How to Grow Fast on YouTube: The 7-Step Guide 2024

YouTube has over 2 billion active users worldwide. In France, more than 50 million people watch at least one video per month on the platform. You get it, YouTube represents an important opportunity to be visible on the internet. 👀

Plus, getting started on YouTube is very accessible today. There are cheap cameras and editing software available for free. You can clearly get started, even with a very small budget. With a YouTube channel, you can earn a living or simply promote your business.

Whatever your goal, you need a channel that gets views every month. To help you out, we’re going to present you with a complete guide to breaking into YouTube from scratch. 💪

Step 1: Choose a niche/theme

If you want to break through on YouTube, it’s best to create a channel focused on a single theme. Don’t try to start a channel that is too general and make entertainment videos for example. You will be confronted with the biggest Youtubers and the competition will be much too strong. Unless you invest or have contacts, you won’t be able to make a go of it.

On the other hand, by creating a YouTube channel on a niche, you will have more chances toget results quickly. This is because YouTube is much more likely to recommend channels that are specialized in a theme. 🤝

But how to choose the right theme?

This is the crucial point and what will determine if your YouTube channel will work or not. And yes, if you create a channel on a topic that nobody is interested in, you will exhaust yourself producing videos, for very little results. To avoid this, we’re going to give you the criteria for a good niche on the platform. 📝

To start, you need to estimate the interest of users for a theme. In order to evaluate if users are looking for video in a niche, you can use several software. We recommend you to use Google Trends a free tool from Google that allows you to see the trends on the search engine in real time.

This way, you can see if the main keywords of your niche are searched. If this is the case, it means that Internet users are interested in this theme. And they will surely want YouTube videos on them.

Here are some examples of themes that work on YouTube:

• Personal development 🏃‍♂️
• Personal finance and investing 💰
• Health/wellness/spirituality ⛎
• Digital marketing 💻
• Online Business 🌐
• Healthy/nutritional recipes 🥑

Once you have an idea for a niche, you will have to check if it is not too competitive. For example, let’s say you want to create a YouTube channel to give advice to law students. This is clearly a good niche with interest.

The problem is that there are already many Youtubers posting videos to give advice to these students. And among them, qualified and renowned professors. So it’s going to be hard to get ahead of them, unless you bring in some additional expertise. In this niche, it’s going to be hard to stand out, because the topics are pretty narrow. 😅

The difficulty is to find a niche that is neither too specific nor too general. If it’s too specific, you’ll quickly run out of content ideas. Conversely, a more generalist niche is also naturally more competitive.

As a bonus, a niche must be easily monetizable. As you can imagine, there are niches where it is easier to earn money than others (thanks to the affiliate marketing, infoproduct sales, sponsorships, etc.). For example, if you start a channel on personal finance, you will be able to monetize it more easily than a channel on pottery. Even though in reality, it’s possible to monetize any topic today. 🤑

Step 2: Find a video format to publish

Once you have found a good theme to launch your YouTube channel, you need to choose the right video format. There are certain formats that are better suited to certain themes and vice versa. On YouTube, there are many formats that are popular, we are going to show you the types of videos that are best suited to any theme.

“How To” videos(tutorials) 🤔

If there is one type of video that works regardless of the theme, it is thetutorial content. And the great thing about this type of video is that you can quickly create effortless teaser titles .

• If you have a personal finance channel => How to become financially free in 6 months? 💸
• If you have a channel on personal development => How I manage to get up at 5:30 am every day ? ⏰
• If you have a channel on bodybuilding => How to build muscle in 8 weeks? 🏋️

In short, no matter what your niche is, you can create this type of video. The objective is to present a solution to a problem in a short format(about 10 minutes).

Let’s say you create a video “ how to lose weight fast? “. At the beginning of the video, you will point out the problems. Most people try to lose weight, try diets but don’t follow through. Then, you indicate that your method is effective and will allow these people to lose weight for good. Once you’ve set the hook and the problem, you just have to state your method, a bit like a tutorial.

