How to Start And Grow a YouTube Channel

How to Start And Grow a YouTube Channel Today, I’m going to show you how to start a successful YouTube channel and grow it in record time. In fact, these are the same exact steps I used to take my channel from zero views and zero subscribers to over 5,000,000 views and 200,000 subscribers. My friend, Jeff Rose, also recently hit 250,000 subscribers using these same strategies. I’m Brian Dean, the founder of Backlinko, and in this video I’m going to show you my step-by-step action plan for growing a YouTube channel, including lots of real-life case studies and examples.

Setting Up a Professional Channel Page

After creating your YouTube channel, the next step is to set up a professional channel page. This is crucial because it’s the first thing viewers will see when they visit your channel. A professional-looking channel page can make a huge difference in converting viewers into subscribers.

Writing a Thorough About Tab Description

Avoiding a generic About tab description is a must. Setting up a detailed description that lets people know who your channel is for, what types of videos you put out, when you upload new videos, and anything else that would make someone want to subscribe is vital. For example, my About section is nice and detailed, giving viewers a clear idea of what my channel is about.

Uploading Nice-Looking Channel Art

An attractive channel art banner is vital because it’s the first thing viewers see when they visit your page. You can use easy tools like Canva or Snapper to create a nice-looking banner if you’re not familiar with Photoshop.

About your channel art, it’s worth noting that it’s not just about aesthetics; it also represents your brand. So, make sure it’s high-quality, visually appealing, and consistent with your brand identity.

Creating a Clear and Nice Channel Icon

There’s no denying that your channel icon is incredibly important. It appears in more places on YouTube than anything else, including Watch Pages, search results, Community tabs, Subscriptions, video comments, Featured Channels, and Related Channels.

Professional tip: make sure your channel icon looks nice and clear, like mine. It should be easily recognizable and consistent with your brand identity. A well-designed icon can help establish your brand and make your channel more memorable.

Finding and Optimizing Keywords for Success

It’s no secret that SEO is huge. You can have the best video ever made, but if no one on YouTube can find it, it’s not going to get any views. In fact, a big reason that my channel finally found success was that I started to rank in YouTube for popular keywords, like on-page SEO and Google rankings, and these YouTube rankings have directly led to millions of views.

Using YouTube Auto-Complete to Find Popular Keywords

Now, I’ll show you exactly how to find popular keywords using YouTube auto-complete. You might have noticed that when you search for something on YouTube, it suggests keywords for you. This feature is called auto-complete. The great thing about auto-complete is that it only suggests popular keywords. In other words, YouTube is literally telling you, “These are terms that lots of people use to find videos on YouTube.”

Optimizing Video Titles, Descriptions, and Tags for SEO

Using the keywords you found, it’s time to optimize your videos for SEO. Like I mentioned earlier, SEO is one of the main reasons that my channel has grown so quickly over the last year. So, now that you’ve found a popular keyword and filmed a great video using an outline or script, it’s time to optimize it.

Plus, here’s how to do it: First, include the keyword that you found earlier in your title. **YouTube puts a ton of weight on terms that appear in your video title**, so make sure to include your exact, word-for-word keyword here. Next, use your keyword two to three times in your description. There’s no need to overthink this step. Just sprinkle in your keyword a few times where it makes sense. Finally, use keyword-rich tags. Regarding tags, I like to keep things really simple. I include my main keyword as the first tag. Then, I use a handful of other tags that describe what my video is all about. That’s all there is to it.

Planning and Optimizing Videos for Engagement

Now, it’s time to talk about planning and optimizing your videos for engagement. This is a crucial step in growing your YouTube channel, as it helps you create content that resonates with your audience and keeps them coming back for more.

Planning Videos Ahead of Time with an Outline or Script

Timing is everything when it comes to creating engaging videos. One of the biggest mistakes YouTubers make is not planning their videos ahead of time. Instead, they turn on their camera and freestyle, which can lead to rambling, awkward pauses, and a lack of focus. To avoid this, I recommend using an outline or script to plan out your videos. This will help you stay on track, ensure your video flows smoothly, and keep your viewers engaged.

