Categories
SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS & TRICKS VIDEO YOUTUBE

5 Unknown YouTube Tips And Tricks

Secret Unknown YouTube Tips & Features

YouTube for most people is the the aggregator of fail compilations, the disseminator of cat related humour and a beacon for everything viral. Killing time on YouTube is the most productive way to be unproductive, but there’s so much more to it than salacious thumbnails and unrelated debates about political theory in the comments section, there is also hidden unknown youtube tips and tricks

Aside from a few easter eggs to please medium-core trekkies and Star Wars fans, there are some genuinely useful hacks that can enhance your YouTube viewing experience ten-fold. I mean, if you’re prepared to sign away three hours of your life by watching late-nineties wrestling videos, then you should do it in style, right?

Ever heard of YouTube Leanback? Or how about turning any video into a GIF? No? Then there’s so much more to show you. Here’s a run-down of my top five YouTube hacks:

1. Make any YouTube Video into a GIF

You can turn any video into a GIF by simply adding “gif” just after the “www.” in the URL. For example “www.gifyoutube.com/watchx

Once you type that in, you’ll be taken to a simple gif making tool page that lets you cut out a section of the video and export it.

unknown youtube tips, hidden youtube features, youtube tricks, youtube tips, hidden features youtube, unknown youtube tools, youtube tools

Select the point at which you want to start the gif and then select how long it lasts, and you’re done. You’ve made a gif in a matter of minutes.

2.  YouTube Disco Your YouTube Videos

unknown youtube tips, hidden youtube features, youtube tricks, youtube tips, hidden features youtube, unknown youtube tools, youtube tools

You already knew that you can use YouTube to stream music, but did you know it can be a DJ too? YouTube Disco automatically puts together a playlist of songs from your prefered genre or artist.

Go to www.youtube.com/disco and enter any artist, song, or genre and YouTube will populate a playlist of the most watched/popular videos from your search.

You can also set it to play the current top hits and it will tell what videos are most popular at the moment.

3. Slow Motion YouTube Videos

There are a couple of ways to slow down a YouTube video, with the simplest way being to hold down the spacebar during a video. This cause the video to rapidly play and pause, which creates a budget slow motion effect.

If, however, you want some more advanced controls, head to www.youtubeslow.com and enter your video’s URL into the specified field. You can then either speed up, slow down, play on repeat or set a loop.

unknown youtube tips, hidden youtube features, youtube tricks, youtube tips, hidden features youtube, unknown youtube tools, youtube toolsWesley Snipe’s “always bet on black” moment in Passenger 57 in slow motion.

4. YouTube Leanback – YouTube and Chill

unknown youtube tips, hidden youtube features, youtube tricks, youtube tips, hidden features youtube, unknown youtube tools, youtube tools

YouTube Leanback is the friendlier version of YouTube on the big screen. If you’ve ever tried to watch videos on the normal desktop version of YouTube on your TV, you’ll know it’s a pain. Entering characters into the search field with your TV is just not practical, and you need to get right up close to the screen to see what’s going on.

This is where YouTube Leanback comes in. It’s a simplified YouTube UI that only requires use of the arrow keys to control. Also, if you have a smart TV, you can connect your phone or tablet to control what’s on the screen – and you don’t even have to be on the same Wi-Fi connection to do it.

Anyone in the room, providing they’ve gone through the verification process, can connect to the YouTube page and chuck videos into the communal playlist.

All you need to do is go to www.youtube.com/leanback and begin flicking through the availble sub sections of videos. To pair up your phone or tablet, go to www.youtube.com/pair on your mobile device and follow the instructions.

5. Google Video Quality Report

Buffering. Endless, rage inducing, buffering. But whose fault is it? Well, it’s your throttling, lacklustre ISP, according to Google.

Google’s YouTube Video Quality Report was launched earlier this year to help consumers understand why their videos take so long to load and can’t be streamed in the best quality. Some childlike illustrations show you how video makes its way to your screen, but don’t let the welcoming graphics fool you. This is video report is a shaming exercise, designed to embarrass ISPs for providing little bandwidth.

The report, which isn’t available everywhere, will tell you how good your connection is in the area and which ISPs are offering the most YouTube friendly internet speeds. This is done via a verification system, which labels each ISP as either ‘HD verified’ or not.

Check it out here (as I said, it may not be available in your area) and see if your connection can sustain 20 minutes of 1080p footage.

https://www.google.co.uk/get/videoqualityreport/

Want more help? Need more hands on assistance? Get in touch we do YouTube Coaching >>

Other Useful Unknown YouTube Tips Blog Posts

Categories
SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS & TRICKS YOUTUBE

5 Tips For New YouTubers – YouTube For Beginners

Tips For New YouTubers Just Getting Started

YouTube has 1+ billion users. While not all are content creators, it’s safe to say that several million are uploading consistently, with thousands of new creators joining every day – Here are 5 Tips For New YouTubers to help them get started.

If you’re just starting out as a video creator, your first few videos will be buried among the millions of videos uploaded each week. So how can you increase your chances of being discovered amid the massive haystack that is YouTube?

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE YOUTUBE TRICKS AND TIPS EBOOK >>

youtuber website, tips for new youtubers, youtuber tips, youtuber blogs, youtuber blog website, youtuber websites, wordpress youtuber blogs, youtuber wordpress, youtube websites, youtube blogs, advertiser friendly, non advertiser friendly, not advertiser friendly, get advertiser friendly, youtube advertiser friendly, adverts, youtube adverts, youtube cpm, youtube ads, adpocolypse, youtube adpocolypse, youtube tips, youtube hacks, youtube coaching, youtube tricks, youtube training, youtube consultancy, advertising guidelines, youtube advert guidelines, youtube advertising guidelines, increase youtube views, increasing youtube views, get more youtube views, youtube coaching, youtube consulting, youtube consultancy, youtube seo, video seo, tubebuddy, youtube optimisation, youtube seo, Sponsored YouTube Video, #adpocalypse, youtube cpm, increase youtube cpm

1. Brand yourself early on

Say two people follow you on Twitter. One has the default ‘egg’ as their profile picture; one has a well-designed image. Which are you more inclined to check out and follow back?

