How to Grow Your YouTube Channel and Beat the Algorithm

Hey! How have you been?

I am enjoying my last two weeks in Austin, Texas, right now. I think my family and I are about 80% sure we want to move here. When I am back home, I am starting a daily Instagram reels series about the potential move. If you are interested in following along, my handle there is @leroyterbraak.

Anyway, let’s get into it!

I want to share with you some of my top tips and strategies for growing a successful YouTube channel, based on my years of experience helping creators achieve their goals. In this newsletter, we'll cover:

• 🎯 How to make addicting video titles that spark curiosity

• 📸 The psychology behind click-worthy thumbnails

• 🚀 Common mistakes that hold back your channel growth

• 🎬 My framework for consistently finding viral video ideas

• 📈 The real truth about YouTube's algorithm

Are you ready to take your channel to the next level? Let's dive in.

Addicting YouTube Titles

Your video titles are critical for grabbing attention and driving clicks. Here are some key tips:

• Make a clear, specific promise in the title (not broad/generic)

• Create a curiosity gap by hinting at something viewers want to know

• Use power words and emotional triggers (fear, desire, hate, etc)

• Frontload the most important info in the first few words

• Keep titles under 50 characters when possible

Bad title: "How to Grow on YouTube" Good title: "The Secret to 1,000 Subscribers in 7 Days"

Remember, optimize for the glance. Short, punchy, curiosity-driven titles win.

Thumbnail Psychology

Thumbnails are often more important than the title itself. Here's how to make them irresistible:

• Text is psychology. Use it to tap into emotions and insecurities.

• Limit to 3 main visual elements. Keep it simple!

• Choose colors intentionally. Red = urgency, green = positivity, etc.

• Faces are powerful. Use strong, emotional expressions.

• Thumbnail style sets expectations (raw still = authentic, polished = high-quality, etc)

Refine your winning thumbnail concepts relentlessly, like Nick DiGiovanni does. It's worth it.

Common Growth Mistakes

I see creators make these errors all the time. Avoid them to grow faster:

1. Speaking to everyone instead of a specific target audience

2. Chasing trends without a strategy to tie them to your niche

3. Neglecting titles and thumbnails

4. Obsessing over individual metrics too early (CTR and AVD DO NOT MATTER on a starter channel)

5. Inconsistent or nonexistent upload schedule (No way to get better without reps and data)

Fix these and watch your channel perform 10x better.

My Viral Video Ideation Process

Finding great video ideas is crucial. This is how I do it:

1. Research the platform. Become an expert on YouTube, not only your niche.

2. Find outlier videos from 6- 12+ months ago. Can you refresh them?

3. Look for recent outlier videos. How can you add a unique twist?

4. Note interesting angles from news, forums, and social media. Fill a market gap.

5. Choose your top ideas and validate demand before creating.

Far-niche transferring is my favorite technique. Find what works in other niches and adapt it to yours in a fresh way.

The Truth About the Algorithm

Here's what you need to understand about how discovery works on YouTube:

• The algorithm is centered around each individual viewer and their preferences/history

• Videos are ranked for viewers, not "pushed out" by YouTube. Pull, not push.

• It's not about raw view/click metrics but how well you satisfy that particular viewer

• Your channel's algorithm performance will naturally ebb and flow over time

• Focus on making videos your target audience will love, not "gaming" the system

The algorithm rewards you for knowing your audience well and delivering on your promises.

I hope these insights help you grow your channel with confidence. Remember, there are no shortcuts - it takes strategy, creativity, and hard work. But you've got this!

To your YouTube success, and see you in the next newsletter.

Leroy