In this example, the Entrepreneur Mindset channel explains in detail how to become financially free using the method of a famous millionaire. In this way, the video stands out from all the other content that offers techniques to gain financial freedom. 💰

The “Storytime” videos 📖

One format that has been working for a long time, but is becoming more and more popular, is simply videos that tell a story. The concept is very simple. The Youtuber will simply tell a true story, lived by another person. Generally, the video will contain images and videos of illustrations. But for the majority of the video, it’s just the Youtuber talking. 🗣️

Contrary to what one might think, making videos of this type is not for everyone. Of course, it is very easy for everyone to tell a story. However, if you don’t adopt the right storytelling and can’t keep people’s attention, this type of popular video won’t work.

You can tell all kinds of stories. Obviously, there are also themes that work better here. A popular format is to tell horror stories, inspired by real events. On the other hand, there are already big Youtubers on this niche, so it will be complicated to surpass them.

What works well are motivational stories of people who have succeeded in a field. Many videos recount the success stories of top athletes,entrepreneurs,artists and others. But you can also tell stories that go wrong and allow people online to learn from other people’s mistakes. 💪

Example with a video from Marketing Mania:

YouTube Shorts 📲

Since a few years and the explosion of TikTok, the Short format format on YouTube is a hit. Almost all major Youtubers use clips from their videos to create Shorts. This is clearly a way to make additional views easily.

But you can also focus on short videos and post only shorts. This format allows forfaster results, as it is based on an algorithm similar to TikTok. Thus, a Short can quickly appear in user recommendations and achieve millions of views. This compared to a classic video.💥

If you want to focus on short videos, we invite you to read our guide on how to break through on TikTok. We give you many tips to learn how to create short videos that make the buzz(works as much on YouTube Shorts as TikTok or Instagram Reels).

Step 3: Create quality videos

We could see together the video formats that work well on the platform. Now you need to focus on producing quality content. YouTube is very competitive, so you can’t afford to create videos in a hurry if you want to make it in the long run. ⏳

As such, you will need to create videos in a professional manner. You will need a quality camera and microphone at the very least. An editing software will also be necessary to design your videos. You can also add elements like lights or a green background.

Be careful, you don’t need to have a complete studio. There’s no point in breaking the bank to buy high-end equipment if you’re just starting out. You can easily create a setup with a few hundred euros. With this alone, you will be able to make videos with professional quality. 🎥

We can’t really give you a recipe for a well-made video. Indeed, it is not easy to explain in writing how to create a complete video, from A to Z. It will differ according to your theme, your video format and others. What we invite you to do is to check out tutorials on YouTube. Many Youtubers give advice on how to make professional videos on a small budget.

If you want to learn faster, we recommend several YouTube courses in our comparison. These courses will teach you step by step(writing, shooting, framing, editing, etc.) how to create a professional quality video. 🎬

Step 4: Optimize your videos

YouTube is a social network, but it is also a search engine. Therefore, you need to optimize your videos so that they appear at the top of the search results. Likewise, by optimizing your videos, you increase your chances of having them recommended on the platform.

Like TikTok, Google, Instagram or others, YouTube has an algorithm that will rank a video. Depending on its ranking, a video has more or less chances to be recommended on the platform. And there are a few little tricks you can implement to optimize your videos so they rank better. 💪

Beware, no one knows the content of the YouTube algorithm, which is kept secret by the company. Therefore, if someone says they know exactly how to make a YouTube video appear in recommendations, they will most likely be lying. On the other hand, we know from several studies that certain criteria will have an impact on the referencing of a video. 📊

To increase your chances of being visible on the platform, you should optimize these elements:

The title : This is probably the most important element. No matter how good your video is, if your title doesn’t make people want to click, you’ll lose views. So we recommend that you learn how to create engaging titles that catch the eye of viewers. (Many tutorials are available online on how to create a good video title)

The description : We won’t lie to you, not many people read the description of a YouTube video. However, this does not mean that it should be neglected. Because a good description will allow you to integrate many elements that will boost the SEO of your video. At the very least, we invite you to add a short textual summary of your video, as well as links to other videos on your channel. Also, consider including hashtags related to your theme.

Summary: Recently, you can add a summary, which shows the highlights of your video to Internet users. You are clearly encouraged to include a summary in each of your videos. This takes a little time, but is greatly appreciated by YouTube, which will be more likely to recommend your video.

