How to Grow a YouTube Channel: Steps, Techniques, and Tools for 2025

If you're trying to grow a YouTube channel in 2025, you’re not alone, nor are you early. YouTube has over 2.7 billion monthly active users, and just about every niche is filled with creators building their brand, business, and community.

Here's the good news: there’s plenty of room to grow. YouTube’s algorithm constantly puts out new content, and the younger generations are watching more content than ever. ~1 billion hours of YouTube content are watched around the world every single day.

If you understand how the platform really works, you can stand out a lot faster than you think. And in today’s article, we’re showing you proven steps and strategic tactics that we use to help creators, personal brands, and businesses grow consistently and sustainably here at Influize.

1. Set the foundation right.

Every successful YouTuber you admire has one thing in common: they took the time to build a strong foundation before blowing up. They laid down a strategy, defined their brand, and built everything with long-term growth in mind.

If you're serious about growing a channel in 2025, views and subscribers come later. First, you need clarity on what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. So let’s start there.

Define your niche like a business.

Your niche is your positioning strategy. It sits at the intersection of three key things:

• What you're qualified to talk about
• What you'd talk about even if nobody was listening (because at first, nobody will be)
• What has the potential to make you money

If all three don’t line up, you’ll either burn out or stall out. You might love a topic, but if there’s no demand or you’re not bringing anything new to the table, it won’t take off.

A strong niche starts broad enough to grow, but specific enough to stand out. That’s why most pros begin in a profitable, generalist space like:

• Personal finance
• Fitness
• Travel
• Tech reviews
• AI and productivity
• Side hustles
• Making money online

From there, the smart move is to niche down using your unique worldview or personal story.

Example: Take Graham Stephan. He didn’t just say, “I’m going to talk about money.” He built a niche around real estate and personal finance from the perspective of a young, frugal millionaire. That’s his edge. And it’s what made him relatable, bingeable, and profitable.

Chances are, you already know what your “niche” is. So instead of asking “What’s my niche?”, start asking “What’s my edge within this niche?” That shift changes everything.

Understand your ideal viewer.

When we say “ideal viewer,” what we mean is “the kind of viewer who watches 10 videos in a row and turns on notifications.” That’s who we’re after. Your ideal viewer depends on the kind of content you’re creating. And yes, it might evolve over time.

If you're building a personal brand...

That ideal person is you, just a few years ago. Ask yourself:

• What do I wish I knew back then?
• What would’ve saved me from pain, wasted time, or stupid decisions?
• What kind of content would have actually helped me at that stage?

This approach makes you relatable because you're talking directly to your former self (someone real). And it makes you irreplaceable because no one else has your exact life experience, tone, or perspective.

If you're in entertainment (like gaming, pranks, or reaction content)...

You're still speaking to a specific viewer, just in a different way. Let’s say you want to break into gaming. Your ideal viewer might be:

• A casual gamer who watches to unwind after work
• A competitive gamer looking for tips and updates
• Someone loyal to a specific title (like COD, FIFA, or Fortnite)
• A younger audience watching for humor, not gameplay

The key here is clarity. You’re not making videos “for gamers,” you’re making videos for a specific type of gamer with specific expectations. Same rules apply to humor or prank content.

Want to be the next NELK? Then your audience probably:

• Loves chaotic, boundary-pushing humor
• Follows creators who feel like part of their friend group
• Shares content that makes them look bold, edgy, or in-the-know

So, ask yourself:

What kind of person would binge this? What are they watching instead of me, and why would they switch?

Whether it’s education or entertainment, the better you understand your viewer, the easier it is to create what they didn’t know they needed until they saw it.

Set SMART growth goals.

“I want to grow on YouTube” isn’t a goal. It’s a wish. Real growth starts when you stop throwing spaghetti at the wall and start tracking real progress.

That’s where SMART goals come in: Specific. Measurable. Achievable. Relevant. Time-bound.

