Youtube Channel Growth: The Biggest Challenges Growing YouTubers Need To Be Aware Of
Youtube channel growth and growing as a YouTuber is an undoubtedly exciting time. Keeping an audience that gets bigger with each video, getting that viral hit, and even looking at the prospect of making some money can be a huge thrill.
But it also marks the moment that you officially have something to lose should something go wrong. This is a transitionary period for many YouTubers, so you need to be aware of the different risks that can get in your way and how to protect against them.
Youtube channel growth: the steady YouTube paycheck
Whilst there’s still plenty of potentials to find a huge audience on YouTube, it has been no secret that getting paid for all of your hard work has been getting harder over time. The effects of the ad-apocalypse (in which advertisers left the platform in droves and limited which content they let their ads appeared on due to certain content providers) are still being felt.
As such, you can make ad-friendly content and do just fine, still. However, even those who do so will look to sponsorship deals or at setting up a Patreon so that their fans can support them more directly. Some channels have found more success through these models than YouTube ever paid, alone.
The copycats are coming
YouTube is a website and platform that incentivizes content that copies or are inspired by other successful content. We all have our inspirations, and if you’re successful, you should be proud to inspire others. However, it would help if you didn’t tolerate those who are straight-up copying you right down to your brand.
Many users are afraid of being targeted by companies that make unwieldy use of takedown policies, but a DMCA takedown service can also help you protect your brand. If you see others using your content, such as your branding, music, or even your videos, without adhering to the Fair Use policy, you can have it taken down. If you let others use your brand, you could risk losing traffic and followers to them, too.
The drama, oh, the drama
As much as it is a video production and sharing platform, YouTube is also a social media channel. This means that there are plenty of people who it to dish gossip and drama. When you start seeing some success, it means you become a relevant topic, and the channels that exist to create YouTube drama are likely to start targeting you. Anything that these channels can find is fair game, and not handling said drama correctly could lead to a serious drop in followers.
However, what the correct approach entails depends on the specifics. It may mean an apology, a tell-all, or even ignoring the issue if it’s a baseless rumor. It’s a good idea to know what parts of your channel or online life can be used as fuel for drama so you can prepare that correct approach.
Burnout is all too real
It’s easy to assume that YouTubers have it made and are eternally living on easy street. After all, getting money and making the content you want to make sounds like a dream.
However, a lot of YouTubers have publicly shared their experiences of burnout. This can be because they are making content they aren’t passionate about because it appeals to their fans. It may be that they have trouble keeping up with the expected content schedule.
There is, of course, the pressure of being under the public lens, as well. It’s important to look at the YouTubers who have experience with burnout and what advice they offer, as it’s a problem that practically no-one else faces due to the platform’s unique nature.
The expectations of larger audiences
When it comes to newer YouTubers and channels with fewer followers, there is often a sense of acceptance regarding the quality of the video and the tech used to create it. However, as your audience grows, more people will start to tune in, and their expectations can be very different for you.
Look at the YouTube equipment you should consider investing in to make sure that your videos have a sense of production value to them. You don’t need to make your videos look anything like blockbuster films, but making sure that you’re well-lit and well-framed will make your videos a lot easier to watch.
Running out of content ideas
If your channel has been going for some time, then it’s almost a guarantee that you’re going to have a problem finding ideas for new content at some point. A lot of channels tend to find a new format when this problem happens.
Some will cover news and current events related to the topic they usually produce videos on. Others will start to host other online influencers and celebrities for interviews and promotions. However, simply going with an easy format or the latest trend can end up with you losing the spark that initially made your channel success in the first place. Think about the kind of content you wanted to make when you first set out and try to revisit any ideas that you can now do better or weren’t able to do at all, at the time.
Youtube channel growth: Engaging with your community
Your most loyal viewers might be the joy of your career at the moment, but the more attention you get, the more those voices will get lost in the chaos that is the YouTube comments section. Even your Twitter and other public profiles can quickly become a mess that’s hard to pay attention to.
You might want to hire a community manager if you get large enough to afford one. Otherwise, it will be important to develop a thick enough skin to not engage with the trolls and harassers of the internet and, when in doubt, ignore the comment section entirely.
Don’t start getting too anxious about losing your success once you start making it on YouTube. You are clearly doing something right, and you should keep doing it above all else. However, be aware of the risks and make sure you’re not in danger of falling through any of them.