One of the most important first steps you can complete as a new YouTuber is your branding. Attractive channel art can drastically increase the chances that a viewer will check out your other videos and subscribe.

2. Create a regular schedule

Just like popular TV shows, releasing your YouTube videos on a schedule can ensure that they get in front of the maximum amount of viewers. To start, aim to release one video per week, and be sure to tell your subscribers when to expect new content!

  • Mention your schedule at the end of each video
  • Include your schedule as part of your channel art
  • Remind fans on social media

3. Strive for originality

Creating truly original content will be your biggest advantage when starting out—and no one can do that but you. At this very moment, there are more than 60 million Minecraft videos on YouTube. So if you’re set on creating gaming videos, for instance, spend time thinking about how you can make them stand out from the very large crowd!

Here are some more tips for new youtubers in our blogs!

4. Be patient about income

Everyone likes extra money. But when you first start out as a creator, it should be strictly to have fun and grow your audience. Most creators who are making a living from their content have spent years building up their channel and are seeing more than a million video views per month. So try to be patient and focus on creating amazing content, and it’s more likely that the money will eventually come.

5. Be yourself

It may be tempting to model your content after another successful creator verbatim. But that strategy can sometimes come off as fake—and audiences can tell. Whether you’re quiet, loud, or awkward, be yourself! No matter what type of personality you have, there will be people out there who will enjoy your content.

Finally, there’ll be plenty of time to refine. As you grow on YouTube, your style will grow as well. Listen to feedback from your viewers, and most of all, have fun. Good luck with your videos!

Want more help? Need more hands on assistance? Get in touch we do YouTube Coaching >>

Other Useful YouTube Blog Posts

Categories
MARKETING SEO SOCIAL MEDIA

4 Tips for Great Content Creation For Blogs and Landing Pages

Content Creation & Getting Results in Search Engines

Not everyone understands the connection between getting results in Google and the art of content creation, its important for you as a website owner understand the two go hand in hand, improving your search engine results and creating great content.

Every website owner knows that good content creation is essential for a successful website. Content entices visitors, drives sales, and enhances the likelihood of your site garnering links. While there are many companies that claim to create good UK content for the landing pages and articles for your business website and blog, not all of them can be trusted to give you the results you desire and a rewarding return on investment.

Need help with a new website? We can help you! >>

blog writing, blogging, blog writer, content creation, creating content, writing blogs, seo blogs, blog seo, blogging, website content, website content creation, web design, web designs, website design, seo blogs, honeypot blogs, rank with blogs, ranking your blogs, seo

However, HD1 Web Design focuses on creating content with a purpose, from highly persuasive sales copies to blog articles and content purely made for link purposes.

The process of content creation involves researching the client’s website and the business’ target audience, in order to understand the kind of content that is required, and keep the end user at the forefront of any ideas.

Typical services include copywriting for sales, press releases or ebooks; website content creation for articles, blog posts or product descriptions; link asset creation; and guest blog posts.

Businesses need high quality landing pages and website content to avoid high bounce rates. To achieve this, the website needs to create trust, understanding, and credibility, fast, before the prospective client decides to check out a competitor. Some guidelines for creating great content include:

Include custom infographics or videos for different kinds of visitors

It is important to create an infographic or a video that resonates well with your company’s target audience. Some of the things that HD1 Web Design would consider include: whether your market would prefer an animated explanation or the CEO on camera; or they prefer audio with personality or just someone to state the facts.

By customizing content to a certain type of visitor, you will be addressing the needs and questions of a specific, prospective customer. This is actually why your landing pages exist. The video or infographic should be designed to respond to a visitor’s queries quickly and satisfactorily.

Include one call for action at a time on your website

First time visitors to your site want quick answers, so you need to convey your products, service, benefits of your site, or business ideas within 45-90 seconds of your content. Include only one call for action from your visitors, so it is clear what they are expected to do.

If you give people too many options, they will probably end up not making a decision at all.

See it from the consumer’s perspective

Basically, content creation and creators need to ask themselves how they would rather receive some information from a website: would it be better to read a lengthy chunk of text, bullet point or numbered list, or watch a video?

Videos and lists are easy to break down and grasp. Once you choose a format, you need to determine its length, like a short 2-minute video; 1 minute primer; or a 300, 500 or 700 word article.

Optimize and track analytic data on your Website

Your landing pages and content are probably aimed at lead-generation or sales, so you will want to optimize them for search engines – Back to how do I get better search engine results. There are different SEO strategies for articles and videos, but what is common between them is the need for relevant keywords, and never write content without your client in mind, content for search engines only has very little point to it..

The keywords are determined based on the objective of the marketing campaign or website project. It is also important to look at page analytic’s to see who is viewing your content and how long they stay on a page, in order to adjust the content accordingly.

When creating content, it is important to remain focused on delivering the right content, or else the conversion rates will remain low. Testing different bits of information is slow, so it is best to get it right first time by working with professionals, like HD1 Web Design.

Categories
SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS & TRICKS VIDEO YOUTUBE

11 YouTube Mistakes & YouTube Tips from YouTubers

YouTube Mistakes and YouTube Tips from YouTubers

Just like there are a things you can do to increase the likelihood of success in YouTube (including YouTube SEO Tactics), But, there are also many youtube mistakes which are commonly overlooked and avoiding these mistakes can help increase your chances for success within YouTube.

