How to get 1 MILLION YouTube Subscribers - PROOF!

Summary

In this video, the vidIQ team shares their journey to reaching 1 million YouTube subscribers, highlighting the challenges, strategies, and key lessons learned. The narrative emphasizes perseverance, the importance of timing, and the evolving nature of content creation. The team discusses the role of luck, collaboration, and the value of community support. Despite facing setbacks, they stress the significance of continuously improving and adapting to changing audience needs. Ultimately, the video offers motivation for creators at all stages, encouraging them to keep pushing forward and deliver value to their audience.

Takeaways

• 😀 Reaching 1 million subscribers on YouTube requires perseverance, time, and personal experience. Each creator’s journey is unique.
• 😀 Subscribers are fickle; many may subscribe without watching regularly or may unsubscribe later, affecting engagement.
• 😀 Success on YouTube is not solely dependent on the algorithm but on creating valuable, engaging content for the audience.
• 😀 Timing played a significant role in vidIQ’s growth, as YouTube education was underserved in the mid-2010s.
• 😀 While there’s fierce competition in YouTube education today, it’s essential to be among the first, the best, or offer a unique perspective.
• 😀 Building a successful YouTube channel often requires a team. vidIQ’s success was not achieved by one individual but through collaborative efforts.
• 😀 As your channel grows, outsourcing tasks you dislike (like editing) can help you maximize your time and focus on what you do best.
• 😀 Growth on YouTube is a marathon, not a sprint. VidIQ’s journey to 1 million subscribers was slow but steady, with over 1000 videos uploaded.
• 😀 Even successful creators have faced struggles and failure. Doubts are natural, but persistence and consistency are key to success.
• 😀 YouTube rewards creators who persist and continue producing valuable content for their audience, regardless of subscriber count.
• 😀 The community of subscribers and viewers is crucial to success. Offering value to your audience ensures continued support and growth.

Q & A

What is the most interesting thing about reaching a million subscribers on YouTube, according to the script?

The most interesting thing isn't just the gold play button itself, but the journey it takes to get there, which is unique for every creator. The process involves a lot of time, perseverance, and experimentation, making each path to a million subscribers distinct.

Why does vidIQ lose so many subscribers, according to the script?

VidIQ loses subscribers because a large proportion of people who subscribe do so without ever watching the content. The channel also experiences unsubscribes because of subscribers who sign up but never engage with the videos, leading to a disproportionate number of unsubscribes from users who haven't watched much of the content.

What role does luck play in vidIQ's growth, as mentioned in the video?

Luck played a role in vidIQ’s success, but not with the algorithm. It was more about the timing, as YouTube began offering lucrative opportunities for creators in the mid-2010s. This allowed vidIQ to gain traction at the right moment when more people were interested in learning about YouTube education.

What strategy does vidIQ use to generate subscribers, and what is the issue with it?

VidIQ attracts subscribers through external platforms and workflows, but the issue is that many of these subscribers are not genuine viewers of the content. This results in a lot of lost subscribers who never engage with the videos, diminishing the overall value of the subscriber base.

What does the video suggest about the importance of returning viewers over subscribers?

Returning viewers are a better measure of a channel's growth because they are actively engaged with the content. Subscribers, on the other hand, may not always watch the videos, and many will unsubscribe if they don't find value in the content.

Why is it particularly hard to succeed in some YouTube niches today, such as gaming or tech?

It's hard to succeed in niches like gaming or tech because they are highly saturated. For a channel to thrive, it needs to be among the first, the best, or offer a completely unique perspective on the topic. Competition is fierce, and standing out requires excelling in all three aspects.

How does the script describe the relationship between team contributions and reaching a million subscribers?

The script highlights that reaching a million subscribers is rarely achieved by an individual alone. Team contributions, such as those from Dan, who has personally contributed to over 50,000 subscribers, are crucial. The vidIQ team and partners also play a significant role in creating content and managing the channel’s social media presence.

What advice does the video offer regarding outsourcing tasks for YouTubers?

The video suggests that YouTubers should focus on what they do best and outsource tasks they dislike or aren't skilled at, such as editing. This helps maximize their time and effort, allowing them to focus on content creation and growing their channel.

What does the video reveal about the YouTube play button and the letter from Susan?

When a creator hits a million subscribers, they receive a paper letter from YouTube's CEO, Susan Wojcicki, but not a personalized one. They also get a gold play button. However, only one award per channel is given, and creators can purchase additional awards for their team, but they are quite expensive.

What key element does the script say is crucial for reaching a million subscribers and continuing to succeed on YouTube?

The key element is persistence. VidIQ’s journey to a million subscribers was marked by consistent effort, turning up regularly with new content, and never giving up, even when the channel had minimal subscribers and views early on. The creators maintained their commitment and kept going, which ultimately led to success.