How I Grew My YouTube Channel by 300% Last Year?

In 2017, I gained 4,311 subscribers. In 2018, the number was 17,969. In this post, I am going to list down 5 things you can do to grow your YouTube channel like I did.

But,

1. Understand - every YouTube channel is different. This growth rate may seem too high (if your channel is even more niche-specific than mine) or too low (if your channel has a popular niche like comedy, lifestyle or entertainment).
2. The YouTube channel is IndianBooktuber - a channel where I discuss about books. I was the first person to start a Booktube channel catered to Indian audience.
3. I am sharing what worked for me. It may not work for you. I'll also share some ideas that I think will work if you're ready to implement those.
4. How to grow your YouTube channel by 300%?Consistency = exponential growth

A lot of people talk about consistency, and just like you, I barely pay attention to it. But in 2017, I did. I had hit 1000 subscribers in 2016 and I started this schedule of one video every odd day. I stuck to the schedule for a long time, gathering up 4,311 subscribers in 2017.

Next year also, I kept up with the same schedule and my subscriber rate grew exponentially. You need a streak. A long one. You need to post videos without missing your schedule.

FAQs.

How many videos should you post?

There are studies (on YouTube creator studio itself) that one video a week would let your video perform better. But then, why is every YouTuber trying to increase the upload frequency? What does that tell you?

You need to post more often. More than once a week. 2-3 videos a week is the best option, as per my opinion. I am currently doing 3 videos a week & my consistency staggers quite frequently with my full-time job responsibilities but the longer the streak, the better the numbers get.

What's exponential growth?

If you start analysing growth of YouTube channels, you'll realise how their growth is exponential. It's like if you're rich, you'll get richer but if you're poor, it's going to take a long time for you to get there.

If you're just starting out, it would be the hardest to hit 100 subscribers. Then, a little easier to hit 1,000, more easier to hit 10,000, even more easier to hit 100,000 and so on, while considering that you got no 'viral' surge throughout your growing phase.

Remember, YouTube may talk all about creators' mental well-being and avoiding burnout but that's not how the algorithm works. It awards consistency. No breaks. No sick days. If you want that kind of growth, you have to do it.

I did that very much in 2017 and then in the first half of 2018. Then, I got inconsistent. My numbers staggered. That's just how it is.

2. Commitment

Consistency comes from a solid commitment to this job. It's not just about posting a video. A video is the end of this long process which begins with research, brainstorming, production, editing, and then release.

So, if you want to do it, you'll have to eat, sleep and breathe YouTube. You can't just sit and brainstorm 100 video ideas. They won't be good enough.

You have to always know what's working, for you and for the channels similar to you. You also need to make a commitment to your audience - that you'll show up and will show them the same type of content that they came to you for.

3. SEO & Keyword Research

When I started out, nobody was doing bookish videos on YouTube in India. I had no chance of getting into the suggested videos or show up anywhere but in search results.

My background (and it's my present too) as a digital marketer helped with this. It was easy to do keyword research, build content around that, optimise the videos properly and get viewers.

31% of my YouTube growth in 2018 came from search. If you do it right, it can do wonders for you.

How important is it?

Let me tell you what I did recently. I was going through this 'phase' - I felt lost and I just felt bitter towards the limited capability of search traffic on YouTube.

I hope it's not counter-productive for you but traffic from YouTube search is much limited as compared to views you get by being suggested with popular videos that are raking in thousands of views.

I was bitter for I made the mistake to put all my focus on search traffic & never did anything else to grow my YouTube channel. I wouldn't even share my videos to social media, that's how overconfident I had gotten with 'my SEO skills.'

It could have been, it was, good but it was limited. So, out of this bitterness, I didn't fix things but messed it up further - stopped using my YouTube SEO techniques that always worked and started doing just anything - any video, any title, any tags, no optimisation in description etc. What happened?

I experienced the worst month in my channel's history. I had never seen a red in my subscriber growth, views and watch time - never ever, in 3+ years I was working on this channel. That jolted me out of the pettiness of all of it & put me back on track.

So, tell me, does that little story where I accept my foolish mistakes give you enough of a warning to not ignore SEO? Comment below!

4. Media & Collabs

This is what I wasn't doing for long, but luckily, some media publications noted this bizarre thing I was doing - video book reviews! I got featured in The Hindu, The Times of India (Chandigarh) and The Asian Age. It gave me a lot of extra visibility, especially from people who didn't even know a thing like Booktube exists.

I haven't done many collabs, due to my location as well as because there aren't many people doing Booktube, still. Wait - that's a mistake. As I have realised now, you don't need to collaborate with YouTubers from same niche. Cross-niche collaborations are actually better.

Yet, I did collaborate with a few Booktubers and also, did some author interviews. Networking at events like Zee JLF helped as well.

This brought in thousands of extra subscribers. Remember, that suggested video thing I mentioned? Collabs are a quick little tweak to get into the suggested video section for any YouTube channel. Just do a collab with that person & boom! you're there!

5. Little Hacks That Helped

I've been a 'branding freak'. I would talk of personal branding and do a lot of things to maintain a consistent brand. One of those things was having a logo on all my YouTube channels. FinixPost logo. For the uninitiated, it's my blog and everything I do on social media - I put it under the umbrella of FinixPost brand (it's changing though, as we're now Brand Manpreet ;)).

What was that logo doing on the bottom right of my every video? Seriously, nothing. I was in my YouTube videos & that was enough of branding. I was halting the growth of my channel to 'brand' myself. Brian Dean's video discussing how using that place to give a subscribe reminder is so much better. I instantly replaced the logo with a subscribe image and it has worked so well.

These are the 5 things I did to grow my YouTube channel. But wait! Here's another tip for you that really works.

Diversify

Analyse any growing channel and you'll realise how creators are diversifying their niche. Comedy Youtubers are also doing lifestyle content. Fashion YouTubers are incorporating basic lifestyle tips - finance, self improvement etc. Beauty YouTubers are getting into fashion. Fitness YouTubers are also catering to the fashion audience. Similarly, if you're in a specific niche, it would pay off to diversify.

For example, Helly. Helly is this highly talented YouTuber from India who started as a Booktuber. But she's really smart. So, she diversified and now posts a mix of bookish content and lifestyle content. Her channel growth has been huge! She has over 100,000 subscribers.

So, think of what else you like and try to mix a few other niches that interest you. You never know which video may go viral and get you your golden play button.

FAQ:

If any of my viewers are reading this, I know they'll ask - Manpreet, why don't you diversify?

It's just, in 2019, I am not focused on growth. I am focused on creative satisfaction. I have enough experiments to run at what I do for my job. It's just a personal decision to keep my Booktube channel, entirely about books. Not a professional one.

That's it. I hope these tips help you out. Do share this, if you think this was worth your time.