Need some help with your YouTube Channel? Talk to us about YouTube Coaching! >>

Terabrite on Vlogging (Personal Vlog Channels – YouTube Mistakes)

youtube tips, youtube, youtube tricks, youtube coaching, youtube training, youtube consultancy, youtube mistakes, youtubers, youtuber, youtube adpocolypse, adpocolypse, youtube advice, youtube subscribers, grow your youtube channel, youtube channel, youtube seo, video seo, youtube video seo, smm, social mediaIf you’re a looking to create a vlog on YouTube, you may be thinking that it’s you’re going to get famous vlogging.  That’s not how it works.  There are a few things that you can do to increase volume which will help you reach that goal.

1) Have a main channel where you do something like music, skits, comedy, or something.
2) Make your vlogging channel unique, so as to stand out from all the other bloggers.
3) Try humor or something else to keep your viewers interest.

The Fine Brothers (How to Annoy Established YouTubers – YouTube Mistakes)

youtube tips, youtube, youtube tricks, youtube coaching, youtube training, youtube consultancy, youtube mistakes, youtubers, youtuber, youtube adpocolypse, adpocolypse, youtube advice, youtube subscribers, grow your youtube channel, youtube channel, youtube seo, video seo, youtube video seo, smm, social media

4) Don’t steal or just copy other people’s tags, descriptions, or titles for your video.
Many new YouTubers will copy the metadata from a successful video verbatim in the hopes that they will rank similarly, as often times with the hope that the original YouTuber will take notice and be honored that you found their work to be well optimized.  In reality, you will end up annoying these people that you look up to, and they may never want to talk to you as a result.  Not a good approach for attempting to become connected to a YouTube influencer.

Mystery Guitar Man (Collaborate)

youtube tips, youtube, youtube tricks, youtube coaching, youtube training, youtube consultancy, youtube mistakes, youtubers, youtuber, youtube adpocolypse, adpocolypse, youtube advice, youtube subscribers, grow your youtube channel, youtube channel, youtube seo, video seo, youtube video seo, smm, social media

5) Don’t just keep putting up videos on your channel over and over when nothing’s happening.
You may have 100 views, 200 views, 300 views, or even 4,000 views, but what you really need to be doing is developing one skill.  Then collaborate with people who have more subscribers, but less skill.  For example if you’re a really good 3D artist and go to someone with 10,000 subscribers and say let them know it.  Tell them you can do something 3D for them.  Maybe they do composing.  You can suggest that if you do a 3D for them, they can mention you in their video.  Just doing an amazing video and putting it up on your channel will probably not bring you the success you want.  Collaborating with the community is a good way to start.

Street Light – Be Unique and Focus on Originality

youtube tips, youtube, youtube tricks, youtube coaching, youtube training, youtube consultancy, youtube mistakes, youtubers, youtuber, youtube adpocolypse, adpocolypse, youtube advice, youtube subscribers, grow your youtube channel, youtube channel, youtube seo, video seo, youtube video seo, smm, social media

6) Don’t try to be someone else.
Originality is important, but being yourself and don’t just follow a trend.  If you do, it just adds you to the crowd.  If you are the needle in a haystack, it’s difficult to stand out.  You should focus on originality and create something that will make you stand out.

E3M Music – Take advantage of CTA Features

youtube tips, youtube, youtube tricks, youtube coaching, youtube training, youtube consultancy, youtube mistakes, youtubers, youtuber, youtube adpocolypse, adpocolypse, youtube advice, youtube subscribers, grow your youtube channel, youtube channel, youtube seo, video seo, youtube video seo, smm, social media

7) In the description box, don’t forget to have hyperlinks.
Some people have their YouTube accounts set up, but they don’t have their Facebook or Twitter linked in the description box.  It is important to have a hyperlink, which is a link they can easily click, because people want to click it and go right to the page.  They really don’t have the time to just copy, paste and put it in the browsers.

Mark Malkoff

youtube tips, youtube, youtube tricks, youtube coaching, youtube training, youtube consultancy, youtube mistakes, youtubers, youtuber, youtube adpocolypse, adpocolypse, youtube advice, youtube subscribers, grow your youtube channel, youtube channel, youtube seo, video seo, youtube video seo, smm, social media

8) Don’t make everything long – YouTube Mistakes
It is best to keep things short.

9) Don’t forget to have a Subscribe button at the end.
You want people to subscribe to you.

10) Don’t do something just because you think it might get views.
Do content that you care about.  Do something that really interests you, and make sure you find your voice.  Don’t be one of those people who just show up once in a while.  Have a long-term plan and don’t say, “If it doesn’t happen within a couple of months, I’m not going to do this.”  Show up consistently and work on your craft.  Think long-term and focus.

11) Don’t forget to watch other stuff.
Watch stuff that you love.  A lot of people on YouTube, when they’re starting out, don’t watch other stuff.  Watch your peers.  Watch the people that inspire you.  And I just think if you find your voice and you’re authentic and you keep stuff relatively short, you can do some good work and you hopefully will succeed.

Success on YouTube is not going to happen your first week and it’s not going to happen without creating unique content that you’re passionate about, and that is distributed in a strategic way.  It’s going to take some time, but these tips will hopefully help make success easier for you.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE YOUTUBE TIPS EBOOK >>

Other Useful YouTube Tips Blog Posts

Categories
SEO SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS & TRICKS VIDEO WEB DESIGN YOUTUBE

How To Add YouTube End Screens and Mobile Cards

Increase Video Engagement with YouTube End Screens and Cards

Over the last 10 years mobile browsing has seen a huge shift towards mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. New websites are now built with Responsive Website Design in mind to maximise the traffic engagement you can get from mobile smart device users. YouTube has also seen a massive boost in smartphone and tablet views and now you can add YouTube End Screens and YouTube Mobile Cards (YouTube Cards) to grab mobile viewers and get them to interact. This blog is here to help you get the most out of YouTube End Screens and Cards!

