📈 Getting Your First 1,000 Subscribers on YouTube 📈

📈 Getting Your First 1,000 Subscribers on YouTube 📈

Secret Number One: Asking People to Subscribe

Asking people to subscribe to your channel is a crucial step in getting your first 1,000 subscribers. However, simply saying „make sure to smash that subscribe button“ is not enough. You need to give your viewers a reason to subscribe.

Value Proposition: A value proposition is a statement that explains what your viewers will gain by subscribing to your channel.

Instead of just asking people to subscribe, try saying something like:

„Make sure to subscribe and leave a comment below saying ‚I subscribed‘ and we'll try our best to reply to your comment. By subscribing, you'll get access to regular videos on [topic] and be part of a community of like-minded individuals.“

This approach gives your viewers a reason to subscribe and also encourages them to engage with your content.

Secret Number Two: Modeling Proven Content

Modeling proven content is a great way to create videos that are likely to be successful. Here's how to do it:

1. Go to YouTube and search for your channel niche.
2. Filter the results by „uploaded in the past week“ and sort by „view count“ from highest to lowest.
3. Find a video that is getting a lot of views and is relevant to your niche.
4. Create your own version of that video, but make it better and more informative.

Step	Description
1	Search for your channel niche on YouTube
2	Filter results by „uploaded in the past week“ and sort by „view count“
3	Find a video that is getting a lot of views and is relevant to your niche
4	Create your own version of that video, but make it better and more informative

Secret Number Three: Keeping People on YouTube

Keeping people on YouTube is crucial for getting views and subscribers. Here's why:

YouTube's Business Model: YouTube's primary objective is to make money by keeping people on the platform. The more people watch videos, the more ads they'll see, and the more money YouTube will make.

To keep people on YouTube, try the following:

• Start your video with a hook that grabs the viewer's attention.
• Use curiosity-driven titles and descriptions to keep viewers engaged.
• Use audience retention analytics to see how well your videos are performing.

Metric	Description
Audience Retention	The percentage of viewers who watch your video from start to finish
75% at 1 minute	Aim for 75% of viewers to still be watching at the 1-minute mark
50% throughout	Aim for 50% of viewers to still be watching throughout the rest of the video

Secret Number Four: Increasing Session Time

Increasing session time is crucial for getting views and subscribers. Here's why:

Session Time: The total amount of time a viewer spends on YouTube.

To increase session time, try the following:

• Create playlists that group similar content together.
• Use metadata (titles, descriptions, and tags) to help YouTube recommend your videos.
• Encourage viewers to watch more videos by using end screens and cards.

Strategy	Description
Playlists	Group similar content together to encourage viewers to watch more videos
Metadata	Use titles, descriptions, and tags to help YouTube recommend your videos
End Screens and Cards	Encourage viewers to watch more videos by using end screens and cards

Secret Number Five: Getting People to Watch Your Videos

Getting people to watch your videos is crucial for getting views and subscribers. Here's why:

Visibility: The more visible your videos are, the more likely people are to watch them.

To get people to watch your videos, try the following:

• Optimize your video titles, descriptions, and tags for search.
• Use eye-catching thumbnails to grab viewers‘ attention.
• Promote your videos on social media and other platforms.

Strategy	Description
Optimize for Search	Use keywords in your titles, descriptions, and tags to help people find your videos
Eye-Catching Thumbnails	Use high-quality, eye-catching thumbnails to grab viewers‘ attention
Promote on Social Media	Share your videos on social media and other platforms to get more views

Videos can surface in three different places on YouTube:

• Search results
• Suggested video feed
• Browse features (including the YouTube home page)

Click-Through Rate (CTR) 📊

CTR is the percentage of people who see a video and its thumbnail in browse features, search results, and the suggested video feed, and then actually watch the video.

„Click-through rate is the key to increasing the number of people who watch your video after seeing it in all these different places.“

YouTube reports that 80% of videos have a CTR of less than 5%. To do better than 80% of the competition, aim for a 6% CTR.

Factors Affecting CTR 🤔

• Type of content
• Niche
• Thumbnail quality

Improving CTR 📈

• Analyze past video performance in YouTube Analytics
• Replace thumbnails with new ones to improve CTR
• Conduct split tests on different videos to optimize CTR

The 33 Rule 📚

To get a video to take off, upload at least 33 videos to YouTube. This allows for enough data to make informed decisions about content strategy.

