Music by Dyalla: open.spotify.c... Today, I answer one of your questions. We discuss my inconsistent view count and my strategy in growing this channel.
@@trtrhr nah I'd rather have a hundred thousand subscribers and over a million views on each video I post than a million subscribers and get only a hundred thousand views.
UA-cams always trying to disparage drama (like with their new repetitive content policy and demonitization) and they claim its "a bad look for the platform" (based on what Tati said they told her). Yet their very own algorithm is the one rewarding and pushing drama/influencer related stuff and ignoring original content. Thats toxic, change my mind.
I actually like the variety of your channel. When a creator uploads too much of the exact same kind of content, I get bored with it. I also think it’s annoying when the algorithm recommends me too much of the same content because of that one video I watched.
This came at the perfect time for me! I’ve been feeling really trapped in terms of topics for all the reasons you mentioned here, and I am coming to terms with just accepting that I will get lower views when I go outside the topics my core audience wants me to cover and that’s ok. I have to play the long game. Thanks for making this!
Hey Finn AND Donna, I'm a big fan of you both actually haha. I think it's alright to mix up on topics from time to time otherwise like in this video - it's only going to screw with the longevity. I guess it's a constant battle between a great video performance RIGHT NOW, and a great CHANNEL performance overall. I think that's what the key difference is and the reason creators should find that balance between sticking to what they know will do well as well as regularly producing content that they themselves are interested in - because I think an audience can tell when the passion is there too. You want to come off as passionate and I think that sort of rubs off on the viewer and makes them more interested even in a topic they might not care as much about.. I've gotten that from The Punk Rock MBA channel for sure where it's about a band I'm not really familiar with but still I find it interesting because you clearly know what you're talking about and are really informative and entertaining. So yeah... I dunno think about that I guess. But then again look at me, the guy with 500 subs after however many years trying to give "advice" to you guys 😂
It’s extremely obvious why? The videos that get the most views are the “tea”/commentary/overviews of other influencers, public figures etc. that’s about how it is with every channel...
I remember when my goal of the channel was to make videos about pet care..but my fish videos became popular. So ultimately, the algorithm pushed me to be a betta fish channel. Any video outside the niche does not perform well....but I have come to accept it and try to make my audience happy while still doing content I want once in a while.
I have also had to learn not to care about views. It’s hard- especially when the subscriber count doesn’t match the number of views. Thank you for this honest video.
UA-cam likes “predictable” series-like videos that people prefer not to miss, like, lets say, ERB or even Casey’s vlog. When you introduce variety to your channel, there is a good chance lots of people wont watch it (unfortunately). It is also super hard to predict what your audience really wants - more of a same type or something new every week (taking my channel as example). Lots of people ask me to review tech i am not interested in, but lets say I do - does that automatically translate to more views? There is a tradeoff here since i cant make every video that my audience can possibly enjoy (without lets say a studio or outsourcing). So I end up making what I think most people expect from my channel. (With very few experimental videos once per few months)
I'm so excited to get back into vlogging (I'm promising myself it'll be in the New Year hopefully when I can actually leave the house and stuff). Your videos are so insightful. Although I have a channel and I definitely suffer the same fate of the algorithm, it's a completely different ball game to when I was vlogging. Keep up the good work! You're doing amazing sweetie x.
@@trtrhr I probably didn't explain it well in my comment but I know my channel isn't exactly "small" but I was actually referring to my second channel which was my vlogging channel that I haven't used in about 2 years, it has 2-3k subscribers . I was pretty much saying gaining subs/views consistently on a vlogging channel requires different skills to what my current channel does (I have the benefit of being able to use artists names in my video titles which the youtube algorithm tends to love and it helps me)
There are a few choice youtubers who are immensely popular and their viewers will click on whatever they post, and you can tell by the viewer count this is the case. They do this because they sub for the person and not necessarily the subject matter, or they did sub for the subject matter but were so taken with the personality that they stuck around and will click on every video just to support them and because they like their personality and general content. But that is the exception to the rule and not the rule. For most youtubers, what you described in this video is the reality of what they deal with. I can't imagine what that does to the psyche (no pun intended) when it's so easy to tie your worth to your amount of views and subs.
I watch pretty much all your videos on my other account, even if the topic at hand isn't something I know about because I am usually pretty interested in your take and thoughts on the subject! Thanks for being transparent about this. I feel like UA-cam is no longer too interested in smaller creators as there are so many and it's SO hard to break through
Donna I've been subscribed to your channel for a while and I tend to watch your less popular videos over your popular ones. (I don't have a particular interest in most of the UA-camrs in your popular videos). I want to let you know that I really appreciate the fact that you continue to upload these kinds of videos!
Thanks for your honesty / transparency , this was my first watched video on your channel. I pushed the subscribe button thou and is looking forward to more videos
Great video. 4:25 - It also fails because it doesn't take into account that the audience will keep aging up and niches chance. For example, I started a let's play gaming channel in 2012. My audience was 12-35 year olds. 10 ten years later, Google Trends shows Let's Plays are no longer popular. And now, , now they are 22-44 years old. They aren't going to want to watch the same thing. Then, the creator needs to pivot to the interest of the creator and the audience. For that reason, I am now pivoting to blockchain gaming so that I can incorporate crypto and technology into my videos.
This is really great advice, thank you for uploading! I definitely agree that there needs to be a balance between what us creators want and what viewers want, it's hard sometimes not to get caught up in all of the numbers but it really does suck the joy out of it.
I came for a quick, fun little anecdote, but ended up with valuable life advice for content creators. This channel is a treasure and must be protected at all costs.
