Thanks again for another great video Steve. I started watching your channel when wanting to learn about making reasonable but simple videos with my smartphone. But I find your content so engaging that I'll watch any of your videos, even if I may never put the skills learned into practise. Your delivery is great, it's all the things you mentioned and more. You definitely feel very credible, and when you talk about sponsors it doesn't feel awkward or forced as it does with most other channels. So thanks again, I'll keep following along very gratefully! Cheers, Amy
Thanks so much, Amy! I'm really glad to hear you enjoy these videos. To be honest, I still deal with imposter syndrome and am very self-critical, even after all these years, so your positive feedback on the delivery and natural brand integrations really means a lot. I truly appreciate your support. Also, I've just subscribed to your channel! :-)
Thanks! re: Mistake #1, Good content reigns supreme, of course. And what I got from Mistake #1 was "keep at it. Don't give up." So kudos for coming back a year later!!! Nevertheless, in 2024 the list of creators who do "go the extra mile" to put in the effort with their audio, etc. has grown exponentially it seems. You are a good example of that. Obviously you raised the production bar even as you worked through the potentially crippling effects of perfectionism. Currently, your video is so much easier to listen to and to look at. If I'm going to spend hours and hours going over several How Tos, then good audio etc. is essential. ....but you also have a very engaging personality. And that matters..... a lot!
Thanks @caspiansfriend for your thoughtful feedback! You’re spot on-good content is crucial, but staying persistent and not giving up are equally important. I’m really glad to hear that the production improvements have made a difference for you. It’s definitely a challenge to balance quality without letting perfectionism get in the way. I’m also happy to hear that my personality resonates with you. I used to speak much louder and with a lot more energy in my videos, but I've worked on refining that. Your support means a lot-thanks again! Steve
My biggest mistake I think was trying too many different things in the beginning. I didn't know the LEGO niche was so broad so I did many different things. These days I am focusing on reviews of alt / lego-compatible sets and my experience with them as a disabled builder. Still having problems with my packaging, specifically how to make it clear that my reviews are more entertainment style and faster paced. Love your videos!
Hi @BrickScore, Experimenting with different content types at the beginning isn’t necessarily a mistake. It’s a valuable way to discover what resonates with your audience and what you enjoy creating the most. I think your thumbnails are really good-clear, simple, and well-suited to your target audience. Your recent success with videos about buying fake LEGO sets is impressive! Always check your analytics and data, especially your click-through rates, as this will show you which thumbnails resonated best with your audience. Creating more thumbnails similar to the successful ones can help boost your engagement. Great work, and keep it up! Best, Steve
I was just saying how your channel is one of the easiest to digest channels on this subject. I really do appreciate you posting these videos to help everyone out on their YT journey. I have been posting for over a year now and it is so slow growing it makes me wonder if I should be changing up my strategy. Keep up the great work you are doing and I will keep watching to learn ways to improve my channel.
You're such an Amazing and Generous Being and Great Teacher, Steve, and we Deeply Appreciate You, my Brother!! Congratulations on reaching 1.5 million subscribers and to all your future successes. ✌🏾💓 Carlos
Hi Carlos, Thanks so much for your kind words-they truly mean a lot. I love making these videos and it’s incredibly rewarding to hear that you enjoy them. Sharing knowledge and helping others grow is something I’m passionate about. Thanks again for your support! Best, Steve
Been enjoying your videos and tips, especially now as we're getting around the island of Jamaica and showing off some of its natural splendor. Your ideas keep me motivated to keep on going and making more videos. If you ever get bored and need a break, Jamaica's here for ya.
Hi Steve. Just discovered your channel and think it is highly informative and inspirational. Started my own channel a couple of months ago and am still learning the ropes. Will definitely incorporate some of your tips into my future efforts. Thanks again.
Another fantastic video-thanks ever so much, Steve! Even though I’m not planning to start a TH-cam channel, I found this video incredibly valuable. I first discovered your channel when I needed help with my new gimbal and smartphone, and your tutorials were exactly what I needed. I also loved learning about using drone shots from your videos-they’ve been so helpful. I ended up watching all the related tutorials and learned so much, step by step. Your way of explaining things is clear, engaging, and honestly rather charming. I’ve always enjoyed your videos on stunning locations like Rome, Paris, London, beautiful villages, and national reserves. I haven’t had the chance to put what I’ve learned into practice yet, but I’m definitely planning to find the perfect holiday spot to give it a go. Even though I’m more active on Facebook and Instagram, I keep popping back to your channel to see what new videos you’ve shared. Thanks again for all your great work-you certainly keep me intrigued! Irma
Thanks so much, Irma! I'm really glad to hear that you found my tutorials useful, especially the ones about using drone shots in your videos. It’s awesome that you’ve enjoyed the different locations I feature-I love mixing things up to keep it fresh for everyone......plus it's a great excuse to travel :-) I'm hoping to get over to New York later this year, and then maybe somewhere warmer with a beach vibe. Thanks for sticking around and checking back in on the channel; there's plenty more to come! Steve
@@LearnOnlineVideo Thanks for your lovely response, Steve! I’m so excited about the beach vibes you mentioned-I’m heading to Gran Canaria in October, and I can’t wait! The sunsets and sand dunes there are stunning, and I’m really looking forward to putting your techniques into practice, especially with the drone shots. It’ll be my first time capturing such scenery, so fingers crossed I can do it justice. New York sounds amazing, but I totally agree-nothing beats a warm beach escape. I’ll definitely be sticking around and checking back for more of your content. Can’t wait to see where your travels take you next!
Focusing on production quality is a big one and something I find many content creators suffer with. It’s a real fine line between delivering consistent value and having good production value. It’s held me back for many years and something I’m always fighting with
I feel you. I started youtube last year and I am learning videography / cinematography from very few mentors, you included. For now, I'm enjoying the outdoors while practicing camera skills that could be a new carreer once I put in the work. Remember you got a cameraman available in the Paris area (and Fontainebleau is a magnificent forest, you could make killer videos there !!) 🫡
Those are some great tips and I’m gonna use some of them on my channel for sure! I’ve learned a lot from your videos and continue trying to add more audience value to my content, thanks again for your great videos! 😁👍
Thanks for the great tutorial and I enjoyed it. I appreciate you sharing the great tips, Steve. I think my biggest mistake is not being consistent because some videos might take a lot longer to edit than I expected. I learned so much, thank you!
I have small youtube channel and your videos are inspiring and learned few videograhy technics, how to use Gimbal etc. I bought Gimbal 2 months ago but didn't know how to shoot and use. Your videos were helpful.
So glade that I found you a few months back now. I've only just started, a bit late in life but I need to change my life's direction. My first video was actually never ment to be a video. Just private shots to show my wife and kids of a walk I done. After following you I am learning so much to go forward. Thank you so much. I've got to get making more videos I know, getting a little bit of gear up together first. Thanks again for such a great channel.
You're a miljonair congratiolations Steve with this milestone. We have learned a lot from you and you're channel. Our channel is focused on family and friends, and our biggest rewards comes from them. But it would be nice to grow, so we take it seriously. Our subjects are different, so there are chances. Thanks again Steve.
Hey @johnclay7644, I'm a little embarrassed to say it took me a lot longer than it should have to realize this, so hopefully, this will fast-track your growth! Let me make the mistakes so that you don't have to. 😊
I haven´t started on a TH-cam channel as yet but I know that I have made mistakes on my blog which maybe haven´t helped my ratings. We all have to start somewhere; don´t we? These darned clever search engines and our keywords are everything. I got started on my blog without any previous knowledge and it has been a fun journey learning (with the help of numerous TH-cam tutorials). I wish I had watched them first!!!!!!!! Trying to do my prep work this time???!!!!! I appreciate your sincerity too as I remember so well how high my hopes were initially and really felt like giving up many times. Life is one long (if you´re lucky), opportunity to learn more and more, continue growing and filling out as a person (becoming fulfilled!!!). Sharing knowledge and expertise for free is the greatest gift that anyone person can give to another. Many thanks to you Steve for your excellent video tutorials; I´m loving them.