Again, if you want to learn how to optimize a video in the most optimal way, you’ll have to invest in a YouTube training course.

Step 5: Build community loyalty

When your videos go start getting views, you’ll probably notice that many people who watch your content are not subscribers. And even when you have more subscribers, not all of them are going to watch every single one of your videos and add a like, comment and the like. 👍

As you can see, the goal is not to have as many subscribers as possible, but tohave an engaged community. It is better to have fewer but more loyal subscribers. Whether it’s for views or negotiating partnerships, having an engaged community will be far more beneficial than a million views with a very low engagement rate.

As you have seen, the smaller and more niche a channel is, the more engaged its community will be. So, just by creating a channel on a specific theme, you’re already going to have a more loyal community than a big generalist YouTube channel. 🤝

But there are also many things you can do to easily build a loyal community. Here are some easy-to-apply tips that will help you increase your engagement rate.

Liked and replied to all your comments: Simple and effective. People especially appreciate it when a creator likes and responds to their comment. The goal is for your subscribers to see that there is a human behind the channel, who takes time to answer their questions. 🤔

Conduct surveys and Q&A sessions: A simple way to create engagement with your community is to simply ask them questions. Thanks to the “community” tab on YouTube, you can conduct surveys directly on the platform. We also invite you to answer questions from your subscribers. This way, they will be closer to you and therefore more likely to support you.

In fact, there are many different ways to animate a community. For example, you can organize contests or other engaging concepts. The goal is to make your subscribers feel important, so that they feel like they are participating in the development of the channel. 📈

Step 6: Analyze your performance with YouTube statistics

Once you have a YouTube channel, you have access to a lot of statistics in a tool called YouTube Studio “. With YouTube Studio, you can see in detail the performance of each video posted on your channel.

There are many different statistics, which can allow you toimprove your engagement rate. For example, you can see your click-through rate and the amount of impressions on your videos. This way, you can determine if you need to change the title or thumbnail of a video to make it more eye-catching. 👀

We invite you to regularly consult the YouTube Studio statistics on videos. You will be able to see your progress, but also see what is wrong and fix the problem so you don’t lose visibility.

YouTube Studio is a free tool that provides valuable statistics. But there are also premium software, which allow you to get even more advanced statistics, to maximize your chances of success on the platform.💥

With TubeBuddy for example, you can easily find video ideas related to your channel. In addition, you can doA/B testing by displaying two different titles and thumbnails to see which one generates more clicks. There are other programs that can help you break into the platform. We invite you to read our comparison of the best YouTube software which will give you the best tools to increase your visibility on the platform.

Step 7: Follow the trends in your theme

YouTube is above all a social network. And like all social networks, there are trends that change regularly. And if you’ve been using the platform for several years, you’ve probably noticed. Videos that worked 10 years ago don’t work at all today. 🥱

Therefore, if you don’t follow the trends, you can quickly lose visibility. Depending on the year, there can be many changes, especially in the format of the videos. Popular topics also vary. But if you’re nestled in a theme, you’ll only have to follow the news in that niche.

Since the explosion of TikTok and Instagram Reels, the popular format of the last few years is clearly YouTube Shorts. The operation is the same as on TikTok, with short videos in portrait format, with a maximum duration of 60 seconds. ⏱️

Be careful, we don’t say that all the Youtubers who didn’t switch to the Shorts format have lost visibility. However, it is an easy way to get views andattract a new audience. And for that matter, you can create Shorts videos in any theme.

There are many trends that make it easier for small Youtubers to gain visibility. By adapting to these trends, you too can make your mark and get more views than usual. However, following the trends is mainly a way to avoid losing visibility. The goal is to adapt to the usage habits of Internet users in order to always provide them with relevant content. 🎬

To find the current topics that are trending in your niche, many software programs can help you. We recommend you to use a free tool, Google Trends. Thanks to this tool provided by Google, you can know the most popular searches of the moment. 📊

It is possible to know the trends in real time, i.e. the most searched words/phrases/news in the last 24 hours. If you create content about sports for example, you can get the most talked about topics of the last days:

By posting videos on the current trends in your theme, you naturally increase your chances of getting views. We therefore invite you to keep up to date with the latest news in your niche, in order to offer relevant content to your audience. 🗞️

Bonus : Monetize your channel

Having a YouTube channel with millions of views is great. However, many channels do make a lot of views, but ultimately generate very little money. Many Youtubers simply place AdSense ads in their videos. The problem is that in order to make a lot of money with YouTube monetization, you need to get a lot of views.

