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One Year On YouTube: Reflections and Lessons Learned

improve your performance Sep 05, 2023

Over the past year, I have been creating content for my YouTube channel and have learned a lot about what works and what doesn't. In this article, I will be sharing some of the results and lessons learned from my experience, as well as some honest reflections on what I wish I had done differently.

One of the key takeaways from my experience is the importance of having a clear thumbnail and title strategy. By testing different strategies and remaining consistent, I have been able to steadily grow my channel's organic reach. Additionally, collaborating with other creators has been a valuable way to get in front of new audiences and grow my subscriber base.

Key Takeaways

  • Having a clear thumbnail and title strategy is crucial for organic growth
  • Collaborating with other creators can help expand your reach
  • Focusing on popular videos and search ranking can drive traffic to your channel

Channel Overview

After creating content for my YouTube channel for a year, I have learned some valuable lessons and seen some encouraging results. At this stage, my channel has 255 subscribers, which is steadily growing over time. My thumbnails and titles are consistent and clean, making it easy for viewers to recognize my brand.

To increase discoverability, I collaborate with other creators to get in front of their audience and vice versa. The 80/20 rule applies, where 20% of my videos drive 80% of the views. Therefore, I focus on creating content that ranks well in YouTube search results. For instance, my video on "Zoom webinar tutorial" ranks third in the search results, driving immense traffic to my channel.

To understand my traffic sources, I use YouTube Studio's analytics feature. Most of my traffic comes from YouTube search, followed by suggested videos and external sources. Overall, I am confident in my channel's growth and look forward to creating more valuable content for my audience.

Channel Performance

After creating content for my YouTube channel for one year, I have seen steady growth in my subscribers. Currently, I have 255 subscribers, and my videos are being indexed and shown on the platform. To remain consistent, I have a thumbnail and title strategy that I test over time. My thumbnails are clean, clear, and include my face to denote that the content is from my channel.

To increase discoverability, I collaborate with other creators to get in front of their audience and vice versa. I also focus on creating content that ranks well in YouTube search. For example, my Zoom webinar tutorial video ranks number three for the search term "Zoom webinar tutorial," and my Screenflow tutorial video ranks number two for the search term "Screenflow tutorial."

Using YouTube Analytics, I track where my traffic is coming from, and most of my traffic comes from YouTube search. However, I am always looking for new content creation ideas, such as Kajabi versus Teachable versus Thinkific, Kajabi versus WordPress, Teachable, Thinkific, Clickfunnels, and more.

Thumbnail and Title Strategy

When it comes to building up my thumbnails, I strive to make them super clean and clear of what the video is all about. I also tend to include my image or face on the thumbnail to denote that it's from my channel. This helps people recognize my style and brand.

If you have a strategy for your thumbnails and titles, it's important to test it over time and remain consistent. Collaboration with other creators can also be a great way to get in front of their audience and vice versa.

To improve discoverability, you can search for keywords that you want to rank for and use Google's Auto suggest to see what people are searching for. It's also helpful to have a look at your popular videos and see what titles are driving the most views.

In my experience, building out titles to get search traffic is an old school way of doing things. It's better to have YouTube promote your content as much as possible. In my YouTube Studio, I can see that most of my traffic is coming from YouTube search.

Overall, having a thumbnail and title strategy is crucial for growing your YouTube channel. By testing and remaining consistent, you can improve your discoverability and attract more viewers.

Collaboration Strategy

As a content creator on YouTube, I have found that collaborating with other creators can be an effective way to grow your channel and reach new audiences. One strategy that has worked well for me is to collaborate with creators who have a similar target audience or niche.

When collaborating, it's important to have a clear plan and communication with your partner. Here are some tips for a successful collaboration:

  • Establish clear goals and expectations for the collaboration.
  • Determine each other's roles and responsibilities.
  • Agree on a timeline for the collaboration.
  • Promote each other's content on your respective channels.
  • Create content that appeals to both of your audiences.

Collaborating with other creators can also help you build relationships within your niche and gain valuable insights and feedback on your content. Overall, I believe that collaboration is a powerful tool for growing your channel and expanding your reach on YouTube.

Video Popularity Analysis

After one year of creating content for my YouTube channel, I have seen some interesting results and learned some valuable lessons. As of today, my channel, Tim Peekman, has 255 subscribers and is steadily growing over time. I always open an incognito browser to review any channel, and I search for the name of my channel to see how it ranks. I have found that having a thumbnail and title strategy, as well as remaining consistent, has been helpful in building up my channel. I try to make my thumbnails clean and clear and include my face to denote that it is from my channel.

When reviewing my channel, I look at the latest, popular, and oldest videos. It is important to note that the 80/20 rule applies, where 20% of my videos drive 80% of the views. My most viewed video, "Zoom Webinar Tutorial," has 6,400 views and is ranked number three in the search results. This is because it is ranking well for the search term "Zoom webinar tutorial." I have also found success with my videos on "Zoom Webinar vs. Meeting" and "Screenflow Tutorial."

I always open up an incognito browser to see how my videos rank for certain keywords and to see them through the eyes of my potential audience. I have found that building out titles to get search results is an effective strategy. However, it is also important to have YouTube promote my videos as much as possible.

In my YouTube studio, I can see that most of my traffic comes from YouTube search. It is important to understand where my traffic sources are coming from so that I can adjust my strategy accordingly. Overall, I have learned that having a strategy for titles and thumbnails, collaborating with other creators, and understanding my traffic sources are key to growing my channel.