Thanks and congratulations! Your videos have been a huge help to me starting to make my own videos and I am enjoying creating them very much. I’m struggling to gain much traction which is fine if my unusual approach just isn’t catching on (I can accept that), but I got a better number of views to a short the other day with a terrible automated thumbnail and can see no rhyme or reason why that happened from the stats and the subsequent related video has performed worse than ever, so I’m struggling to understand the workings of the algorithm at the moment. Just want to make sure I’m not doing something silly in the settings or omitting to do something obvious to reach people’s feeds?
Hi @cols_serenescapes, I just took a look at your TH-cam channel and have a few suggestions that might help enhance your videos. First, consider using more descriptive titles instead of very short ones like "Beautiful Ballachulish." Titles such as "Journey Through Ballachulish: Stunning Sights and Local Insights" or "Exploring the Scenic Beauty of Ballachulish" can attract viewers by highlighting both the visual and cultural elements. Also, try making your videos more engaging by adding voiceovers instead of relying solely on on-screen text. It requires a bit more effort, but it could significantly improve viewer engagement. Additionally, it’s better to place tags lower in the designated tags section during upload rather than at the top of your description. Use the top line for a brief summary of your video to help TH-cam understand and categorize your content more effectively. Regarding TH-cam Shorts, they often get more views because they are short and engaging, ideal for quick consumption on mobile devices. Their dedicated shelf and algorithmic promotion also boost their reach. I hope this feedback is helpful. Best of luck with your channel! Thanks, Steve
Thanks Steve for an interesting summary. After watching one of your videos I have purchased a Smooth 5 Gimbal unit to suit a smart phone. Now to work out how to use it, the enclosed instructions are a little thin. 😊 By the way you are on the money with diversity. I set up my channel as an easy way to show my model railway layout to some friends. Total views a couple of thousand over two years, I posted one video I made, no editing, of a massive transformer being transported overnight through outer suburban Melbourne and bang 67,000 views over a fortnight. Cheers, Peter.
Thank you so much for everything you do. I wouldn’t have been able to do any editing or filmmaking without you. My husband and I are in our late 60s and early seventies. He has a TH-cam channel called Crown Cattle Company. His name is Jerry Crownover. I do the filming on a smart phone and edit with iMovie. We’ve been doing it a year and a half, all because of you!!! We only have 2300 subs, but we don’t create a title or thumbnail beforehand. Not sure how to do that. If you could give us some pointers, that would be incredible. Thank you!
Hey Judy, thanks for your comment! I just checked out your and your husband's TH-cam channel, and 2,300 subscribers is an amazing achievement. You're doing really well! In fact, you’ve gained more subscribers than I had in my first year and a half. I watched one of your videos, and I think the structure works great. Your husband had an excellent opening hook, setting up the video nicely, followed by the bumper/logo, and then diving into the content. That’s a solid approach. As for thumbnails, they’re not bad at all, but I’d suggest trying to shoot a specific image for each thumbnail instead of pulling a still frame from the video. I know it’s not always possible to plan the title and thumbnail before filming, especially with the type of content you’re creating. But after shooting, take some time to think about the best title and thumbnail that capture the essence of the video. I also noticed that your videos are getting more views than you have subscribers, which is a great sign that TH-cam is promoting your content. Keep up the great work! Thanks, Steve
@@LearnOnlineVideoYou are the kindest person ever! For you to take the time, to give us solid advice, on our tiny channel, made me cry. You have been such an inspiration to us, in this journey, and now to millions and millions of people. Your mom must be sooooo proud! Thank you for your incredible videos, your engaging teaching style, and for always presenting a kind and caring persona. 😊
I think one of my biggest mistakes I've made and still make is getting stuck on my videos performance. I'm now a year and a half into my new channel and in that time I've learned so much but one of the biggest thing is just getting the video out not worrying about perfection on scenes or shooting or camera quality just being myself showing my passion and what I love about what I'm doing. Also a massive thank you your not spouting the same jargon that everyone else does
Greta video. I do think at my stage I need a proper camera. I have tried so many different type of thumbnails and so but i think i have settled on the one that works. More than happy to get your criticism
Hi @PuraVetus, I don’t necessarily think your videos are boring, but the target audience might be a bit unclear. Always ask yourself who your videos are for. In your case, with furniture restoration, your audience is likely looking for educational content on how to restore furniture. If this is true, then leaning into educational and how-to videos is the way to go. Your viewers come to learn, so focus on teaching them new tips and techniques with each video. Document your restoration process with clear instructions and add a voiceover and subtle background music to enhance the learning experience. Also, reconsider your video titles to highlight the educational aspect. Instead of "Refinishing an Old Medicine Cabinet," try "How to Refurbish an Old Medicine Cabinet." This makes it clear that your video is instructional, which helps TH-cam serve it to the right audience. It's great that you include your dogs in your videos-they add a lot of character! Just be mindful not to feature them for too long and keep the main focus on the restoration process. Here are a few TH-cam title ideas to get you started: - "Step-by-Step Guide to Restoring Vintage Furniture" - "DIY Furniture Restoration: Tips and Techniques" - "Transforming Old Furniture: A Beginner's Guide" - "How to Revitalize Antique Pieces: Restoration Tips" - "Refurbishing Furniture: Easy Techniques for Stunning Results" I hope this helps, and best of luck with your channel! Steve
@LearnOnlineVideo How great that you, with over a million subscribers, take the trouble to respond so extensively and give ample advice. Many big TH-camrs ask for comments, but do not bother to respond themselves. The fact that you do care about your subscribers says a lot about your right character and attitude. I appreciate this very much. I hope that you will soon grow to 5 million and where I can I will make positive publicity for your channel. TH-camrs come on with your thumbs up 👍🏻
Many congratulations Steve for all your achievements, but first of all thank you for inspiring me and for opening "my tap" to creativity. Before finding your channel and your videos, I could easily say that I was the real Mister boring when shooting almost everything at eyelevel. In my holidays this summer I had a trip in Europe at amazing places and now I regret that I didn't implement what I've learnt from you. But luckily, I had one more trip to the mountains last week, and finally implemented part of what I've learned so hardly wait to edit everything and for sure, I will let you know when I publish that video. Normally, I am the teacher in real life, but this time you'll be the teacher, and I am curious to see if I will pass the exam when you will put the grade. Now, talking about our mistakes and your offer to review our thumbnails, before doing that, if you don't mind, let me make a short review of your channel. And this is because your channel really proves my point, that these days, the TH-cam algorithm is really bad with the educational channels. (I'm also having an educational channel but of course, with other topics and targets than yours). Lately, in the last 1 year or 2, TH-cam does not promote any more so well the educational channels, which in my opinion as a teacher, are fundamental for the education of the people and especially teenagers. My son is telling me that he has learnt more than half of what he knows from TH-cam and not from his school. Is one of the many reasons for which I've put an educational TH-cam channel. I consider it as a complementary form of learning. I've learnt myself a lot of things that have improved hugely the way I work in real life. So, you've reached 1 million subscribers 2 years ago, and from that moment you had only two videos with 1.2 million views and 1.3 million views. In the last year, you've reached now almost 1.5 million subscribers, and you had what? 828k 10 months ago and 250k, 4 months ago, while the other videos have less then 100k views. So, come on TH-cam, I can understand that my small channel is not promoted, but Steve, with so many subscribers and such a great content, has views that equal with less than 10% of his subscribers???? Where they are? Why you're not getting more promotion?? and I've observed this trend also at other educational channels, with millions of subscribers and way bellow 100k views per videos, while if you are putting a rabbit eating, I don't know what or one cat hugging 1 chick, that you've got more than 1 million views. I DON'T LIKE THIS AT ALL. TH-cam has removed the emphasis on educational channels and is concentrating just on making good competition to TikTok. I can understand it from the business perspective, but from education and content creator perspective, this is a huge disappointment. So deep from my heart, I wish you good luck Steve, cause you're doing an awesome job! I hope that one day, TH-cam will put a better face for the educational channels, cause for the moment, we’re having bad treatment, and the numbers confirm this. Talking about me, I think the main mistakes are these: 1. Not having enough time (I have a job) so, I don't post consistently... 2. I'm doing videos that are too long and that require a lot of time (I should make them shorter and post more often, I know, but sometimes I forget that I'm on TH-cam and not at school and I want to provide all the possible explanations in the tutorials so that every person can understand easily. (I've seen many comments on other tutorials where the viewers are complaining about the fact the is too fast, and they can't keep the pace, they don't understand, they quite, so I don't want this to be the situation in my case, so I put everything with details, so that's why, almost "nobody" watch them. 3. Don't like to copy the others so, I'm doing a lot of research to come up with new things, that are not common on other channels, to reinvent the wheel if I can. If there are 100 videos over a specific topic, the 101 video which is mine, should have something new with added value that the other 100 don't have, so this is getting few views, because the algorithm is not used with that. 4. My titles and thumbnails are average, but I work at this, I've understood the situation and now, I'm focusing more on them. 5. Analyzing the analytics from TH-cam, they shows that the algorithm is showing my content to the wrong people....I don't know how much is my fault or is it's fault for this. 6. Sometimes my students subscribe to my channels, but they don't watch the videos and that hurts me. (I found out later that is not good to have subscribers that are not actively) 7. And something that if I would have known at the beginning, I would have changed the things. I've promoted my channel to people that I know in real life, but they don't watch too much/ they don't have much time, so they don't typically watch at all when I post something new, or they watch small parts, hurting my analytics. But all in all, I like creating videos and maybe one day I will have more views. Recently, TH-cam has introduced a new feature, called Inspiration. Take an example from the last published video. I've analyzed what appears as inspiration for me, I found something with more than 100k views and I've reinvented the wheel, creating a new concept that didn't exist before my video. So, a lot of added value. The result was just 25 views. But if I feel happy with the result, that's motivating me and overpasses the lack of views. All the best Steve and thank you so much if you've read all this, many appreciations.