These five criteria help you move from vague ambition to actual momentum.

The most successful creators treat YouTube like a business. If you want to make money on YouTube, setting targets, hitting deadlines, adjusting your strategy, and repeating what works is the way to get there. Once you have SMART goals down, you’ll take the steps to get there.

Bonus tip from our experts: Start with input goals (how often you post, how much you engage), then shift to output goals (views, subscribers, leads) once you build momentum.

Get your setup in order.

There’s a common misconception that you need a $2,000 camera or a podcast studio to grow on YouTube. You don’t. In fact, some of the fastest-growing creators are filming on their phones or a basic webcam, using natural light, and editing on free software.

The YouTube content essentials

These are the minimum tools to produce solid, watchable content:

• Smartphone with a decent camera: Most newer phones shoot 1080p or even 4K. Use it.
• Good lighting: Natural daylight is free and works great. If not, get a basic ring light.
• Clear audio: Bad audio ruins good content. A $20 lav mic can change everything.
• Tripod or stand: So your footage isn’t shaky or awkwardly framed.

That’s it. With those four things, you’re ahead of 90% of new creators. For example, this video from Dan Koe was literally filmed on an iPhone in his car, then edited in CapCut:

But what he’s saying is profound enough to have an impact, and that’s what matters.

Nice-to-haves (upgrade when you can)

If you’ve got the budget or want to level up quality over time, these can make your life easier:

• Mirrorless camera (Sony ZV-1, Canon M50): Better image quality and depth.
• Softbox lighting kit: For consistent indoor lighting without shadows.
• USB or XLR microphone: For podcast-style or voiceover content.
• Editing software: A platform like Final Cut, Premiere Pro, or DaVinci Resolve Studio is more feature-rich and easier to use in the long run.
• Green screen or clean backdrop: Helps with consistency and content flexibility.

Notice how this video from Dan Koe is much more cleaned up:

Over time, you’re going to want to look more professional. But just know that it’s not the #1 thing holding you back from building an audience (that would be your message, delivery, and consistency).

As you get into a rhythm of posting on YouTube and build a tiny audience, you’ll start to realize what you actually need and can go from there.

Overhyped gear (you probably don’t need this yet)

Don’t get caught in the gear trap. Here’s what a lot of beginners waste money on:

• Studio lighting setups with 3+ lights: Not necessary for most beginners.
• Expensive boom mics or full audio interfaces: Unless you're doing high-end interviews or music content.
• Gimbals, drones, or camera sliders: Cool, but won’t grow your channel unless you're a filmmaker.
• Multi-camera setups: Way too much editing hassle for most solo creators.
• Custom backdrops or neon signs: Aesthetic, sure, but content > decor.

The fact of the matter is that you probably won’t know how to properly use these things anyway. And by the time they’re in the question, you’re probably going to end up hiring someone who’s an expert at it to do the camerawork for you.

2. Craft a killer content strategy.

Just like your setup, most people overcomplicate their content strategy. They assume success means production value—fancy edits, big budgets, insane sets. And sure, that’s where creators like MrBeast are now. But that’s not how he started.

One of the videos that first blew up his channel wasn’t shot with a RED camera or a team of 20. It was just him, sitting in a room, counting to 100,000.

No edits. No effects. Just a ridiculous idea, executed consistently, and aimed straight at his ideal audience: people who love extreme, endurance-style content.

It’s important to remember that most of the big creators who’ve grown their YouTube channels organically didn’t have much (if any) money at the start.

A killer content strategy isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing a few of the right things, repeatedly, until they work.

We’ll break that down next with:

• The types of content that actually perform
• How to build your YouTube funnel from awareness to conversion
• Tactical planning strategies that help you stay consistent (without burning out)

Types of content that perform

Let’s get this out of the way: the videos that get you views aren't always the ones that get you sales.

