---
title: 'Why Small YouTubers Never Grow (And What to Do Instead)'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=h8OTdq24irE'
video_id: 'h8OTdq24irE'
date: 2026-08-04
duration_sec: 668
---

# Why Small YouTubers Never Grow (And What to Do Instead)

> Source: [Why Small YouTubers Never Grow (And What to Do Instead)](https://youtube.com/watch?v=h8OTdq24irE)

## Summary

The video addresses common misconceptions and bad advice that hinder the growth of small YouTube channels. The creator, with 11 years of experience, debunks myths about following passion, uploading frequency, SEO, and algorithm hacks, emphasizing the importance of learning the craft of content creation, packaging ideas effectively, and understanding the audience.

### Key Points

- **Bad advice from uninformed sources** [00:00] — Many people giving YouTube advice don't know anything about YouTube, and some use ChatGPT trained on outdated information, leading to misinformation.
- **Passion alone isn't enough** [00:42] — While following your passion is important, you must also learn how to package your content to be interesting and compelling to others. Relying solely on passion won't grow your channel.
- **Learning the craft of YouTube** [02:45] — Just like any hobby, you need to learn how to be a YouTuber. It takes time to understand what works, and you must actively improve your skills.
- **Myth: Just keep publishing videos** [03:00] — Simply uploading videos for the sake of uploading doesn't work. Instead, analyze each video's performance, learn from what didn't work, and improve.
- **Don't obsess over analytics with low views** [03:45] — With only 30 views, analytics aren't meaningful. Step back and evaluate your content objectively: Was the thumbnail clear? Was the focus right? Would you click on it?
- **Analyze other successful channels** [04:14] — If your content isn't working, study other channels in your niche that are doing well. Look at their titles, thumbnails, and content structure to learn what resonates.
- **Avoid uploading whatever you want** [05:07] — YouTube's algorithm is fine-tuned, and uploading random content confuses it. Instead, pick a niche and audience that cares about that niche, and consistently deliver content aligned with their interests.
- **Ignore myths about features** [06:04] — Don't believe claims that certain features (like live streaming or Shorts) will destroy your channel. Experiment and see what your viewers respond to.
- **SEO isn't the main driver** [07:15] — Most views come from homepage and suggested videos, not search. Focus on creating content that people are likely to respond to, and consider search as a secondary strategy.
- **Avoid algorithm hacks** [08:33] — Advice like 'click this button' or 'algorithm update' distracts from what matters: packaging ideas and making good videos. Settings and buttons don't move the needle.
- **Copy ideas, not content** [09:53] — Bring proven ideas into your niche, but don't copy other people's content directly. Learn from their success and adapt it to your audience.
- **Thumbnails as billboards** [10:07] — Think of your thumbnail like a billboard on a highway: viewers glance for a second. Keep it simple, focused, and avoid clutter. Less is usually more.

### Conclusion

To grow a small YouTube channel, focus on learning the craft of content creation, packaging ideas effectively, and understanding your audience. Avoid common myths and bad advice, and instead experiment, analyze, and improve continuously.

