Grow from Zero - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOkiBV2cyT0
Fill the hole
Find low competition, high search volume keywords to make a video on.
Don;t be afraid to make videos on competitive topics. Even if you capture 1% of that, and retain it, its a. Win. Be more specific in these cases for targeting. Like add August 2020 etc.
Be the Best
Find top ranking articles and videos on the topic. Watch top 3 YouTube videos. Now make your video better than all. Use updated content, add personal experience and info.
Traffic Hacking
Video with exact same title as competitor.
Script for Retention
Watchtime and retention. Keep as concise as possible. Reduce filler. Don;t explain why people should watch your video. Just deliver the content
Optimize
Use the search keywords in title. Posting time.
Thumbnails
Helps with CTR. Use upto 4 words in thumbnails. Use analytics data on CTR to figure out which thumbnails work.
Focus on Fans
Create a FB group for fans, where you can ask for feedback and what kind of content they’d like.
Hype
Promote your video across platforms.
Channel Branding
People should be able to clearly figure out what they’ll get from your channel. That’s why they’ll subscribe. Without utility, they won’t.
Analytics
Pay attention to analytics and data.
Consistency
2 videos a week, same day, same time.
Outsource some parts:
Thumbnail creation - Fiverr, Upwork
Batching - Create content in single go for future posts
Script for high retention
HOT formula
H : Hooked. Tell exactly what people are going to get from video. Value proposition should be clear in 1st 10 seconds.
O : Outcome.
T : Testimonial. Prove your credibility.
Script Formula:
Short intro. Explain outcome. Steps. Outro (mention landing page, email list, website etc), share/subscribe
Engagement:
Ask for people to like, comment and share.
Participate in art chalenges
Draw trendy content in beginning
Use Google Trends to find good titles, and YouTube autocomplete
Listicles type title do better (Top 8 tips ….)
Add voice-over. People stay for your personality
Thumbnail aesthetics - Consistent thumbnail style builds a brand
Show screenshot of Insta at the end to follow
Channels explode in later phases because of social proof.
Also, there’s a lot more content that you’ve produced by that time, that internal YouTube traffic starts adding up, having a snowball effect.
Video Lifecycle:
Title/thumb -> Click -> View -> Watch Time -> Subs (utility)
Reward Engagement
Comment on video to get featured in next vid
Growth From Zero
CTR + Retention is King
CTR:
Traction : Focus on traffic sources & Watch time + retention
Longer video (10-12 min)
3 parts of video: start, middle, end
Hook : 5 sec teaser of what people will get
Learn about art of storytelling. People stay for a good story. At the end, there’s a resolution.
Post a lot of content. Daily if possible. Increases chances of getting viral. If you’re smart about it, then it’ll happen sooner.
Advertise to make it faster.
Marketing : branding well. Name across everything. And looks consistent.
Content: have expertise in what you do. Make sense when talking.
Distribution: promotion groups (FB, Telegrams)
Create Playlists of your content. Youtube shows videos from playlists in up next.
Multipart videos.
Video Structure:
Hook (5-10s)
Intro (5s)
Content -> Audio and Video quality. Lighting.
Ending
Pin your comment. Call to action. Share with friends.
Viral Video (Blend Formats)
Reaction
Money Related
Challenges
Feature other youtubers
pranks
dramas
Shock value
Video Length Guide
Traffic sources for Video:
Pinterest
Instagram Page
Reddit
4chan
Thumbnail
8 hours in 10mins
Video Structure
Setup - Explain quickly, what the video is about. Hook.
Conflict - Explain why that won’t go as planned. Some twist in story.
Resolution - Self explanatory.
Items used in daily vlogging become a part of family/ecosystem.
VideoGraphy
Handheld camera - Shaky - A sense of urgency
Tripod - Focus on what is being said
Establish environment
Competitors
Creative Time-lapse Ideas
Show something age with the video.
A plant etc. Wheat. Rice. Wheatgrass.
Other things that take few days to change.
Something in background. A sunset, cars, mountains etc.
Melting Ice
Reverse aging banana, grapes
Candle
Time-lapse race. Multiple things aging at same time.
Smoke, incense
Clock
Own face
Hyperlapse
Music
Atmospheric, calm, cello, piano, guitar, violin, beats, changing pace/dynamic
Video Creation Long Term Strategy
Make beautiful & interesting timelapses videos
How to videos
Trending topics/people
Video Creation Workflow
Pre Shoot
Find low competition, high search volume keywords
Think about the audience, specific groups of people who’ll watch the video and will they react to the video.