That’s where most creators get confused. They either:

• Focus only on reach (viral content) and don’t convert any of those eyeballs into real fans or customers, or
• Focus only on niche, "valuable" content, then wonder why no one’s watching

The reality of growing a YouTube channel is that you need both.

1. High-reach, low-intent content (top of funnel)

This is the stuff that stops the scroll. It's designed to reach the most people possible—even those who’ve never heard of you.

And here's the pattern that works best:

Take a broad topic + deliver it with controversy, surprise, or shock.

Think:

• “You thought X… but it’s really Y”
• “Here’s what NO ONE is telling you about [popular topic]”
• “The [insert scary phrase] you haven’t heard about yet”

Here are three different YouTube channels and their #1 top-performing video:

• Nomad Capitalist: “The US Plan to KILL Second Citizenship”
• Graham Stephan: “How I bought a Tesla for $78/month” (timely + unexpected)
• MrFourToEight (Blake Rocha): “i found love in australia as an 8-figure entrepreneur”

It’s not always “on brand,” but it pulls people into your world. That’s the job of this type of video. From there, your deeper, lower-reach content can convert.

In niches like food and travel, channels like Yes Theory, Drew Binsky, Arab, and the Best Ever Food Review Show dominate because they almost exclusively use this formula.

Just look at Arab’s most recent posts:

In general, the more experience-forward your niche is, the more extreme and creative you’re going to have to be to get the attention you’re looking for.

2. Niche, high-intent content (mid–bottom of funnel)

These videos might not go viral, but they’re gold for building trust and converting viewers into fans, followers, or buyers. Not everyone cares, but the people who do are your people.

You’ll notice these videos tend to:

• Have lower views
• Have higher watch time
• Get more comments, DMs, and sales

For example, Blake Rocha (MrFourToEight) is an Airbnb investor who started with arbitrage and now makes $100k+ per month with his own properties. He now teaches others to do the same. But now, his top video, with more than 4x the number of views, is just him flexing his lifestyle on vacation in Australia.

His video showing how he made that money has a small fraction of the views, but many of those are the people who will eventually buy his $7,000+ coaching offer.

3. Current events + commentary

This is an underrated fast-track to growth, especially if you bring a strong POV. People are always searching for takes on what’s happening right now, especially when the topic is emotional, political, or economically relevant.

For instance, Graham Stephan’s “WTF Happened to Santa Monica, California?!” hit hard because it combined timing, shock, and the cultural relevance of LA’s crime, cost of living, and brutal government mismanagement getting out of control.

Reacting to big news in your niche? Major creator drama? Market changes? That’s content.

4. Shock-and-awe goals or challenges

This is something that can ultimately make your channel pop against others’. For instance, Drew Binsky has been a travel content creator for years. But he didn’t really start growing his channel until he shifted his focus from “I’m traveling the world” to I’m visiting all 197 countries,” which is instantly more compelling.

Following this strategy frames your channel as a journey worth following, not just a series of one-off uploads.

Use it when:

• You’re starting from zero
• You want to build a narrative
• You want long-term bingeability

5. Collabs (a.k.a. strategic audience borrowing)

The fastest shortcut to growth? Borrow someone else’s audience. It works because you’re leveraging, social proof, built-in trust, and cross-promotion.

KJ1 (Kyle Joyce, VR studio founder) started from scratch in mid-2025 but hit 20k+ subs in a few weeks by filming WITH top VR creators. He gave value, piggybacked off their reach, and the fans of those creators instantly started tuning in.

The lesson here is to be resourceful. Before making videos on YouTube, KJ1 spent years quietly building a major VR gaming company, so he had access to these creators because he’s already done business with them through that. You might not have that edge, but look around to see what edge you do have.

The YouTube funnel: awareness to conversion

This mix of viral discovery content, value-based trust content, and conversion-focused content is how the best creators build ecosystems that actually generate income, influence, and opportunities from their YouTube accounts.

