How to Get More Subscribers on YouTube
Having a hard time getting YouTube subscribers? We've got what you need to learn how to add more subscribers to your YouTube channel. Read on!
You've finally decided to start a YouTube channel and uploaded a few videos. You are picking up a good number of views, and engagement from it and most people from your family and friends have subscribed.
However, you reach a certain threshold in the number of subscribers and then it comes to a stop. You wonder what you are doing wrong and that's probably one of the few reasons why you made it this far.
That's why we have you covered with all the information that you need to overcome this temporary phase of being stuck with your subscriber count. We guarantee that the current situation you are going through is temporary, and with proper strategies, a better understanding of how YouTube works and knowing where you can improve helps you overcome this situation at ease.
Continue reading to find answers to all those worrying questions you have about how to get more subscribers on YouTube.
Does it take a lot of time to get subscribers on YouTube?
There are people who make quality videos regularly and still struggle to improve their YouTube subscriber count, and there are others who have their channel go viral with just their first video. It all depends on being at the right place at the right time.
On average, it takes a lot of time, effort and plenty of quality videos to reach at least 1,000 subscribers on YouTube. That is one reason why YouTube has set its minimum criteria for getting monetized as 1K subscribers and 4,000 watch hours. However, with a positive mindset, consistency in uploads and implementing strategies like promoting content, clickable titles, interesting thumbnails, and emphasis on SEO, it can be made faster.
Setting a subscriber goal and smashing it!
YouTube creators require a great deal of patience, persistence, and a never say never attitude to succeed today. With ever-increasing popularity, YouTube which was one a big pond is now an ocean with all kinds of fish swimming across in all different directions. Unless you are already a whale on social media, people barely notice you when you start and this can be quite frustrating in the initial stages.
You can spend hours on research, editing, and thumbnail designing and still end up with below-average engagement. This can be demoralizing and demotivating for all creators. Sometimes, a video that you put the least effort into works wonders and brings in hundreds of views and plenty of engagement.
Setting a subscriber goal can help you make your way out of such situations as you thrive to reach the goal you set earlier. YouTubers who are new to the platform can start with a goal of 50 subscribers and then move into 100, 250, 500 and 1,000. It is important that you keep pushing more after completing each target. Once you have achieved 1,000 subscribers, things start to get a bit easier, so set bigger goals like 2,500, and 5,000 as you continue to push towards greater heights. The most important thing you need to remember in your journey is to never stop making content. There will be setbacks, hate comments, and a whole lot of negativity, but pushing through the challenges is what separates successful YouTubers from the rest.
How to get your first 100 subscribers on YouTube?
Getting to your first 100 subscribers on YouTube is a major milestone in every YouTuber's journey. This is also one of the most difficult times for a creator on YouTube as you are only starting out. Expectations will be sky high but the engagement, may not necessarily turn out as you expected.
There are several questions that creators regardless of the niche, ask themselves while starting out. Keep pushing out more content and stay focused, the results will follow. As long as you remain patient and publish quality videos, you can hit 100 subscribers in no time. If you are new to YouTube, you can check out some of the basic tips to grow your channel by going through our YouTube beginner guide.
How can you get to 1000 subscribers fast on YouTube?
Once you smashed the 100 subscriber target on YouTube, the next thing you should be focusing on is to reach 1K subscribers. Now, this will take more time than hitting the first milestone of 100, but here are some general tips to help you reach the goal of 1000 subscribers.
- Upload new videos consistently at regular intervals
- Spend time researching similar videos of your niche
- Check analytics to get an idea about audience retention and performing videos.
- Attract visitors by using catchy thumbnails and titles to get viewers interested
- Upload at least two videos every month to maintain your channel's growth.
Should the number of subscribers be bothering you?
The only thing that should matter when it comes to YouTube is the quality of your content. Everything else like the number of views, likes, dislikes, and subscriber count should all be secondary or non-important. Yes, getting your channel monetized is always a great thing in the financial aspect of life. However, it is not the end of the world if you don't earn anything from your channel as well. If you are content and satisfied with the content you create and publish on YouTube, you are moving in the right direction.
Is it a good idea to hide the number of subscribers?
Now, this is a pendulum that can swing both ways for different people. No two audiences on YouTube are alike, and hiding the number of subscribers can have different kinds of responses for different channels.
