Part 7/12:

The question of whether you can start a channel from scratch without shortcuts is a resounding yes. Although your early videos might not attract a lot of interest, the initial views you get—structured around impressions—play a critical role in YouTube's evaluation of audience interest.

If you bombard your video with a link sent to family and friends before it has had a chance to circulate naturally, you risk confounding the algorithm. Wait for YouTube to build momentum before sharing your content. Once the video begins to gain traction, it’s less risky to introduce it to friends.