Know Your People (Seriously, This Matters)
Here’s the thing about YouTube growth tips: you can’t just make videos about whatever pops into your head and expect magic to happen. You need to really understand who you’re making content for.
Think about it like throwing a party. You wouldn’t invite your college friends and then only play music your parents like, right? Same deal here. Figure out what your audience actually cares about—their problems, their questions, the stuff that keeps them up at night scrolling through videos.
Spend some time stalking (in a non-creepy way) the successful creators in your space. What are they doing that works? What topics keep popping up? Make yourself a running list of ideas based on what people are genuinely interested in.
Before you hit record on any video, ask yourself: “Would I actually click on this if I saw it in my feed?” If the answer isn’t an immediate yes, go back to the drawing board.
Make Stuff People Actually Want to Watch
YouTube’s algorithm isn’t some mysterious evil force—it just promotes videos that people enjoy watching. Pretty straightforward when you think about it.
The secret? Give people a reason to care. Don’t make a video about “5 obscure tips for left-handed people who garden on Tuesdays.” Make broader content that still speaks to your niche. You want to cast a net, not fish with a toothpick.
When you’re scripting (and yes, you should have some kind of plan), think about pacing. Drop little wins throughout—a laugh, a useful tip, a lightbulb moment. Keep people’s interest topped up so they don’t bounce halfway through.
Cut the fluff, but don’t sound like a robot reading a grocery list. Be conversational. Tell stories. Ask questions. Mix it up so you’re not putting people to sleep.
Thumbnails and Titles: Don’t Screw This Up
Let me be blunt: your thumbnail and title are make-or-break. These aren’t “nice to haves”—they’re the entire reason someone clicks or scrolls past.
Design your thumbnail before you even film. Make it eye-catching, instantly clear, and definitely not just a random screenshot from the video. It should look like someone actually tried.
Your title needs to make people curious or promise them value. “I tried this weird productivity hack” is way more interesting than “Productivity tips.”
Here’s the key: your thumbnail and title should work as a team, not say the exact same thing twice. One hints at the story, the other fills in the gaps. Together, they should make someone think, “Okay, I need to know what this is about.”
Stay Consistent (Not Just Obsessed with Posting)
Everyone thinks consistency just means uploading a lot. Sure, posting once or twice a week helps, but that’s not the whole story.
Real consistency means sticking to your lane. If you’re a cooking channel, don’t randomly post a video about car maintenance. Pick your topics and stick with them long enough that people know what to expect from you.
Keep your vibe consistent too—your editing style, your tone, your energy. People subscribe because they like you, so be recognizably you every time.
If you want to try something new, commit to it for at least a few videos. Don’t switch it up every single upload or you’ll confuse everyone, including the algorithm.
Fun fact: most channels hit 1,000 subscribers somewhere around their 77th video. That’s not because video 77 is magical—it’s because by then, you’ve gotten good, you have a catalog of content, and the algorithm has figured out who you’re for.
Figure Out What Makes You… You
Why would someone subscribe to your channel instead of the thousand other channels like it? What’s your thing?
Maybe you’re hilarious. Maybe you explain things better than anyone else. Maybe you’re brutally honest or weirdly relatable. Whatever it is, lean into it hard.
Think about what you bring to the table that others don’t. Then show more of that. Don’t try to be a carbon copy of someone else—viewers can smell fake from a mile away.
Keep People Watching (And Happy)
Retention is huge, but it’s not just about tricking people into staying. If someone watches your whole video but feels bamboozled by the end, they’re not coming back.
Check your YouTube Analytics. Where are people dropping off? Those spots are your problem areas. Maybe the pacing dragged, maybe you went off on a tangent, maybe the visuals got boring.
Always deliver on what you promised in the title and thumbnail. If you say you’re going to reveal something, actually reveal it. Respect your viewers’ time and they’ll respect you back by subscribing.
Ideas Are Everything
You can have the fanciest camera and the slickest editing, but if your video idea is boring, nobody’s watching. Period.
Before you commit to making a video, do some homework. Is anyone actually searching for this? Is the topic relevant right now? Are there already 50,000 videos on this exact thing?
Ask yourself: “Why would someone pick my video over all the others?” If you can’t answer that, you need a better idea.
Look for gaps. What questions aren’t being answered? What angle hasn’t been covered? That’s your opportunity.
The Bottom Line
Growing on YouTube isn’t about hacks or tricks. It’s about showing up consistently with content that actually matters to your audience. Every video is practice. Every upload is a chance to get better.
Focus on these pillars: know your audience, create real value, package it well, and keep showing up. Don’t overthink it to the point of paralysis, but don’t just wing it either.
Be strategic. Be authentic. Be consistent. The growth will follow.