Top of the funnel (TOFU)

Top-of-funnel content is all about discovery. Here, you’re making videos meant to attract new viewers who’ve never heard of you before. The goal is simple: earn the click.

You’re not trying to explain your whole brand or sell anything yet. You’re just hooking curiosity by tapping into:

• Broad-appeal topics
• Viral formats
• Emotional or controversial angles
• Timely events or trends

You want to be shocking, surprising, and relevant. These videos are shareable, clickable, and binge-worthy, and they’re designed to cast the widest net possible.

Top-of-funnel discovery content examples

Middle of funnel (MOFU)

Middle-of-funnel content is where you deepen the relationship. You’re showing off your personality, providing real value, and proving you know your stuff.

These videos:

• Solve specific problems
• Teach or explain concepts
• Speak directly to your ideal viewer
• Showcase your process or behind-the-scenes life

This is the content that turns casual viewers into loyal fans.

Middle-of-funnel trust-building content examples

Bottom of the funnel (BOFU)

Bottom-of-funnel content is your monetization layer. It’s designed to turn attention into sales, subscribers, signups, or leads, so these videos are often more specific and direct. You’re speaking mostly to people who already know, like, and trust you, and now you’re giving them a reason to act.

BOFU content includes:

• Product demos and tutorials
• Deep-dive case studies
• Testimonials or behind-the-scenes of your business
• How-to videos tied to your offer or monetization strategy

This content won’t always get the most views, but it’s the highest-leverage for business growth.

Bottom-of-funnel conversion content examples

Content planning techniques

The fastest way to burn out on YouTube is waking up and wondering what to film. The best content strategies are repeatable over time, and the best YouTubers create a system so that their ideas, uploads, and goals are aligned and repeatable.

1. Build a content bank.

Don’t just think of video ideas one at a time. Brain-dump 30 to 50 ideas at once into a spreadsheet, Notion board, or whiteboard.

Organize them by funnel stage…

• TOFU = hooky, viral, trending
• MOFU = educational, process-driven
• BOFU = conversion-focused, case study, offer-aligned

…or content type (e.g., how-tos vs. personal stories). Every time you get inspired, drop it into your bank, even if you don’t use it right away.

Pro tip: Spend one hour a week adding fresh ideas to your bank. You’ll never run out of content again.

2. Use content pillars to stay focused.

Pick 3 to 5 core themes your channel revolves around. These are your content pillars — the repeatable topics your audience expects and you enjoy making.

Let’s say you run a channel centered around your online business. Those pillars might be:

• Online income strategies
• Creator economy breakdowns
• Productivity tools & systems
• Behind-the-scenes of my solo business
• Lesson-based content (e.g., “How to Vet + Hire the Perfect VA”)

Now when you plan videos, you’re not starting from scratch. You’ll also be able to create individual sections for them when you set up your channel. For instance, Alex Hormozi has separate categories for videos about “how to win at life” and “getting rich in your 20s.”

3. Plan by series, not just standalone videos.

Instead of thinking one video at a time, try planning content in mini-series or clusters.

For example:

• “3-part Airbnb Starter Series”
• “Week of Productivity Hacks”
• “Reacting to My Old Videos”
• “Tool Breakdown: Top 5 AI Tools I Use in My Business”

This makes it easier for viewers to binge your content and builds more structure into your channel.

4. Use batching to reduce creative fatigue.

Try recording 2 to 4 videos in one sitting, especially if they’re MOFU or BOFU content that doesn’t rely on trends.

Batching lets you stay in flow, save setup/tear-down time, and create a consistent look and feel across videos. It also helps avoid the “post or perish” feeling you’ll get if you’re constantly on the hamster wheel of recording a new video almost every day.

5. Stick to a sustainable cadence.

Forget daily uploads if it’s going to ruin your life. Start with 1 high-quality video per week. That’s more than enough to grow in 2025 if your content is strategic.

Once you have a system and start to see traction, you can scale up.