Hey @moderneducation5192 Wow, first of all, this is the longest and most thought-out comment I have ever received on this channel. I really appreciate it. Thank you for your kind words about my content and this channel. It's great to get your take on things as a fellow TH-cam creator in the educational space. I absolutely relate to what you’re saying about views on this channel being much lower these days, and I’m honestly not sure what I can do about it. The fact that I have almost 1.5 million subscribers, yet less than one percent of them watch a video I post within the first 48 hours, is extremely worrying. I always look at my data and try to take any emotions out of the way when judging my content. The data never lies. What's worrying is that by looking at the data, when people watch my videos, they seem to be enjoying them, watching for a long time, and are highly engaged with lots of comments and likes, etc. However, I’ve heard many people say that they just aren’t being served my content, and it’s not appearing in their feed. To be honest, these days I don’t expect people to have to search for my channel to watch a video-people want their content quickly and easily-so if it doesn’t appear in the feed, then chances are my videos might not be watched. I believe the lack of views is due to a couple of reasons. The first is that I took a bit of time off at the end of 2023 and wasn’t as consistent. It feels like TH-cam is still punishing me for this as I haven’t been able to pick things up since. There has also definitely been an algorithm change that has massively affected this channel. You're right as well about other content creators in my niche-their numbers seem to be extremely low in comparison to how they were at the beginning of last year. If things carry on the way they do, I might not be able to sustain the channel, but I will certainly do my best to ride it out. I’m looking at new strategies and ways to increase numbers on the channel but seem to be hitting a brick wall. I could make more content and be more consistent, but the production quality would definitely drop, and this isn’t something I want to do or necessarily think would change things in a significant way. It's great to have your thoughts and take on this, and I appreciate your support and feedback. Thanks, Steve
Steve, you are a great video photografer, if i just knew how to film like that... on yt if you are a prof of filming and editing, you will make it here
Hi Steve. Great video with some useful tips, as usual. I've had a channel for four years but it's only recently that I've become more committed to it. I still consider myself a beginner but I do get a bit 'perfectionist' sometimes. It's not that I'm gear obsessed, as my videos are either filmed on a Canon 600D or a Canon Legria camcorder. I find the camcorder ideal for filming tabletop art videos as it'll keep going for a couple of hours. I think my biggest problem is actually the time it takes to put a video together. Even a ten minute video takes me a week or two, but I'll get there! Cheers - David (my channel: David Webb Art)
I have been following your channel. Terrific! When you do your shoots do you hire a camera operator and how much would that cost you on a half day or day basis.
Congrats on your achievement. I’m a retired video production dude. Even though I still dabble in production for my church etc, I’m no longer in the game. I enjoy watching your videos for the information and creativity. TH-cam channels like yours exist because of well thought out content and the like ability of the host. You do both well. Look forward to your next video.
Hey @juyint, Thank you so much for the kind words and support! It means a lot coming from someone with your experience. I’m glad you enjoy the content and find it helpful. I appreciate you taking the time to watch and share your feedback. Looking forward to bringing you more videos soon! Thanks, Steve
The one thing that has helped me a TON is this: cut, cut, cut! When you are first starting out you sort of fall in love with some of your footage and want it include it, EVEN if it does not add anything to the story. Oh it's nice b roll, I want to add it. Well you don't have to. Nowadays I cut out everything that not serves the story. I cut out so much footage compared to when I started
Very true @milesandhikes , I did the same when I first started. I would force a clip into a sequence just because it took me a long time to shoot. Even if I thought it looked good, it often didn’t add value or move the story forward. It can be tough to let go of a shot you love, but it’s all for the greater good of the story. 😊
Now when I saw the example of the products you couldn't feature but being shown in the video. Hmmm, a light bulb went off and I was like, what if I could do something like this...... the products are being shown, isn't that the point?
My biggest challenge is still doing more "show" than "tell". I recently got an Osmo Pocket 3 to use for broll as it is quicker and easier than using my mirrorless (let go of my pursuit of perfection). Now looking for more shooting and lighting help with making product shots faster and looking more interesting. I can't truly create title and thumbnail first, but I work on ideas for them while planning and shooting a video so getting closer and I do put a lot of thought into the packaging before actual release of videos.
I have lived following you and congratulate you. I think that family travel is so much harder than tech channels etc. Do you think it is over saturated? I know I don't post often enough but family travel fitting it in can be hard to slot into life
Hi, i've struggled to get the editing to what it is on the latest vids, but still only at just over 200 subs. The niche is pretty big and a lot of channels do similar, so i focused on the delivery aspect of takeaway food and short to the point vids.
Thanks for the many good tips. I have a small channel that is only about Phuket in Thailand. I film a lot from the beach and from trips on my motorbike on the island. I still have a lot to learn when it comes to filming, but my biggest problem is that I'm bad at English, so I only speak Norwegian in my videos. I am following your channel and will try to learn from you. Greetings from Norway
Hi Norman, Thanks for your question. I’ve taken a look at your TH-cam channel and have some feedback that might help with your growth. Creating videos exclusively in Phuket, Thailand, and having an accent aren't issues at all-if anything, they make your content unique and help you stand out. The main area for improvement seems to be in clearly identifying your target audience and framing your channel to offer value to them. Right now, your content feels more like a personal diary. You could reframe the same content to be more helpful to viewers, especially those interested in visiting Phuket. For instance, instead of titling a video "Food Memories from Phuket," you could rename it "Top 5 Best Places to Eat in Phuket." The content would remain the same, but the new title would attract viewers looking for tips on where to eat in the area. Also, focus on the first 30 seconds of your videos to clearly explain what they’re about and what value you're offering to viewers. For example, you could say something like, "In this video, I'm going to show you the top five best places to eat in Phuket. We have a mix of different restaurants, ranging from the cheapest to the most expensive, but all with incredible food. That's coming up!" This opening hook clearly identifies what the video is about, what to expect, and gives people a reason to watch until the end. I believe this approach would dramatically increase your views as well as retention. Hope this helps! Thanks, Steve
@@LearnOnlineVideo Thanks for reply. Those were good tips. I will try this on my next videos. I'm going back to Phuket on Wednesday, so I'll try to film a lot then....if it doesn't rain every day. I hope for growth on my channel, but I do a lot of this as a hobby that I enjoy a lot.
