Introduction:
I recently started my 90-day journey into the world of YouTube, and today I want to share the exciting results with you. In total, I got over 100K views and 1.1M Impressions on the channel which was quite surprising and that’s because I was not expecting any of this for at least one year because I was given the common advice that creating a significant number of videos (50 to 100 videos before you find your niche) is the key to success.
Well, let me tell you, YouTube has changed.
You don’t need to post 100 videos now. A lot of channels are going viral by just posting a few videos and some even one. What I am trying to say is that YouTube is not just about quantity anymore. The algorithm values quality over quantity and that’s what I experienced in my 90 days on YouTube.
Starting the Journey:
I started my YouTube channel on August 25th, and initially, the views were modest—only 200 to 300 for my first few videos, this continued for my 2nd and 3rd videos as well, not more than 400-500 views. But, by leveraging YouTube analytics, I discovered who my audience was, and everything changed with my fourth video, which skyrocketed to over 90k views.
How did that happen? I have come across these essential things that I believe impact how many views a video gets.
Crucial Factors for Success:
Title & Thumbnail:
The title and thumbnail are your first impression, and they matter more than you might think. This is the first step which is no doubt the most important but also the most overlooked one. I mean think about it you can have the best edited video but what's the point if no one is clicking on it?
I observed a direct correlation between these elements and my click-through rate. Through YouTube analytics, I got to know which topic was trending and kept my titles similar to that, and then after aligning my titles with trending topics and creating eye-catching thumbnails, I increased my chances of appearing on search pages.
Similarly, I gave my thumbnail a dedicated time and made something that looked attractive even before writing the script for the videos and also started using a high-quality picture of myself. For example, in my most viral video’s thumbnail, I used the text “2 Lakh per month”. It would make anyone want to know how they can earn 2 Lakh per month and thus click on it. So the title and Thumbnail are the first step that sets expectations for your video's beginning.
Your Intro (First 30 Seconds):
Your introduction sets the stage for what's to come. According to a lot of famous YouTubers such as Mr. Beast, your intro has one purpose which is to meet the expectations set by your title and thumbnail. I learned this the hard way: In the 2nd and 3rd video, a lot of people were leaving before even watching the first 30 seconds, I was not sure why that was happening.
That was because my intro needed to hook the audience and meet the expectations set by the title and thumbnail. Keeping it aligned with the overall theme ensures viewers stick around. What I have learned is keeping my introduction similar to my title or thumbnail usually gives better results. If you show them proof, People will know that thumbnail was not a clickbait.
Retention Rate:
Retention is the average percentage of the video that people watch. High retention rates lead to increased visibility on YouTube.If the retention rate is good, YouTube starts promoting it to more people. This is what happened with my “How to Create a Perfect Fiverr Gig”, which saw success because it held viewers' attention with valuable content.
Audience Interest:
Understanding your audience's interests is crucial. This means understanding where the interest of your viewers usually lies, for example, I made a video on how to become a Video Editor which got a lot of views, after a few weeks I decided to make a similar one and I made a video on how to become a Graphic Designer, this second video followed a similar pattern, similar Thumbnail and also similar resources and links. But it did not grow, because I think most of the audience was already built around video editing and when I shared something different, it never got attention.
People who watched my videos likely subscribed or usually got engaged to my channel because of their interest in video editing, and that's why they were expecting more valuable insights, tips, and tricks specifically related to video editing only. Introducing a new topic like graphic design, which is quite valuable on its own, but maybe it might not align with the expectations that my audience has developed.
Providing Valuable Content:
On YouTube, attention is currency, and valuable content is the way to earn it. Whether it's useful links, free templates, or insightful tutorials, delivering value keeps viewers engaged and helps videos gain traction. The algorithm is designed to identify and promote videos that keep viewers on the platform. For example, this video of mine where I showed people how to create a successful Fiverr gig has the highest retention because people found it helpful.
Conclusion:
In essence, success on YouTube comes down to a simple equation: Your thumbnail decides if people will click on your video or not, your introduction decides whether they will decide to watch it or not and your retention rate decides whether YouTube will promote it to more people or not. It’s not just about chasing views and subscribers, it's about delivering quality content that resonates with your audience.
So, here's to the next 365 days of growth and learning on YouTube. If you're thinking about diving into the platform or have your own experiences to share, I'd love to hear from you. Write to me at aasil@onefordits.com and I will get back to you. Let's keep the conversation going!
– Aasil Khan