Number of Videos	Average Views per Video
33	1,455
100	480

Bonus Tip: Avoid Sub4Sub 🚫

Sub4Sub, or subscribing to each other's channels to game the YouTube algorithm, can hurt your channel and break YouTube's terms of service.

Watch Time and Monetization 🕒

To get monetized on YouTube, a channel must have at least 4,000 hours of watch time in the past 365 days.

Calculating Watch Time 📊

4,000 watch hours = 240,000 watch minutes

Average View Duration	Total Watch Minutes	Total Views Required
5 minutes	240,000	48,000
10 minutes	240,000	24,000

Tip 9: Make Longer Videos 📹

Videos longer than 10 minutes typically have a longer average view duration and more watch time.

Video Length	Watch Time per View
1 minute	18 seconds
10 minutes	3 minutes

Tip 8: Make List Videos 📝

List videos can help increase watch time and engagement.

Note: The rest of the tips will be covered in the next section.## 📹 Video Structure: List Videos 📹

List videos are a great structure to apply to videos on your channel, making it easier to produce 10-minute long videos and increase watch time. This format can be applied to almost any niche or subject on YouTube.

Benefits of List Videos

• Keep viewers‘ attention by covering multiple topics in a single video
• Typically perform well in terms of audience retention and watch time
• Allow for easy creation of 10-minute long videos by dedicating 1 minute to each topic

Example of a List Video

• „Top 10 Biggest Dogs in the World“
• Each dog is discussed for 1 minute, resulting in a 10-minute long video

📈 Playlist Optimization 📈

Using Playlists Correctly

Playlists can increase watch time by prompting viewers to watch another video after finishing the current one. To use playlists correctly:

• Create playlists for each category of content on your channel
• Feature playlists on your channel page, in video end screens, and in video cards

Benefits of Playlists

Benefit	Description
Increased Watch Time	Viewers are prompted to watch another video after finishing the current one
Higher Session Time	Viewers watch more videos on average, increasing session time on YouTube

📊 Popular Upload Section 📊

Featuring Popular Uploads

Featuring popular uploads on your channel page can increase watch time by showcasing videos that are already proven to perform well.

• To add a popular upload section:
  1. Click „Customize Channel“ on your channel page
  2. Scroll down and click „Add Section“
  3. Select „Popular Uploads“
  4. Click „Done“

📊 High Watch Time Playlist 📊

Creating a High Watch Time Playlist

Create a playlist featuring videos with high watch time to increase overall watch time on your channel.

• To create a high watch time playlist:
  1. Go to your YouTube Analytics
  2. Click „Engagement“
  3. Select „Watch Time“ from the dropdown menu
  4. Sort videos by watch time in descending order
  5. Create a playlist featuring the top videos

📹 Live Streams 📹

Benefits of Live Streams

Live streams can increase watch time due to their high average view duration.

• Live streams typically have a higher average view duration than traditional videos
• Even a small number of viewers can add up to a significant amount of watch time

Example of Live Stream Performance

Video Type	Average View Duration
Traditional Video	4-6 minutes
Live Stream	13 minutes

📈 Uploading 33 Videos 📈

The Importance of Uploading Content

Uploading at least 33 videos can help you analyze your analytics and improve your content.

• Don't worry too much about making perfect content at first
• Focus on uploading videos and analyzing your analytics
• Improve and double down on what's working

📊 Double Down on What's Working 📊

Analyzing Audience Retention

Analyze your audience retention graphs to see what's working and what's not.

• Look for spikes in the graph to identify engaging content
• Cut out what's not working and double down on what is working

Benchmarks for Audience Retention

• Average view duration: at least 60%## YouTube Analytics 📊

Understanding YouTube Analytics

To succeed on YouTube, it's essential to understand the platform's analytics. Here are some key metrics to focus on:

• Watch Time: The total amount of time viewers spend watching your videos.
• Click-Through Rate (CTR): The percentage of people who click to watch your videos after seeing them in search results, browse features, or the suggested video tab.

„Click-Through Rate is a percentage of people who click to watch your videos after seeing them in search results, browse features, or the suggested video tab.“

Ideal YouTube Analytics

Here are some ideal YouTube analytics to aim for:

Metric	Ideal Value
Watch Time	10 minutes or more per video
Click-Through Rate (CTR)	6% or higher

Tips for Improving YouTube Analytics

Here are some tips to improve your YouTube analytics:

• Upload high-quality, engaging videos: This will help increase watch time and CTR.
• Optimize your video titles, descriptions, and tags: This will help your videos appear in search results and increase CTR.
• Use eye-catching thumbnails: This will help increase CTR.

