How Top 1% YouTubers Get Millions Of Views!
YouTube is constantly evolving, presenting new opportunities and challenges for content creators.
While some struggle with decreasing views, others see significant growth by adapting their strategies.
In this episode of the Think Media podcast, top YouTube creators share effective approaches for achieving higher view counts.
A key strategy discussed is the Mass Appeal method.
By focusing on content that appeals to a broader audience, creators can increase their chances of going viral without deviating from their niche.
Examples from successful YouTubers illustrate how this approach can lead to substantial viewership gains.
Key Takeaways
- Using the Mass Appeal method can help increase video views significantly.
- Broader appeal content should align with the creator's niche.
- Real-life examples show the effectiveness of this strategy.
The Wide Audience Approach
Defining Video Success
When creating a YouTube video, it's essential to decide what success looks like for that specific video.
Is the goal to reach as many people as possible and go viral? Alternatively, is the video aimed at a specific, smaller audience?
Deciding this early helps in shaping the content and strategy.
Issues with Very Focused Content
Content that is too focused on a niche topic may not go viral often.
This type of content is great for targeted audiences but doesn't reach a broader audience.
Finding a balance between niche content and wider appeal can help in gaining more views while still providing value.
Noah Kagan's Technique
Noah Kagan, a successful business channel creator, has shown the power of the Wide Audience Approach.
One of his older videos, "How to Hire Right the First Time," is very specific and practical but only garnered 10,000 views in six years.
In contrast, his video titled "Meet the Billionaire that Works a Normal Job" gained 5.6 million views.
This shift to broader topics while staying relevant to business helped Noah reach a larger audience.
Leila Hormozi's Video Evolution
Leila Hormozi, who offers business and leadership advice, also embraced the Wide Audience Approach.
A previous video of hers, "How Worldclass Leaders Hold Employees Accountable," had a narrow focus and limited reach.
Later, her video "How I Brainwashed Myself to Success" not only had a compelling title and thumbnail but also appealed to a broader audience.
This video hit 1.3 million views, showing how widening the appeal of content can significantly increase viewership.
Roger Wakefield's Plumbing Lessons
Roger Wakefield, known for his plumbing education channel, also successfully applied this strategy.
His practical videos like "Toilet Wax vs. Rubber: Which Works Better?" received moderate views.
However, his video "Real Plumber Tries Awful Plumbing Hacks" garnered 4.2 million views.
By combining educational content with entertainment, Roger reached a much larger audience without straying from his main topic.
Response Plan
Utilizing Content from Others (OPO)
Creators are increasingly turning to using other people’s content to boost engagement and views.
This approach involves tapping into already popular material, adding personal commentary, and engaging with the audience through a familiar lens.
This method brings fresh perspectives to well-known content, making it appealing to a broader audience.
This technique can be particularly effective for creators who want to maintain their niche while reaching out to a wider audience.
Legal Considerations for Reaction Videos
The concept of fair use is critical when making reaction videos.
By understanding and properly navigating these laws, creators can use segments of other people's work legally.
Fair use allows for the incorporation of existing works within new content so long as it adds value or commentary and doesn't simply replicate the original material.
Ensuring that the new content offers criticism, commentary, or educational value is essential in staying within the bounds of the law.
Illustrations of Impactful Reaction Videos
Several creators have effectively used reaction videos to grow their channels.
For instance, Roger Wakefield, a plumbing expert, significantly expanded his viewership by reacting to viral plumbing fails and scams.
This not only brought humor and relatability to his channel but also demonstrated his expertise in real-world scenarios.
Utilizing Key Tactics
Grasping Viral-for-Me (VFM)
The Viral-for-Me strategy means creating content that has a higher chance of going viral within your specific audience.
This doesn't mean it will absolutely go viral like a top creator, but it will perform much better than your typical content.
By thoughtfully selecting topics or content formats with broader appeal, while staying true to your niche, you can see significant growth.
For example, instead of focusing solely on a hyper-niched topic, try a subject that stretches beyond, offering value to a wider audience.