Really great video! I think many people don't appreciate how much the active viewers on any particular video may not even align w/ subscribers. E.g., i think if most creators looked up % of watch time from subscribers vs non-subscribers, they'd have *way* more watch time from non-subscribers. So, if that pattern holds, that means that not only can subscribers not necessarily be assumed to watch every video (exactly as you described), but that even if a video has a lot of views, there is no guarantee that it got those videos *from* the channel's existing subscriber base. I know many people complain about UA-cam recommendations on home page, etc., but for me, I have definitely found it's really good at providing the content I will actually watch *even for channels I would not want to subscribe to*. So, there are some channels I watch more regularly (even though I am not subscribed) than the channels I'm subscribed to. I think this can change viewer behavior. Since I find home page recommendations to be so spot on to me, I am usually less likely to go to the subscription page (although I do try to browse that at least once each day.) So, when people say things like, "Your videos haven't appeared in my subscriptions feed," I always wonder if those people are *actually* checking the subscriptions feed or confusing with the home page or notifications bell (which both serve different purposes to the subscriptions feed and do *not* necessarily show 100% of content from one's subscribed channels.)
I'm envious. My journey is starting soon. Started Twitch a few months back. Keep meaning to start youtube, but keep putting it off lol. My niche is software development. Trying to figure out a way to make it entertaining for the general audience. Social experiments with a.i possibly... -anyways hope your still enjoying it!.
great point, i followed you awhile back but didn't see anything until just now because you posted your frenemies video. I've been watching frenemies for a few weeks now so obv the youtube algo rhythm is working like a charm
I love your analysis on UA-cam. What you said really struck me as to why my UA-cam isn't growing as much.... But then I feel like I am stuck as well in going into a niche.
Honestly Donna, the algorithm does you no favours. I'm subscribed but the only video I've actually been recommended of yours for the past couple months is the most recent one about frenemies. I'm just now going back to watch the others 😂
This was very informative! I'm hoping on making a new channel soon and this has given me good insight into how I can build it and grow it. Definitely going to refer back to this video and your content in the future. Love the channel and keep up the good work!
Smashed it! And I liked the video as well. I think it's smart that you create a video every once in a while you really feel like making. I've got two channels. One in English about comic books and one in Dutch about comics and whatever I feel talking about. I think the latter videos are a chance to show a bit more about yourself, getting more personal. And subscribers seem to like to get to know the youtuber in that way. At least that's my take. Anyway, take care. Thanks for the insights.
I wanted to be a youtuber since like 2008. I feel like I grew up on UA-cam. I finally started uploading vlog type videos the last few months after filming myself doing random things all the time (literally playing pretend youtuber for years). I’ve been thinking about other channels and how structured they are, I’m jealous of it but I also like my chaotic “string of thoughts” style. I just make what I want. Edit myself, upload. That was the original intent of UA-cam, broadcast yourself. And regardless of it anyone ever watches, I’ll have a catalogue of memories for when I’m old and senile.
facts it is a real struggle to branch out once people have subscribed to you for one type of content, not only do your subscribers punish you by not watching your new content but the algorithm helps them by suppressing your new content into oblivion.
Important bit of info worth noting is that CTR and Watch Time from Subscribers is an entirely separate category in the algorithm than CTR and Watch Time from non-subscribers. For the most part, if a video performs well among subscribers it tells the algorithm to send it to more subscribers and vice versa. This essentially applies to every categorical breakdown of viewer types. Love the openness btw
Makes sense. Do yours correlate? I often find that if a video does well with subs, its likely to be recommended. Obviously this could also just be because the video is better overall, so it does well in both categories of the algorithm.
@@DonnaIRL typically it does yeah, I do think that you still get the overall algorithmic boost when it does well from subs but it's important to keep in mind that it doesn't mean a death sentence just because it originally failed
i just watched your frenemies video, realized you have some good introspective and decided to check your channel. i realized i have watched some of your vids, then i accidentaly noticed the title of this video, and noticed that the videos ive watched are the ones with the most views. im about to watch the rest of em.
I treat the people I subscribe to like a book. If it catches my attention in the first 50 pages. If not I stop reading. As far as UA-camrs I give it a few minutes. I do however have certain UA-camrs I watch no matter what.
I'm glad I found someone who said it. It's a very painful that every content creator has to face at some point. Once you start doing something that UA-cam likes and build an audience from it. That's all both group expect for the rest of the channel's lifetime. I can admit that, yea, my videos don't necessarily have a consistent pattern to them. That's because talking about and making videos on the same subject for weeks to months to possible years. Gets tiring. Then the need to spice it comes to play, but neither parties of UA-cam and Audience really want that. Which can be disheartening. Though I agree with what you said that solely looking for views from videos made doesn't lead to anywhere good or fun.
Wow Psych I literally never subscribed to you? But here I am looking at the "Subscribed" greyed out button as if I did, I'm going through this exact issue of changing up my content completely cause I've losted interest with what I used to be doing. The view counts are depressing, but I feel like the content I make can be successful in the area's I have interests In now. It's just a LARGE uphill battle I don't think my mental health can handle right-now.
i haven’t seen your videos on my home page, or even in the subscription box sometimes- it’s only when i actually LOOK for one your videos is when i get to see them. so weird
Your videos on hot button creator's always hit my recommended tab and I've always meant to hit that subscribe button (just did). Other videos haven't been pushed to me in the past. FWIW you popped in my head today after watching a Scotty Sire video where per usual he was lamenting on his subscriber count yo yo-ing. I thought there'd be a chance it was something you'd deep dive on
Thank you, Donna, for the explanation on your variety. I, personally don't like, nor care about the long-form exposition of UA-cam personalities. "Why should I care about them?" is something that comes to my mind.
Fine line between niche and growing out of your content. Did y’all know it’s impossible to breathe while smiling?? Kidding just wanted y’all to smile. Hope you have a phenomenal day. Friendly reminder for y’all to check your bank account on your bank’s mobile app on a daily basis. More often you check the less likely you are to overspend. Pocket watch yourself 😅
Lol you got me with the smiling thing! Like I know that's not true but I did it before thinking 😂. Also I can't help but smile when I read or hear the word smile lmao idk why
Daaamn I never realized how wack the views are between different videos. Don't think I ever seen a consistent up and down like that. Algorithm be wack. I LOVE all your videos though. The quality has been insane lately keep it up!
This is really wholesome and nice, also insightful and helpful with knowledge I think that could be applied to how to approach achieving some kind of goal that involves marketing the thing you're doing. Great video!
