What really makes a Youtube channel successful?

[JohnQPublic]

If you're selling a product or service, as I am, what is considered a good view-to-click (to link in description) rate? Right now mine is almost 0.

I have a call to action in every video, and a link in the descriptions. I don't understand why no one wants to click on that link, even out of sheer curiosity.

Sometimes I think that maybe almost none of my viewers are potential customers (they just like watching videos), and sometimes I think maybe I'm not doing something right, as in enticing them to watch the whole thing and click that damn link. It's not easy to know which it is.

My average watch time for most videos is pretty low, which is not good because my call to action is at the end. I've tried using so many different keywords that relate to my content and which surely would be used by my potential customers, but nothing seems to work.

I think the click to view ratio is very low. I tried an affiliate link in YT video description strategy for a product that was selling very well on a website I have once, but it was on a very small YT channel. The biggest video was getting about 20-30 views/day and after one year I had exactly 0 sales. I couldn't see how many clicks I got, just where the referral came from if there was a sale and there were none from the YouTube link.

I think most people who get people to click on something are doing product review or comparison videos with a link to the products in the description. It's against YouTube terms of use to make videos with the objective of getting people to leave YouTube, but they seem to think this is kosher. While you may see lots of videos with links to other stuff, if they ever get big the video or the channel gets deleted.The one exception is that you are allowed to specify a website and social media links to your channel on the About page. It's OK to link to those in the video descriptions.

People go to YouTube to watch videos. So your strategy needs to be built around content. If you want to make money on YT I know two ways. You either try to get as big a channel as possible and make money from ads or you use YouTube as part of a bigger strategy to promote something.

If you want to drive people to some link, you should have a website and a Facebook page (or instagram depending on the product). Then YT and FB can help promote the website, plus people are more likely to click your website link than some random affiliate link, especially if it looks like an affiliate link. Then you can share/embed YT videos in your website and social media. Finally you advertise on FB and drive them to your FB page where the YT videos are embedded and you also have links to your website and your products. Some people (maybe most) think facebook ads should link to a website. I never do that, I always link to the facebook page.

That's really cutting the strategy down to the chase and if there are 4 ways to do each one of these things, maybe 3 of them don't work, but when done correctly each channel supports another, you get economies of scale from ad dollars and the whole thing works.

 

[DarkTriad]

I'm curious why you don't want to appear on camera.

As a youtube viewer(not content creator- can't help you there), my opinion is that being able to see the person's face and body language is big. The few rare channels I sub to where this isn't the case basically have near professional animation, or are really engaging on an intellectual level.

It's probably more about the "connection" than even your looks. I would say if you look in the top 70-80%, maybe 90% in attractiveness(obesity aside) I would highly consider being on camera unless you have a really good reason(privacy).

Being a dissident is dangerous.

 

[Vladimir Poontang]

I thought of an idea, I wonder if anyone can tell me if this would be acceptable (allowed by Youtube).

What if I do a search for my top key phrases, then pick those videos that show up first, and also have lots of views, and lots of recent comments, and then I comment, saying something relevant and helpful, without making a reference to my channel or videos. And what if I do this en masse (i.e. on many channels - I don't mean multiple times on the same video), using the same text?

 

[Donfitz007]

I thought of an idea, I wonder if anyone can tell me if this would be acceptable (allowed by Youtube).

What if I do a search for my top key phrases, then pick those videos that show up first, and also have lots of views, and lots of recent comments, and then I comment, saying something relevant and helpful, without making a reference to my channel or videos. And what if I do this en masse (i.e. on many channels - I don't mean multiple times on the same video), using the same text?

That'll work but you'll have to still get a lot of likes. The best thing to do (what I did to get my channel up) is to wait for a new video from a popular channel that shares interest with yours (ex. if you're doing pick up videos then subscribe to a RSd todd video) and post some funny/interesting/charming thing as soon as their video drops.

This got one of my channels 1000 subs in a month.

The best way to do this is to have the notification go to your phone and have a funny comment ready.

 

[Vladimir Poontang]

I thought of an idea, I wonder if anyone can tell me if this would be acceptable (allowed by Youtube).

