

focusing on the hook of the value of the

content they're asking viewers to

subscribe to the channel my immediate

reaction to this is why you haven't

given me any reason to subscribe to the

channel so instead in our test video for

the first 4 minutes and 42 seconds we

gave the viewer nothing but value on

monetization it talked about updates the

typical pain points for a Creator trying

to get monetized the emotional Strife it

was only then after all of that time

time when we knew the viewer was

emotionally invested in the video and

that they had gotten value from it that

we made the ask and not only that but we

tied it into the value that we just

given to the viewer so instead of using

the stock line of don't forget to like

And subscribe we said this if you do

want to stay up to dat with all of these

monetization changes yeah I think you

need to subscribe and turn on a

notification Bell I can't believe I said

that notice how by linking the request

to the value that we just provided it

gives a logical reason for the viewer to

subscribe to the channel so if you are

going to ask your viewers to subscribe

to your channel in your next video I

challenge you to test this technique I

want you to wait until you are at least

halfway through the video so that you

know you've provided a significant

amount of value to that audience and I

also want you to tie the Subscribe call

to action to the value you've just

provided in the video for example if you

are finding these techniques about how

to get more subscribers useful that is

just the beginning of your YouTube

Journey here at vid IQ so make sure to

subscribe will help you grow your

channel now compare that to asking

people to subscribe in the first 30

seconds when the viewer at that point

has very little context so give it a try

and then come back to this video and let

us know in the comments how well it

performed and by now you should have

seen the visual Choice architecture I

mentioned earlier in action if you ask

people to subscribe to your Channel or

like the video within a video itself you

you will detect this and those buttons

in the interface will offer a visual

prompt and satisfying animation if

clicked that's some Next Level

gamification right there all right the

next feature that's going to help you

double your subscribers leverages The

Power of YouTube shorts but probably not

in a way that you think it is no secret

that YouTube is in a short form content

war with Instagram and Tik Tok as a

result YouTube shorts get an insane

level of reach and Discovery when

compared to long form videos and you've

probably noticed this yourself when you

post a short you tend to get more views

faster but here is where there is a

problem the value of a subscriber that

comes from a YouTube short is different

to the value of a subscriber from a long

for piece of content I like to call

subscribers from YouTube shorts fast

food subscribers they're quick easy

convenient to get they make you feel

good in the short term but they're not

good for the overall long-term health of

your channel subscribers from YouTube

shorts are less likely to become fully

engaged members of your community but

what if I told you there was a way to

convert those fast food subscribers into

loyal fans and with this relatively new

YouTube feature it's now possible let's

take a look at this example if you look

down at the bottom of this YouTube sh

you can see this link this is the new

YouTube shorts feature that allows you

to link long form videos directly to

your shorts so now when you post shorts

that are related to your longer videos

you simply just add this link and you'll

be able to attract a much higher quality

of subscriber so to use this feature

find the short you want to link a long

form video to and then scroll down until

you see this related link option click

it and then locate the long form video

you want to link to and that's it just

make sure to save the changes at the end

while these four YouTube features are

incredibly powerful for getting more

subscribers they are just the tip of the

iceberg when it comes to actually

growing your channel because subscribers

don't mean anything if they're not

actually watching your videos what if I

told you there was there's a brand new

strategy out there that's helping

channels get millions of views seemingly

out of nowhere I'm talking about

Channels with zero subscribers getting

400,000 views on their first video that

sounds pretty enticing doesn't it this

is how they're doing it and how you can

replicate it