Need some help with your YouTube Channel? Talk to us about YouTube Coaching! >>

How to Add YouTube End Screens

Do your favorite YouTube creators have a fancy closing screen that encourages you to keep watching their videos? For example, here’s one from Saturday Night Live:

youtube, youtube card, youtube cards, youtube coach, youtube coaching, youtube consultancy, youtube consultant, youtube end card, youtube end screen, youtube end screens, youtube hacks, youtube mobile cards, youtube mobile end screen, youtube seo, youtube tips, youtube training, youtube tricks, youtube views

You can create a customized end screen, too. They help keep viewers on your channel by suggesting other videos and sites they can check out. Here’s how to do it:

Navigate to your Video Manager, tap “Edit,” and select “End screen & Annotations” from the drop-down menu:

youtube, youtube card, youtube cards, youtube coach, youtube coaching, youtube consultancy, youtube consultant, youtube end card, youtube end screen, youtube end screens, youtube hacks, youtube mobile cards, youtube mobile end screen, youtube seo, youtube tips, youtube training, youtube tricks, youtube views

From there, you’re taken to the End screen creator studio, where you can play around with different templates and background to determine how you want your end screen to appear. Then, click the “Add element” menu to decide where you want to send viewers from your end screen.

youtube, youtube card, youtube cards, youtube coach, youtube coaching, youtube consultancy, youtube consultant, youtube end card, youtube end screen, youtube end screens, youtube hacks, youtube mobile cards, youtube mobile end screen, youtube seo, youtube tips, youtube training, youtube tricks, youtube views

Any YouTube creators can add an end screen to customize their channels. Here’s an explainer article with more details and inspiration ideas.

How to Add a YouTube Mobile Card (YouTube Cards)

You can use cards to advertise products used in your videos or links on your website you want to market on YouTube. If viewers tap the “i” in the upper-right hand corner of a video, the cards expand, as in the example below:

 

To add a card to a YouTube video, head to your Video Manager, tap “Edit,” and select “Cards” from the drop-down menu.

Then, choose where in the video you want cards to appear, and tap the “Add card” drop-down menu to choose what you want the card to promote. From there, customize the content that will appear to viewers when they tap the “i” while viewing your video:

youtube, youtube card, youtube cards, youtube coach, youtube coaching, youtube consultancy, youtube consultant, youtube end card, youtube end screen, youtube end screens, youtube hacks, youtube mobile cards, youtube mobile end screen, youtube seo, youtube tips, youtube training, youtube tricks, youtube views

Want more help? Need more hands on assistance? Get in touch we do YouTube Coaching >>

Other Useful YouTube Blog Posts

Categories
SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS & TRICKS YOUTUBE

How to Gain YouTube Subscribers – YouTube Growth Strategy

Subscribers don’t come from luck — they come from a strategy.

Gaining subscribers is harder than ever: there’s more competition, and viewers are pickier about who they follow. The good news is that the channels who grow all do the same handful of things well. This is the complete 2026 growth strategy — from giving people a reason to subscribe, to Shorts, promotion, collaboration and turning those subscribers into income.

▶️ Why your uploads aren’t converting viewers into subscribers

Why trust this? I’m Alan Spicer — a YouTube Certified Expert with two decades on the platform, six Silver Play Buttons and 500+ creators coached from zero to thriving subscriber bases.

Want a growth plan built for your channel? Book a free discovery call.

🔑 Key takeaways

  • Give viewers a clear reason to subscribe — a consistent promise.
  • Shorts are your fastest route to brand-new subscribers.
  • Ask for the subscribe — and add a channel trailer.
  • Promote, collaborate and stay consistent to compound growth.
  • Subscribers unlock monetisation — 500 for fan funding, 1,000 for YPP.

⚡ QUICK ANSWER: How do I gain YouTube subscribers?
Give people a clear reason to subscribe by making content around a consistent theme, then help new viewers find you with strong titles, thumbnails and Shorts. Ask for the subscribe, promote your videos where your audience is, collaborate with other creators, stay consistent, and build a genuine community. Subscribers are the reward for being a channel worth following.

Why Everyone Needs a Growth Strategy

Gaining subscribers is getting harder as more creators enter the scene and viewers get pickier — nobody wants to be bombarded with content they’re not interested in. That’s exactly why a scattergun approach fails and a clear strategy wins. When you know who you’re for, what you offer, and how you’ll reach them, every upload pulls in the same direction. The tactics below aren’t a menu to pick one from; they work together as a system.

Give People a Clear Reason to Subscribe

Here’s the single biggest reason viewers don’t subscribe: they can’t tell what they’re signing up for. Subscribing is a promise — “show me more like this” — so your channel needs a consistent theme that makes that promise obvious. If someone enjoys one video, they should be able to glance at your channel and instantly know they’ll get more of what they just liked.
This doesn’t mean making the same video over and over. It means every video ladders up to a clear identity, so your audience always knows what your channel stands for. Get this right and everything else below works far harder.

Brand Your Channel

First impressions decide whether a curious viewer sticks around. A polished channel signals “this is worth following.” Make the most of YouTube’s customisation options:

  • Channel banner and icon that clearly say who you are — see channel branding and the right channel art size.
  • A tidy channel layout with sections and featured content, so visitors immediately see your best work.
  • Consistent visual identity across thumbnails so your videos are instantly recognisable in the feed.

Optimise for Discovery

You can’t gain subscribers who never find you. Getting discovered comes down to earning the click and being understood by YouTube’s search and suggestion systems:

Use Shorts to Reach New Subscribers

This is the biggest change since channels first learned to grow: Shorts are now the fastest way to get in front of people who’ve never heard of you. The Shorts feed pushes your vertical videos to brand-new viewers regardless of your subscriber count, making it a powerful top-of-funnel. Post Shorts to get discovered, then convert that attention — point viewers to your long-form content and give them a reason to subscribe. My guide to YouTube Shorts covers how to use them well.

Ask for the Subscribe

It sounds obvious, but most creators either forget or do it badly: ask people to subscribe. The trick is timing and sincerity. Don’t beg in the first five seconds before you’ve earned it — deliver value first, then ask at a natural high point, briefly explaining what they’ll get by subscribing. Reinforce it with End Screens that prompt the subscribe as your video ends and viewers are most convinced.