What if I do a search for my top key phrases, then pick those videos that show up first, and also have lots of views, and lots of recent comments, and then I comment, saying something relevant and helpful, without making a reference to my channel or videos. And what if I do this en masse (i.e. on many channels - I don't mean multiple times on the same video), using the same text?

That'll work but you'll have to still get a lot of likes. The best thing to do (what I did to get my channel up) is to wait for a new video from a popular channel that shares interest with yours (ex. if you're doing pick up videos then subscribe to a RSd todd video) and post some funny/interesting/charming thing as soon as their video drops.

This got one of my channels 1000 subs in a month.

The best way to do this is to have the notification go to your phone and have a funny comment ready.

Will you get in trouble if you do that a lot? What if you use the same comment?

 

[JohnQPublic]

Will you get in trouble if you do that a lot? What if you use the same comment?

That commenting on new videos idea sounds good. But using the same comment on every video looks like the definition of spamming. It's also something that YT could very easily create automated filters to scan for.

There's a very active subreddit for YouTube that you can read to get all kinds of useful info. YouTube employees answer questions on there too.

 

[Wodded Ran]

The subscriber is everything and you can call it a life of a YouTube Channel. If you don't have enough subscribers on your channel then you are not successful.

 

[Vladimir Poontang]

Will you get in trouble if you do that a lot? What if you use the same comment?

That commenting on new videos idea sounds good. But using the same comment on every video looks like the definition of spamming. It's also something that YT could very easily create automated filters to scan for.

There's a very active subreddit for YouTube that you can read to get all kinds of useful info. YouTube employees answer questions on there too.

I suppose I could vary it a bit, or just post something totally original each time. However I don't think it would be a good idea to reply to other people's comments, because replies get buried and then you have to click on "View reply" to see it.

I'm just concerned about what would happen if I commented on many videos per day, which I'm dying to do, if it will help. I've already posted on a few videos with a couple of million views.

 

[SlickyBoy]

Good advice in this thread. I'm not a content creator but some things I've noticed:

1) There are sites where you can see who's doing well (roughly) by plugging their channel name (can't find them now using my phone - look around, they're out there). If those numbers are even close to accurate, it speaks volumes as to what's popular and what really draws ad dollars. This information doesn't show who's been demonetized or penalized for swearing, etc., just raw views, related stats and potential dollars.

2) Content matters, constantly. One or two great videos every couple of months interspersed with mostly boring videos, unrelated content or nothing at all ruins the momentum. People expect a continuous and reliable product. If you don't care about monetization and just want to vlog, well okay, but don't expect many returning viewers.

3) Some of the best channels I watch are done by people with prior experience in video production or regular local TV. They get it, in terms of what makes a video watchable. They also have a formula for the videos which cuts down on production and editing time, which can quickly take over your entire day. Because they are more efficient they can produce more and spend less time fiddling around with rework. I notice about three updates a week from each them via email alerts. It keeps me coming back.

Ironically, these guys aren't necessarily the best at what they do, but they deliver in the best way, which makes their channels more attractive for returning viewers. Nothing wrecks a video faster than dead air, bad lighting, crappy sound, echoes, or for me, an impossible to listen to voice like Mike Cernovich.

4) Of course, you'll need to invest in the right equipment and software - don't take shortcuts by using YouTube editing tools.

Hope this helps.

 

[Donfitz007]

No u never want to spam, no comment should be identical...I got this idea from a YouTube name Jaxblade. His channel been around for years but if u check certain “nerdy” or “fitness” related videos you’ll see he has top comment on a bunch of those videos even before he made his fame. I tried it and it worked. It’s time consuming but it works.

Think of YouTube as a club promoter. It’ll only promote you if it thinks there’s value in you. Also YouTube kinda does a background check. If you have many friends on Facebook or a bunch of IG followers then you’ll have a much better chance at getting big fast. I know this because I helped this guy with 45K followers on IG get his YouTube channel off the ground. Took him 3 months to get 8k subs

 

[JohnQPublic]

1) There are sites where you can see who's doing well (roughly) by plugging their channel name (can't find them now using my phone - look around, they're out there). If those numbers are even close to accurate, it speaks volumes as to what's popular and what really draws ad dollars. This information doesn't show who's been demonetized or penalized for swearing, etc., just raw views, related stats and potential dollars.