Another excellent educational and thought-provoking lesson here, thanks for your amazing efforts. You make all your videos interesting, fast and informative, so it isn't surprising you have reached such a great milestone of nearly 1.5M subscribers. If I get 1 subscriber I feel extremely privileged, as my content is so unplanned and boring to watch too. I make all of the mistakes, well except the perfection mistake, my skills are poor so I struggle and then give up. Not a way to get anywhere. I keep watching you for inspiration, so thanks very much for your huge efforts! Cheers, Gav
Hi Steve, I enjoy your videos very much and have implemented several of your techniques. After 4 years on YT, I want to move to a more personal style and more consistent theme. Would live any advice you can offer.
Great tips. I've just started my channel (only 2 videos) and your tip of not judging the success of my channel by the number of views I get, is one I'll take on board. Thank you. Ps your other tips are great also.
Hey Phil, It’s fantastic to see you’ve just started your TH-cam channel, and your first two videos are looking great! I particularly like your thumbnails-they’re clear, simple, and use eye-catching, contrasting colors. Your delivery style is also really nice and calm, which makes for a pleasant viewing experience. By the way, what’s the story behind all the mud up the back of your jacket in the cover image? 😄 I’ve just subscribed and am excited to see where you take your channel from here! Best, Steve
Hi Steve, 7 year milestone wow, great work. I have just started myself and picked up my Epidemic Sound subscription from one of your vids. I have also now started thinking about thumbnails and how important they are. Welcome your input sir! Ta, Mike
Hi Mike, Thanks for your kind words! I'm glad to hear you've started your own TH-cam channel and that you picked up your Epidemic Sound subscription from one of my videos. Epidemic Sound is great, and you'll find some really good music and sound effects for your videos there. My biggest tip: always come up with your video titles before you start recording. This helps keep your content focused and ensures it aligns with what viewers will expect when they click on your video. Thumbnails are incredibly important too. I recommend sketching out your thumbnails or creating a basic design in Photoshop before recording. This approach will help guide your video creation and make sure your content fits well with your planned thumbnail. Hope these tips are helpful! Best, Steve
Great advice. The issue i have is i upload a video, gets like 40 views a few comments and generally positive engagement in the first 24 hours..metrics look ok (CTR a bit poor) so ive changed thumbnails and titles and seem to have improved. Then, literally no views after the first 24 hours.
Thanks for the suggestion @DestructX, a video on improving thumbnails is a great idea! Thumbnails are so important for attracting viewers, and I think a lot of people could benefit from some tips and best practices. I’ll add it to my list of upcoming content-stay tuned!
Great video Steve. Been subbed to your channel for a while now, couple yers I think and have learned so much from it. My problem is that I don't make enough videos of what my channel is about and have not made one for about 18 months or so. My editing and recording skills have really improved thanks to this channel. I still make videos along with my 7 year old grandson who is really in to video and editing we just never seem to post them. Can I ask you this question? If you are in to filimg a couple of different things, 1 walking and hiking the other something else would you just keep both on the same channel or have two channels? many thanks
Hi @stehume, I’m really glad to hear you’ve been enjoying the channel and that it’s helped with your filming and editing skills. It’s fantastic that you’re making videos with your grandson-sounds like a lot of fun! Regarding your question about keeping different types of content on the same channel: it depends on the nature of the two types of videos. If both topics fall within the same niche or are related in some way, it’s usually best to keep them on the same channel. This helps maintain audience interest and keeps your channel cohesive. However, if the topics are completely different-like hiking and something else entirely-splitting them into separate channels might be a good idea. This is because having too many unrelated types of content on one channel can split your audience. Some viewers might enjoy one type of content but not the other, which could hinder your growth. Keep up the great work with your filming and editing, and don’t hesitate to post those videos you and your grandson create. Your audience will appreciate the variety and creativity! Best of luck, Steve
Thanks for a great video with tips. I really enjoyed your video about the Hover X1 drone. Please can you let me know which product you use to edit your videos. Many thanks and keep up the good work.
Thanks, the hover air X1 video was really fun to make 😊 I edit all of my videos on a MacBook using Final Cut Pro X, I use this because this is the editing software I have used for years and I am most familiar with. If you’re just starting out however I would look at using da Vinci resolve as this is free and has a lot of professional features, hope this helps and thanks for watching.
Hi Steve and everyone else. I have a question and hope you can help me get an answer. I post videos in 2 different languages, English and Arabic, in the same TH-cam channel. What is best? to continue posting with 2 different languages in the same channel or should I have 2 different channels?
Thank you for this super-informative video. I always struggle with thumbnails. I use the same thumbnail for all my podcast episodes so that people know in which videos I show my face and in which I don't. Would love your input on this.
Hi @3amfearpod , I just checked out your TH-cam channel and noticed that you’re using the exact same thumbnail for each video. This is something you should avoid, as viewers might assume they've already seen the video just by looking at the thumbnail, without reading the title. Consistency in your thumbnail design is important-it helps with brand recognition-but it’s also crucial that each thumbnail has some variation. One approach I use is placing my logo in the top right corner of each thumbnail. This way, my audience can easily identify my videos. I also stick to a consistent color scheme and keep my thumbnails simple, using no more than three elements. Hope this feedback is helpful! Thanks, Steve
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Thanks again for another great video Steve. I started watching your channel when wanting to learn about making reasonable but simple videos with my smartphone. But I find your content so engaging that I'll watch any of your videos, even if I may never put the skills learned into practise. Your delivery is great, it's all the things you mentioned and more. You definitely feel very credible, and when you talk about sponsors it doesn't feel awkward or forced as it does with most other channels. So thanks again, I'll keep following along very gratefully! Cheers, Amy
Thanks so much, Amy! I'm really glad to hear you enjoy these videos. To be honest, I still deal with imposter syndrome and am very self-critical, even after all these years, so your positive feedback on the delivery and natural brand integrations really means a lot. I truly appreciate your support. Also, I've just subscribed to your channel! :-)
Thanks! re: Mistake #1, Good content reigns supreme, of course. And what I got from Mistake #1 was "keep at it. Don't give up." So kudos for coming back a year later!!! Nevertheless, in 2024 the list of creators who do "go the extra mile" to put in the effort with their audio, etc. has grown exponentially it seems. You are a good example of that. Obviously you raised the production bar even as you worked through the potentially crippling effects of perfectionism. Currently, your video is so much easier to listen to and to look at. If I'm going to spend hours and hours going over several How Tos, then good audio etc. is essential. ....but you also have a very engaging personality. And that matters..... a lot!
Thanks @caspiansfriend for your thoughtful feedback! You’re spot on-good content is crucial, but staying persistent and not giving up are equally important. I’m really glad to hear that the production improvements have made a difference for you. It’s definitely a challenge to balance quality without letting perfectionism get in the way. I’m also happy to hear that my personality resonates with you. I used to speak much louder and with a lot more energy in my videos, but I've worked on refining that. Your support means a lot-thanks again! Steve
My biggest mistake I think was trying too many different things in the beginning. I didn't know the LEGO niche was so broad so I did many different things. These days I am focusing on reviews of alt / lego-compatible sets and my experience with them as a disabled builder. Still having problems with my packaging, specifically how to make it clear that my reviews are more entertainment style and faster paced.
Love your videos!
Hi @BrickScore,
Experimenting with different content types at the beginning isn’t necessarily a mistake. It’s a valuable way to discover what resonates with your audience and what you enjoy creating the most. I think your thumbnails are really good-clear, simple, and well-suited to your target audience.
