(snare drum playing)
- You've got two options Folks.
You can either sit around watching this intro
trying to count 1000 YouTube icons
or try these tactics that will help you
get to 1,000 subscribers.
Usually as YouTube educators
we play a very dangerous game when we guarantee
you success on your channel with any strategy
because well, it's YouTube.
But, on this occasion I am 94.6% certain
this is going to work.
That's because this strategy is tailor-made.
It is bespoke for your channel.
Now, then I'm Rob, welcome back to video IQ, educating you
on your YouTube journey.
And today's lesson is all about
using the data on your channel
to make informed decisions that will get you
to 1000 subscribers.
Now, as I say, because we are using data from your channel,
you need a healthy amount of it.
Which is why I recommend having at least 25 videos published
on your channel.
Ideally 50, 100 videos, fantastic.
So if you're not quite there yet,
just keep making videos on YouTube and have fun doing it.
Okay then folks join me on a journey into
the YouTube Studio Channel Analytics.
We're going into Advanced Mode
and then selecting Traffic Source as our filter.
There will be lots of clickable traffic sources now
down at the bottom of the screen,
and I want you to select Suggested Videos.
And finally, in the top right-hand corner of the screen,
change the time period to 90 days
so that we've got a good amount of data.
If you're unfamiliar with this traffic source
of suggested videos this is when other videos on YouTube
are suggesting your content.
In basic terms, suggested the views
are the holy grail of YouTube, because essentially,
YouTube is doing all of the discovery work for you.
Imagine it from the viewers point of view.
They're watching video A
and then they are suggested to video B to watch next
or in the suggested column.
That's because YouTube knows that when these two videos
are put together, the viewer stays on the platform longer.
Instead of viewers having to find your content
through search or a subscription fee,
YouTube is literally handing your videos
to the viewer on a plate.
As a generalization, most huge channels,
get most of their views from suggested views.
(bell chimes)
So folks, Let's not try and reinvent the YouTube wheel here.
This strategy is so simple yet, so often ignored.
Pick one of your top five suggested videos from this list
and make another video about the topic.
Now I know that for some of you,
there may be two potential challenges with this.
You're not really sure what idea to come up with
or it's your own video, so how do you make
another video on that topic?
To tackling the first challenge, I always say that,
"If you're really passionate about your topic,"
"you should have no problems coming up with video ideas."
And this is why I recommend making 25, 50, 100 videos.
It will train your creative YouTube mind
to come up with ideas, just like that.
As for, if the suggested video is one of your own videos,
well, you can always make follow-up content.
This is a perfect example of just that.
I have chosen this video from the suggested list
as my reference points for what you're watching right now.
(bell chimes)
We're using 1000 subscribers as the keyword;
the anchor point of the video topic.
But if you watch both videos, you'll discover the strategies
and value provided are completely different.
Now for a quick bonus tip. If you don't want to make a video
based on your own suggested videos,
then open up a VidIQ's Channel Audit Tool.
Amongst a wealth of data, it will display
the top suggested videos from other channels.
This is important because it
represents content relationships.
YouTube is formed between you and other creators.
In this example, we have a strong presence
in YouTube shorts, starting gaming channels and copyright.
And if you are a VidIQ Boost user
you can expand the list even more suggestive videos.
So, as I said earlier the ultimate goal of every creator
is to have as many suggested views as possible
because it's effectively free advertising from YouTube.
But as all small Creators know,
who are under 1000 subscribers,
this can be very hard to achieve.
So to begin with, and this is my personal experience,
you may want to also target search-driven content.
And that's because, well, to begin with,
YouTube may not know what your content is about.
Viewers know what they're searching for
and you can help answer those searches with your videos.
So again let's go around the YouTube Studio
and in Channel Analytics go to Advanced Mode.
Again, you want to go to traffic sources
in the top left hand corner,
but this time you're going to click on YouTube Search.
Now, as you can see, despite the size of our channel
and how much we would love to get more suggested traffic,
due to the very nature of our education, how to content,
most of our views still come from search.
And that may be the same for you, especially
if you are a smaller channel.
So of course, we're not going to ignore this,
quite the opposite, we're going to leverage this.
We'll set the time period to 90 days again,
to get a good chunk of data,
and then pick one of the top five search terms
that drive traffic to our channel
and make a video on that topic.