Promote and Distribute Your Videos

Don’t just upload and hope. Getting your videos in front of people early builds the momentum YouTube rewards, and it puts you in front of potential subscribers beyond the platform:

Collaborate and Make Friends

One of the most effective growth tactics there is: collaborate. Working with a creator in your niche puts you in front of a warm, relevant audience already primed to like what you do — and it’s mutually beneficial. Be useful to their audience, make it a win for both channels, and treat it as building a real relationship, not a one-off transaction. My collaboration strategy guide shows you how to find, pitch and run collabs that convert.

Be Consistent — Everyone Loves a Regular Show

People subscribe to shows they can rely on. A sustainable upload schedule keeps your audience in the habit of watching and gives the algorithm more chances to promote you. Note “sustainable” — a rhythm you can hold for months beats a burst you burn out on in three weeks. Pick a cadence you can keep, and protect it.

Show Personality and Build Community

People subscribe to people. Your personality is what makes a viewer choose you over the dozen other channels covering your topic, so let it show. Then nurture the relationship: reply to comments, ask questions, and use the Community tab to stay connected between uploads. An engaged community watches longer, comes back sooner, and brings their friends — turning casual viewers into loyal subscribers.

Getting views but not subscribers?

On a free discovery call I’ll find exactly why viewers aren’t subscribing — and give you a plan to fix it.

Book Your Free Discovery Call →

▶️ Getting views but not subscribers? Here’s how to convert them

Run Giveaways (Carefully)

A well-run giveaway can give your subscriber count a burst and reward your community. The catch is quality: give away something relevant to your niche so you attract real potential fans, not freebie-hunters who unsubscribe the moment it ends. Offer a prize your ideal viewer wants, and you draw in the right people.

Play by the rules: YouTube has official contest policies, and you must follow them (plus local laws) when running a giveaway. Never make subscribing the only way to enter if it breaches those rules, and always disclose the terms clearly. Check YouTube’s current contest policies before you launch.

Turn Subscribers Into Milestones

Subscribers aren’t just a vanity number — they unlock real earning potential as you hit key thresholds:

  • 500 subscribers — unlocks Fan Funding and Shopping features (with some watch time or Shorts activity).
  • 1,000 subscribers — the gateway to the full YouTube Partner Program, alongside your watch hours.
  • Plus watch hours — 4,000 qualified hours until 31 January 2027, then 8,000 from 1 February 2027, for ad revenue.

So as you grow your subscribers, keep an eye on the finish line. See my first 1,000 subscribers guide, the 2027 monetisation requirements, and how to get monetised in 2027. And whatever you do, don’t take the shortcut of buying subscribers — it backfires every time.

Gaining Subscribers: FAQ

How do I gain more YouTube subscribers?

Give people a clear reason to subscribe by making content around a consistent theme, then help new viewers find you with strong titles, thumbnails and Shorts. Ask for the subscribe at the right moment, promote your videos where your audience is, collaborate with other creators, stay consistent, and build a genuine community. Subscribers are the reward for being a channel worth following, not a single trick.

Why am I getting views but not subscribers?

Usually it’s because your videos don’t give viewers a clear reason to come back. If someone enjoys one video but can’t tell what your channel is about, they won’t subscribe. Sharpen your theme and promise, actually ask people to subscribe, add a channel trailer for new visitors, and make sure your next videos deliver on what brought them in.

How many subscribers do you need to make money on YouTube?

You can unlock Fan Funding and Shopping features at 500 subscribers, alongside some watch time or Shorts activity. For the full YouTube Partner Program with ad revenue you need 1,000 subscribers plus qualified watch hours — 4,000 until 31 January 2027, then 8,000 from 1 February 2027. Subscribers open the door; watch time and views unlock the ad revenue.

Do YouTube Shorts help you gain subscribers?

Yes. Shorts are shown to people who don’t follow you yet, making them one of the fastest ways to reach new potential subscribers. The key is to convert that reach — use Shorts to get discovered, then guide those viewers to your long-form content and give them a reason to subscribe.

How long does it take to grow YouTube subscribers?

It varies with your niche, consistency and how quickly you improve. Most channels see subscriber growth compound over months of steady uploading rather than overnight. Focus on making each video a little better and giving viewers a clear reason to subscribe, and judge your progress over months, not days.

Should I buy YouTube subscribers?

No. Bought subscribers are fake accounts that never watch, so they tank your engagement rate and tell the algorithm not to promote you. They also don’t count toward monetisation and can get your channel penalised. Always grow real subscribers who actually watch, engage and count toward your goals.

Putting Your Growth Strategy Together

Gaining subscribers isn’t about one clever hack — it’s about stacking the fundamentals: give people a clear reason to subscribe, brand your channel, get discovered through search and Shorts, ask for the subscribe, promote and collaborate, stay consistent, and build a community that feels like home. Do these together and your subscriber count climbs steadily and durably — and before long you’re hitting the milestones that turn a channel into a business. Start with the one you’re weakest at today, and build from there.

Build a subscriber base that lasts.

A free discovery call gets you a two-decade expert eye on your channel and a clear growth plan.

Book Your Free Discovery Call →

Categories
SEO SOCIAL MEDIA YOUTUBE

5 Tips to Increase YouTube Watch Time and Audience Retention

Watch time was always the secret to growth. From 2027, it’s also your ticket to getting paid.

YouTube is doubling the bar for new creators to 8,000 qualified watch hours from 1 February 2027. That makes audience retention the most valuable skill on the platform — it drives your reach and your monetisation. This supercharged guide shows you exactly how to build watch time in the new 8,000-hour world.

▶️ How to get 8,000 watch hours on YouTube — the 2027 update

Why trust this? I’m Alan Spicer — a YouTube Certified Expert with two decades on the platform, six Silver Play Buttons and 500+ creators coached to monetisation and beyond.