Your recent success with videos about buying fake LEGO sets is impressive! Always check your analytics and data, especially your click-through rates, as this will show you which thumbnails resonated best with your audience. Creating more thumbnails similar to the successful ones can help boost your engagement.
Great work, and keep it up!
Best,
Steve
@@LearnOnlineVideo Solid Gold advice! 🙏🏾
I was just saying how your channel is one of the easiest to digest channels on this subject. I really do appreciate you posting these videos to help everyone out on their YT journey. I have been posting for over a year now and it is so slow growing it makes me wonder if I should be changing up my strategy. Keep up the great work you are doing and I will keep watching to learn ways to improve my channel.
You're such an Amazing and Generous Being and Great Teacher, Steve, and we Deeply Appreciate You, my Brother!! Congratulations on reaching 1.5 million subscribers and to all your future successes. ✌🏾💓 Carlos
Hi Carlos,
Thanks so much for your kind words-they truly mean a lot. I love making these videos and it’s incredibly rewarding to hear that you enjoy them. Sharing knowledge and helping others grow is something I’m passionate about.
Thanks again for your support!
Best,
Steve
@@FilmSpook I couldn’t agree more!
Been enjoying your videos and tips, especially now as we're getting around the island of Jamaica and showing off some of its natural splendor. Your ideas keep me motivated to keep on going and making more videos. If you ever get bored and need a break, Jamaica's here for ya.
This video is gold and we are lucky to watch it free here. Thank you so much Bro for sharing your ideas.
7th Anniversary of Learn online video and Congratulations Steve for 1 milestone
Congratulations 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Hi Steve. Just discovered your channel and think it is highly informative and inspirational. Started my own channel a couple of months ago and am still learning the ropes. Will definitely incorporate some of your tips into my future efforts. Thanks again.
Another fantastic video-thanks ever so much, Steve! Even though I’m not planning to start a TH-cam channel, I found this video incredibly valuable. I first discovered your channel when I needed help with my new gimbal and smartphone, and your tutorials were exactly what I needed. I also loved learning about using drone shots from your videos-they’ve been so helpful. I ended up watching all the related tutorials and learned so much, step by step. Your way of explaining things is clear, engaging, and honestly rather charming. I’ve always enjoyed your videos on stunning locations like Rome, Paris, London, beautiful villages, and national reserves. I haven’t had the chance to put what I’ve learned into practice yet, but I’m definitely planning to find the perfect holiday spot to give it a go. Even though I’m more active on Facebook and Instagram, I keep popping back to your channel to see what new videos you’ve shared. Thanks again for all your great work-you certainly keep me intrigued! Irma
Thanks so much, Irma! I'm really glad to hear that you found my tutorials useful, especially the ones about using drone shots in your videos. It’s awesome that you’ve enjoyed the different locations I feature-I love mixing things up to keep it fresh for everyone......plus it's a great excuse to travel :-) I'm hoping to get over to New York later this year, and then maybe somewhere warmer with a beach vibe. Thanks for sticking around and checking back in on the channel; there's plenty more to come! Steve
@@LearnOnlineVideo Thanks for your lovely response, Steve! I’m so excited about the beach vibes you mentioned-I’m heading to Gran Canaria in October, and I can’t wait! The sunsets and sand dunes there are stunning, and I’m really looking forward to putting your techniques into practice, especially with the drone shots. It’ll be my first time capturing such scenery, so fingers crossed I can do it justice. New York sounds amazing, but I totally agree-nothing beats a warm beach escape. I’ll definitely be sticking around and checking back for more of your content. Can’t wait to see where your travels take you next!
Super insightful, as always.
I do some of the mistakes that held you back (mostly focusing on production quality).
Focusing on production quality is a big one and something I find many content creators suffer with. It’s a real fine line between delivering consistent value and having good production value. It’s held me back for many years and something I’m always fighting with
I feel you. I started youtube last year and I am learning videography / cinematography from very few mentors, you included.
For now, I'm enjoying the outdoors while practicing camera skills that could be a new carreer once I put in the work.
Remember you got a cameraman available in the Paris area (and Fontainebleau is a magnificent forest, you could make killer videos there !!) 🫡
Those are some great tips and I’m gonna use some of them on my channel for sure! I’ve learned a lot from your videos and continue trying to add more audience value to my content, thanks again for your great videos! 😁👍
Thanks for the great tutorial and I enjoyed it. I appreciate you sharing the great tips, Steve. I think my biggest mistake is not being consistent because some videos might take a lot longer to edit than I expected. I learned so much, thank you!
Thanks for valuable information. ♥️ from India
I have small youtube channel and your videos are inspiring and learned few videograhy technics, how to use Gimbal etc. I bought Gimbal 2 months ago but didn't know how to shoot and use. Your videos were helpful.
Great video with lots of good tips that we really appreciate. Again, thanks for your video!
So glade that I found you a few months back now. I've only just started, a bit late in life but I need to change my life's direction.
My first video was actually never ment to be a video. Just private shots to show my wife and kids of a walk I done.
After following you I am learning so much to go forward. Thank you so much.
I've got to get making more videos I know, getting a little bit of gear up together first.
Thanks again for such a great channel.
This video has really inspired me to keep pushing... felt every word
Keep pushing forward-you’ve got this!
You're a miljonair congratiolations Steve with this milestone. We have learned a lot from you and you're channel. Our channel is focused on family and friends, and our biggest rewards comes from them. But it would be nice to grow, so we take it seriously. Our subjects are different, so there are chances. Thanks again Steve.
I'm just starting my channel now. I learned a tonnes from your videos and it's time to excecute it. Wish me luck, thanks Sir. Support from Malaysia!
This is really honest!)) Watched until the end. You engaged your audience with this, I think!:))
good points on viewer retention, informative topic.
Hey @johnclay7644, I'm a little embarrassed to say it took me a lot longer than it should have to realize this, so hopefully, this will fast-track your growth! Let me make the mistakes so that you don't have to. 😊
Thank you for sharing! 😁👍
Thanks for such a amazing content . It is very helpful.
This was super beneficial, thankyou so much.
I think a lot of this will help. It all seems simple, but it's easy to get lost in. Thanks for this.
100th comment, I have learnt many filming tips from you! Big up and much love from Uganda, Africa! Blessings🎉🎉🎉
Congratulations Sir ❤🎉🎉
I have learnt so much from these videos! Thanks Steve
Really enjoy your informative videos. We will try your pillars! Cheers.
Thank you so much for sharing learning from you mwahhh 😘💋
found this as an end screen from your DJI NEO video
Thanks for clicking and watching, hope it helped 😀
Great success journey ❤❤🎉🎉
I haven´t started on a TH-cam channel as yet but I know that I have made mistakes on my blog which maybe haven´t helped my ratings. We all have to start somewhere; don´t we? These darned clever search engines and our keywords are everything. I got started on my blog without any previous knowledge and it has been a fun journey learning (with the help of numerous TH-cam tutorials). I wish I had watched them first!!!!!!!! Trying to do my prep work this time???!!!!! I appreciate your sincerity too as I remember so well how high my hopes were initially and really felt like giving up many times. Life is one long (if you´re lucky), opportunity to learn more and more, continue growing and filling out as a person (becoming fulfilled!!!). Sharing knowledge and expertise for free is the greatest gift that anyone person can give to another. Many thanks to you Steve for your excellent video tutorials; I´m loving them.
Thank you for your reply. It is very much appreciated and thank you for your advice. I'll try that package.
Created my channel long back in 2011 and got fade almost in the same way you did . I will definitely appreciate your tips .Thank you in advance .
My Congratulations!❤
Thanks and congratulations! Your videos have been a huge help to me starting to make my own videos and I am enjoying creating them very much. I’m struggling to gain much traction which is fine if my unusual approach just isn’t catching on (I can accept that), but I got a better number of views to a short the other day with a terrible automated thumbnail and can see no rhyme or reason why that happened from the stats and the subsequent related video has performed worse than ever, so I’m struggling to understand the workings of the algorithm at the moment. Just want to make sure I’m not doing something silly in the settings or omitting to do something obvious to reach people’s feeds?