At Vidcon, I was lucky enough to be upgraded to the Industry Track. The creators and industry people called this "One for us, One for them" A video that pays the bills and a video that you actually want to create.
I like this video! Do more please! Why did you start making UA-cam videos? Did you have a vision for your channel when you started? I’m interested in making UA-cam videos but I feel like I need to have a strong vision in order to do it. Or do it successfully I guess. Did you ever think this?
I would love to see a video essay from you concerning TikTok small businesses, especially ones that sell cosmetics stuff. For example, I found an account that sold a lip gloss, in a bundle for a total cost of 12$. With a quick google search I found one of the items from the bundle being sold for 0,86€ which is a ridiculous amount. But, who tests this cosmetics? How can a teenager end up selling these? Why not buy them directly from other more established websites? Another example, is of creators uploading videos of them receiving their packaging (I'm mostly talking about cosmetic stuff again, like tubes for lipglosses) and washing them with little to no effort. Putting them in a bucket with soap, "lathering" them, all while filming. I am sure since they lack the proper equipment that these tubes never get properly cleaned, like they would from a certified professional. Adding to this, they use these tubes to sell homemade lip gloss. Is this safe? What about preservatives used in cosmetics to keep them safe and fresh? I would really like to see your point of view on this.
I see what you mean about burnout. My 4 most successful videos are the ones that took the longest, by a long shot. My most viewed video took 3 months to just get the footage, and another 3 or 4 days of editing. A quick look at my channel would make it obvious why that's the case. It's hard not to compare yourself to other youtubers who blow up running around walmart making fart noises and bring in $60k on an average month. Stuff like that just wouldn't be me, and that would be obvious if I tried to copy that style of content. It wouldn't be congruent with my actual interests and/or personality. UA-cam is a weird game, but actually starting to earn money moved me past the burnout stage into the growth/enjoyment phase. Things could be much better, but they could be a hell of a lot worse.
Honestly, I was never suggested this video. I enjoy your videos and I'll admit I don't have the bell clicked on, because quite honestly I have so many people I'm subscribed to that I'd be bombarded with notifications every day if I had the bell selected for every single one of of my subscriptions. I think when you have talk about other youtubers, they're usually youbtubers who I'm also familiar with, with the exception of a few. So I feel like your longer form I only hear about because they're recommended to me. Basically it's 4am and I was scrolling through my subscriptions looking for something to listen to and I saw your name and went 'huh I wonder what she's up to" and saw this video. It'd be nice if my home screen with subscriptions was a little more focused on my subscriptions and new content versus recommended videos of non subscriptions first.
the way I've subbed and with the bell and I didn't see this vid ahahaha v good job youtube. only saw this after watching your recent vid and this one opped up on recommended just now
Really appreciate all your work these past few years I've been subbed - and it's good to do what YOU want to do rather that what the algorithm dictates. I would rather have 100 subs that actually follow me for me, than a million who don't watch my latest video because it's not what they expected. And THAT'S longevity right there. Not everybody can be multi-talented, but we ARE all multi-faceted. And there shouldn't be penalties for showcasing that. 🤷🏻 but we're too busy feeding the algorithm content we think it wants, while the algorithm thinks samey content is successful - it's the snake that eats it's own tail.
*Sometimes I check how many views some videos of mine get. And the algorithm can be a pretty dark place depending on videos that don't blow up as much.*
My only questions are psych stuff more for thinking more clearly about my life, especially about choices I've made in recent years. But I prefer your less popular videos so far, so interesting to my curiosity. Thanks.
As a small creator who wants to do a variety of content in the travel/language/culture niche this is so relatable. Most viewers want stuff about India, but I want to do stuff about China and other cultures sometimes that don't perform as well
I really enjoy your’e content and I 100% belive what you are talking about I started my channel a couple months ago talking about Star Wars and more work on the way but my problem is that Disney Star Wars is almost on a kind of decline because The Last Jedi and other more reasons and there are Star Wars channels with millions of Subs or almost a million subs. So I really need to change up or do something different that others don’t do. But im going to continue to work hard even if I don’t get the views or Subs.
This is an interesting perspective. I don't have a big channel, but I've noticed a similar pattern. My build series and time-lapses have a lot more views than any of my vlog videos. Many of them have the same tags, if not similar titles, so the underperformance seems odd. Of course, it's disappointing that the videos I put the most work into seem to reach the fewest people. Oh, algorithm.
I've noticed over the past 3 years or so a lot of the mid-size edu-Tuber's in my feed haven't done as well. Mostly it seems that all edu-Tuber views are down, but there are some channels like Veritasium, Smarter Every Day and VSauce that have such a head start that they seem on stable ground. Other channels like The Brain Scoop and Braincraft don't seem to pull in the views that they did at the start of their lifespans. I think part of the problem is that if you have a specialization, there's only so much you can do versus a generalist channel. It's like the old documentaries; if you go back to the heyday of PBS specials, Life on Earth or Cosmos would run for a short period of time and make an impact, but you couldn't sustain that indefinitely. Eventually the audience has seen all of the footage they can of cheetah chasing down an antelope and they move on. The nearest equivalent of a generalist TV channel that ran for a long time was Discovery Channel Canada's "Daily Planet", but that type of work requires massive amounts of manpower, which the average single person YT channel can't sustain for long. As a viewer I'm happy when I see my channels do different things. Because algorithms make machines of us all. If you use platforms blindly, they rope you into doing predictable things at predictable times.
