In this episode I talk about the most important metrics and features on YouTube to grow your channel. Believe it or not, it’s not all about keywords (it hasn’t been since like 2012). The most important thing is the thumbnail, followed by the title. You want people to click your video, and watch the whole thing, and then get to the end-screens and watch another video.
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Important Points:
Andrew highlights two key factors when starting a YouTube channel: a concise value proposition, which describes your channel in one sentence, and a detailed audience persona. These elements ensure you connect with the right viewers and tailor your decisions accordingly.
Andrew provided tips for optimizing your content, emphasizing two crucial elements. Firstly, create an attention-grabbing thumbnail. Secondly, ensure the first five seconds of your video captivate viewers and deliver on your title and thumbnail promise.
Andrew’s ultimate advice is to focus on a sustainable audience growth goal. Instead of aiming for sheer numbers, target the right viewers who watch your videos to the end. To achieve this, keep your videos at an ideal length, determined by reviewing your channel’s data.
Podcast Outline:
[00:37]: Andrew shares examples of content artists can do on their channel: tutorials, behind-the-scenes and vlog-style, and getting to know the artist type. — Andrew
[01:52]: Andrew emphasizes that YouTube is a long game and usually takes six months to 1 year before you see its impact and results. — Andrew
[02:46]: Before starting your YouTube channel, you need to think about your target audience and value proposition. — Andrew
[03:17]: Andrew believes you should sum up your channel’s value in one sentence so that your viewers easily understand what you’re about. — Andrew
[04:22]: Create audience avatars and detail your target audience’s age, occupation, interests, and life stage to better target and connect with them. — Andrew
[05:52]: A clear value proposition and target audience ensure that everything on your YouTube channel is tailored for your desired viewers. — Andrew
[07:23]: The key to optimizing a YouTube video is using keywords, but remember to optimize for people, not just robots. — Andrew
[08:27]: Andrew strongly suggests having an eye-catching and thumb-stopping thumbnail to grab viewers’ attention. — Andrew
[10:11]: The title should get them curious enough to make them want to watch the video. — Andrew
[10:24]: The first five seconds of your video are vital to grabbing your audience’s attention. — Andrew
[13:63]: Check your channel’s data to keep your video length within the average watch time. — Andrew
[14:35]: When closing your video, encourage your viewers to check out other videos with related topics. — Andrew
[16:30]: It’s not just about bringing in many people to your channel, it’s about being creative in making sure the right people get to your channel. — Andrew
[16:58]: Artists should be specific enough in describing their videos to filter out audiences who will not appreciate their content. — Andrew
[18:33]: Every artist’s end goal should be to engage the right audience and keep them watching until the end, getting them interested in more. — Andrew
Wise Words:
[01:51]: Just upfront, I want you to be aware that YouTube is a long game. You know, the things you do today and do every week might not have a big impact until six months or a year from now. You have to be willing to work hard and consistently for months on end before you start seeing the results that you want. — Andrew
[05:49]: Every time I make a YouTube video, I think that value proposition and that target avatar. And that helps me make sure that whatever I’m doing is essentially tailored for that person. — Andrew
[09:14]: So let me dive through those things that are most important. The thumbnail. Why is the thumbnail the most important? If you’re not driving, if you’re sitting in front of a computer or something, or even later when you’re free, open up YouTube on your phone or on your computer and just scroll around. And notice what gets you to stop scrolling? What videos get you to pause and read the title? It’s the ones with the best thumbnails, right? So, essentially, the thumbnails are what get people to even look at your title. — Andrew
[11:06]: You want the first five seconds of the video to essentially make them feel glad that they liked your thumbnail and liked your title. And they should get a little bit of instant gratification from hearing the hook, the first five seconds of your video. — Andrew
[16:30]: It’s all about great data. It’s not about sending a bunch of people. It’s about getting the right people to do the right things. And that’s, that’s where [16:43] you have to be kind of creative with how you target the right people. — Andrew
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If you enjoyed this article you might also like this interview I did with Adriel Rivera on how to grow your YouTube music channel.
