YouTube "Secrets"

[D.W. Verts]

I've learned a lot about what it takes to make YouTube work. A lot. So if this sounds like "clickbait" (I actually had to look that up when I first heard it, and I've grown to DESPISE it, too) it is not.

Anyone interested? 'Cuz frankly, I'm not. Not really. Interested, in the whole YT thang. Let me know.

And NOT clickbait. Maybe a SPINNERbait. Or a CRANKbait...

Dale

[caddyjoe77]

the majority of what is out there is absolutely embellished. Now, does that mean that they sort of have to because the algorithm of YT?  Possibly.  I dont make content for it but I could see that being a factor -- more clicks/subscriptions = higher ranking...bla bla

But, I tell you what I think.  Better content, No BS content.  Take us through what you do as an Ozark Angler.  Why are you fishing that worm or wart or whatever right now.  Help people understand your thought process -- to me that is the best content.

IMO two of the best out there now are Jonny with his 2 hour breakdowns live (the reason it is 2 hours) and Ben Milliken.  (been an MF'r for a long time :D) .  Anyway, they talk about how they find them and give you tips, what the bass probably look like and their mindset.  I think mindset drives a lot of this and that is what leads to quality content and not BS.   Plus, it shows your true character. 

[D.W. Verts]

Well, the B.S thing ain't me. Except where I've done a few tongue-in-cheek videos and it's obvious I'm making fun of me, the Livescopers, or whatever. I'm simple. A little too simple sometimes but whatever.

I have three channels. My "Hickbilly Outdoors" channel, well, I could make a living off of it. Truly. But I don't try to, for stupid reasons, but mostly because I see what it could do to me to make it happen, and I ain't no actor. And YT viewers LOVE actors. And drama.

I threw a few small experiments into my other two channels late this spring and BOOM- they doubled and tripled in size quickly. There's things that just work that aren't clickbait or drama. But it's just not what I want to do. I continue to shoot video but I do it because I (capital "I") want to.

The bass fishing stuff? Good luck. But I found a way to make that work too, and again, I don't do it. Sad, huh? But there are so many bass fishin' channels, and me being a nobody it's a tough go. Still, I've gained a following. I renamed my channel "Old School Bass Fishin" which is a guaranteed way to keep the under 50 crowd mostly driven away, and the techno bassers? Forget it.

My biggest video in the last two years has almost 40,000 views. Small by Johnnie's standards, but not small overall. My best fishin' video this year has over 6000 watches, and that's way better than last year. But I don't let the stats bother me. I don't let the algorithm dictate what I do. I should, but again, this doesn't interest me like I thought it would.

YouTube pays me for this. Unbelievable. Not much, 'cuz I don't work it, but the deposits hit the bank every month. Crazy.

What's really crazy is that nobody wants to hear what I've learned. And some of it is NOT what we thought. Oh well. Going pointy-rock hinting in a little bit because I started a new series on THAT. Going fishin' tomorrow and I'll probably take a camera with me there too (if I can figure it out, I had a GoPro issue happen yesterday, LOVE
technology).

Dale

[caddyjoe77]

I get how it works, just giving you feedback what I find interesting.  Definitely wasnt a comparison so hopefully you didnt take it as such.  I like analogies -- so thats what I was trying to convey. 

I am subscribed to all your channels and do watch them, BTW.  On the bass fishing one, "old school bass fishing" -- i like it as I am sure a lot of folks do. 

I took your thread as you wanting some feedback. 

[D.W. Verts]

I got it Joe and I appreciate it very much. It's a challenge that I got bored with. Kinda. Apparently not bored enough to quit, tho'!

Dale

[FD]

I'll bite.  What secrets are you referring to?

[D.W. Verts]

Well, I get it, this will mean nothing to most, and even less to some. But I'll share one thing that I've found is important. And it's simple in its complexity.

AND- I do not pursue this YT stuff seriously. It kind of bores me. Yes, I get paid by them, but in truth I find that many of the videos on YT bore me, so I know that I myself bore many. It's just what it is. I hardly ever look at my stats and analytics. It's mostly boring (and two years ago it was an every day study, go figure).

So here you go, and this is one item that Lee said he'd read NOT to do when we all got into this more seriously in 2021. But it works, with a couple of clauses.

First off- don't try this until you have a video that's doing better than usual. You need to have something to build on. So when you have a video that's doing better than normal IN THE FIRST FEW DAYS, that's when you capitalize. Folks are lookin'. Folks are WATCHING. So you push the issue.

Simply, you are not doing enough videos. Once the ball is rolling, stack 'em up. A new video every three days is what's worked for me. Keep hitting them with the stuff they like, branch out, then come back. Do your "shorts" too (I hate shorts. I hate the idea of shorts. I still can't figure out how to DO them with no cell phone. But they obviously work). But keep on producing those 8-15 minute videos, even if it means re-hashing old stuff. In fact, go back over the last two years and find what was most viewed/click-thru'd/etc. and DO IT AGAIN. Plagiarize yourself. You'll have new viewers that haven't seen the old stuff, and old viewers that won't remember it (hence the need for "shorts" videos 'cuz folks memory and retention SUCK).

There you go. It's not a cure all, and there are several more things that I've found that work, but still. This is the simplest answer to growing a channel. So start building a few videos. Keep them handy and ready to load. Wait until things are peaking, better than usual (that part is on YOU).

Nobody will ever figure this thing out. Not completely. Because no one can figure PEOPLE out. My largest video has something like 25,000 views (small of course by YT standards), but I have one just like it that I posted by accident on the wrong channel, and it also has around 25,000 views It's crazy, and yes, I tried to duplicate it. Whatever.

So, one more thing, and I'll quit. This might be what you need to do to stimulate your channel, but it definitely works once you're rolling. Try "scheduling" a video, or "Set to Premier". This gives folks a heads-up on an upcoming video. Gives them something to plan on. My best videos, and when I know that I have it "right", will average ten views or more an hour for the first few days, and sometimes way better than that. When I announce the video ahead of time, scheduling it for PEAK viewing hours (hint- Sunday evenings between 6-9 PM!) my viewings might be three or four TIMES that. It's all about stimulating growth, then capitalizing on that interest.

Whew.

There's more. Mostly it sucks, because it's really a game that I don't enjoy playing. Still, I like making interesting videos (why a video about an old bass boat got me 8,000 views and 300 subs in a month is beyond me though) and I enjoy the productive and interesting comments from folks all over the world. I even like being a smart-aleck and even a little rude to the folks who make rude comments, 'cuz it takes all kinds, you know.

So take it for what it's worth. I've found this is a way that works for me. There are other things, but again, I just really don't care that much. Getting that deposit in the bank each month is kinda cool. I get paid to blow smoke at folks. Finally, after all these years, my B.S. pays off. Peace.

Dale

[D.W. Verts]

By the way, I have something like 403 videos on YT (404 when one premiers tonight, read above). Man. Oh man.

Dale

[Hobious]

now this is how you do a "humble brag".  :D

congrats on having subscribers. 

[D.W. Verts]

Well that's what I do. Whenever you try to teach folks anything you need to establish your bona-fides (actually it's exactly that way with YT also.)

Dale