Hi @cols_serenescapes,
I just took a look at your TH-cam channel and have a few suggestions that might help enhance your videos.
First, consider using more descriptive titles instead of very short ones like "Beautiful Ballachulish." Titles such as "Journey Through Ballachulish: Stunning Sights and Local Insights" or "Exploring the Scenic Beauty of Ballachulish" can attract viewers by highlighting both the visual and cultural elements.
Also, try making your videos more engaging by adding voiceovers instead of relying solely on on-screen text. It requires a bit more effort, but it could significantly improve viewer engagement.
Additionally, it’s better to place tags lower in the designated tags section during upload rather than at the top of your description. Use the top line for a brief summary of your video to help TH-cam understand and categorize your content more effectively.
Regarding TH-cam Shorts, they often get more views because they are short and engaging, ideal for quick consumption on mobile devices. Their dedicated shelf and algorithmic promotion also boost their reach.
I hope this feedback is helpful. Best of luck with your channel! Thanks, Steve
@@LearnOnlineVideo Thank you,Steve, for taking such an interest and for the very helpful advice. I’ll try and apply the lessons on future videos. 😀
Thanks Steve for an interesting summary. After watching one of your videos I have purchased a Smooth 5 Gimbal unit to suit a smart phone.
Now to work out how to use it, the enclosed instructions are a little thin. 😊
By the way you are on the money with diversity. I set up my channel as an easy way to show my model railway layout to some friends.
Total views a couple of thousand over two years, I posted one video I made, no editing, of a massive transformer being transported overnight through outer suburban Melbourne and bang 67,000 views over a fortnight.
Cheers, Peter.
Thank you for sharing this
Thank you so much for everything you do. I wouldn’t have been able to do any editing or filmmaking without you. My husband and I are in our late 60s and early seventies. He has a TH-cam channel called Crown Cattle Company. His name is Jerry Crownover. I do the filming on a smart phone and edit with iMovie. We’ve been doing it a year and a half, all because of you!!! We only have 2300 subs, but we don’t create a title or thumbnail beforehand. Not sure how to do that. If you could give us some pointers, that would be incredible. Thank you!
Hey Judy, thanks for your comment! I just checked out your and your husband's TH-cam channel, and 2,300 subscribers is an amazing achievement. You're doing really well! In fact, you’ve gained more subscribers than I had in my first year and a half. I watched one of your videos, and I think the structure works great. Your husband had an excellent opening hook, setting up the video nicely, followed by the bumper/logo, and then diving into the content. That’s a solid approach.
As for thumbnails, they’re not bad at all, but I’d suggest trying to shoot a specific image for each thumbnail instead of pulling a still frame from the video. I know it’s not always possible to plan the title and thumbnail before filming, especially with the type of content you’re creating. But after shooting, take some time to think about the best title and thumbnail that capture the essence of the video.
I also noticed that your videos are getting more views than you have subscribers, which is a great sign that TH-cam is promoting your content. Keep up the great work! Thanks, Steve
@@LearnOnlineVideoYou are the kindest person ever! For you to take the time, to give us solid advice, on our tiny channel, made me cry. You have been such an inspiration to us, in this journey, and now to millions and millions of people. Your mom must be sooooo proud! Thank you for your incredible videos, your engaging teaching style, and for always presenting a kind and caring persona. 😊
Thank you for sharing. I’m Alc’s Hobbies ,and I’m listening…
Congratulations Po 👍👍👍👍👍
Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤
Congrats brother ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉
I think one of my biggest mistakes I've made and still make is getting stuck on my videos performance. I'm now a year and a half into my new channel and in that time I've learned so much but one of the biggest thing is just getting the video out not worrying about perfection on scenes or shooting or camera quality just being myself showing my passion and what I love about what I'm doing.
Also a massive thank you your not spouting the same jargon that everyone else does
Nice video as always, thanks @Steve for this informative and important video.💕
My pleasure! @TravellingNirmaan :-)
Greta video. I do think at my stage I need a proper camera. I have tried so many different type of thumbnails and so but i think i have settled on the one that works. More than happy to get your criticism
thank you sir, learned a lot on how to grow my youtube channel,,, god bless, more power
thanks for that, this is solid advice! 🙏
Another comment from me: the mistake I think I make is I am too boring. I have only one pilar and that is furniture. But I’m working on it.
Hi @PuraVetus,
I don’t necessarily think your videos are boring, but the target audience might be a bit unclear. Always ask yourself who your videos are for. In your case, with furniture restoration, your audience is likely looking for educational content on how to restore furniture. If this is true, then leaning into educational and how-to videos is the way to go. Your viewers come to learn, so focus on teaching them new tips and techniques with each video. Document your restoration process with clear instructions and add a voiceover and subtle background music to enhance the learning experience.
Also, reconsider your video titles to highlight the educational aspect. Instead of "Refinishing an Old Medicine Cabinet," try "How to Refurbish an Old Medicine Cabinet." This makes it clear that your video is instructional, which helps TH-cam serve it to the right audience.
It's great that you include your dogs in your videos-they add a lot of character! Just be mindful not to feature them for too long and keep the main focus on the restoration process.
Here are a few TH-cam title ideas to get you started:
- "Step-by-Step Guide to Restoring Vintage Furniture"
- "DIY Furniture Restoration: Tips and Techniques"
- "Transforming Old Furniture: A Beginner's Guide"
- "How to Revitalize Antique Pieces: Restoration Tips"
- "Refurbishing Furniture: Easy Techniques for Stunning Results"
I hope this helps, and best of luck with your channel! Steve
You can do it!!! ❤
@@LearnOnlineVideo Thank you for your answer, I will use your tips in future videos. It's good idea to go educational.
@@AbigailOfficialVlogs Thank you.
@LearnOnlineVideo How great that you, with over a million subscribers, take the trouble to respond so extensively and give ample advice. Many big TH-camrs ask for comments, but do not bother to respond themselves. The fact that you do care about your subscribers says a lot about your right character and attitude. I appreciate this very much. I hope that you will soon grow to 5 million and where I can I will make positive publicity for your channel. TH-camrs come on with your thumbs up 👍🏻
Many congratulations Steve for all your achievements, but first of all thank you for inspiring me and for opening "my tap" to creativity.
Before finding your channel and your videos, I could easily say that I was the real Mister boring when shooting almost everything at eyelevel.
In my holidays this summer I had a trip in Europe at amazing places and now I regret that I didn't implement what I've learnt from you.
But luckily, I had one more trip to the mountains last week, and finally implemented part of what I've learned so hardly wait to edit everything and for sure,
I will let you know when I publish that video. Normally, I am the teacher in real life, but this time you'll be the teacher, and I am curious to see if I will pass the exam when you will put the grade.
Now, talking about our mistakes and your offer to review our thumbnails, before doing that, if you don't mind, let me make a short review of your channel.
And this is because your channel really proves my point, that these days, the TH-cam algorithm is really bad with the educational channels. (I'm also having an educational channel but of course, with other topics and targets than yours).
Lately, in the last 1 year or 2, TH-cam does not promote any more so well the educational channels, which in my opinion as a teacher, are fundamental for the education of the people and especially teenagers.
My son is telling me that he has learnt more than half of what he knows from TH-cam and not from his school.
Is one of the many reasons for which I've put an educational TH-cam channel. I consider it as a complementary form of learning. I've learnt myself a lot of things that have improved hugely the way I work in real life.
So, you've reached 1 million subscribers 2 years ago, and from that moment you had only two videos with 1.2 million views and 1.3 million views.
In the last year, you've reached now almost 1.5 million subscribers, and you had what? 828k 10 months ago and 250k, 4 months ago, while the other videos have less then 100k views.
So, come on TH-cam, I can understand that my small channel is not promoted, but Steve, with so many subscribers and such a great content, has views that equal with less than 10% of his subscribers????