## Transcript

your channel's probably not gonna grow. that don't know anything about YouTube, and they're giving you advice
- Number two, people are using ChatGPT And guess what? but they're also trained on old information
but they just picked it up in a blog post somewhere. if you want to grow your YouTube channel, The first thing people are telling you that isn't true
If you live in a fairy tale, But if you live in the real world with the rest of us, when it comes to being a content creator.
You have to learn how to package them up that other people will find interesting or compelling, that the content's about something
and keep reengaging them throughout the video to just looking at thumbnails and titles, almost everybody gets that part wrong.
but if you're not going through the process of learning if you want other people to watch your videos, isn't going to be the thing that's going to carry you.
just follow your passion when it comes to YouTube, but make sure that you're not only relying on that You gotta learn how to be a YouTuber.
I'm probably not the best at thumbnails. that is the sponsor of this video called 1of10. For example, this, this, this, and this
I use them to make this thumbnail They also have additional growth tools like helping you find and a bunch of other helpful things for you as a YouTuber.
or you can click on the QR code. to grow your channel, making good content for your viewers. and if you have a small channel
that it can take a while to really start to understand Just look at all of this you're not gonna be awesome at that hobby.
You have to learn how to do it. that's gonna move the needle for you the most. that's working against you is you hear all the time
It's all you gotta do, just keep publishing videos I've been on YouTube for 11 years, that just uploads videos for the sake of uploading videos,
What you need to do instead is with every video you upload, okay, people didn't respond to this. but people are not having a positive reaction with this.
those sorts of things, they're not leaving meaning comments. And for this one, a lot of people will just jump if they've got 30 views on a video.
into YouTube analytics when you have 30 views on a video, Instead, you need to step away from the computer that I'm making these videos for,
Was the thumbnail clear? Was I focusing on the right thing? Or if this was shown to me on YouTube's homepage, And from there, go and look at other channels
and start to analyze their content if yours isn't working these other channels, they seem to be doing They seem to be writing their title in these ways.
by doing these things. to get people re-engaged again. and just hope it's gonna work out
of the results that you're getting, Sometimes it's a skill problem, meaning the content that you're making
that enough people care about for it to matter for anybody. and you have to be paying attention in trying to improve Another piece of really bad advice
is to just upload whatever you want their system is very fine tuned. and they have a very deep understanding
and they also have a very specific way and they are not topically aligned that's interested in a certain thing, then in that case,
Instead, what you wanna do is you want to think about, then I need to make sure that I'm being considerate and then aligning what they care about with what it is
for those people specifically and only those people. and because of that, So pick a niche, pick an audience that cares
about that niche and constantly give that audience content The next piece of advice that always hurts that are lying to you about YouTube features.
it's gonna destroy your channel if you live stream on your YouTube channel, Instead, experiment on your channel.
see what you enjoy making the most. that you really love making YouTube shorts, Or you might try 'em and be like, you know what?
But taking the advice to not do those things based on somebody just making up stuff about YouTube, Everything doesn't work the same for every YouTube channel.
So because of that, experiment with the things and see what your viewers respond to at the highest level. in your content strategy, then go for it.
The next piece of advice that hurts YouTubers about trying to get videos to show up in YouTube search. that are probably sending you emails already.
search engine optimization services. are also pushing you in that direction and in some cases, big channels will tell you that too.
First, the biggest elephant in the room is that Number two, almost all of the views on YouTube
on their homepage and from suggested videos. you wanna make sure that you are considering and make sure from an idea standpoint,
that people are likely to respond to or in suggested videos. you're doing product reviews, that sort of thing,
But even with that, have search as a part of your strategy. those are usually found in YouTube's recommendation system. small YouTube channels, and it's not really advice,
So one of the things that you constantly see on YouTube click this button to grow your YouTube channel, this is going to make a huge difference
Or YouTube's algorithm just had this big update, But the reason this type of advice hurts because it keeps you focused on these things
hey, let me make sure my settings are right, the thing that's gonna really move the needle Are you good at packaging those ideas up
and have you learned how to make good videos Those are the things that move your YouTube channel, not a setting, not a button, none of that stuff.
responding to those videos where they're just trying to If you're gonna be watching videos about this stuff, in order to do the job.
Those are gonna do so much more for you than videos So if you really wanna grow your YouTube channel, just copying other people's ideas, not the best thing.
Bring that idea into your niche Number two, make sure that you are going through the process Pretty is not always effective.
Think of your thumbnail like a billboard on a highway and they are just looking up for one second, that they need from that billboard.
and read all the details and for people to sit there Instead, you have to be very intentional about where it is and less is usually more when it comes to your thumbnails,
make sure that you're not putting tons of text on there Just try to keep 'em simple and focused identify that your content is about something
as a content creator, there's certain things I made a whole video about it. so you can start capturing people's attention better
and I'll see you in the next video. Thank you so much for watching. I'll see you next time.