While in reality, there are other methods of monetization, which allow small channels to earn more money. We’re going to show you the different techniques that are easily applicable on YouTube. 🤑

Partnerships / Product placements

If you watch videos on YouTube from time to time, you may have noticed that Youtubers often make product placements. All the big channels but also the smaller ones nowadays work in partnership with brands. 🤝

The concept is very simple. A brand approaches you and asks you to promote its products/services on your channel. Generally, it is enough to mention it at the beginning or end of the video. Depending on your number of subscribers, but also on other statistics(engagement rate, channel age, etc.), you can earn a good income by product placement.

Infoproducts

An infoproduct is a digital information product. In short, an online training, an ebook or a simple PDF. At first glance, it doesn’t look like much. But the advantage of infoproducts is that they require almost no charge. Moreover, once you have created an infoproduct, you can sell it endlessly. So it’s a very profitable way to monetize your channel. 💸

Let’s take Marketing Mania’s YouTube channel as an example. He regularly publishes videos related to digital marketing and online business. In the description of his videos, you can find links to his main trainings to learn copywriting, content creation and others.

Selling infoproducts is the most profitable way to monetize your YouTube channel. However, it is also more restrictive. You’ll actually have to create the infoproducts, then manage payment, after sales service and more. 😩

Affiliate marketing

We have already introduced you to affiliate marketing on our blog. The concept is very simple. You will simply recommend the products/services of a brand and in exchange, you will receive a percentage of the sale, i.e. a commission.

That’s why you can see some gaming youtubers indicating in their description their complete setup. For example, they will list the names and part numbers of monitors, graphics cards, processors and more. In most cases, they will place an affiliate link to Amazon right next to it. 📦

If a user wants to know about the references of a setup, he will read the description. In case he wants to buy one of the products, he just has to click on a link, which will take him directly to Amazon. If he buys a product on Amazon, the Youtuber will get a commission.

The advantage is that you can automatically place these links in the description of all your videos. Therefore, you can quickly generate passive income with Amazon Affiliate if you post videos regularly. 🤑

Amazon affiliate marketing is very simple to set up. But really, you can do affiliate marketing on YouTube with any type of product/service.

If you have a channel on bodybuilding for example, you can make membership for online fitness programs. Usually the commissions are much higher. In case you have a chain on the investment, you can affiliate to online brokers for example. 🏦

In short, affiliate marketing is a good way to monetize your channel easily. Since you’re selling other people’s products/services, you won’t have to deal with customer service, refunds and the like. In this way, affiliation is a very simple way to earn extra income with your channel.

Sell your own products

As mentioned above, YouTube can also be an excellent communication channel for companies. Many companies

create content to reach new audiences organically. And again, no need to make millions of views.

If you have an engaged community and post content regularly, you will naturally increase your revenue. 📈

If you have an online store, we advise you not to make “advertising” type videos. Internet users are not interested in this(no one watches an advertisement for free, even if it is well done). What you need to do is to publish quality content that brings value to the users.

In the description or at the end of the video, you can propose your products. Ideally, you should sell the solution to the problems you are addressing in the video. By making “How To” videos, as seen above.

In conclusion

You now have all the cards in hand to break through on YouTube from scratch, while keeping this visibility in the long term. All of the tips in this guide are easily applicable and with little to no budget. 🤝

We invite you to apply these tips, which willincrease your chances of success. As you can see, the main focus has been on producing quality content. Indeed, if you want tosucceed in the long term, you must absolutely publish videos that bring value to Internet users.

If you want to learn how to create quality videos, optimized to catch the eye of users, we invite you to read our comparison of the best YouTube courses. In these courses, you will learn how to create quality videos, but also how to optimize your videos so that they are better referenced. 📈

Finally, we also invite you to read our guide on how to make money with YouTube. Indeed, there are other methods much more effective than the monetization of videos offered by the platform.