Racing to 8,000 hours? Book a free discovery call and I’ll map your fastest route.

🔑 Key takeaways

  • From 1 Feb 2027 you need 8,000 qualified watch hours to monetise.
  • Only public long-form + archived live count — Shorts don’t.
  • Retention is leverage — double your view duration, halve the views you need.
  • Hook fast, hold attention, and chain views with playlists.
  • Go live — archived streams count toward your hours.

⚡ QUICK ANSWER: How do I increase my YouTube watch time?
Hook viewers in the first 15-30 seconds, hold retention with tight editing and open loops, and deliver on your title’s promise so you attract the right people. Then bank more hours by making longer, bingeable content, chaining views with playlists, Cards and End Screens, and going live (archived streams count). Watch your retention graph to find and fix drop-offs. It’s how you win reach — and, from 2027, how you hit the 8,000 hours to monetise.

Why Watch Time Matters More Than Ever in 2027

Watch time — the total time people spend watching your videos — has always been YouTube’s favourite signal. The platform’s whole business is keeping people watching, so it promotes the videos that do exactly that. High retention tells YouTube “people love this, show it to more of them.” That part hasn’t changed.
What has changed is the stakes. From 1 February 2027, new creators need 8,000 qualified watch hours (over a rolling 365 days) to join the YouTube Partner Program for ad and Premium revenue — double the old 4,000-hour requirement. So watch time is no longer just a growth lever; it’s the gate to getting paid. Master it and you win twice. For the full rules, see my 2027 monetisation requirements and how to hit 1,000 subs and 8,000 watch hours.

What Counts as “Qualified” Watch Time

Before you start racking up hours, know which ones actually count. Not all watch time is equal in YouTube’s eyes:

Counts toward your 8,000 hours Doesn’t count
Public long-form videos (incl. podcasts) YouTube Shorts (separate 20M-views path)
Archived live streams Private, unlisted or deleted videos
Real viewers watching your public content Paid, ad or artificial/bot views

The big one to remember: Shorts do not count toward watch hours. Shorts feed the separate 20-million-views monetisation path. If you’re going for the 8,000-hour route, your effort belongs in long-form and live content. More on this in qualified watch hours and views.

What 8,000 Hours Actually Looks Like

Eight thousand hours sounds enormous — but it’s very achievable once you see the maths, and it reveals the single most important lever you have. 8,000 hours is 480,000 minutes of watch time. Here’s how many views that takes, depending on how long people actually watch:

Average view duration Views needed (per rolling year)
3 minutes ~160,000
5 minutes ~96,000
8 minutes ~60,000
12 minutes ~40,000
20 minutes ~24,000

Look at the leverage: doubling your average view duration halves the number of views you need. That’s why everything below matters — every extra minute you keep someone watching brings the 8,000-hour goal dramatically closer.

Hook Them in the First 15-30 Seconds

Most viewers who leave, leave early. Your opening is where watch time is won or lost, so treat the first 15-30 seconds as the most important part of the whole video. Skip the long intros, the “hey guys, welcome back, don’t forget to subscribe” — get straight to the value or the promise. Tell people what they’re about to get and why it’s worth staying, then start delivering immediately. Win the opening and the rest of your retention curve starts from a much higher place.

Hold Retention Across the Whole Video

Getting them past the intro is step one; keeping them is the game. The techniques that work:

  • Cut every second of dead air. Tight editing is the highest-leverage retention tool there is.
  • Change the pace. Vary your shots, energy and visuals so the video never feels flat.
  • Use open loops. Tease something coming later (“in a moment I’ll show you the fix”) to pull viewers forward.
  • Signpost the value. Remind people why staying is worth it at natural drop-off points.

For a deeper dive, see my watch time and audience retention guide.

Deliver on Your Title and Thumbnail

Here’s a subtle watch-time killer: attracting the wrong viewers. If your title and thumbnail promise one thing and the video delivers another, people bail within seconds and your retention tanks. Set accurate expectations, then over-deliver on them. The viewers you attract should be exactly the ones who want to watch to the end — that alignment is one of the most underrated watch-time levers there is.

Make Longer, Bingeable Content

Remember the maths: a longer video with strong retention banks far more hours per view. So once you can hold attention, lean into longer formats — but only if the content earns the length. Never pad; a bloated video just drops your retention and the algorithm punishes it. Better still, build series that people binge one after another, which stacks watch time across multiple videos in a single session. See my series strategy for bingeable content.

Chain Views With Playlists, Cards and End Screens

Watch time isn’t just about one video — it’s about keeping someone on your content across a whole session. Three tools do this:

Note: if you’re following older advice that mentions “annotations” for this, ignore it — YouTube removed annotations in 2019. Cards and End Screens replaced them, and unlike annotations they work on mobile.

Go Live — Archived Streams Count Toward Your Hours

Live streaming is one of the fastest ways to build watch time, and it’s badly underused. A single live session can keep viewers watching for a long stretch, banking big chunks of watch time at once — and crucially, archived live streams count toward your qualified watch hours. That makes going live a genuine shortcut toward the 8,000-hour goal.

▶️ Using live streaming to increase your channel watch time

More on this in increasing watch time with live streams and my live streaming strategy.

Use Analytics to Plug the Leaks

Finally, stop guessing where you’re losing people — YouTube shows you exactly. Your audience retention graph reveals the precise moments viewers drop off: a slow intro, a boring stretch, a tangent that lost them. Find those dips, work out what caused them, and fix that pattern in your next video. Do this consistently and your retention — and your watch hours — climb steadily. See using YouTube Analytics for growth and, if your numbers are sliding, watch time dropping: proven fixes.

Want the fastest route to 8,000 hours?

On a free discovery call I’ll audit your retention and build you a watch-time plan aimed straight at monetisation.

Book Your Free Discovery Call →

YouTube Watch Time: FAQ

Why does watch time matter so much on YouTube?

