How posting fewer videos made MrBeast the king of YouTube.
Manikk Gupta
Creative Director @ Ascension | Storyteller | Content Strategist | Thought leadership expert
In February 2012, a 13-year-old kid named Jimmy Donaldson uploaded his first YouTube video.
His initial videos were high in quantity.
But despite this, his YouTube channel was going nowhere.
Low engagement rate.
Low views.
Low everything.
He had all the problems that all aspiring content creators face.
Fast forward to 2024, and you know him as MrBeast.
The biggest YouTuber on the planet.
What was going wrong for him back then? What did he change about his strategy?
And how content marketers can learn from his journey?
The answers to all this and more will be provided in today's edition of
Good Luck and Good Growth.
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The Genesis of Greatness:
Jimmy's journey began in 2012 when he was just 13 years old.
Like many aspiring YouTubers, (and the trend of that time),
he started with small, low-budget gaming videos under the username 'MrBeast6000.'
His content was abundant.
The school of thought that mostly marketing gurus abide says:
"Consistency and Quantity are key."
But this wasn't helping MrBeast.
The views were abysmally low.
The subscriber count was not good enough even for a portfolio.
But why wasn’t this enough?
Undoubtedly, the videos were abundant.
But, that's the only good thing I can say about those videos.
Speaking from a creative point, those videos often lacked polish.
And from a marketer's standpoint, they failed to capture sustained attention.
Despite the slow progress, he never gave up.
As a result, MrBeast's shining moment came in 2017.
A video of him counting to the number 100,000 garnered millions of views.
That was his first viral video.
This was a mundane idea.
No expert on paper would have agreed to put time and effort into this.
But MrBeast did just that.
This could have been the end of his YouTube career, like many others who become obscure after one viral video.
But, MrBeast did not stop there.
How did he translate this viral moment into a long-term success?
The Epiphany that brought the Evolution:
This viral video taught him an important lesson.
The lesson being:
Even simple ideas can go viral if they stand out.
Recognizing this, he shifted and changed gears.
Instead of prioritizing volume like his previous approach, he invested in fewer but higher-quality productions.
These included:
Videos featuring outrageous challenges like:
-- Spending 24 hours in freezing conditions
-- Being buried alive.
-- Donating millions of dollars.
He began treating his videos as cinematic projects.
And with this came high budgets.
This ranged from $10,000 to $300,000 per production.
Video with the themes of generosity and community-building were the highlights.
Videos like the #TeamTrees initiative to plant 20 million trees, deeply connected with
his audience.
This shift in strategy transformed his brand.
But how did MrBeast leverage these changes to market himself effectively and grow a loyal audience?
Marketing Mastery:
The thing that makes MrBeast stand out is his content.
It's not only watched.
It's also experienced.
His ability to captivate his audience stems from 3 marketing principles:
Every video follows a compelling narrative arc.
This invests the viewers and pulls them from start to finish.
Challenges and limited-time collaborations create a sense of urgency.
This keeps audiences glued.
Campaigns like #TeamTrees not only entertain but involve viewers in meaningful causes.
These provided success to MrBeast like no other YouTuber.
But, this wasn't enough.
What was next for MrBeast from here?
Beyond YouTube:
MrBeast leveraged his YouTube success to branch into entrepreneurship.
Ventures like MrBeast Burger and Feastables showcase his ability to
translate digital influence into real-world business success.
These projects thrived due to his innovative marketing.
A marketing which blends authenticity with creativity.
At the same time, his philanthropic ethos elevated his brand.
From donating to food banks to funding environmental causes,
MrBeast’s generosity built goodwill and strengthened his connection with fans.
But what’s the takeaway for other creators and marketers? How can his journey serve as a blueprint for lasting success?
MrBeast’s story highlights a vital lesson:
Quantity can help you learn, but quality is what builds lasting success.
Prioritizing quality allows creators to:
His journey proves that creating abundant content might jumpstart growth.
But in the long run, it’s the shift to thoughtful,
high-value work that sustains you.
So, as a creator, marketer, or entrepreneur, ask yourself:
Are you prioritizing quantity?
Or
Are you building something your audience will never forget?
I leave the answer to that to you.
PS:
If you have read this to the end, then thank you.
Do you want to captivate your audience with purpose?
Let’s connect and explore how you can create content that truly makes an impact.
Drop me a message.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and help you on your journey!
Creative Director @ Ascension | Storyteller | Content Strategist | Thought leadership expert
1 周#cfbr #connections #followers #question Are you focused on quality or quantity? What has worked for you? Let me know in the comments.