creating separate channels for different topics and styles is also an option, does not take extra effort as far as i am concerned, just have to switch to the appropriate channel before uploading. pretty easy since both can be connected to one account and swapped between at any time. i currently have five channels but you would not know what my four other channels are, though the option is open to share it if you want to pitch any of them to your subscribers so they can make a choice what they want to watch. its no problem for the creator, and subscribers get exactly the content they subscribed for. of course, this mostly caters to people who insist on only watching one kind of content, not everyone prefers that, but the option for these people to subscribe to all the channels they are interested in is still there, instead of just one
I don’t know if you’re gonna see this but I’d like to know what your workflow looks like. Right from recording and editing so that you can be on time with uploads
I think a lot of it is honestly common sense. But there's also the aspect of not wanting to exclusively create FOR the audience. I think you have to want to create for yourself as well... As for me I cover movies, that's my topic. So that includes movie reviews and video essays and that sort of thing... Now, I KNOW that reaction videos to trailers and stuff DO well. I've seen small channels like myself within the same niche with their most viewed video being a reaction video to a trailer. That's actually really common. You'll see a hundred movie reviews with 30 views but then a reaction video with like 4.7K views.. So logically, I should probably get in on that. But.... I don't want to...? I guess the question is should I? If I think it will help me channel, I guess that's only going to be a good thing. But I always feel like those videos are so lazy. I'm not a fan of them myself, and I'm not particularly interested in participating either. How do you view this type of thing Donna?
people subscribe to a person, so the more they feel like they know you and like you, the more they show up. i feel like idk you very well, but I watch your videos because the topics are interesting. however would love more videos more about you as a creator! that’s just my take.
I like your theory of balancing the content you like with that which your subs like. Apologies if you answered this elsewhere but...would it be better to have separate channels for all the different types of content. Would that keep views higher on all the content.
I think most of the inconsistency can be attributed to the UA-cam demographic, most of whom are tweens or younger... Dawson, Marbles, Filthy Frank, Dobrik, etc. get more views because they interest the target audience. When you're more cerebral and insightful, most kids are not interested. I don't think the 'algorithm' is as abstract as folks make it out to be: Either a bunch of high-schoolers find your content relevant and monetize you, or they don't. It's the Millennial/post-Millenial MTV ... as far as all the monetized content goes. I like watching you because you're actually thoughtful and insightful about stuff which really isn't, this bizarre menagerie of celebrity shit-posters; it's pretty interesting! You're like Jane Goodall amongst chimps, except chimps can't help but be chimps.
When I'm discovering new creators, I'll watch a video recommended to me by UA-cam if it sounds interesting. If I like the video/creator, I'll probably end up watching other videos by them that catch my interest. I'll check out their page and if enough of their content is something I'd be interested in, I'll subscribe. For channels I see myself watching most of their new uploads I'll put the bell on too. The problem becomes how many subscriptions I have...I can't watch every new video by every creator I like because I just don't have enough time in a day. So some videos, maybe even ones I'd find interesting slip through the cracks.
The algorithm is the Watch Time. Having subscribers/fans helps a bit to keep Watch Time at good numbers. If you have a boring intro in the video with mind blowing content in the end then it is most likely "not" to have good Watch time unless a user points it out in the comments.
Maybe we shouldn't care about the algorithm. The beauty with UA-cam, is that we can create anything you want. But then again you have to think about monetising your stuff. Keep it up Donna
I always try to be early and give algorithm comments for my favored youtube channels. It sucks because a large part of my subscriptions upload on a Western timeline/basis. I also hate thinking about it, but it's possible that your channel will just one day be gone, anf the quality will be but a bittersweet memory of good youtube content.
This is just from reading the title: some of your videos don’t appeal to me, some are compelling and some don’t peak my interest. I almost exclusively watch what’s on my subscription list so I don’t think it’s 100% the algorithm, it’s genuinely how interested I am in the video topic
I tend to watch all of the videos uploaded on 'Psych IRL' because both the content seems interesting and Donna doesn't upload that often for me to be bombarded with her content.
i have the same problem, not that i was getting many with 3500 subs, but i stopped getting recommended and now i'm really wondering if it's worth all the effort i put into editing.
When one follows a formula for success everything is driven by the bottom line of money. Yes, some success will be achieved just like the way boy bands are put together and packaged and marketed to teenage girls. But bands that have the power of standing the test of time throw all that out the window and follow their heart creatively. They don't care about catering to a mass appeal. The bands that do worry about the formula are considered sell outs and they fade quickly over time. I notice that most youtubers get into a niche and they become one dimensional. They try to replicate their success with videos that work over and over again. It becomes stale and boring and they become short sighted, always looking to pump the numbers at the expense of doing anything out of the box or interesting.
Hahah you DO have die hard subscribers! It’s true that some of your videos interest me more than others. lol the ones I’m less interested in sort of become videos I’m watching in the background. lol
Hey Psyche! I want to be a creator, I just watched your video on inconsistent views, & I wanted to see if you're still in touch with those creator groups?
If this blows up and gets a million views that would be hilarious
I hope it does
😂 then my theory is out the door
Hahahahahahhaha
@@trtrhr nah I'd rather have a hundred thousand subscribers and over a million views on each video I post than a million subscribers and get only a hundred thousand views.
@@DonnaIRL looks like the theory holds up. Don't know if that's a good thing or not; feels like a catch 22 situation
UA-cams always trying to disparage drama (like with their new repetitive content policy and demonitization) and they claim its "a bad look for the platform" (based on what Tati said they told her). Yet their very own algorithm is the one rewarding and pushing drama/influencer related stuff and ignoring original content. Thats toxic, change my mind.
I agree, at the end of the day, youtube just wants money and will exploit and manipulate people just for cash
Your correct imo. A mess.
I actually like the variety of your channel. When a creator uploads too much of the exact same kind of content, I get bored with it. I also think it’s annoying when the algorithm recommends me too much of the same content because of that one video I watched.
Thanks Kayla :)
I’m not a content creator nor plan to be but I just find this stuff interesting
Glad you do Cara
This came at the perfect time for me! I’ve been feeling really trapped in terms of topics for all the reasons you mentioned here, and I am coming to terms with just accepting that I will get lower views when I go outside the topics my core audience wants me to cover and that’s ok. I have to play the long game. Thanks for making this!
