31/12/2023
Can you spot the point where I changed up my YouTube strategy?
For more than 18 months I listened to the wrong people (and ignored the data) and made search based content that was all over the map.
In the Fall of 2022 I decided to focus on woodworking and started making videos optimized for “browse/suggested”.
I owe a huge thanks to .film.booth who pointed out the obvious: YouTube’s recommendation engine is the most powerful in the world, and if you want fast growth, you need them to promote your video.
So with that obvious insight pointed out to me, I set out to learn how to get YouTube to promote your video on the Home Screen, not the search bar.
It’s complicated, but in short, the key I’ve found is 1) idea is everything 2) thumbnail is everything 3) title is everything 4) making a video after you figure the first 3 out is everything 5) opening 15 seconds is everything 6) pacing is everything 7) unexpected humor is everything 8) aiming for longer watch time is EVERYTHING 9) being myself is everything 10) aiming to help people and “give a view” instead of “getting a view” is everything.
Yeah. So. It’s all pretty easy.
The point is this: if you’re not getting the results you want, get clear on what you actually want, and find the right coaches/mentors/teachers who will educate you.
I had a huge amount of “ignorance debt” - still do - and I’ve found that every dollar I invest in a coach/course/book is a dollar well spent in paying down that ignorance debt so I can get the performance I know I’m capable of from the videos I pour my heart into.
I spend a lot of time and money learning from other people who have a proven track record and think differently than me. I am amazed at the number of people who blow money at Starbucks, eating out, ci******es and booze, but choose not to invest in their own mind because they “can’t afford it”. Foolish.
Invest in yourself. Not Charbucks.
Ps: I wouldn’t be talking about any of this without the inspiration of // Travis paved the road for me for YouTube & 3D printing, & I’m not only grateful for that inspiration, I’m glad to call him a close friend.
Here’s to 2024 & 100k 🥳