Growing a YouTube channel requires an understanding of both content creation and the platform's algorithm. In a recent discussion, several critical mistakes were outlined that can hamper a creator's growth and views on YouTube. Let’s delve into these common pitfalls that many creators, especially newcomers, fall victim to and learn how avoiding them can lead to enhanced visibility and subscriber growth.
One glaring mistake content creators often make is uploading YouTube Shorts that exceed 60 seconds. The new feature for longer shorts may seem enticing, but it can hurt your video's reach. The YouTube algorithm is heavily influenced by user watch history. When a user typically engages with short videos under 60 seconds, introducing longer shorts without a precedent can lead to poor performance.
Instead, creators are advised to wait for a few months before jumping on this trend, allowing the market to adapt and establish a viewing pattern for content over 60 seconds. This strategy prevents wasted effort on content not yet favored by the platform's algorithm.
Another vital mistake that creators may not be aware of is the use of YouTube's A/B testing tool, particularly for long-form content. This tool purportedly helps in selecting optimal thumbnails but often fails to yield the best results. Research indicates that using the A/B test can significantly decrease views because it often selects thumbnails that don’t resonate with the target audience.
A case study showed that the A/B test chose the wrong thumbnail in over 78% of instances. Therefore, it's recommended that creators avoid this feature, allowing their intuition informed by audience engagement to guide their choice of thumbnail instead.
Many smaller channels overlook the importance of responding to comments, which can be detrimental to their growth. As a smaller channel, you have the unique advantage of being able to create a personal connection with each viewer by replying to their comments. This engagement not only fosters loyalty but also encourages viewers to return for future videos.
By building a trustworthy community and showing genuine interest in viewer feedback, creators can cultivate a following that is more likely to engage with and share their content.
Hashtags are a powerful tool for visibility on YouTube, but their misplacement can result in lost views. It’s advised to utilize hashtags strategically: for long-form videos, they should only appear at the bottom of the description, with a maximum of three. In contrast, for Shorts, they can be included in both the title (at the end) and the description—again, limiting them to three relevant, high-volume hashtags.
By focusing your hashtags on high-volume terms and ensuring they relate directly to your content, you increase the chances of reaching the right audience who will engage genuinely with your video.
By always publishing videos to your subscriber base, you risk showing your content to an audience that's disinterested or inactive. This mismatch can lead to a negative feedback loop that hurts the video's performance. Creators should consider toggling the 'notify subscribers' feature for some content, especially if it diverges from the usual topic. Testing the waters this way can provide analytics on engagement and audience interest.
Lastly, new creators frequently make the mistake of judging their video performance too quickly, leading to premature deletions and discouragement. It can take time for the YouTube algorithm to identify and push content to the right audience. One example illustrated that a video, initially gaining a modest number of views, exploded in popularity days after its release when the algorithm properly connected the video with its ideal viewers.
Patience is key; delaying judgment and allowing the algorithm time to work can result in an unexpected uptick in views and engagement.
In summary, creators seeking growth on YouTube must recognize these five mistakes: uploading long Shorts, misusing the A/B testing tool, neglecting comment engagement, mishandling hashtags, and prematurely judging video performance. By avoiding these pitfalls, content creators can significantly enhance their visibility, attract more subscribers, and work toward monetization effectively.
Furthermore, as YouTube evolves, staying informed about platform updates and adapting strategies accordingly will be critical for sustaining growth in the increasingly competitive landscape of video content creation. To further assist aspiring creators, mentorship programs and growth strategies can offer tailored advice, helping them navigate their unique journeys on the platform.
Part 1/9:
Mastering YouTube Growth: Avoiding Key Mistakes
Growing a YouTube channel requires an understanding of both content creation and the platform's algorithm. In a recent discussion, several critical mistakes were outlined that can hamper a creator's growth and views on YouTube. Let’s delve into these common pitfalls that many creators, especially newcomers, fall victim to and learn how avoiding them can lead to enhanced visibility and subscriber growth.
The Importance of YouTube Shorts Length
Part 2/9:
One glaring mistake content creators often make is uploading YouTube Shorts that exceed 60 seconds. The new feature for longer shorts may seem enticing, but it can hurt your video's reach. The YouTube algorithm is heavily influenced by user watch history. When a user typically engages with short videos under 60 seconds, introducing longer shorts without a precedent can lead to poor performance.
Instead, creators are advised to wait for a few months before jumping on this trend, allowing the market to adapt and establish a viewing pattern for content over 60 seconds. This strategy prevents wasted effort on content not yet favored by the platform's algorithm.
Avoiding the A/B Testing Tool
Part 3/9:
Another vital mistake that creators may not be aware of is the use of YouTube's A/B testing tool, particularly for long-form content. This tool purportedly helps in selecting optimal thumbnails but often fails to yield the best results. Research indicates that using the A/B test can significantly decrease views because it often selects thumbnails that don’t resonate with the target audience.
A case study showed that the A/B test chose the wrong thumbnail in over 78% of instances. Therefore, it's recommended that creators avoid this feature, allowing their intuition informed by audience engagement to guide their choice of thumbnail instead.
Engaging with Comments
Part 4/9:
Many smaller channels overlook the importance of responding to comments, which can be detrimental to their growth. As a smaller channel, you have the unique advantage of being able to create a personal connection with each viewer by replying to their comments. This engagement not only fosters loyalty but also encourages viewers to return for future videos.
By building a trustworthy community and showing genuine interest in viewer feedback, creators can cultivate a following that is more likely to engage with and share their content.
Optimizing Hashtags
Part 5/9:
Hashtags are a powerful tool for visibility on YouTube, but their misplacement can result in lost views. It’s advised to utilize hashtags strategically: for long-form videos, they should only appear at the bottom of the description, with a maximum of three. In contrast, for Shorts, they can be included in both the title (at the end) and the description—again, limiting them to three relevant, high-volume hashtags.
By focusing your hashtags on high-volume terms and ensuring they relate directly to your content, you increase the chances of reaching the right audience who will engage genuinely with your video.
Publishing to Subscribers
Part 6/9:
By always publishing videos to your subscriber base, you risk showing your content to an audience that's disinterested or inactive. This mismatch can lead to a negative feedback loop that hurts the video's performance. Creators should consider toggling the 'notify subscribers' feature for some content, especially if it diverges from the usual topic. Testing the waters this way can provide analytics on engagement and audience interest.
The Danger of Early Judgments
Part 7/9:
Lastly, new creators frequently make the mistake of judging their video performance too quickly, leading to premature deletions and discouragement. It can take time for the YouTube algorithm to identify and push content to the right audience. One example illustrated that a video, initially gaining a modest number of views, exploded in popularity days after its release when the algorithm properly connected the video with its ideal viewers.
Patience is key; delaying judgment and allowing the algorithm time to work can result in an unexpected uptick in views and engagement.
Conclusion: Taking Action Towards Growth
Part 8/9:
In summary, creators seeking growth on YouTube must recognize these five mistakes: uploading long Shorts, misusing the A/B testing tool, neglecting comment engagement, mishandling hashtags, and prematurely judging video performance. By avoiding these pitfalls, content creators can significantly enhance their visibility, attract more subscribers, and work toward monetization effectively.
Furthermore, as YouTube evolves, staying informed about platform updates and adapting strategies accordingly will be critical for sustaining growth in the increasingly competitive landscape of video content creation. To further assist aspiring creators, mentorship programs and growth strategies can offer tailored advice, helping them navigate their unique journeys on the platform.
Part 9/9:
In the fast-paced world of YouTube, it's paramount to be proactive and committed to refining your approach for success.