YouTube Growth 🚀

Understanding YouTube Growth

YouTube growth is often exponential, meaning that it can take time to gain traction, but once you do, your channel can grow rapidly.

„Growth on YouTube is usually exponential, meaning that when you upload a bunch of videos on YouTube and you don't see any traction, and then all of a sudden it shoots up.“

Tips for Achieving Exponential Growth

Here are some tips to achieve exponential growth on YouTube:

• Upload consistently: This will help you build an audience and increase watch time.
• Analyze your analytics: This will help you understand what's working and what's not, and make data-driven decisions to improve your channel.
• Experiment with different content: This will help you find what works best for your channel and audience.

The 30-Day YouTube Monetization Challenge 📆

Understanding the Challenge

The 30-Day YouTube Monetization Challenge is a hypothetical scenario where you upload a new video every day for 30 days to try to meet the monetization requirements.

„The 30-Day YouTube Monetization Challenge is a hypothetical situation where you upload a new video every day for 30 days to try to meet the monetization requirements.“

Requirements for Monetization

Here are the requirements for monetization on YouTube:

Requirement	Value
Watch Time	4,000 hours
Subscribers	1,000

Calculating Watch Time and Subscribers

Here's an example of how to calculate watch time and subscribers:

• Watch Time: 4,000 hours = 240,000 minutes
• Subscribers: 1,000 subscribers = 3% view-to-subscriber ratio (based on 40,000 total views)

Realistic Expectations

While the 30-Day YouTube Monetization Challenge is a hypothetical scenario, it's essential to have realistic expectations. Here are some average metrics for YouTube channels:

Metric	Average Value
Videos	150
Subscribers	1,000-10,000
Upload Frequency	3 videos per week

Tips for Achieving Monetization

Here are some tips to achieve monetization on YouTube:

• Upload high-quality, engaging videos: This will help increase watch time and subscribers.
• Analyze your analytics: This will help you understand what's working and what's not, and make data-driven decisions to improve your channel.
• Experiment with different content: This will help you find what works best for your channel and audience.## Secret Number Two: Consistent Upload Schedule 📆

To succeed on YouTube, it's essential to maintain a consistent upload schedule. This helps to keep your audience engaged and coming back for more.

• Aim to upload at least one video per week
• If possible, increase the frequency to three videos per week or even daily
• Be realistic about your schedule and choose a frequency that you can maintain long-term

Secret Number Three: Model What Works 📊

Don't guess what type of content to create or how to optimize it. Instead, look at what has already worked on YouTube.

• Research your niche and find videos with over 100,000 views
• Model your content after what has already worked, including:
  • Video ideas
  • Title ideas
  • Thumbnails
• Use these channels as inspiration, but don't copy them directly

„Competition can be a good thing. If there's a lot of competition in your niche, it means there are more opportunities for your videos to get recommended in the suggested video feed.“

Secret Number Four: Get Monetized Before Getting Monetized 💸

You can get monetized before hitting 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time.

• Choose a niche related to health, wealth, happiness, or relationships
• Become an affiliate for products in your niche
• Create your own product or online course and sell it with your channel

Niche	Description
Health	Fitness, wellness, nutrition, etc.
Wealth	Finance, investing, entrepreneurship, etc.
Happiness	Self-improvement, motivation, relationships, etc.
Relationships	Dating, marriage, family, etc.

Secret Number Five: Make Monetizable Content 📈

To get monetized, your content must meet YouTube's requirements.

• Don't re-upload other people's videos
• Use fair use and follow YouTube's policies
• Have a human voiceover
• Make family-friendly content

„Fair use is a doctrine in United States copyright law that permits limited use of copyrighted material without obtaining permission from the copyright holder.“

Secret Number Six: Implement the Action Checklist 📝

To succeed on YouTube, follow these steps:

• Choose a niche that has worked on YouTube
• Post at least 30 videos modeling what has already worked
• Analyze your analytics and plan your next batch of videos
• Follow the monetization rules
• Think about alternative monetization strategies
• Don't give up early

Bonus Tips: High CPM Niches 📊

CPM (cost per thousand views) is a measure of how much money your channel makes from ad revenue per thousand views.

• High CPM niches:
  • Finance
  • Make money online
  • Technology
  • Health
  • Investing
  • Travel
  • Legal
  • Insurance
  • Makeup
  • Marketing
  • Cars
  • Real estate
  • Movies
• To find more high CPM niches, research which advertisers are spending the most money on YouTube.