Optimizing Videos for SEO with Keywords and Tags

Keyword research is a critical step in optimizing your videos for SEO. By using keywords that people are searching for on YouTube, you can increase your video’s visibility, drive more traffic to your channel, and attract new viewers. So, how do you find the right keywords? Use YouTube’s auto-complete feature to find popular keywords related to your topic. Then, include those keywords in your title, description, and tags.

The key to optimizing your videos for SEO is to use your keywords strategically. Include your target keyword in your title, use it two to three times in your description, and add relevant tags that describe your video’s content. By doing so, you’ll increase your video’s chances of ranking higher in YouTube’s search results and attract more views.

Keep in mind, SEO is a crucial factor in growing your YouTube channel, as it helps you reach a wider audience and drive more traffic to your videos. By optimizing your videos with keywords and tags, you’ll be able to attract new viewers, increase your engagement, and grow your channel faster.

Increasing Engagement and Comments

For any YouTube creator, engagement and comments are crucial metrics to measure the success of their channel. When viewers engage with your content, it not only boosts your video’s visibility but also encourages others to participate in the conversation. In this section, I’ll share some actionable tips to increase engagement and comments on your YouTube channel.

Asking Specific Questions in Videos to Encourage Comments

Little do many creators know that asking open-ended questions in their videos can lead to a significant increase in comments. Instead of asking generic questions like “What do you think?”, try asking specific questions that encourage viewers to share their experiences or opinions. For example, you could ask, “What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced while trying to [achieve a specific goal]?” or “Have you ever tried [a particular technique]? Share your results in the comments below!”

Using Pinned Comments to Spark Conversation

On YouTube, pinned comments are a great way to spark conversation and encourage viewers to engage with your content. By pinning a comment, you’re vitally saying, “Hey, I want to hear from you!” It’s a call-to-action that invites viewers to share their thoughts and opinions. For instance, you could ask a question like, “What’s your favorite way to [achieve a specific goal]?” and pin it to the top of the comment section.

It’s vital to note that pinned comments should be concise, clear, and relevant to the video’s topic. You want to make it easy for viewers to respond and engage with your content. Also, try to keep your pinned comment short and sweet, as it will be the first thing viewers see when they scroll down to the comment section.

Replying to Comments to Build a Community

Assuming you want to build a loyal community around your channel, replying to comments is a crucial step. When you take the time to respond to comments, you’re showing your viewers that you value their feedback and care about their opinions. This not only encourages them to engage more with your content but also fosters a sense of belonging and loyalty.

For instance, when someone leaves a comment on your video, try to respond within 24-48 hours. Keep your response concise and personalized, addressing the viewer by name if possible. This will make them feel seen and heard, increasing the chances of them becoming a loyal fan of your channel.

Focusing on Quality Over Quantity to Attract Subscribers

If you want to attract and retain subscribers, you need to focus on creating high-quality content that resonates with your audience. I’ve found that publishing fewer, but more impactful videos, has been key to my channel’s success. In fact, I grew my channel to over 100,000 subscribers with only 20 total videos! By focusing on quality over quantity, you’ll be able to build a loyal following of viewers who will subscribe to your channel and share your content with others.

Strategies for Growing from 1,000 to 100,000 Subscribers and Beyond

There’s no magic formula for growing your channel, but there are certain strategies that can help you accelerate your growth and reach a wider audience. In this section, I’ll share two quick strategies that have worked well for me and other successful YouTubers.

Your goal should be to create a loyal community of subscribers who will support your channel and share your content with others. To do this, you need to focus on creating high-quality, engaging content that resonates with your audience. Additionally, you need to be consistent and persistent in your efforts to promote your channel and engage with your viewers. By following these strategies, you can grow your channel from 1,000 to 100,000 subscribers and beyond. Recall, it’s not about the number of subscribers you have, but about the quality of your content and the engagement of your audience.

To wrap up

On the whole, starting and growing a YouTube channel requires a strategic approach. By creating a professional channel page, finding and optimizing for key words, planning and optimizing your videos, getting more comments, and focusing on quality over quantity, you can set yourself up for success. I’ve shared my personal experience and the exact steps I took to grow my channel from zero to over 5 million views and 200,000 subscribers. By following these steps, you can achieve similar results and build a loyal community of viewers on YouTube.