Search Ranking

After creating content for my YouTube channel for a year, I have learned some valuable lessons about search ranking. Here are some of my reflections and insights:

  • When reviewing a channel, the first thing I do is open an incognito browser and search for the name of the channel. This allows me to see how the channel is ranking in search results.
  • Thumbnails and titles are crucial for search ranking. I try to make my thumbnails clean, clear, and consistent with my brand. I also include my face in the thumbnail to denote that it's from my channel.
  • Collaboration with other creators can help you get in front of their audience and vice versa, which can boost your search ranking.
  • The 80/20 rule applies to search ranking, with 20% of your videos driving 80% of the views. It's important to analyze your popular videos and create more content around those topics.
  • To rank well in search results, it's essential to use relevant keywords in your titles and descriptions. I use Google's Auto suggest to see what people are searching for and create content around those keywords.
  • YouTube search is a powerful traffic source, and it's crucial to optimize your videos for search ranking. In my YouTube Studio, I analyze my traffic sources to see where my views are coming from and make adjustments accordingly.

Overall, search ranking is a critical factor in the success of a YouTube channel. By creating high-quality content, optimizing your titles and descriptions, and collaborating with other creators, you can increase your search ranking and drive more traffic to your channel.

Kajabi Content Creation

Over the past year, I have been creating content for my YouTube channel, and I have learned a few things about content creation. When it comes to creating content, one of the most crucial aspects is ensuring that it is discoverable. One way to achieve this is by having a thumbnail and title strategy that is consistent and clear. When building my thumbnails, I ensure that they are super clean and denote the video's content. I also tend to have my face on them to show that it is from my channel.

Another way to ensure that your content is discoverable is by collaborating with other creators. This can help you get in front of their audience, and they can share your content with their audience, helping you grow as a result.

When it comes to creating content that ranks well, it is essential to have a search strategy. I always open up an incognito browser to see how my channel ranks for certain keywords. For example, my most viewed video is a Zoom webinar tutorial. By using Google's auto-suggest, I discovered that Zoom webinar versus meetings was a popular search query. So, I created a video on that topic, and it has been ranking well.

In addition to having a search strategy, it is crucial to have a promotion strategy. In my case, I use Kajabi to run my entire online business, so I create content on Kajabi versus other platforms, which has been getting good search traffic.

When it comes to analyzing your channel's performance, it is essential to understand where your traffic is coming from. In my case, most of my traffic comes from YouTube search, which is why having a good search strategy is crucial.

Overall, creating discoverable content is key to growing your channel and reaching a wider audience. By having a thumbnail and title strategy, collaborating with other creators, having a search and promotion strategy, and analyzing your channel's performance, you can create content that ranks well and drives traffic to your channel.

Traffic Source Analysis

After creating content for my YouTube channel for a year, I have learned a lot about traffic sources. One of the first things I do when reviewing any channel is to open an incognito browser and search for the channel name. Currently, my channel has 255 subscribers, and I am encouraged by its steady organic growth.

To increase discoverability, I have a thumbnail and title strategy that I try to remain consistent with. I also collaborate with other creators to get in front of their audience and vice versa.

In terms of video analysis, I have found that the 80/20 rule applies - 20% of my videos drive 80% of the views. To determine which videos are popular, I use the latest, popular, and oldest sections in the video tab.

One of my most viewed videos is a Zoom webinar tutorial, which is ranking well in YouTube search. I use Google's auto-suggest to find potential topics for videos, such as Zoom webinar versus meetings. Additionally, I use Kajabi versus as a topic since it is the platform I use for my entire online business.

To understand where my traffic sources are coming from, I utilize YouTube Studio's analytics and advanced mode. Currently, most of my traffic is coming from YouTube search.

Subscriber Growth

After one year of creating content on my YouTube channel, I currently have 255 subscribers. While I may have hoped for more, I am encouraged by the steady organic growth over time. It is important to remain consistent with strategies such as thumbnail and title creation, as it helps with brand recognition and discoverability. Collaborating with other creators can also be a useful tactic to increase exposure to new audiences.

The 80/20 rule applies to YouTube as well, where 20% of videos will drive 80% of views. It is important to analyze which videos are performing well and why, and to use that information to create more successful content.

Utilizing YouTube search to drive traffic to videos can be effective, as seen with my "Zoom webinar tutorial" video which currently has 6400 views and is ranked number three in search results. However, it is also important to have a strategy in place to have YouTube promote content as much as possible.

Analyzing traffic sources through YouTube Studio can provide valuable insights into which strategies are working and which need improvement. Overall, while subscriber growth may not always be exponential, consistent effort and analysis can lead to steady and successful growth over time.

Conclusion

After one year of creating content for my YouTube channel, I have learned some valuable lessons and seen some positive results. My channel has steadily grown to 255 subscribers, and I have found that consistency in my thumbnail and title strategy has been helpful in building recognition and engagement among my audience. Collaborating with other creators has also been a successful tactic for increasing my reach.

I have found that the 80/20 rule applies to my channel, with 20% of my videos driving 80% of the views. By analyzing my popular videos, I have been able to identify topics that resonate with my audience and create more content around those themes.

It is important to prioritize search engine optimization (SEO) and use keywords in titles and descriptions to increase visibility and drive traffic from YouTube search. However, it is also important to focus on creating quality content that provides value to viewers and builds a loyal following.

Overall, I am encouraged by the growth of my channel and the engagement of my audience. While there are always areas for improvement, I am excited to continue creating content and building my online business.

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