Promote your channel on social media.
You can also embed links on your blog or personal website. The more places you can link to your YouTube channel, the more potential subscribers are likely to see it. If you have a Facebook page or a Twitter account, link to your videos there or embed them directly. To embed a video, hit the Share button under the video and select Embed. This will give you an embed code that you can paste into posts on websites, blogs, discussion boards, or social media.
Ask your friends and family to subscribe.
Reach out to people you already know to quickly build a following. You can even let them know that you have a goal of getting 100 subscribers in a day. Send out a message with a link to your channel to everyone you know who might be interested, including your family, friends, and classmates or coworkers. Say something like, “Hey, I just started a YouTube channel promoting my new home business, and I’m trying to get as many subscribers as possible. Please spread the word and share the link with anyone else you know who might want to sign up!”
Post about a topic that’s trending right now.
A video that catches people’s attention can lead to new subscribers. While there’s no magic formula for making a video go viral, there are things you can do to improve your chances. Visit the YouTube page on Google Trends to find out which topics viewers are most interested in right now. If any of the trending topics are relevant to the kind of content you make, consider making a video about it. For instance, if your channel is about pet care, check the trending topics in the “Pets & Animals” category. If you see that “axolotl” is trending, you could make a video about how to set up an axolotl tank. Studies also show that the most successful videos are ones that give viewers a boost of positive emotion. Post something that’s not only relevant, but also cute, fun, or heartwarming to increase the chances that people will share your videos with others.
Give your channel a name that’s easy to remember.
If viewers remember your name, they’re more likely to come back. To set or change your channel name, log into YouTube Studio and select Customization from the left-hand menu. Select Basic Info, then click the Edit button next to your channel name. Enter the name you want into the text box. Try to choose a name that’s short, simple, and reflects what your channel is about. For instance, a good name for a cooking channel might be something like “Cooking with Kathleen” or “Omar’s Kitchen”. While you’re at it, fill out the description for your channel, which is also located under the Basic Info tab. Write a few lines explaining what kind of content your viewers can expect. For instance, “My name is Lucy, and I make digital art. Subscribe for tips, tutorials, and livestreams showing my creation process!”
Customize your profile with some nice art.
A good profile pic can give your channel a professional look. If your channel looks nice, visitors will also be more likely to explore your content, and possibly subscribe. In addition to uploading an eye-catching profile picture, you can also use YouTube’s channel customization tools to add a banner image to the top of your channel page, put a unique watermark on your videos, or change the layout of your channel. To customize the look of your channel, log in to YouTube Studio at https://studio.youtube.com/. Select Customization from the menu bar on the left side of the page. You can add custom channel art (such as a profile pic, banner, and watermark) in the Branding tab. The Layout tab allows you to add new sections to help organize your content. You can also create a channel trailer to give new visitors a sense of what to expect if they subscribe.
Find your content niche.
People tend to subscribe to channels that fit their interests. Most subscribers are interested in getting a specific type of content—not lots of different videos on a variety of random topics. While it’s okay to experiment with your approach, try to pick a theme and stick with it. You can even choose a popular keyword and build your content off of that. For example, maybe your research shows that tons of people are looking up ASMR videos right now. Consider creating an ASMR channel, but adding your own, personal twist—such as ASMR videos where you bake, draw, or unbox new merch.
Upload new content on a regular schedule.
You’ll get more subscribers if you consistently release new content. If viewers know they’re going to get a shiny new video from a favorite content creator once a week, they’ll be a lot more likely to subscribe. Set a schedule for yourself and do your best to stick to it. Let your viewers know when they can expect more. For instance, you might say “See you next week with another video!” at the end of every video you post. One great way to stay consistent is to prepare material ahead of time, then schedule when each video will go live. When you upload a video, select the Visibility tab in the editing menu and click Schedule. This will allow you to set the time, date, and time zone when you want your video to be published.
Give your videos easy-to-search titles.
Keep your titles clear and simple. In fact, try to keep the title under 70 characters, if you can. It’s also a good idea to include relevant keywords that your audience is likely to search for. There are a few good ways to do this: Look at your competitors’ most popular videos and check out their titles. What kinds of keywords do they tend to use most often? Try typing in a query related to your video in the YouTube search bar. See what other keywords pop up in the autofill results. For example, if you type in “nails,” you’ll see that other users searched for terms like “nails acrylic,” “nails design,” and “nails for beginners.” Use an SEO tool designed for YouTube, such as VidIQ or TubeBuddy, to research possible keywords to include in your titles.