Where they are? Why you're not getting more promotion?? and I've observed this trend also at other educational channels, with millions of subscribers and way bellow 100k views per videos, while if you are putting a rabbit eating, I don't know what or one cat hugging 1 chick, that you've got more than 1 million views.
I DON'T LIKE THIS AT ALL. TH-cam has removed the emphasis on educational channels and is concentrating just on making good competition to TikTok. I can understand it from the business perspective, but from education and content creator perspective, this is a huge disappointment.
So deep from my heart, I wish you good luck Steve, cause you're doing an awesome job!
I hope that one day, TH-cam will put a better face for the educational channels, cause for the moment, we’re having bad treatment, and the numbers confirm this.
Talking about me, I think the main mistakes are these:
1. Not having enough time (I have a job) so, I don't post consistently...
2. I'm doing videos that are too long and that require a lot of time (I should make them shorter and post more often, I know, but sometimes I forget that I'm on TH-cam and not at school and I want to provide all the possible explanations in the tutorials so that every person can understand easily.
(I've seen many comments on other tutorials where the viewers are complaining about the fact the is too fast, and they can't keep the pace, they don't understand, they quite, so I don't want this to be the situation in my case, so I put everything with details, so that's why, almost "nobody" watch them.
3. Don't like to copy the others so, I'm doing a lot of research to come up with new things, that are not common on other channels, to reinvent the wheel if I can.
If there are 100 videos over a specific topic, the 101 video which is mine, should have something new with added value that the other 100 don't have, so this is getting few views, because the algorithm is not used with that.
4. My titles and thumbnails are average, but I work at this, I've understood the situation and now, I'm focusing more on them.
5. Analyzing the analytics from TH-cam, they shows that the algorithm is showing my content to the wrong people....I don't know how much is my fault or is it's fault for this.
6. Sometimes my students subscribe to my channels, but they don't watch the videos and that hurts me. (I found out later that is not good to have subscribers that are not actively)
7. And something that if I would have known at the beginning, I would have changed the things. I've promoted my channel to people that I know in real life, but they don't watch too much/ they don't have much time, so they don't typically watch at all when I post something new, or they watch small parts, hurting my analytics.
But all in all, I like creating videos and maybe one day I will have more views. Recently, TH-cam has introduced a new feature, called Inspiration.
Take an example from the last published video. I've analyzed what appears as inspiration for me, I found something with more than 100k views and I've reinvented the wheel, creating a new concept that didn't exist before my video. So, a lot of added value. The result was just 25 views.
But if I feel happy with the result, that's motivating me and overpasses the lack of views.
All the best Steve and thank you so much if you've read all this, many appreciations.
Hey @moderneducation5192 Wow, first of all, this is the longest and most thought-out comment I have ever received on this channel. I really appreciate it. Thank you for your kind words about my content and this channel. It's great to get your take on things as a fellow TH-cam creator in the educational space.
I absolutely relate to what you’re saying about views on this channel being much lower these days, and I’m honestly not sure what I can do about it. The fact that I have almost 1.5 million subscribers, yet less than one percent of them watch a video I post within the first 48 hours, is extremely worrying. I always look at my data and try to take any emotions out of the way when judging my content. The data never lies.
What's worrying is that by looking at the data, when people watch my videos, they seem to be enjoying them, watching for a long time, and are highly engaged with lots of comments and likes, etc. However, I’ve heard many people say that they just aren’t being served my content, and it’s not appearing in their feed. To be honest, these days I don’t expect people to have to search for my channel to watch a video-people want their content quickly and easily-so if it doesn’t appear in the feed, then chances are my videos might not be watched.
I believe the lack of views is due to a couple of reasons. The first is that I took a bit of time off at the end of 2023 and wasn’t as consistent. It feels like TH-cam is still punishing me for this as I haven’t been able to pick things up since. There has also definitely been an algorithm change that has massively affected this channel. You're right as well about other content creators in my niche-their numbers seem to be extremely low in comparison to how they were at the beginning of last year.
If things carry on the way they do, I might not be able to sustain the channel, but I will certainly do my best to ride it out. I’m looking at new strategies and ways to increase numbers on the channel but seem to be hitting a brick wall. I could make more content and be more consistent, but the production quality would definitely drop, and this isn’t something I want to do or necessarily think would change things in a significant way.
It's great to have your thoughts and take on this, and I appreciate your support and feedback. Thanks, Steve
Steve, you are a great video photografer, if i just knew how to film like that... on yt if you are a prof of filming and editing, you will make it here
Hi Steve. Great video with some useful tips, as usual. I've had a channel for four years but it's only recently that I've become more committed to it. I still consider myself a beginner but I do get a bit 'perfectionist' sometimes. It's not that I'm gear obsessed, as my videos are either filmed on a Canon 600D or a Canon Legria camcorder. I find the camcorder ideal for filming tabletop art videos as it'll keep going for a couple of hours. I think my biggest problem is actually the time it takes to put a video together. Even a ten minute video takes me a week or two, but I'll get there! Cheers - David (my channel: David Webb Art)
Nice and more informative thank you so much keep growing 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
I have been following your channel. Terrific! When you do your shoots do you hire a camera operator and how much would that cost you on a half day or day basis.
Thanks for sharing! I learnt many things from you.
Congrats on your achievement. I’m a retired video production dude. Even though I still dabble in production for my church etc, I’m no longer in the game. I enjoy watching your videos for the information and creativity. TH-cam channels like yours exist because of well thought out content and the like ability of the host. You do both well. Look forward to your next video.
Hey @juyint, Thank you so much for the kind words and support! It means a lot coming from someone with your experience. I’m glad you enjoy the content and find it helpful. I appreciate you taking the time to watch and share your feedback. Looking forward to bringing you more videos soon! Thanks, Steve
Always love you stuff
You had me from mistake one. It went right deep.
I'm watching from Bangladesh
Great video Steve! Really enjoy your tutorials. If you’re ever in York I’ll buy you a beer!
The one thing that has helped me a TON is this: cut, cut, cut!
When you are first starting out you sort of fall in love with some of your footage and want it include it, EVEN if it does not add anything to the story. Oh it's nice b roll, I want to add it. Well you don't have to. Nowadays I cut out everything that not serves the story. I cut out so much footage compared to when I started
Very true @milesandhikes , I did the same when I first started. I would force a clip into a sequence just because it took me a long time to shoot. Even if I thought it looked good, it often didn’t add value or move the story forward. It can be tough to let go of a shot you love, but it’s all for the greater good of the story. 😊
@@LearnOnlineVideo glad you confirm my intuition Steve! thanks
Now when I saw the example of the products you couldn't feature but being shown in the video. Hmmm, a light bulb went off and I was like, what if I could do something like this...... the products are being shown, isn't that the point?
My biggest challenge is still doing more "show" than "tell".
I recently got an Osmo Pocket 3 to use for broll as it is quicker and easier than using my mirrorless (let go of my pursuit of perfection). Now looking for more shooting and lighting help with making product shots faster and looking more interesting.
I can't truly create title and thumbnail first, but I work on ideas for them while planning and shooting a video so getting closer and I do put a lot of thought into the packaging before actual release of videos.
Thank you so much for the tips..😊 I'm new to content creation.
I have lived following you and congratulate you. I think that family travel is so much harder than tech channels etc. Do you think it is over saturated? I know I don't post often enough but family travel fitting it in can be hard to slot into life
But you did amazing job🎉.I really enjoyed all of your videos and learn a lot. Thanks for your hard work .
Hi, i've struggled to get the editing to what it is on the latest vids, but still only at just over 200 subs. The niche is pretty big and a lot of channels do similar, so i focused on the delivery aspect of takeaway food and short to the point vids.
Dude thxx so much informative vedio👌♥️
Thank you for the great advice 👍👍
Thanks for the many good tips. I have a small channel that is only about Phuket in Thailand. I film a lot from the beach and from trips on my motorbike on the island. I still have a lot to learn when it comes to filming, but my biggest problem is that I'm bad at English, so I only speak Norwegian in my videos. I am following your channel and will try to learn from you.