Unless you have a huge team, I think it’s almost impossible to talk about one thing for a long period of time. Thanks for watching Finn
Hey Finn AND Donna, I'm a big fan of you both actually haha. I think it's alright to mix up on topics from time to time otherwise like in this video - it's only going to screw with the longevity. I guess it's a constant battle between a great video performance RIGHT NOW, and a great CHANNEL performance overall. I think that's what the key difference is and the reason creators should find that balance between sticking to what they know will do well as well as regularly producing content that they themselves are interested in - because I think an audience can tell when the passion is there too. You want to come off as passionate and I think that sort of rubs off on the viewer and makes them more interested even in a topic they might not care as much about.. I've gotten that from The Punk Rock MBA channel for sure where it's about a band I'm not really familiar with but still I find it interesting because you clearly know what you're talking about and are really informative and entertaining. So yeah... I dunno think about that I guess. But then again look at me, the guy with 500 subs after however many years trying to give "advice" to you guys 😂
Broo I love ur videos!!!!!
It’s extremely obvious why? The videos that get the most views are the “tea”/commentary/overviews of other influencers, public figures etc. that’s about how it is with every channel...
I remember when my goal of the channel was to make videos about pet care..but my fish videos became popular. So ultimately, the algorithm pushed me to be a betta fish channel. Any video outside the niche does not perform well....but I have come to accept it and try to make my audience happy while still doing content I want once in a while.
I have also had to learn not to care about views. It’s hard- especially when the subscriber count doesn’t match the number of views. Thank you for this honest video.
Personally haven’t seen your videos in my subscriptions for a long time for some reason. Time to binge the ones I’ve missed to make up for it
Press the bell?
Weird
Same here
That is actually exactly what I'm doing right now!! I'm currently on my 5th video today. 😁
UA-cam likes “predictable” series-like videos that people prefer not to miss, like, lets say, ERB or even Casey’s vlog. When you introduce variety to your channel, there is a good chance lots of people wont watch it (unfortunately). It is also super hard to predict what your audience really wants - more of a same type or something new every week (taking my channel as example).
Lots of people ask me to review tech i am not interested in, but lets say I do - does that automatically translate to more views? There is a tradeoff here since i cant make every video that my audience can possibly enjoy (without lets say a studio or outsourcing). So I end up making what I think most people expect from my channel. (With very few experimental videos once per few months)
@@trtrhr EPIC RAP BATTLES (of history). thanks for comment :)
A Turtle approves this video.
I hate turtle 🐢
I’m joking lol
I hate turtle and I'm not joking
A Turtle you're everywhere today lol
Pog
I'm so excited to get back into vlogging (I'm promising myself it'll be in the New Year hopefully when I can actually leave the house and stuff). Your videos are so insightful. Although I have a channel and I definitely suffer the same fate of the algorithm, it's a completely different ball game to when I was vlogging. Keep up the good work! You're doing amazing sweetie x.
@@trtrhr I probably didn't explain it well in my comment but I know my channel isn't exactly "small" but I was actually referring to my second channel which was my vlogging channel that I haven't used in about 2 years, it has 2-3k subscribers . I was pretty much saying gaining subs/views consistently on a vlogging channel requires different skills to what my current channel does (I have the benefit of being able to use artists names in my video titles which the youtube algorithm tends to love and it helps me)
There are a few choice youtubers who are immensely popular and their viewers will click on whatever they post, and you can tell by the viewer count this is the case. They do this because they sub for the person and not necessarily the subject matter, or they did sub for the subject matter but were so taken with the personality that they stuck around and will click on every video just to support them and because they like their personality and general content. But that is the exception to the rule and not the rule. For most youtubers, what you described in this video is the reality of what they deal with. I can't imagine what that does to the psyche (no pun intended) when it's so easy to tie your worth to your amount of views and subs.
I watch pretty much all your videos on my other account, even if the topic at hand isn't something I know about because I am usually pretty interested in your take and thoughts on the subject!
Thanks for being transparent about this.
I feel like UA-cam is no longer too interested in smaller creators as there are so many and it's SO hard to break through
Donna I've been subscribed to your channel for a while and I tend to watch your less popular videos over your popular ones. (I don't have a particular interest in most of the UA-camrs in your popular videos). I want to let you know that I really appreciate the fact that you continue to upload these kinds of videos!
Thanks for your honesty / transparency , this was my first watched video on your channel. I pushed the subscribe button thou and is looking forward to more videos
Great video. 4:25 - It also fails because it doesn't take into account that the audience will keep aging up and niches chance. For example, I started a let's play gaming channel in 2012. My audience was 12-35 year olds. 10 ten years later, Google Trends shows Let's Plays are no longer popular. And now, , now they are 22-44 years old. They aren't going to want to watch the same thing. Then, the creator needs to pivot to the interest of the creator and the audience. For that reason, I am now pivoting to blockchain gaming so that I can incorporate crypto and technology into my videos.
This is really great advice, thank you for uploading! I definitely agree that there needs to be a balance between what us creators want and what viewers want, it's hard sometimes not to get caught up in all of the numbers but it really does suck the joy out of it.
I subscribed more so do to the fact that you maintain your creative integrity while being genuine and not putting up a facade, I really respect that!
The algorithm is the claw and we are all the LGMs from Toy Story...
@@trtrhr yeah the little green men from toy story. Love those little guys 😊
I came for a quick, fun little anecdote, but ended up with valuable life advice for content creators. This channel is a treasure and must be protected at all costs.
Really great video! I think many people don't appreciate how much the active viewers on any particular video may not even align w/ subscribers. E.g., i think if most creators looked up % of watch time from subscribers vs non-subscribers, they'd have *way* more watch time from non-subscribers.
So, if that pattern holds, that means that not only can subscribers not necessarily be assumed to watch every video (exactly as you described), but that even if a video has a lot of views, there is no guarantee that it got those videos *from* the channel's existing subscriber base.
I know many people complain about UA-cam recommendations on home page, etc., but for me, I have definitely found it's really good at providing the content I will actually watch *even for channels I would not want to subscribe to*. So, there are some channels I watch more regularly (even though I am not subscribed) than the channels I'm subscribed to.
I think this can change viewer behavior. Since I find home page recommendations to be so spot on to me, I am usually less likely to go to the subscription page (although I do try to browse that at least once each day.) So, when people say things like, "Your videos haven't appeared in my subscriptions feed," I always wonder if those people are *actually* checking the subscriptions feed or confusing with the home page or notifications bell (which both serve different purposes to the subscriptions feed and do *not* necessarily show 100% of content from one's subscribed channels.)