3. Master YouTube SEO.

On YouTube, the real “optimization” is creating content people actually want to click on—and keep watching. That means your titles and thumbnails matter a lot. That said, if your video isn’t watchable, engaging, or clear, the algorithm won’t push it, even if your idea is brilliant.

Recording and editing workflow

This is one of the hardest parts to teach because “quality” looks different for every niche (and every person within that niche. But if we’re being real, you do need to get good at making videos.

You need a good handle on:

• Editing (tight cuts, no dead space, flow)
• Pacing (how fast you move from idea to idea)
• Performance (your delivery, voice, energy)
• Design (text overlays, B-roll, captions)
• Videography (framing, lighting, and visuals)

You could have the world’s greatest idea, but if the execution sucks, no one finishes it—and SEO dies with it.

Since there’s no one way to teach this, the best approach is to start by comparing yourself to creators you admire.

• Is my editing as clean and intentional as theirs?
• Is my voiceover or delivery actually entertaining?
• Do my onscreen graphics look modern, or messy?
• Would I watch this video all the way through?

Of course, don’t copy them verbatim. But these are the questions you should be asking yourself with every video you create. That’s how you level up your delivery tremendously.

Publishing and promotion strategy

When it comes to publishing, focus on your titles and thumbnails first, because no one will see your video if they don’t click it.

• Use numbers, questions, bold statements, or emotion
• Keep titles under ~55 characters when possible
• Avoid clickbait, but lean into click interest
• Don’t give too much away

Here’s an example of a title and thumbnail that’s well-done:

“The Next BIG Thing!” sounds interesting, and we now know it’s “the future of online business,” but we need to click to find out more. We can see who’s featured in the video, meaning it’ll get clicks from either one of these creators’ followers. The thumbnail hints at the deeper subject matter (TikTok and — or versus — Facebook). And a simple message to “ACT EARLY.”

Once you’re finished with that, pick a consistent day and time your audience can expect you to post. For most niches, 1–2 videos per week is the sweet spot. Use YouTube’s analytics to identify when your audience is most active, then post 2 to 3 hours before that peak.

Immediately after uploading, make sure you:

• Add to a relevant playlist (boosts watch session time)
• Pin a comment with a CTA or key insight
• Add an end screen and cards linking to other videos
• Respond to early comments to boost engagement velocity

Retention, engagement, and the algorithm

If you want the algorithm to work in your favor, retention is the metric to master. There are two aspects to this: grabbing the viewer’s attention and keeping it.

Grabbing their attention (first 30 seconds)

The first 30 seconds are everything because YouTube autoplays that opening when someone hovers over your thumbnail.

So ask yourself:

If someone hovered over this video, would the first few seconds actually pull them in?

Don’t waste that moment with an intro. Don’t even start with your name. Start with tension, intrigue, or a bold payoff for the click. Keep things dynamic with early pattern breaks, like text overlays, quick B-roll, jump cuts, and music cues.

Zoom-ins or motion graphics

Here’s an example of an Airrack video that accomplishes this perfectly:

For the personal brands out there, here’s an example of Ali Abdaal capturing attention right away by challenging the status quo and segueing it into his content:

Keeping their attention (remainder of the video)

Once they’re in, your job is to make sure nothing gives them a reason to leave. That means structuring your content with intention. Don’t ramble or info-dump. Instead, guide them through a clear journey: problem, insight, example, takeaway.

If something’s coming later in the video, tease it early. A simple “We’ll get to that in a second, but first…” can be all it takes to hold interest.

Keep the pacing dynamic by changing what they see and hear every few seconds. You don’t need a MrBeast-style edit, but you do need to maintain movement, whether that’s with a zoom, a graphic, a screenshot, or even a quick change in your tone or angle.

And most importantly: bring energy. That doesn’t mean shouting. It means being present. Talk like you're speaking to one person who actually cares, not performing for a crowd or reading slides. Viewers will match your energy.

