How to Start & Grow a YouTube Channel in 2024 *Zero to 200k + My Journey*

Summary

In this inspiring video, Izzy, a Cambridge graduate and doctor, shares her journey to amassing 200,000 YouTube subscribers in just one and a half years. She offers practical advice on starting and growing a YouTube channel, emphasizing the importance of content value, emotional resilience, audience engagement, production quality, and the potential for scaling through outsourcing. Izzy debunks the myth of finding a niche too early, encourages creators to launch before feeling ready, and stresses the significance of learning through doing. Her personal anecdotes and tips provide a roadmap for aspiring YouTubers, highlighting the transformative impact of the platform on her life.

Takeaways

• 😀 Starting a YouTube channel can significantly change your life, and there's no better time than now to begin.
• 🚀 The channel hit 200,000 subscribers in one and a half years, transforming the creator's life in various aspects such as mindset, finances, and friendships.
• 📈 Videos are overtaking traditional media formats, with YouTube receiving billions of visits and hours of content watched daily, indicating a great opportunity for new creators.
• 🔍 The myth of finding a niche early is debunked; it's better to start making videos on topics you enjoy and let your niche find you.
• 🎯 Focus on creating content that provides value through education, entertainment, tutorials, comfort, or information to attract and retain viewers.
• 🤔 It's crucial to balance search-optimized and browse-optimized content to ensure consistent views and potential for virality.
• 💪 Emotional readiness involves starting before feeling ready and viewing the initial start as the primary goal, learning and improving as you go.
• 🧘 Maintaining equanimity is key to dealing with the emotional rollercoaster of YouTube analytics and viewer feedback.
• 📹 Engaging thumbnails, titles, and hooks are vital for click-through rates, while the first 30 seconds of a video should strongly retain viewer interest.
• 🎥 Production value starts with the gear you have, prioritizing good audio quality over video quality, and using proper lighting to enhance your content.
• 🔧 As your channel grows, consider scaling by outsourcing tasks like video editing and thumbnail creation to maintain content quality while managing time effectively.

Q & A

What is the main takeaway from the video according to the speaker?

The main takeaway is that starting a YouTube channel can completely change your life, and there is no better time than the present to begin.

How long did it take for the speaker's channel to reach 200,000 subscribers?

It took the speaker one and a half years of uploading videos for the channel to reach 200,000 subscribers.

What are the two key things needed to grow on YouTube according to the video?

To grow on YouTube, one needs to get people to click on their videos and then keep them watching.

What is the speaker's advice on finding your niche on YouTube?

The speaker advises that finding your niche is a bit of a myth and suggests starting by making videos about topics you enjoy, as your niche will find you over time.

What is the importance of search optimized and browse optimized content in YouTube growth?

Search optimized content ensures views over time through searches, while browse optimized content is designed to go viral or catch the algorithm's attention for more immediate exposure.

How does the speaker suggest dealing with the emotional rollercoaster of starting a YouTube channel?

The speaker suggests starting before feeling ready, learning as you go, maintaining equanimity, and not letting emotions affect the consistency of video creation.

What are some practical tips for creating engaging thumbnails and titles?

The speaker recommends coming up with at least five ideas for thumbnails and titles and choosing the one that resonates the most, focusing on creating clickable and engaging content from the start.

How does the speaker address the issue of camera confidence for new YouTubers?

The speaker suggests pretending to talk to someone you know well to feel more relaxed, and practicing regularly to improve over time.

What is the significance of the first 30 seconds of a video, and how should it be utilized?

The first 30 seconds, also known as the hook, is crucial for showing the viewer why they should keep watching and providing the value proposition of the video.

What advice does the speaker give regarding the editing style for better engagement?

The speaker advises to keep the A-roll tight by cutting out pauses, use B-roll to show rather than tell, and interrupt patterns every 7-10 seconds to keep the viewer's interest.

What are some of the hardware and software recommendations the speaker provides for YouTubers?

For hardware, the speaker suggests starting with what you have and upgrading audio quality first. For software, they mention DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere for editing, and platforms like Thematic and Epidemic Sound for royalty-free music.

How does the speaker describe their journey and growth on YouTube?

The speaker describes a gradual growth trajectory with an initial slow start, a period of consistency, and then a significant increase in subscribers after some videos gained traction with the algorithm.

What are the YouTube Partner Program requirements mentioned in the video?

The requirements are having 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 valid public watch hours on the channel in the past 12 months.

What was the speaker's initial reaction to receiving their Silver Play Button plaque?

The speaker felt a mix of excitement, nervousness, and a bit of imposter syndrome, but overall was overwhelmed with the realization of their accomplishment.

What is the speaker's approach to handling a busy schedule while maintaining their YouTube channel?

The speaker blocks out time in their calendar, uses a well-organized Notion kanban board for video workflow, and separates planning and execution to make the most of their available time.

What was the speaker's experience with their first YouTube video?

The speaker felt nervous and found it challenging to talk to the camera, but they told themselves to start and accept that the first video might not be perfect, with the mindset of improving in subsequent videos.

What advice does the speaker have for those considering starting a YouTube channel?

The speaker advises to stick with it, bring value to the viewer, and show personality to stand out, emphasizing that growth can take time and the algorithm needs time to recognize the value of the content.

What was the hardest part of the speaker's YouTube journey?

The hardest part was the initial phase when nothing was growing, and they were just starting out, as it required overcoming the challenge of beginning and learning how to make videos.