Balancing Wide-Reach Content with Brand Relevance
Finding the right balance between broad appeal and brand-specific content is crucial.
Content that strictly addresses niche topics might not attract a large viewership, even if it provides immense value to a small audience.
Conversely, content with mass appeal can attract a broader audience while still maintaining relevance to your brand.
Combining elements of both can lead to higher engagement and growth.
Essential Tools for Content Creation
Including Strategy of React in Making Content
One effective method for growing a YouTube channel is using the react strategy.
This involves creators reacting to other people's content (OPC). Fair use laws allow creators to use parts of other people's videos and add their own commentary or insight.
This method can be less time-consuming and require fewer resources.
For example, Roger Wakefield's video titled "Real Plumber Reacts to the Biggest Plumbing Scammers" generated a significant number of views. Instead of creating a tutorial, he reacted to existing content within his niche.
Evaluating Creativity and Effort in Reaction Videos
Creating reaction videos can sometimes involve less effort compared to producing original content.
By reacting to viral or trending topics, creators can attract a larger audience.
For example, Roger Wakefield's reaction video got over 800 times more views than some of his practical tutorials.
This approach balances creativity with efficiency, allowing creators to produce engaging content with potentially lower production costs. The key is to add unique, valuable commentary that resonates with the viewers.
YouTube Strategy Recap
Mass Appeal Method
When creating YouTube content, one key strategy is to aim for mass appeal.
Instead of focusing on hyper-niched topics that might only attract a small specific audience, creators can choose broader topics that interest a wider range of viewers.
This method has been successfully used by top YouTube creators.
For example, Noah Kagan, a business expert, shifted from creating highly specific videos like "How to Hire Right the First Time" to more universally interesting ones like "Meet the Billionaire That Works a Normal Job." This shift resulted in a major increase in views.
Similarly, Leila Heroi moved from niche content like "How World-Class Leaders Hold Employees Accountable" to broader topics such as "How I Brainwashed Myself to Success." This change brought in millions of views, proving the effectiveness of the mass appeal method.
Reaction Strategy
Another successful approach is the reaction strategy, where creators respond to or critique existing content.
This can involve reviewing viral videos, reacting to popular trends, or providing commentary on other people's content (OPC).
Roger Wakefield, a plumbing expert, utilized this strategy effectively. His video "Real Plumber Tries Awful Plumbing Hacks" generated significant views by reacting to common DIY plumbing hacks found online. This approach not only attracted a large audience but also positioned him as an authority in his field.
Viral for Me (VFM)
The concept of "viral for me" (VFM) is also crucial.
It considers what can go viral within the specific context of a creator's typical view count.
For instance, a video that normally gets 100 views might see a surge to 10,000 views using these methods, without necessarily reaching the millions that top creators achieve.
The idea is to aim for significant growth relative to the usual audience size.
Bonus Strategy Sneak Peek
Looking to take your YouTube game to the next level? Here’s a quick peek into an extra strategy that can help you boost your views even further.
Leverage Cross-Promotional Opportunities
By collaborating with other YouTubers, you can tap into their audience and introduce your content to potential new subscribers.
Look for creators in similar or complementary niches to maximize the effectiveness of the collaboration.
Optimize Thumbnail and Titles
Thumbnails and titles are the first things potential viewers see, so making them eye-catching and relevant is key.
Use clear images, bold text, and intriguing questions or statements to prompt clicks.
Tips for Creating Compelling Thumbnails
- High Contrast: Make sure the thumbnail stands out with bright, contrasting colors.
- Bold Text: Use large, readable fonts that convey the video’s main point.
- Emotional Faces: Including faces with expressive emotions can attract more clicks.
Building a community around your channel is crucial.
Respond to comments and ask questions to encourage more interaction.
Engaged viewers are more likely to return and contribute to your channel's growth.
Consistency is key.
Stick to a schedule that fits your lifestyle and make sure your audience knows when to expect new content.
This helps in building anticipation and reliability.