Advertiser	Niche
Apple	Technology
Turbo Tax	Finance
Expedia	Travel
Geico	Insurance
Disney	Movies and entertainment
Bloomberg	Finance and investing
Stars Entertainment	Movies and entertainment
The Motley Fool	Finance and investing
Carvana	Cars and automotive

Method #6: Sponsorships 🤝

Sponsorships involve partnering with a company to promote their product or service in your YouTube videos. This can be a lucrative way to monetize your channel, but it typically requires a large following.

Good: No need to create your own product Bad: Typically requires a large following to secure substantial income

Method #5: Merchandise 🛍️

Merchandise involves selling branded products, such as clothing, accessories, or hats, to your audience.

Platforms:

Platform	Description
Teespring	Integrates directly with YouTube, offers advertising services
Shopify	Allows for higher profit margins, can be used with extensions like Printful

Good: Promotes brand awareness, builds community Bad: Low income per sale, requires large sales volume to generate significant revenue

Method #4: Memberships 📈

Memberships involve offering exclusive content, community access, or other perks to fans who pay a recurring monthly fee.

Types of Memberships:

• Private community (e.g. Facebook group, Discord group)
• Exclusive content (e.g. unlisted YouTube videos)
• Exclusive live streams

Platforms:

Platform	Description
YouTube Memberships	Integrated directly with YouTube, offers exclusive content and badges
Patreon	Similar to YouTube Memberships, but offers more flexibility

Good: Monthly recurring revenue, predictable income Bad: Low income per customer, can be difficult to manage large memberships

Method #3: Affiliate Marketing 📊

Affiliate marketing involves promoting products or services and earning a commission on sales.

Definition:

„Affiliate marketing is a form of online marketing that involves promoting products or services from another company and earning a commission on sales or referrals.“

Types of Affiliate Programs:

• Digital products (e.g. e-books, courses)
• Physical products (e.g. Amazon Affiliate Program)

Platforms:

Platform	Description
Digistore24	Offers a wide range of digital products to promote
Clickbank	Specializes in digital products, offers high commissions
Amazon Affiliate Program	Offers a wide range of physical products, but commissions can be low

Good: Potential for high commissions, low overhead Bad: Commissions can be low, requires significant sales volume to generate significant revenue## 📈 Monetization Methods on YouTube 📈

Affiliate Marketing 🤝

Affiliate marketing is a method of monetization where you promote other people's products or services and earn a commission for each sale made through your unique referral link.

„Affiliate marketing is a way to earn money by promoting other people's products or services without having to create your own product.“

Benefits of Affiliate Marketing:

• No need to create your own product
• Easy to sign up for affiliate programs on marketplaces like Digistore24 or Clickbank
• Can be a good way to earn money without having to deal with fulfillment and customer service

Drawbacks of Affiliate Marketing:

• You're not building your own customer base
• You're not in control of the product or service being sold

Bridge Page Strategy:

• Create a bridge page with a video and email capture box to collect emails from potential customers
• This way, you can build an email list and potentially sell other products or services to them in the future

Services or Consulting 📊

Services or consulting is a method of monetization where you offer your expertise or skills to others in exchange for money.

„Services or consulting is a way to earn money by offering your expertise or skills to others.“

Benefits of Services or Consulting:

• Can be a lucrative way to earn money, especially if you're teaching something in demand
• Can be done on platforms like Clarity.fm or Fiverr.com

Drawbacks of Services or Consulting:

• You're trading your time for money, which can be limiting
• You won't continue to earn money if you stop offering your services

Digital Products 📚

Digital products are a method of monetization where you create and sell digital products, such as online courses or ebooks.

„Digital products are a way to earn money by creating and selling digital products that can be delivered automatically.“

Benefits of Digital Products:

• Can be a scalable way to earn money, as you can sell multiple copies of the same product without having to do any additional work
• Can be sold on platforms like Kajabi, Teachable, or Udemy

Drawbacks of Digital Products:

• Takes a lot of upfront time to create the product
• May require ongoing maintenance and updates

Monetization Method	Benefits	Drawbacks
Affiliate Marketing	No need to create own product, easy to sign up for affiliate programs	Not building own customer base, not in control of product or service
Services or Consulting	Can be lucrative, can be done on platforms like Clarity.fm or Fiverr.com	Trading time for money, won't continue to earn money if stop offering services
Digital Products	Scalable, can be sold on platforms like Kajabi, Teachable, or Udemy	Takes upfront time to create, may require ongoing maintenance and updates