Like http://www.socialblade.com ?

 

[SlickyBoy]

Bingo. That isn't the only one, actually it's better than others but point is it's easy to see who is likely making what.

 

[Lonesome]

It comes along with the content I guess, even the video quality is excellent but the content is zero... Sorry it will be no one jam.

 

[casa-nostra]

just to pump this topic :

1- is investing time doing youtube videos is still worth it ( of course to make money in the long term)

2- Is it better to make videos in English or another language ( French in my case), here are the things may help in the decision :

* I am more fluent in French than English ( my English is just ok, able to make something understandable, I am not a native English speaker)

* Less competition with french videos than English videos (way more YouTubers doing English videos)

* But the English audience is way larger than the French one ( there are more English speakers in the world + most of the world tend to do English research)

 

[TopPanda]

I love this guy's channel, it's one I've just subscribed to: Let's Talk Money

It's just your basic everyday stock tips channel. The production values are slick. He talks really quickly, which people (especially Americans) seem to like. I'm a TELF teacher so I don't like that so much because it's harder for me to show those videos in class.

Anyway, what I also like about this channel is that he offers *valuable* content for free. His stock tips rock.

Also he's a pro at getting people to hit that like button and subscribe. I guess he's also doing well at driving people to his funnel.

I have a channel (software niche) but I don't really do much with it. I just hate all the negative comments. I only get a few, but it must really suck to have a popular channel and have to deal with all that cancer. Since it's unlikely I'll ever be able to monetize my channel, I just can't be bothered anymore.

 

[Spaniard in Germany]

Be Will Smith, and then make a YouTube channel. Done. You are welcome.

If you are nobody, well you need to make original thought provoking content on current events if you want a small but smart viewership, or just make prank videos, with 1 thousand cuts, with pop music, girls in bikini, and videogame references, if you want to a big but idiotic viewership.

 

[Vladimir Poontang]

I have a channel (software niche) but I don't really do much with it. I just hate all the negative comments. I only get a few, but it must really suck to have a popular channel and have to deal with all that cancer. Since it's unlikely I'll ever be able to monetize my channel, I just can't be bothered anymore.

Hey don't give up. If you see a negative comment, read it over and over until it loses all meaning. Or write a response but don't send it (get it out of your system).

Let's do some training :

You're an asshole. Your post was stupid and you're stupid and your channel is stupid. What a loser.

 

[Ethan Hunt]

I have a channel too and I do car reviews. Fortunately I have access to new vehicles on a rental basis for not too much money but | do have to rent them. I have 12 videos and 45 subscribers. 3 of which are not my main content so I don't generally count them. Of the 9 videos I have my top performing video has almost 9k views, the other 8 are below 500. I pull 40-80 views per day, typically more on the weekend and it's about 99% organic growth. I did find that I got boosts in views when I upload, when I comment on related videos. I post on IG more often. I have bought ads on facebook where I post links but any wasn't really cost effective for the results I achieved.

With car reviews being in front of the camera is important. I also have T shirts with my channel logo on it that I wear. Although the latest vehicle I filmed and review I wore a full suit and tie.

I film and edit on my own and don't have a script. I found it to be quite difficult but still enjoyable.

I am getting an intro and outro clips made for me and have about 7-8 vehicles I can loan and the cost of fuel only which can help boost my content.

For filming I have a tripod, iPhone 8 Plus, bluetooth microphone and for editing I am using iMovies which suits me for now. I am learning how to do this as I go along.

I haven't found converting IG or Twitter (I don't really use it) followers to subscribers to be easy.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

 

[BlackFriar]

I like that guys channel, Bald and Bankrupt.

 

[oilbreh]

^^ Why do I keep seeing that guy get shilled here? Is this some growth hack campaign? Looks like a typical 50 year old western guy on a scooter in a third world country.

As for youtube, it really varies. Some people I watch have shitty videos from cars or their couch and don't care much for growing the channel it seems but their info is good. Others pay some third world people do build swimming pools with sticks and get 12 million views per video.