Small Channels: Avoid THESE Mistakes and get VIEWS

Small Channels: Avoid THESE Mistakes and Get VIEWS

Hey, congratulations on starting your new YouTube channel! Whether it's been a week, a couple of weeks, or a few months, you might be running into the very first challenge that nearly every creator faces: YouTube isn't easy. But don't worry, you may be making some very common mistakes. Before you create any more videos, here's what you need to know.

YouTube Doesn't Owe You Anything

The first mistake people make is thinking that YouTube owes them something. No, YouTube does not owe you anything. You might be putting in a lot of work—researching content, writing scripts, setting up lighting, shooting, and editing. Despite all this effort, you're not inherently entitled to success on YouTube right out of the gate.

You need to provide value—both to viewers and to YouTube as a platform. Remember, my first 500 videos were terrible and didn’t deserve to get a million views. If everyone who worked hard on their video got the same amount of success, it would be great but unrealistic.

As a small channel, the YouTube algorithm (and the people on YouTube) don’t really know who you are yet. And you might still be figuring that out for yourself. YouTube looks at each of your videos individually to determine who might like them, so even with zero subscribers, there’s potential.

Produce Value For a Specific Audience

1. Produce valuable content for a specific group of people.
2. Know who that specific group of people even is. This is your target audience.
3. Make content for those specific people. If they enjoy it, you will retain them as viewers.

You'll need to make some content and some mistakes while continually improving each time you publish a new video. Following these steps will help you get recommended to the right audience and within the YouTube algorithm.

Improve Click-Through Rate

The second issue that many small channels face is getting their target audience to click on their content. First impressions matter. The thumbnail and title of your video are critical.

• Thumbnails should be simple, with minimal readable text. Use bright colors and ensure the foreground stands out from the background.
• Titles should complement the thumbnail and create curiosity.

Think of the title and the thumbnail as part of the experience of watching the video itself. Spend double the amount of time on your titles and thumbnails compared to what you're currently spending.

Engage Viewers In The First 30 Seconds

Even when viewers click on your video, only a small percentage will watch it all the way through. The first 30 seconds of your video matter a lot. Ensure you really hook your viewers in right away. Avoid fancy 10-second intros that might turn users off.

People should know why they are watching your video as soon as they click based on the thumbnail and title. Instead of wasting time introducing yourself, jump right into the valuable content.

Conclusion

These are just some of the common mistakes we see all the time, and yes, we've made them too. But we didn't wait to start uploading content. We allowed ourselves to make those mistakes and then learn from them. So don’t stop yourself short—embrace those mistakes and keep uploading.

By the way, if you’re looking for extra help with your titles, try out the AI Title Generator for free. It’s really helpful!

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Keywords

• YouTube channel
• Common mistakes
• Provide value
• Target audience
• Click-through rate
• Video thumbnails
• Video titles
• Viewer retention
• First 30 seconds

FAQ

Q1: Why isn't my YouTube channel growing? A: It might be because you're making some common early mistakes. Focus on providing value, understanding your target audience, and improving your click-through rate with better thumbnails and titles.

Q2: How do I create engaging thumbnails? A: Keep them simple and readable. Use bright colors, minimal text, and ensure the foreground stands out from the background.

Q3: Why is the first 30 seconds of my video important? A: This is your chance to hook viewers. The more engaged they are in the first 30 seconds, the more likely they are to keep watching, which sends positive signals to YouTube.

Q4: Should I use long intro graphics in my videos? A: No, avoid long intros. Jump straight into your content to keep viewers' attention.

Q5: How should I complement my thumbnail with my title? A: Let the title and thumbnail together create curiosity and clearly indicate what the video is about. Don’t just repeat the title in the thumbnail.

Q6: What should I do if my viewers are dropping off early? A: Re-evaluate your first 30 seconds to make them more engaging. Ask a question, avoid lengthy introductions, and get to the point quickly.