Your viewership comes from all kinds of people. Some just browse through YouTube in search of fresh content and looks up channels that have interesting videos, regardless of the channel size or reputation. However, others only watch videos from established creators that have hundreds and thousands of videos. There are also others who are cult followers of particular YouTubers who only watch videos of their favourite vloggers regardless of what they post.
Viewers who follow established channels only might subscribe to your content if you hide the numbers. However, they might skip the very same content when they see you only have let's say, 59 subscribers. On the other hand, hiding the subscriber count can also make the impression that you have 0 subscribers, which may prompt some of your viewers to not subscribe to your channel. If you are happy with whatever subscribers you have, then you should keep it public. On the flip side, you can get a lot of subscriptions and keep it hidden until 1K subscribers.
After all, YouTube is all about trial and error anyway. So experiment with different options and see which one works for you. Stick to the method that looks best to you.
Should I stop making videos if my subscribers are not increasing?
Let's get straight to the facts - there is no magic trick that lets you become a success on YouTube overnight. Well, there are one-trick pony channels that become viral overnight and bring in plenty of views and subscriptions. However, the chances of witnessing such a change are 1/100 and require a great deal of fortune along with timing to work out.
What's even bizarre is that overnight sensations happen unexpectedly and you cannot ever create a video that is guaranteed to bring this effect. However, if one video fails, you can always work on the next, and the next and so on until something eventually clicks. If you quit because subscribers are not increasing, should you be making any videos at all?
Importance of responding to subscriber comments and feedback?
Responding to subscriber comments and taking in feedback are two important things you need to make a habit of when starting out. Your viewers and subscribers invest their valuable time in your videos. They might also have a say about your videos, and often leave feedback in the comments section. This feedback can be positive and negative at times.
As a creator, you should always look at comments and feedback as constructive criticism. Sometimes, your followers might also be able to point you to some of the flaws that even you miss out on. Fixing these can help you create even better content and this can even improve engagements. Always invest time in responding to comments and feedback.
How can I promote my YouTube channel on social media?
Several social media platforms can help you improve the overall reach and scope of your YouTube channel today. If you are not sure about some of the different ways to promote your YouTube channel on social media platforms, here is a quick look at some of the options you have:
- Sharing YouTube content on Facebook as posts, and stories. Facebook offers clickable links, so you can direct your Facebook friends and connections to your YouTube channel at ease.
- Adding YouTube channel links and new video updates as your WhatsApp story for 24 hours to get more initial engagement and reach.
- Join discord servers that let you promote YouTube channels and videos for free on specific servers. The best thing about this option is that most of the other people on the server are also YouTubers who share their content.
- Promoting YouTube content on Instagram story. You can also create an Instagram highlight featuring all the stories you post about your YouTube channel.
- Embedding YouTube channel links and content on Blogs, Quora, Pinterest, and Reddit.
- Creating a pinned tweet on Twitter lets you add it towards the top of your page. All visitors who arrive on your Twitter can click on this link and get them redirected to your YouTube account.
- Adding YouTube channel links on your social media handles and bio. You can also increase response rates by including the same on banners and Call to Action images that you use as cover images.
Is it good to work on collaborations with established YouTubers?
There are plenty of YouTubers who don't mind collaborating with you if they like the content you post. Videos made by YouTubers of similar niche also works wonders as you get a combination of two different people with a lot of information about the niche together making it a win-win situation for the subscribers.
However, it is highly recommended to only go for collaborations with YouTubers who do it for free. Paid collaborations can be a really expensive affair and you could end up spending a lot of money and might not get a boost of subscribers as you expected from the video.
Conclusion
Just like how Rome wasn't built in a single day, a YouTube channel also needs a lot of nurturing, time and energy to become successful. Even a new video that brings in one view and one subscriber more than what it was helps. Unless you already have an established following on any of the leading social media platforms, it will take time to hit the 1000 subscriber milestone.
YouTubers like PewDiePie, BlueXephos (Yogscast) and Smosh are all great examples of YouTubers that started from scratch and reached unparalleled heights through sheer consistency, passion, and dedication to becoming a YouTube success. Stay true to yourself and polish your content all the time and most importantly, never give up. In time, the subscribers will come, for hard work always rewards.