Watch time is the single biggest signal YouTube uses to decide which videos to promote — if people watch a lot of your video, YouTube shows it to more people. From 2027 it matters even more, because monetisation requires 8,000 qualified watch hours. So watch time now drives both your reach and your ability to earn.

How many watch hours do you need to monetise on YouTube?

Until 31 January 2027 you need 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 qualified watch hours over 365 days (or 10 million Shorts views over 90 days). From 1 February 2027 the watch-hours requirement doubles to 8,000 qualified watch hours (or 20 million Shorts views), while the 1,000-subscriber mark stays the same.

Do YouTube Shorts count toward watch hours?

No. Shorts views are counted on a separate path — the 20 million qualified Shorts views option — not as watch hours. Qualified watch hours come from your public long-form videos and archived live streams. So if you’re chasing the 8,000-hour route, focus on long-form and live, not Shorts.

What counts as qualified watch time?

Qualified watch hours come from watch time on your public long-form videos, including podcasts, and your archived live streams, over a rolling 365 days. It excludes private, deleted, paid, ad and artificial activity. In short, real people watching your real public content is what counts.

How do I increase audience retention?

Hook viewers hard in the first few seconds, cut every second of dead air, and use pacing changes and open loops to keep them curious. Make sure your title and thumbnail set accurate expectations so you attract the right viewers, and study your retention graph to find and fix the moments where people leave.

Do longer videos get more watch time?

They can. A longer video that holds attention banks far more watch hours per view than a short one, so longer, well-retained content reaches the 8,000-hour goal faster. But length only helps if you keep people watching — never pad a video, or your retention drops and the algorithm notices.

Does live streaming increase watch time?

Yes, significantly. Live streams keep viewers watching for long stretches, adding big chunks of watch time in one session. And because archived live streams count toward qualified watch hours, going live is one of the fastest ways to build toward the 8,000-hour threshold.

The Bottom Line

Watch time has quietly become the most valuable thing on YouTube. It decides how far your videos travel and, from February 2027, whether you can monetise at all. The good news is that it’s entirely within your control: hook people fast, hold their attention, deliver exactly what you promised, make content worth bingeing, chain views across your channel, go live, and let your analytics guide every improvement. Focus here above everything else and you’ll build the 8,000 hours — and the audience — that turn a channel into a business.

8,000 hours is closer than you think.

A free discovery call gets you a two-decade expert eye on your retention and a clear plan to monetise.

Book Your Free Discovery Call →

A note on the figures: the 8,000 qualified watch hours requirement applies to new YouTube Partner Program applicants from 1 February 2027; the current 4,000-hour rule applies until 31 January 2027, and existing partners are grandfathered. View-count examples are illustrative maths (8,000 hours = 480,000 minutes). Always check current requirements in YouTube Studio.
Categories
SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS & TRICKS VIDEO YOUTUBE

YouTube 101 – How to Grow a YouTube Channel

So you want to start a YouTube channel — and actually grow it. Good. Let’s do it properly.

Hundreds of hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute, and most of it is barely seen. This is your beginner’s roadmap to being one of the channels that does get watched: how to pick a niche and a name, sort your branding and gear, make content people want, and earn real subscribers and views — the honest way.

▶️ Six free ways to get your first 100 subscribers

Why trust this? I’m Alan Spicer — a YouTube Certified Expert with two decades on the platform, six Silver Play Buttons and 500+ creators coached from zero to thriving channels.

Want a personal roadmap for your channel? Book a free discovery call.

🔑 Key takeaways

  • Start with a clear niche — focus beats a scattergun channel.
  • Your name and branding should be simple and consistent.
  • Good audio matters more than an expensive camera.
  • Grow with strong titles, thumbnails and Shorts.
  • Never buy subscribers or views — it stalls channels.

⚡ QUICK ANSWER: How do I start and grow a YouTube channel?
Pick a clear niche, choose a simple name and set up your branding, then start creating with the gear you already have (a phone and good audio is plenty). Make consistent, valuable content for a specific audience, give every video a strong title and thumbnail, use Shorts to get discovered, and study your analytics to do more of what works. Growth is the reward for consistency — not a single hack.

Start With a Niche and a Focus

The 2017 advice was to jump straight into naming your channel. The modern reality is that the single best decision you’ll make comes first: your niche. A focused channel — one that’s clearly about something — is far easier for viewers to follow and for YouTube to recommend to the right people.
You don’t need to niche down to one tiny topic forever, but you do need a clear answer to “what is this channel about, and who is it for?” Pick something you can keep making videos about without running dry, ideally where your interest and what people search for overlap. Get this right and everything else gets easier. If you’re weighing options, my breakdown of the highest-paid niches on YouTube is a useful starting point.

Pick a Name for Your Channel

Your channel name should be simple, memorable and easy to spell. Avoid random numbers, awkward punctuation or anything people will mishear in a “check out my channel” conversation. A few pointers:

  • Keep it short and sayable — if it’s hard to repeat out loud, it’s hard to share.
  • Leave room to grow. “Sarah’s Sausage Dog Vlog” boxes you in; a slightly broader name lets your channel evolve.
  • Check it’s available as a handle across YouTube and other platforms so your branding stays consistent.

Your own name is often a safe, flexible choice — it’s what I did, and it never dates.

Branding and Channel Design

Once you’ve a name, dress the channel to match. Strong branding makes a new channel look established and trustworthy, and it’s easier than ever with free tools:

  • A clean banner and logo that say what the channel is about at a glance — see banner ideas and the correct channel art size.
  • Consistent thumbnails — a recognisable style across your videos builds a visual identity people spot in their feed.
  • A channel trailer and tidy layout so first-time visitors instantly get what you do.

For the full walkthrough, see my guide to YouTube channel branding and these free branding tools.

Camera, Audio and Gear

Here’s the truth that saves beginners a fortune: you need far less gear than you think. A modern smartphone shoots excellent video, so don’t let “I don’t have a good camera” hold you back for another day.