You can prompt engagement strategically, too. Instead of “like and subscribe,” say something like:

• “What would you do in this situation? Let me know below.”
• “If this helped, drop ‘YES’ in the comments so I know you’re in.”

Analytics, optimization, and scaling

YouTube gives you all the data you need to get better if you know what to look for. This is the technical side of growth: titles, tags, retention graphs, and search behavior.

Titles: Write for humans, optimize for curiosity.

Google owns some of the smartest AI systems in the entire world. So you can forget stuffing your title with keywords just for the algorithm. Your title’s job is to get the click, and that means writing for people first.

Strong titles usually follow one of these angles:

• Curiosity gap: “This Looks Dumb… But It Works”
• Shock or controversy: “Why I’ll Never Buy a House Again”
• Specific value: “How I Got My First 1,000 Subs in 30 Days”
• Timely/cultural relevance: “What Just Happened to Airbnb?”

That said, include keywords where they fit naturally. You want YouTube to know what your video is about, but not at the cost of clarity or intrigue.

Tags: Minor impact, but still worth doing.

Tags aren’t as powerful as they used to be, but they can still help reinforce the context of your video, especially for newer channels. You can think of them as “training wheels” for the algorithm. They help in the beginning, but don’t overthink them.

Use your exact topic or keyword, common misspellings (if relevant), and related video titles or creators in your niche.

Retention: Your built-in optimization engine.

This is where your Audience Retention Graph becomes your best friend.

• Where do people drop off? That’s your weak point. Cut or rework it next time.
• Where does retention spike? That’s a signal to lean in. Add more of that.
• What’s the average view duration? The higher it is, the more likely YouTube is to push your content.

A good trick is to watch your own video and scrub through the graph side by side. Ask yourself honestly, “Would I keep watching here?”

Search intent: Match what people are truly looking for.

Not every video has to be perfectly optimized for search, but if you’re making how-to, tutorial, or review content, search is your secret weapon.

Use tools like:

• TubeBuddy, VidIQ, or Keywords Everywhere to find relevant search terms
• YouTube’s own autocomplete suggestions; start typing your topic and see what pops up
• Google Trends for topic momentum

Then make sure your title contains the core keyword, the description summarizes what the viewer will get, and the chapters and captions support the topic semantically.

YouTube growth tools and software

As your channel starts to grow, the right tools can 10x your efficiency and insight.

Keyword and SEO tools

Keyword and SEO tools help you find what people are searching for, evaluate competition, and optimize your videos for discoverability.

Our favorites:

• TubeBuddy: Built directly into YouTube, great for keyword scoring, tag suggestions, and SEO audits
• VidIQ: Strong analytics layer + real-time keyword research + competitor tracking
• Keywords Everywhere: Browser extension that shows volume and cost-per-click for search terms across YouTube and Google
• AnswerThePublic – Not YouTube-specific, but great for finding long-tail “how to” queries

Use these tools to shape your video titles, descriptions, and tags, particularly for evergreen/tutorial content. For that kind of content, you can also use them to find new topics your audience is looking for.

Editing and post-production tools

Editing and post-production tools are what help you tighten pacing, polish visuals, and boost retention through better storytelling.

The best ones are:

• CapCut: Free and beginner-friendly with built-in templates, great for Shorts and Reels too
• DaVinci Resolve: Professional-level editing without the Adobe price tag
• Final Cut Pro: Apple-native and great for speed if you’re a Mac user
• Adobe Premiere Pro: Industry standard with tons of integrations, but heavier learning curve
• Descript: Transcribes your video and lets you edit by editing the text—amazing for talking head or podcast-style videos
• Canva: For thumbnails and simple motion graphics (like lower thirds or callouts)

If your content feels boring, the first place to improve is in post-production pacing and visual variety.