Take advantage of custom thumbnails.
An eye-catching thumbnail will entice more viewers. Instead of choosing any old random frame from your video, take advantage of YouTube’s feature that allows you to create your own thumbnail. To add a custom thumbnail to a video, click the Create button at the top of the YouTube Studio page to upload your video. When you’re filling out the information about your video, go to the Thumbnail section and select Upload Thumbnail. You can also add custom thumbnails to videos that are already uploaded. Sign in to YouTube Studio and select Content from the left-hand menu. Select the video you want by clicking on its thumbnail, then click Upload Thumbnail to add your custom image. In order to use custom thumbnails, you’ll need to verify your YouTube account first. To make a good custom thumbnail, choose images that are fun to look at and accurately reflect what the video is about. For instance, if you’re posting a review of a new game controller, use a clear photo or screenshot of yourself using the controller, or show a closeup image of the controller. You can also include a few words of text in your thumbnail. For example, “Best Controller Ever?!” Just make sure to position them so they won’t be covered by the timestamp in the lower right corner of the thumbnail.
Ask your viewers to subscribe.
This may seem a little obvious, but it can make a difference. Once someone has clicked on your video and started watching, you’ve already won half the battle. Include a gentle request somewhere in your video for anyone watching to subscribe. Say something like, “Thanks so much for watching. If you’re enjoying this video, don’t forget to like and subscribe! I post new tutorials once a week.” You can even add a clickable subscribe button to your videos. Find a premade “Subscribe” button online or create your own, then upload it as a watermark under the Branding tab in your channel’s customization menu. Viewers can hover over the watermark to make a Subscribe button appear.
Organize your videos into playlists.
Grouping your videos by theme makes them easier to find. This will help potential subscribers quickly spot the content they’re most interested in. To make a playlist, log in to YouTube Studio and select Playlists from the left-hand menu. Click NEW PLAYLIST and enter a title for your playlist. Use the dropdown menu to make sure the playlist’s visibility is set to Public, then click CREATE. Select the playlist and hit Edit to start adding new videos. Drag and drop the videos within the playlist to change their order. You can also use the Layout tab in the channel customization section to create playlists. Divide your videos up into groupings that make sense. For example, if you have a baking channel, you could have playlists with themes like “Cookies,” “Cupcakes,” and “Cake Decorating Tips.”
Engage with your followers.
Take a little time to read and reply to comments. Viewers love being able to engage directly with their favorite creators. Reaching out to your audience and interacting with them is a great way to build a bigger fanbase and bring in new subscribers. Even if you can’t respond to every single comment or answer every question, just engaging with a few comments on every video can make a big difference. Log in to YouTube Studio and select Comments from the left-hand menu to reply or react to comments on your videos. You can even feature your favorite comments by pinning them to the top of the video’s watch page. Select the menu button next to the comment and click Pin. You can also engage your audience by inviting them to leave questions, comments, or suggestions in your video or video description. Or, ask them a question. For instance, “What are some of your favorite cookie recipes? Answer in the comments below!” Show your audience you’re listening by incorporating their suggestions into later videos, or by taking a moment at the beginning of a new video to answer their questions from the last one.
Collaborate with other YouTube creators.
Work with other creators to help each other’s fanbases grow. Reach out to other YouTubers who create content that’s similar to yours and invite them to collaborate. When you make videos together with other YouTubers, their fans are more likely to check out your work—and vice versa. The end result is that both of you are likely to gain new subscribers! If possible, choose someone whose work complements your own. For instance, if you run a channel about making beaded jewelry, you might invite another YouTuber who does wire-wrapped jewelry to collab with you. Don’t worry if you don’t quite feel ready to do a collaboration yet. You can also engage with other YouTubers by commenting on their videos or mentioning them in your own videos. This can be a great starting point for building your network.
Offer your viewers some fun incentives.
Contests, giveaways, and other bonuses can help boosts subscriptions. Organize something fun and rewarding to keep viewers coming back for more. For instance, you might host a contest for viewers to suggest the topic of your next video, or have a raffle and give away merch to a few lucky commenters. While you might be tempted to use a service that allows you to pay for subscribers, it’s best to avoid these. For one thing, it goes against YouTube’s terms of service to artificially inflate your subscription count or pay for subscribers. You’re also less likely to build a genuinely active and interested fanbase that way.
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