I'm envious. My journey is starting soon. Started Twitch a few months back. Keep meaning to start youtube, but keep putting it off lol. My niche is software development. Trying to figure out a way to make it entertaining for the general audience. Social experiments with a.i possibly... -anyways hope your still enjoying it!.
great point, i followed you awhile back but didn't see anything until just now because you posted your frenemies video. I've been watching frenemies for a few weeks now so obv the youtube algo rhythm is working like a charm
Very helpful!
love your vids
I love your analysis on UA-cam. What you said really struck me as to why my UA-cam isn't growing as much.... But then I feel like I am stuck as well in going into a niche.
Honestly Donna, the algorithm does you no favours. I'm subscribed but the only video I've actually been recommended of yours for the past couple months is the most recent one about frenemies. I'm just now going back to watch the others 😂
This was very informative! I'm hoping on making a new channel soon and this has given me good insight into how I can build it and grow it. Definitely going to refer back to this video and your content in the future. Love the channel and keep up the good work!
Smashed it!
And I liked the video as well.
I think it's smart that you create a video every once in a while you really feel like making. I've got two channels. One in English about comic books and one in Dutch about comics and whatever I feel talking about. I think the latter videos are a chance to show a bit more about yourself, getting more personal. And subscribers seem to like to get to know the youtuber in that way. At least that's my take. Anyway, take care. Thanks for the insights.
I wanted to be a youtuber since like 2008. I feel like I grew up on UA-cam. I finally started uploading vlog type videos the last few months after filming myself doing random things all the time (literally playing pretend youtuber for years).
I’ve been thinking about other channels and how structured they are, I’m jealous of it but I also like my chaotic “string of thoughts” style.
I just make what I want. Edit myself, upload. That was the original intent of UA-cam, broadcast yourself.
And regardless of it anyone ever watches, I’ll have a catalogue of memories for when I’m old and senile.
facts it is a real struggle to branch out once people have subscribed to you for one type of content, not only do your subscribers punish you by not watching your new content but the algorithm helps them by suppressing your new content into oblivion.
Important bit of info worth noting is that CTR and Watch Time from Subscribers is an entirely separate category in the algorithm than CTR and Watch Time from non-subscribers.
For the most part, if a video performs well among subscribers it tells the algorithm to send it to more subscribers and vice versa. This essentially applies to every categorical breakdown of viewer types.
Love the openness btw
Makes sense. Do yours correlate? I often find that if a video does well with subs, its likely to be recommended. Obviously this could also just be because the video is better overall, so it does well in both categories of the algorithm.
@@DonnaIRL typically it does yeah, I do think that you still get the overall algorithmic boost when it does well from subs but it's important to keep in mind that it doesn't mean a death sentence just because it originally failed
i just watched your frenemies video, realized you have some good introspective and decided to check your channel. i realized i have watched some of your vids, then i accidentaly noticed the title of this video, and noticed that the videos ive watched are the ones with the most views. im about to watch the rest of em.
I treat the people I subscribe to like a book. If it catches my attention in the first 50 pages. If not I stop reading. As far as UA-camrs I give it a few minutes.
I do however have certain UA-camrs I watch no matter what.
I'm glad I found someone who said it. It's a very painful that every content creator has to face at some point. Once you start doing something that UA-cam likes and build an audience from it. That's all both group expect for the rest of the channel's lifetime. I can admit that, yea, my videos don't necessarily have a consistent pattern to them. That's because talking about and making videos on the same subject for weeks to months to possible years. Gets tiring. Then the need to spice it comes to play, but neither parties of UA-cam and Audience really want that. Which can be disheartening. Though I agree with what you said that solely looking for views from videos made doesn't lead to anywhere good or fun.
I'm one of those die-hard fans. I think you're such an interesting person that I'll watch any video you think is worth uploading. Best, Lore
Wow Psych I literally never subscribed to you? But here I am looking at the "Subscribed" greyed out button as if I did, I'm going through this exact issue of changing up my content completely cause I've losted interest with what I used to be doing. The view counts are depressing, but I feel like the content I make can be successful in the area's I have interests In now. It's just a LARGE uphill battle I don't think my mental health can handle right-now.
i haven’t seen your videos on my home page, or even in the subscription box sometimes- it’s only when i actually LOOK for one your videos is when i get to see them. so weird
Well that sucks
Your videos on hot button creator's always hit my recommended tab and I've always meant to hit that subscribe button (just did). Other videos haven't been pushed to me in the past. FWIW you popped in my head today after watching a Scotty Sire video where per usual he was lamenting on his subscriber count yo yo-ing. I thought there'd be a chance it was something you'd deep dive on
Thank you, Donna, for the explanation on your variety. I, personally don't like, nor care about the long-form exposition of UA-cam personalities. "Why should I care about them?" is something that comes to my mind.
Fine line between niche and growing out of your content. Did y’all know it’s impossible to breathe while smiling??
Kidding just wanted y’all to smile. Hope you have a phenomenal day. Friendly reminder for y’all to check your bank account on your bank’s mobile app on a daily basis. More often you check the less likely you are to overspend. Pocket watch yourself 😅
Lol you got me with the smiling thing! Like I know that's not true but I did it before thinking 😂. Also I can't help but smile when I read or hear the word smile lmao idk why
Eye opening. Thanks for this.
Daaamn I never realized how wack the views are between different videos. Don't think I ever seen a consistent up and down like that. Algorithm be wack. I LOVE all your videos though. The quality has been insane lately keep it up!
This is really wholesome and nice, also insightful and helpful with knowledge I think that could be applied to how to approach achieving some kind of goal that involves marketing the thing you're doing. Great video!
At Vidcon, I was lucky enough to be upgraded to the Industry Track. The creators and industry people called this "One for us, One for them"
A video that pays the bills and a video that you actually want to create.
Agreed. I’m working on 2 for them 1 for me, currently lol
I like this video! Do more please! Why did you start making UA-cam videos? Did you have a vision for your channel when you started? I’m interested in making UA-cam videos but I feel like I need to have a strong vision in order to do it. Or do it successfully I guess. Did you ever think this?