Use one of these:

• Notion: Great for video pipelines, content calendars, idea banks, KPI tracking, and more
• Trello: Kanban-style task manager, perfect for visual planning
• ClickUp: Combines tasks, docs, and collaboration—powerful for larger teams
• Google Sheets: Simple, effective, and universally accessible for scheduling or content tracking (but more clunky and less UI-forward)
• Airtable: For power users who want structured databases with flexibility

Even solo creators benefit from having a simple production workflow in place (Idea → Script → Film → Edit → Upload).

Engagement and comment moderation tools

Replying to comments and managing community interactions is vital, but it’s time-consuming. These tools help streamline that.

• YouTube Studio: Native comment filtering, pinned comments, and subscriber replies
• TubeBuddy (linked above): Bulk comment filtering and canned responses
• Hootsuite or Sprout Social: More advanced tools if you’re managing YouTube along with other platforms
• Comment Picker: Automated comment picking for giveaways or engagement contests
• Moderation filters: Built into YouTube Studio to block spam, links, or offensive terms automatically

High engagement boosts reach when you’re part of the conversation, so we don’t recommend using AI to auto-respond.

Common YouTube growth mistakes (and how to avoid them)

More often than not, the biggest problem creators have is they waste time doing the wrong things.

Here are the five most common growth killers and how to sidestep them:

Starting without a strategy

Uploading “whatever you feel like” might work if you're a celebrity. You, on the other hand, need a repeatable system for turning ideas into consistent content. No strategy = no direction = no growth.

This is a quick fix:

• Pick a niche that fits your expertise and goals.
• Define your ideal viewer and how you’ll help them.
• Plan your content calendar at least 2 to 4 weeks in advance.

Ignoring analytics

More creators than you’d think just glance at views and move on. YouTube Studio doesn’t require you to be a data scientist, you only need to listen to what your audience is telling you with their behavior.

The most important metrics to track are click-through rate (CTR), watch time, and retention curves for every video. Pay attention to which topics, thumbnails, and intros outperform others, and use A/B testing (TubeBuddy, VidIQ) to refine your hooks and titles over time.

Doing everything yourself

Editing, scripting, filming, posting, commenting… it’s a lot. It’s worth doing at first so you solidify your workflows and have actual skin in the game, but once you start growing your YouTube account, it’ll be impossible to manage. As a creator, your time is best spent forming and acting on ideas.

Hiring part-time help (e.g., a video editor, thumbnail designer, or VA) as soon as you can afford it is going to be your best investment.

Using templates, batching tasks (e.g., filming 3 videos in one day), and automating non-creative work with tools like Descript, Notion, or Zapier are things you can do now to streamline your workflow without much money.

Following trends without purpose

Just because a topic is trending doesn’t mean it fits your channel. Views don’t matter if they come from the wrong audience, which is why you need to ask yourself critically, “Will this trend help me grow with the right viewers?”

Ideally, put your own spin on trends with your niche insight or humor. For instance, KJ1 knows everyone on TikTok and Instagram is talking about who would win in a battle: 1 gorilla or 100 men.

So, he made a video visualizing the scenario with one of his company’s VR games, Scary Babboons.

Neglecting the Community tab & Shorts

Now, Shorts and community posts are your best way to increase impressions and touchpoints between uploads.
You can post engaging polls, questions, or memes in the Community tab to engage your subscribers. As of June 2024, this feature is available to all channel owners.

You should also upload YouTube Shorts regularly, especially if you’re just starting. It’s the best medium for discovery, since its algorithm is similar to that of Reels and TikTok. And, of course, you can repurpose your Shorts content for those platforms.

The bottom line

Start growing on YouTube by setting a strong foundation: pick a niche that aligns passion with profit potential, define your audience with precision, and set measurable goals.

From there, build a content strategy that balances viral ideas with long-term brand positioning. Focus on SEO, storytelling, packaging, and retention, and don’t worry about having the fanciest equipment in the beginning.

Every successful creator today started with shaky videos and zero views. The difference is they kept improving. So will you, if you commit to the process, learn from your data, and keep showing up.