Why You’re Not Growing on YouTube in 2022
YouTube is a great way to make money online and build a personal brand for your business, but you may be questioning if you’re too late to the game or wondering if YouTube is already overly saturated, and if THOSE could be the reasons you’re not currently growing on YouTube.
Are you too late? Is YouTube too saturated?
No…
I see people starting YouTube channels every day and growing them into thousands of subscribers and lofty businesses. If that’s the case, then what’s the problem? Why are you not growing on YouTube as quickly as you want to?
There are a plethora of reasons that a channel can remain small and never see the fruit of growth, and that’s why I want to share with you the 7 most common mistakes new YouTube creators make, so you can avoid them and build a massively successful channel in less time.
Mistake #1 – Your channel doesn’t have one central topic
What is your channel about? Do you even know? If you only had 15 seconds to share, what would your elevator pitch be?
I ask this because your channel doesn’t need to be hyper-focused on an obscure topic such as rock polishing or magnet fishing, but it does need to have one central topic – and you need to be able to articulate exactly what that topic is.
Here’s why: You don’t want to confuse the algorithm!
If someone clicks on a suggested video in their YouTube feed, the next time that viewer logs in, YouTube will most likely suggest a video from that channel for the viewer. IF you center your channel on one main topic, there’s a high probability that the person who watched one of your videos will be interested in another of yours and click. If this happens? YouTube will start promoting your videos to that person more and more as well as others who may be interested in the same topic.
Now, on the other hand, if you don’t have a centralized topic around your channel, when a video is suggested, and it’s a random topic, the person who watched the previous suggested video may not be interested in this secondary topic and scroll past it.
If this happens, the YouTube algorithm will figure that person isn’t interested in your channel at all and will stop recommending your videos to them altogether – and could stop promoting them to others.
Tips for finding a central topic:
The central topic doesn’t need to be super narrow and specific (like how to shine shoes or fish for mollusks). But, if you’re talking about homesteading, then stick with that central theme and don’t create videos about working out.
The central topic doesn’t need to stay the same forever. When the time comes, you can always pivot or broaden the topic. The main issue is getting the algorithm to know and understand what it is your channel does so it can find the right audience for you.
RELATED: How to Start a Successful YouTube Channel in 2022
Mistake #2 – You haven’t posted enough videos on your channel yet
Don’t give up too early! This is a mistake I see time and time again. Many YouTube creators don’t see fast results in the beginning, so they quit.
Before the YouTube algorithm knows what you’re talking about enough to suggest your videos to others, you will need to post an average of 35 videos on your channel.
Now, this is just a ballpark estimate – it could be more or less – but you need to be thinking about the long-game of video creation rather than the short-term success.
If you’re doing other things wrong, such as not having one central topic you share about, it could take a lot longer and a ton more published videos for the algorithm to catch on.
My encouragement?
Be in it for the long run.
Mistake #3 – Depending on the YouTube algorithm in the beginning
The YouTube algorithm is a powerful force, but you can’t depend on it in the beginning! The algorithm runs on data, and it needs data of who likes your videos before it can suggest them to others and help grow your channel virally.
When you’re first starting out, not too many people are really watching your videos, so the algorithm doesn’t know whom to suggest them to.
How do you solve this problem?
Share your channel and videos with everyone you know! I know it can feel weird asking your friends and family to watch your videos, but, like anything else, they will be curious about what you’re doing, and this is one of the easiest ways for them to find out and support you! Any time you start a new chapter in your life, those closest to you want to know about it, and creating curiosity around what you’re doing is a perfect way to go about this.
Now, what about if you have been posting videos for a while? How do you reach out to friends and family to ask for support? Try having a “grand re-opening” and officially launch your channel again with a new welcome video or a fun video series that may appeal to those you know.
How to increase your social proof for each of your videos:
Watch your video all the way through on your channel’s account
Click the like button
Leave a comment
Log into any other Google accounts you’re associated with and do steps 1-3
Once you are big in the YouTube world, you don’t need to continue doing this, but it’s a great way to get those early views and eyes on your channel!
When just starting out, remember…
Every single view counts
Every single like counts
All social proof counts
Mistake #4 – Your videos don’t have enough structure
Think about a good book, what keeps you interested as you read? Most likely, it’s the thrilling plot, the problem the main character is trying to solve, and the resolution at the end.
People aren’t interested in videos that are hard to follow.
Think about this…
Music without structure is just noise.
A story without a plot is just a bunch of nonsensical events.
A video without structure is just meaningless information.
In your YouTube videos, you can create structure in many different ways, but the main point is that you need a beginning, a middle, and an end. This can be achieved with a storyline or a simple list of points.
Most importantly, you’ll want to outline your video before you film because you will see if the structure is there by doing this small, essential step.
Creating a simple outline:
Start with the problem.
Tell viewers why they should care about what you’re talking about.
Share your talking points or the events in your story.
Finish with the resolution or summary. What should they know now?
Finally, keep your outline more bare bones so you don’t read it like a script. This will help you talk naturally while you’re filming and not sound so robotic.
Mistake #5 – Your pacing is too slow
It’s common knowledge that viewers have short attention spans.
Your pacing needs to be quick enough to keep that attention.
I don’t want you to rush through your video just to pace quickly, but you do need to keep up the pacing so viewers don’t get bored and click away.
Here are 3 tips for pacing:
Don’t spend too long on each point. You want to keep moving along in the structure you outlined before filming.
Make sure your story keeps progressing. Ask yourself if the video is the right length for the story you’re trying to tell or the point you’re trying to get across.
Interrupt the pacing with visual changes. This will come when you’re editing, but don’t be afraid to add stock photos or b-roll into your video to make the clips more interesting rather than having one static video. Make sure to edit out any redundant parts so your video keeps moving.
RELATED: What I Did to Uplevel My Videos
Mistake #6 – Your thumbnails aren’t getting people to click on your videos
Thumbnails matter!
Even if the algorithm is doing its job and suggesting your videos to an audience who may enjoy them, if your thumbnails aren’t appealing, people still won’t click.
Thumbnails need to create interest or curiosity for the suggested viewer. The more intriguing, the more apt someone will want to know what’s inside. YouTube viewers are on there to find videos most directly matching what they are searching for. They will click the video that MOST LOOKS like it will give them the result they want.
Some tips for planning thumbnails:
Decide if you’re trying to gain search traffic or suggested traffic.
Create a playlist labeled “thumbnails I love” and save any thumbnails that pop out at you for future inspiration.
RELATED: How to Add a Custom Thumbnail
Mistake #7 – You aren’t posting consistently enough
Most of the time when I look at someone’s channel, I find they haven’t been uploading consistently enough – and this can be a major problem.
The algorithm needs an extended period of time where creators post consistently. A good rule of thumb is to post at least twice a month. Weekly is better if you can because, once you get into a good routine, it’s often easier to maintain the full process of filming, editing, and publishing.
So get consistent!
Wrapping this up, I want you to be honest with yourself. Which of these 7 mistakes is holding you back and keeping your channel small? Are you ready to make the necessary changes to see your YouTube channel take off?
If so, a great place to start is to watch my free YouTube workshop to gain more insight on how to successfully start and grow your channel.
3 Secrets to Reach 1,000 Subscribers and Get Monetized in Just 3 Months
Do you want to learn more about how to reach 1,000 subscribers and get monetized?
Join me in my free YouTube training where I walk you through the most important factor for racking up watch hours as quickly as possible and how to maximize every view that finds your channel.