Greetings from Norway
Hi Norman,
Thanks for your question. I’ve taken a look at your TH-cam channel and have some feedback that might help with your growth. Creating videos exclusively in Phuket, Thailand, and having an accent aren't issues at all-if anything, they make your content unique and help you stand out.
The main area for improvement seems to be in clearly identifying your target audience and framing your channel to offer value to them. Right now, your content feels more like a personal diary. You could reframe the same content to be more helpful to viewers, especially those interested in visiting Phuket. For instance, instead of titling a video "Food Memories from Phuket," you could rename it "Top 5 Best Places to Eat in Phuket." The content would remain the same, but the new title would attract viewers looking for tips on where to eat in the area.
Also, focus on the first 30 seconds of your videos to clearly explain what they’re about and what value you're offering to viewers. For example, you could say something like, "In this video, I'm going to show you the top five best places to eat in Phuket. We have a mix of different restaurants, ranging from the cheapest to the most expensive, but all with incredible food. That's coming up!"
This opening hook clearly identifies what the video is about, what to expect, and gives people a reason to watch until the end. I believe this approach would dramatically increase your views as well as retention.
Hope this helps!
Thanks,
Steve
@@LearnOnlineVideo Thanks for reply. Those were good tips. I will try this on my next videos. I'm going back to Phuket on Wednesday, so I'll try to film a lot then....if it doesn't rain every day. I hope for growth on my channel, but I do a lot of this as a hobby that I enjoy a lot.
I'm big fan of you from northeast Arunachal Pradesh
North East India dude...
Another excellent educational and thought-provoking lesson here, thanks for your amazing efforts. You make all your videos interesting, fast and informative, so it isn't surprising you have reached such a great milestone of nearly 1.5M subscribers. If I get 1 subscriber I feel extremely privileged, as my content is so unplanned and boring to watch too. I make all of the mistakes, well except the perfection mistake, my skills are poor so I struggle and then give up. Not a way to get anywhere. I keep watching you for inspiration, so thanks very much for your huge efforts! Cheers, Gav
Great input - you're hired. Thank you!
Excellent, what's the salary? :-)
Congratulations sir❤
Conguration ,You did a lot newcomers and professionals as well keep it up
Bro you are one of the best TH-camrs in the world
Hi Steve, I enjoy your videos very much and have implemented several of your techniques. After 4 years on YT, I want to move to a more personal style and more consistent theme. Would live any advice you can offer.
thank you!
Thank you for sharing.Watching from Philippines
Thanks for watching, uploading from England 🏴 😊
Great tips. I've just started my channel (only 2 videos) and your tip of not judging the success of my channel by the number of views I get, is one I'll take on board. Thank you. Ps your other tips are great also.
Hey Phil,
It’s fantastic to see you’ve just started your TH-cam channel, and your first two videos are looking great! I particularly like your thumbnails-they’re clear, simple, and use eye-catching, contrasting colors. Your delivery style is also really nice and calm, which makes for a pleasant viewing experience.
By the way, what’s the story behind all the mud up the back of your jacket in the cover image? 😄 I’ve just subscribed and am excited to see where you take your channel from here!
Best,
Steve
Hi Steve, 7 year milestone wow, great work. I have just started myself and picked up my Epidemic Sound subscription from one of your vids. I have also now started thinking about thumbnails and how important they are. Welcome your input sir!
Ta,
Mike
Hi Mike,
Thanks for your kind words! I'm glad to hear you've started your own TH-cam channel and that you picked up your Epidemic Sound subscription from one of my videos. Epidemic Sound is great, and you'll find some really good music and sound effects for your videos there.
My biggest tip: always come up with your video titles before you start recording. This helps keep your content focused and ensures it aligns with what viewers will expect when they click on your video.
Thumbnails are incredibly important too. I recommend sketching out your thumbnails or creating a basic design in Photoshop before recording. This approach will help guide your video creation and make sure your content fits well with your planned thumbnail.
Hope these tips are helpful!
Best,
Steve
@@LearnOnlineVideo thanks Steve, you are a star mate, thank you. Each video is getting a little better and I am getting a little more confident too.
Great advice. The issue i have is i upload a video, gets like 40 views a few comments and generally positive engagement in the first 24 hours..metrics look ok (CTR a bit poor) so ive changed thumbnails and titles and seem to have improved. Then, literally no views after the first 24 hours.
Congratulations
I really enjoy and learn more skills with your content 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Could you do a video on how to improve thumbnails? I think I need to do a better job with them
Thanks for the suggestion @DestructX, a video on improving thumbnails is a great idea! Thumbnails are so important for attracting viewers, and I think a lot of people could benefit from some tips and best practices. I’ll add it to my list of upcoming content-stay tuned!
Thank you for sharing
Congrats, need to work on my packaging
Congrats sir
Great video Steve.
Been subbed to your channel for a while now, couple yers I think and have learned so much from it.
My problem is that I don't make enough videos of what my channel is about and have not made one for about 18 months or so. My editing and recording skills have really improved thanks to this channel.
I still make videos along with my 7 year old grandson who is really in to video and editing we just never seem to post them.
Can I ask you this question?
If you are in to filimg a couple of different things, 1 walking and hiking the other something else would you just keep both on the same channel or have two channels?
many thanks
Hi @stehume,
I’m really glad to hear you’ve been enjoying the channel and that it’s helped with your filming and editing skills. It’s fantastic that you’re making videos with your grandson-sounds like a lot of fun!
Regarding your question about keeping different types of content on the same channel: it depends on the nature of the two types of videos. If both topics fall within the same niche or are related in some way, it’s usually best to keep them on the same channel. This helps maintain audience interest and keeps your channel cohesive.
However, if the topics are completely different-like hiking and something else entirely-splitting them into separate channels might be a good idea. This is because having too many unrelated types of content on one channel can split your audience. Some viewers might enjoy one type of content but not the other, which could hinder your growth.
Keep up the great work with your filming and editing, and don’t hesitate to post those videos you and your grandson create. Your audience will appreciate the variety and creativity!
Best of luck,
Steve
I wish this year will end me having 1000 subs
I've just been over and subscribed, I was your 500th subscriber ;-)
I wish that for my self as well
Thanks for a great video with tips. I really enjoyed your video about the Hover X1 drone. Please can you let me know which product you use to edit your videos. Many thanks and keep up the good work.
Thanks, the hover air X1 video was really fun to make 😊 I edit all of my videos on a MacBook using Final Cut Pro X, I use this because this is the editing software I have used for years and I am most familiar with. If you’re just starting out however I would look at using da Vinci resolve as this is free and has a lot of professional features, hope this helps and thanks for watching.
Hi Steve and everyone else. I have a question and hope you can help me get an answer. I post videos in 2 different languages, English and Arabic, in the same TH-cam channel. What is best? to continue posting with 2 different languages in the same channel or should I have 2 different channels?
Good job, man!
Thank you so much 💓, always good tips...priceless 👍. All best 👌 wishes
Thank you for this super-informative video. I always struggle with thumbnails. I use the same thumbnail for all my podcast episodes so that people know in which videos I show my face and in which I don't. Would love your input on this.
Hi @3amfearpod , I just checked out your TH-cam channel and noticed that you’re using the exact same thumbnail for each video. This is something you should avoid, as viewers might assume they've already seen the video just by looking at the thumbnail, without reading the title. Consistency in your thumbnail design is important-it helps with brand recognition-but it’s also crucial that each thumbnail has some variation.
One approach I use is placing my logo in the top right corner of each thumbnail. This way, my audience can easily identify my videos. I also stick to a consistent color scheme and keep my thumbnails simple, using no more than three elements. Hope this feedback is helpful! Thanks, Steve
@@LearnOnlineVideo Thank you so much for taking the time to help me out. I'm working on changing my thumbnails right away. :)
Beginner here
Thank you Steve ❤
I'm just hoping to have 1000 subscribers soon 😊😊😊 i think 50 years 😅😅😅