Spend on audio first. Viewers forgive so-so video, but they click away from bad sound instantly. A basic microphone and a decent room do more for your channel than an expensive camera ever will. Here’s how to record clean audio.

Start with what you have, then upgrade deliberately. When you’re ready, my equipment for beginners, budget kit and full creator equipment guide have you covered.

Video Ideas and Content

Consistency is only useful if you don’t run out of ideas — so build a system for them rather than relying on inspiration. The best video ideas sit where what you can talk about meets what people are searching for. Research the questions your target audience actually types into YouTube, and answer them better than anyone else.
Never short of ideas beats occasionally brilliant. If you’re stuck, try my content ideation framework, these ways to find unlimited video ideas in minutes, or ideas for videos without speaking on camera.

How to Get Subscribers and Views

This is what everyone really wants to know. There’s no magic button — but there is a reliable formula, and it’s all about what the algorithm actually rewards:

  • Nail your titles and thumbnails. They decide whether anyone clicks in the first place — see writing titles and the thumbnail guide.
  • Hold attention. Watch time and retention are the biggest growth levers — a strong hook and tight editing keep people watching.
  • Use Shorts for discovery. Vertical Shorts reach brand-new viewers fast; funnel them to your longer videos — see Shorts explained.
  • Ask, and engage. Invite people to subscribe, and reply to every comment early on — community compounds.
  • Study your analytics. Let the data tell you what’s working — here’s how.
▶️ Why your uploads aren’t converting viewers into subscribers

Ready to go deeper? My guides to getting your first 1,000 subscribers and growing a channel (30+ ways) are the natural next step.

The Milestone You’re Working Toward: Monetisation

Every new creator has one big early goal in sight: joining the YouTube Partner Program so your channel starts to earn. It’s worth knowing the target — and an important change landing in 2027.

  • Until 31 January 2027: 1,000 subscribers + either 4,000 qualified watch hours (past 365 days) or 10 million Shorts views (past 90 days).
  • From 1 February 2027: the viewing bar doubles to 8,000 qualified watch hours or 20 million Shorts views. The 1,000-subscriber mark stays the same.

Here’s the insider tip: if you’re close, push to 4,000 watch hours before 1 February 2027 — get accepted under the old rule and you’re grandfathered in permanently. Already a partner? You keep your status; just accept the updated terms in YouTube Studio before the deadline. For the full breakdown, see my 2027 monetisation requirements guide, how to get monetised in 2027, and how to hit 1,000 subs and 8,000 watch hours.

Should You Buy Subscribers or Views?

In a word: no. It’s tempting when you’re staring at single-digit numbers, but buying subscribers or views is the fastest way to stall a channel, not grow it. Here’s why:

  • They’re fake accounts that never watch. That tanks your engagement rate and tells YouTube your videos aren’t worth recommending.
  • It can break your monetisation eligibility and even get your channel penalised or terminated.
  • It fools no one — least of all the algorithm. Real growth comes from real humans choosing to watch.

Put that money toward better audio, a course, or coaching instead. For the full picture, read fake views on YouTube.

Want to skip years of trial and error?

On a free discovery call I’ll give you a clear, personal plan to start and grow your channel the right way.

Book Your Free Discovery Call →

Growing a YouTube Channel: FAQ

How do I start and grow a YouTube channel?

Choose a clear niche, pick a simple name and set up your branding, sort out basic gear (a phone and good audio is plenty to start), then make consistent, valuable content aimed at a specific audience. Optimise your titles and thumbnails, use Shorts to get discovered, engage with viewers, and study your analytics to make more of what works. Growth comes from consistency over time, not a single trick.

How do I get my first YouTube subscribers?

Make content for a specific audience, give each video a strong title and thumbnail so people click, and use Shorts to reach new viewers. Ask viewers to subscribe, reply to every comment early on, and stay consistent. Your first subscribers come from being useful or entertaining to a clear group of people.

What equipment do I need to start a YouTube channel?

Far less than you think. A modern smartphone shoots great video, so your first priority is good audio, then decent lighting (even a window works). You can upgrade your camera later once the channel is established. Don’t let gear be the reason you delay starting.

Should I buy YouTube subscribers or views?

No. Bought subscribers and views are fake accounts that never watch your content, which wrecks your engagement rate and tells the algorithm your videos aren’t worth showing. It can also break your monetisation eligibility and get your channel penalised. It’s the fastest way to stall a channel, not grow one.

How long does it take to grow a YouTube channel?

It varies enormously and depends on your niche, consistency and how quickly you improve. Most successful channels take many months of steady uploading before they gain real traction. Focus on making each video a little better than the last, and judge progress over months, not days.

Do I need to pick a niche?

It helps a great deal. A focused channel is easier for viewers to understand and follow, and easier for YouTube to recommend to the right people. You can broaden out later, but starting with a clear topic gives you the fastest route to your first loyal audience.

How many subscribers and watch hours do you need to make money on YouTube?

To join the YouTube Partner Program you need 1,000 subscribers, plus watch time. Until 31 January 2027 that’s 4,000 qualified watch hours over 365 days, or 10 million Shorts views over 90 days. From 1 February 2027 the viewing bar doubles to 8,000 qualified watch hours or 20 million Shorts views, while the 1,000-subscriber requirement stays the same. Existing partners are grandfathered in and keep their current thresholds.

Content First, Always

Strip away every tip and one truth remains: content comes first. Branding, gear and tactics all matter, but they only amplify videos that are worth watching. So start before you feel ready, make each video a little better than the last, stay consistent, and give real people a reason to hit subscribe. Do that for long enough and the growth takes care of itself — I’ve watched it happen for hundreds of creators, and there’s no reason you can’t be next.

Your channel starts today.

A free discovery call gets you a two-decade head start on building a channel that actually grows.

Book Your Free Discovery Call →