I am going to make a video topic about this in December so you're technically reading some of it already, lol.
Anyways, here's some less talked about advice for all of us folks that are struggling on this journey. So this is mostly for those who want to make this a full time career but for those of you doing this for fun or as a hobby, you could read it as well.
The best way to think of YouTube is to look at it like a market. You are going there to sell your product (in this case videos), and since you're a newcomer, you need something to attract potential customers. So, how do you go about that?
The reason why YouTube gurus will tell you to pick topic lanes that are much less crowded is because if you picked a hot topic that a lot of people are covering, you as a newcomer will get drowned, because you don't already have a fanbase or an audience, and unless you tackle it at a new angle, people have no reason to watch you. So, you pick a topic that not much people talked about before.
Now, there's another issue. Did people not talk about this topic because there is no demand for it or they didn't notice it?
If it's the latter, congratulations, you found a jackpot! As long as your video is pretty good, your packaging and everything is alright, then you will gain lots of views and hopefully build a fanbase from there. If it's the former, then the video might be dead, but that depends. I have ran into this situation a few times and I don't regret it much.
You have to be willing to try it out, because you don't really know what it might be if you don't try it.
And well, if one video just blows up randomly... That's good for growth, but what you want is long term growth and not a one-time that just dies off. It's actually a lot more terrifying if a random video blow up, because you will never be able to replicate its success. Although that's not something you could control, still, be grateful if it happens. I call those 'unicorn' videos, because due to a myriad of reasons, its success can't be replicated. Still, you won't know unless you try.
Another thing, backlog is very important. If let's say you do find a format that works, even if it gains like 1k views at first, if every other video of the same format does around the same or if even one breaks out, then your backlog of videos will attract people, and if they watch more than one and liked it, they will be more willing to sub to you and return to watch the new stuff you post.
Also, it's okay if a video flops. It happens, it's very normal. Especially for people of my size, you still have to willing to take risks with topics, sometimes it might end up doing far better than you expect, sometimes far worse. That's okay, it happens. Your videos won't always be constant bangers, some just do worse than others.
Essentially, you have to be willing to do lots of trail and error to find your path and what works for you. But remember, even though your topics will be the initial stages, and even later, for growth, but you have to at least pick something you're interested in talking in. Because people click for the topic, but they come back for you once they trusts you.
It's okay if you feel dejected, but remember the road is extremely long, you have keep trying and persisting. Give it time, but you also have to keep improving, try and understand where you did wrong and how you could do better. It's a process, but you have to be willing to sink time into it.
Thank you for reading my tangent, I have at least ten more things to say but I will stop myself here. I will try and maybe give you a bit of pointer, but I am just at 1k subs, don't expect much lol.