I would love to see a video essay from you concerning TikTok small businesses, especially ones that sell cosmetics stuff. For example, I found an account that sold a lip gloss, in a bundle for a total cost of 12$. With a quick google search I found one of the items from the bundle being sold for 0,86€ which is a ridiculous amount. But, who tests this cosmetics? How can a teenager end up selling these? Why not buy them directly from other more established websites?
Another example, is of creators uploading videos of them receiving their packaging (I'm mostly talking about cosmetic stuff again, like tubes for lipglosses) and washing them with little to no effort. Putting them in a bucket with soap, "lathering" them, all while filming. I am sure since they lack the proper equipment that these tubes never get properly cleaned, like they would from a certified professional. Adding to this, they use these tubes to sell homemade lip gloss. Is this safe? What about preservatives used in cosmetics to keep them safe and fresh?
I would really like to see your point of view on this.
I feel personally attacked by this video, Donna. Haha! Kidding. But also, painfully accurate.
I feel attacked by my own video
The algorithm is a bitch! I watch every one of your uploads
I see what you mean about burnout. My 4 most successful videos are the ones that took the longest, by a long shot. My most viewed video took 3 months to just get the footage, and another 3 or 4 days of editing. A quick look at my channel would make it obvious why that's the case.
It's hard not to compare yourself to other youtubers who blow up running around walmart making fart noises and bring in $60k on an average month. Stuff like that just wouldn't be me, and that would be obvious if I tried to copy that style of content. It wouldn't be congruent with my actual interests and/or personality.
UA-cam is a weird game, but actually starting to earn money moved me past the burnout stage into the growth/enjoyment phase. Things could be much better, but they could be a hell of a lot worse.
Honestly, I was never suggested this video. I enjoy your videos and I'll admit I don't have the bell clicked on, because quite honestly I have so many people I'm subscribed to that I'd be bombarded with notifications every day if I had the bell selected for every single one of of my subscriptions. I think when you have talk about other youtubers, they're usually youbtubers who I'm also familiar with, with the exception of a few. So I feel like your longer form I only hear about because they're recommended to me. Basically it's 4am and I was scrolling through my subscriptions looking for something to listen to and I saw your name and went 'huh I wonder what she's up to" and saw this video. It'd be nice if my home screen with subscriptions was a little more focused on my subscriptions and new content versus recommended videos of non subscriptions first.
the way I've subbed and with the bell and I didn't see this vid ahahaha v good job youtube. only saw this after watching your recent vid and this one opped up on recommended just now
Great video, thanks for your perspective on this.
Really appreciate all your work these past few years I've been subbed - and it's good to do what YOU want to do rather that what the algorithm dictates. I would rather have 100 subs that actually follow me for me, than a million who don't watch my latest video because it's not what they expected. And THAT'S longevity right there.
Not everybody can be multi-talented, but we ARE all multi-faceted. And there shouldn't be penalties for showcasing that. 🤷🏻 but we're too busy feeding the algorithm content we think it wants, while the algorithm thinks samey content is successful - it's the snake that eats it's own tail.
*Sometimes I check how many views some videos of mine get. And the algorithm can be a pretty dark place depending on videos that don't blow up as much.*
My only questions are psych stuff more for thinking more clearly about my life, especially about choices I've made in recent years.
But I prefer your less popular videos so far, so interesting to my curiosity. Thanks.
Hi Donna. You are the only UA-camr I watch I would be willing to donate to.
As a small creator who wants to do a variety of content in the travel/language/culture niche this is so relatable. Most viewers want stuff about India, but I want to do stuff about China and other cultures sometimes that don't perform as well
I really enjoy your’e content and I 100% belive what you are talking about
I started my channel a couple months ago talking about Star Wars and more work on the way but my problem is that Disney Star Wars is almost on a kind of decline because The Last Jedi and other more reasons and there are Star Wars channels with millions of Subs or almost a million subs. So I really need to change up or do something different that others don’t do. But im going to continue to work hard even if I don’t get the views or Subs.
This is an interesting perspective. I don't have a big channel, but I've noticed a similar pattern. My build series and time-lapses have a lot more views than any of my vlog videos. Many of them have the same tags, if not similar titles, so the underperformance seems odd. Of course, it's disappointing that the videos I put the most work into seem to reach the fewest people. Oh, algorithm.
I prefer these videos of you just talking about your own experiences instead of analyzing, they feel more real.
I've noticed over the past 3 years or so a lot of the mid-size edu-Tuber's in my feed haven't done as well. Mostly it seems that all edu-Tuber views are down, but there are some channels like Veritasium, Smarter Every Day and VSauce that have such a head start that they seem on stable ground. Other channels like The Brain Scoop and Braincraft don't seem to pull in the views that they did at the start of their lifespans.
I think part of the problem is that if you have a specialization, there's only so much you can do versus a generalist channel. It's like the old documentaries; if you go back to the heyday of PBS specials, Life on Earth or Cosmos would run for a short period of time and make an impact, but you couldn't sustain that indefinitely. Eventually the audience has seen all of the footage they can of cheetah chasing down an antelope and they move on. The nearest equivalent of a generalist TV channel that ran for a long time was Discovery Channel Canada's "Daily Planet", but that type of work requires massive amounts of manpower, which the average single person YT channel can't sustain for long.
As a viewer I'm happy when I see my channels do different things. Because algorithms make machines of us all. If you use platforms blindly, they rope you into doing predictable things at predictable times.
creating separate channels for different topics and styles is also an option, does not take extra effort as far as i am concerned, just have to switch to the appropriate channel before uploading. pretty easy since both can be connected to one account and swapped between at any time. i currently have five channels but you would not know what my four other channels are, though the option is open to share it if you want to pitch any of them to your subscribers so they can make a choice what they want to watch. its no problem for the creator, and subscribers get exactly the content they subscribed for. of course, this mostly caters to people who insist on only watching one kind of content, not everyone prefers that, but the option for these people to subscribe to all the channels they are interested in is still there, instead of just one
I don’t know if you’re gonna see this but I’d like to know what your workflow looks like.