Now, you may be asking, at this point, Rob,
why aren't you making a video about YouTube shorts,
if that's where you're getting
all of your search traffic from?
Well, the truth is we have,
we've made tons of videos on YouTube shorts.
To be honest, at this point
I'm a little embarrassed about how many videos
I've made on YouTube shorts,
but it's been a huge news story over the last six months
and a massive growth opportunity for creators.
And I wanted to establish VidIQ
as the authority on the topic.
And we've done that, pretty much every video
we make on YouTube shorts,
performs above our channel average.
So going back these search terms
that drive traffic to our channel,
what's left, yeah, it's subscribers again.
That's why we're making this video.
Oh, and let me just add another quick cheeky plug
for the Channel Audit tool that can show you
all of it's search driven traffic
just with less clicks and more pinash.
(rocket beeping)
(rocket blasting off)
The truth is YouTube isn't rocket science.
At least when you're under 1000 subscribers.
The challenge can be that you're so overwhelmed
with analytics you don't know where to look.
You don't know where the low hanging fruit is.
These are all relatively easy wins
that can help grow your channel much faster.
And I've got another one to show you.
You should know the drill by now,
we're in the YouTube Studio Channel Analytics.
We're going to go to Advanced Mode,
but this time from the filters,
we want to go to Subscription Source.
Now, as long as you're creating content
on a consistent basis, most of your subscribers
will come from your YouTube watch pages.
So select that.
Once again, change the time period to 90 days.
And yes, would you believe it?
I'm going to ask you once again
to choose one of these topics from the top five in the list
and make a video about it.
Don't be surprised if the videos listed here
are different again, to what you've already seen.
This is because these videos are
not based purely off of raw view.
That's because these videos aren't necessarily
about how well YouTube can connect your content
to the rest of the YouTube universe,
nor are they about how well optimized
your content is for search.
Instead, these videos provide a deeper insight
into the value of your content
and the satisfaction of your viewers.
These specific videos have developed a stronger bond
with your audience.
Enough for them to click on that red button
and possibly dedicate more time to your future content
or indeed the content you've already
published on your channel.
And well, here's some irony for you.
Two videos that drive at the most subscribers to our channel
are about how to get subscribers on YouTube.
And so that's why we're making this video
because as I've said before, the data never lies.
And it's your job to find the right data
to take action on, to grow your channel.
Now, why am I suggesting that you target suggested videos
search traffic, subscriber source?
Well, to put it simply, this is where YouTube
has already placed trust and faith in your content
with its Users.
What YouTube wants from you is more content
similar to what you've already made
because it knows it can use that content for an audience,
YouTube already knows likes your content.
And as your content continues to build more positive signals
with existing audience,
YouTube is then going to try and connect it
with new audiences and test it with them.
At its essence, this is the YouTube
recommendation system at work
or to put it a more sexy way,
this is a YouTube algorithm you want to hook up with.
Now, yes, although I've just mentioned algorithms,
the primary focus of you should be creating connections
with human beings.
Many human beings creating a community.
But at the same time, it helps to build connections,
patterns, data, relationships, with YouTube ones and zeros.
And by doing everything I've suggested in this video
you're doing just that by building consistency.
Now, consistency at this point
is a very very common YouTube strategy,
much like niching down
but it can be used in many different contexts.
Today, we're not talking about a consistent output
of X videos a week.
We're talking about consistent output of video topic.
And when you're consistent with your video output,
viewers are more likely to return to your content
irrespective of whether they subscribe to your channel,
because they know what to expect,
and YouTube is going to continue putting that content
in front of their eyes.
Now I'm going to let you in on a little bit of a secret here
the title of this video is a bit of a cheat
I could have titled this video
"Under 4,000 hours of watch time, try this."
or "How to grow your YouTube channel much faster?"
The content is relevant to all of those topics and titles.
So what I'm doing here, is eating my own dog food.
The data never lies.
I'm following the data that YouTube is telling me
about the VidIQ channel.
And what I suggest you do, is check back on this video
in around about 90 days and see how it's performing,
versus the rest of our channel.
Fingers crossed, it's above average.
And to finish off this video, as always,
let's put a code word in the comments to confuse everybody
that didn't get here.
I'm a YouTube rocket scientist.