Check keyword competition for topic - low competition, high search volume keywords to make a video on.
Use Keyword Planner & pick at least 10k search/mo keywords
Find an interesting photo of the subject. A unique angle, dramatic colours etc. Mix and match. Create a new concept.
Think of ideas to make it interesting. Refer creative time-lapse ideas section.
Plan the overall structure of video
Setup (Hook)
Conflict
Resolution
Start thinking about the title & thumbnail.
Choose 3-4 background music scores, as they will dictate the direction of video.
Content Creation & Recording
Setup camera & phone for recording at different angles.
Record some footage of setup. Pencils, Colors, brushes etc.
Add sound effects
Record Hook & Conflict (PPP)
Preview (Hook): Hey guys, welcome to my channel. And today I’m going to drawing X….. Show reference image instead of actual sketch.
Proof: Show Insta channel & say join us.
Preview with a twist (Conflict): There were a few challenging parts, and I almost messed it up, etc
Record Call to Action (Subscribe/Like/Comment)
Welcome to another painting video, My name’s Karunakar. And if you’re new here, This is the place where I talk about all things painting, so, consider subscribing.
I can’t decide on one particular medium, so I switch things up and use a lot of different mediums like graphite, charcoal, watercolour, gauche etc.
Based on Video type:
Timelapse/regular sketch/painting
How to
Paint the subject and record
Create a script
Record yourself
Knowledge
Create a Script
Find stock videos to insert in between
Record yourself talking about the subject
Continue talking during end screens as well, and provide value.
Take several pictures for social media promotions & YouTube thumbnail
Editing
Find a royalty free background music to use in video. NCS is one option.
Add previous video commenters, and acknowledge them. Entices current video viewers into commenting in hope of getting featured.
Tease next video. Tell what kind of content you'll be making next. This builds anticipation and urges people to subscribe.
Publishing on Youtube
Create a compelling thumbnail.
Can use readymade photoshop templates
Use apps to create them
Title: Use keywords in beginning. Use ALL CAPS to gain attention.
Find keywords using keyword planner and google trends
Create a catchy title
Publish
Pin a comment with a related video
Add other video/playlist links in description
Promotion
Reddit/4chan channels
Instagram page -> pics/ IGTV
FB art page and personal profile
LinkedIn ?
WhatsApp, FB, Insta status
Pinterest
TikTok
Quora
Behance,
Deviant Art
Art Station
Bored Panda
Concept Art
Create your own website
Have a mailing list
Create a blog, and post written content there
Create longer videos. Youtube wants people to stay more on site.
Master the HOOK, to make people curious. Youtube itself recommends this, and wants to focus first 15s on this.
PPP - preview/proof/preview
Preview the video, what it’s about.
Proof: Prove your expertise, and why you’re the right person to deliver this content.
Show you’ve accomplished what the user is looking for.
That you’ve lots of experience in your field.
You’ve researched a lot into the topic.
Explain the hook.preview AGAIN!. In a different way and get specific this time.
Mention number of tips
Details from a case study
Or mention that this is something completely new.
Use exact keyword in your title, that you’re trying to rank for. Preferably in beginning of title.
Say the keywords in your videos. With AI, YouTube has ability to identify this. Also, put subtitles to be double sure.
People can change tags, description anytime, but video cannot be changed. So you really have to talk about what you’re promising. Otherwise you’re trying to game the system and Youtube catches onto it.
User interaction signals.
Add an annotation to like the video in between. e.g. Enjoying this video? Give it a like :)
Ask people to subscribe and comment at the end of the video.
Optimize for CTR
Title, thumbnail & snippet of description
Find out competitor thumbnails, and make sure your thumbnail stands out.
Mention keyword once in the title. Other than this, main purpose of title is to optimise the CTR.
Write a attention grabbing line in description. Short and catchy. Skip any links as they look fishy.
Always add a playlists in the end screen. If a user clicks on it, he’ll watch your content continuously.
Personal Thoughts:
Getting people to comment on your video should be useful for ranking. Because it takes much higher effort to write it, and people spend more time on YouTube. Which is the goal that Youtube is optimising for.
Edit your video thumbnail and title into YouTube homepage, suggestions & search page, and see how clickable it looks.