Right from recording and editing so that you can be on time with uploads
I am so happy that i found your channel
Im not a creator/an aspiring creator, but this seemed like interesting video so I watched it anyway. I definitely wasnt disappointed lol
Funnily enough, this video got recommended to me, even though it's clearly not doing well, compared to your other videos.
Omg, I am one of your "cohort of peers". I feel so distinguished. So honored. lol, love ya Donna!
I think a lot of it is honestly common sense. But there's also the aspect of not wanting to exclusively create FOR the audience. I think you have to want to create for yourself as well... As for me I cover movies, that's my topic. So that includes movie reviews and video essays and that sort of thing... Now, I KNOW that reaction videos to trailers and stuff DO well. I've seen small channels like myself within the same niche with their most viewed video being a reaction video to a trailer. That's actually really common. You'll see a hundred movie reviews with 30 views but then a reaction video with like 4.7K views.. So logically, I should probably get in on that.
But.... I don't want to...?
I guess the question is should I? If I think it will help me channel, I guess that's only going to be a good thing. But I always feel like those videos are so lazy. I'm not a fan of them myself, and I'm not particularly interested in participating either. How do you view this type of thing Donna?
Your videos on youtubers obviously brings their fanbase here. What counts is the ones that don't leave.
You deserve all the views.
All of them.
Thank you for this!
people subscribe to a person, so the more they feel like they know you and like you, the more they show up. i feel like idk you very well, but I watch your videos because the topics are interesting. however would love more videos more about you as a creator! that’s just my take.
That’s true. I’m more topic based rather than personality based. I think both come with their pros and cons
I like your theory of balancing the content you like with that which your subs like. Apologies if you answered this elsewhere but...would it be better to have separate channels for all the different types of content. Would that keep views higher on all the content.
I think most of the inconsistency can be attributed to the UA-cam demographic, most of whom are tweens or younger... Dawson, Marbles, Filthy Frank, Dobrik, etc. get more views because they interest the target audience. When you're more cerebral and insightful, most kids are not interested. I don't think the 'algorithm' is as abstract as folks make it out to be: Either a bunch of high-schoolers find your content relevant and monetize you, or they don't. It's the Millennial/post-Millenial MTV ... as far as all the monetized content goes. I like watching you because you're actually thoughtful and insightful about stuff which really isn't, this bizarre menagerie of celebrity shit-posters; it's pretty interesting! You're like Jane Goodall amongst chimps, except chimps can't help but be chimps.
When I'm discovering new creators, I'll watch a video recommended to me by UA-cam if it sounds interesting. If I like the video/creator, I'll probably end up watching other videos by them that catch my interest. I'll check out their page and if enough of their content is something I'd be interested in, I'll subscribe. For channels I see myself watching most of their new uploads I'll put the bell on too. The problem becomes how many subscriptions I have...I can't watch every new video by every creator I like because I just don't have enough time in a day. So some videos, maybe even ones I'd find interesting slip through the cracks.
The algorithm is the Watch Time. Having subscribers/fans helps a bit to keep Watch Time at good numbers. If you have a boring intro in the video with mind blowing content in the end then it is most likely "not" to have good Watch time unless a user points it out in the comments.
Maybe we shouldn't care about the algorithm. The beauty with UA-cam, is that we can create anything you want. But then again you have to think about monetising your stuff. Keep it up Donna
I prefer the variety in content rather the same content all the time. I hate that the algorithm forces people into a niche.
I always try to be early and give algorithm comments for my favored youtube channels. It sucks because a large part of my subscriptions upload on a Western timeline/basis.
I also hate thinking about it, but it's possible that your channel will just one day be gone, anf the quality will be but a bittersweet memory of good youtube content.
You the real MVP
I don't know, they're all amazing as far as I've seen.
This is just from reading the title: some of your videos don’t appeal to me, some are compelling and some don’t peak my interest. I almost exclusively watch what’s on my subscription list so I don’t think it’s 100% the algorithm, it’s genuinely how interested I am in the video topic
weird how this is the first video recommended to me from you in a while
I tend to watch all of the videos uploaded on 'Psych IRL' because both the content seems interesting and Donna doesn't upload that often for me to be bombarded with her content.
Yes ❤️
damn i havent seen ur videos in years i had to loook u up
I'd love to hear your opinion on virality and the effect it has on youtubers whether they are ready for it or not
i have the same problem, not that i was getting many with 3500 subs, but i stopped getting recommended and now i'm really wondering if it's worth all the effort i put into editing.
oh look it's me! 😅 the video i recorded today kinda ties into this a little (it's only going up on sunday though)
I’m interested in most of your videos 🤷🏻♀️
All hail the algorithm gods. Hopefully this gives you a lil’ boost!
You remind me of Ellie Chu from The Half of It ! 💚
When one follows a formula for success everything is driven by the bottom line of money. Yes, some success will be achieved just like the way boy bands are put together and packaged and marketed to teenage girls. But bands that have the power of standing the test of time throw all that out the window and follow their heart creatively. They don't care about catering to a mass appeal. The bands that do worry about the formula are considered sell outs and they fade quickly over time. I notice that most youtubers get into a niche and they become one dimensional. They try to replicate their success with videos that work over and over again. It becomes stale and boring and they become short sighted, always looking to pump the numbers at the expense of doing anything out of the box or interesting.
Agreed with everything you just said
I’m a casual last video I remember was the one on E boys.
rhetorical or real question? I think diverse eclectic content is hit or miss, same in life. Generalist or specialist? (lots to ponder)
Hahah you DO have die hard subscribers! It’s true that some of your videos interest me more than others. lol the ones I’m less interested in sort of become videos I’m watching in the background. lol
I was looking at your videos and was wondering that too xD
Would you ever stream on twitch?
Hey Psyche! I want to be a creator, I just watched your video on inconsistent views, & I wanted to see if you're still in touch with those creator groups?
And then you have people like me, who comes for these videos!
All hail the algorithm? No, all hail tHE GLOW CLOUD.