Starting Your YouTube Journey: 3 Essential Levels to Grow Your Channel

Hey there, aspiring YouTuber! If you're just starting out on YouTube and wondering how to grow your channel from the ground up, you've come to the right place. After creating over 500 YouTube videos and growing a community of 2.5 million subscribers, I've learned some key lessons that I'd love to share with you today.

Whether you're aiming for fun or you're taking your YouTube journey seriously, these tips will guide you through the three essential levels of growth on YouTube. Ready? Let's dive in!

Level 1: Get Going (First 50 Subscribers)

At the very beginning of your YouTube journey, the most important thing is to just get started. I call this the “Get Going” stage, and it's for anyone with less than 50 subscribers. Trust me, don’t overthink it! This is the stage where you create your first 5-10 videos without worrying about perfection. You don't need to nail your niche right now. Just make videos and enjoy the process!

Pro Tip: Focus on Learning

In the early days, every video is a learning experience. Whether it's figuring out how to speak confidently on camera or learning the ropes of video editing, you'll only improve by doing.

Level 2: Get Good (Improve Your Craft)

Once you've gotten your feet wet and hit around 100 subscribers, it’s time to level up. At this stage, you focus on getting good at making videos. This means increasing both your internal and external quality.

• Internal Quality: When you’re not cringing at your own videos anymore, you're getting there! You should feel proud of your content.
• External Quality: This is when your audience starts engaging. Comments like, “This was helpful” or “Loved this video!” are signs you're on the right path.

If you're not embarrassed by your content, you're leveling up. At this stage, views may still be low, but you’ll notice that your audience is beginning to appreciate your content.

Level 3: Get Smart (Strategize for Success)

Now, once you've got a few hundred subscribers under your belt, it's time to think smart. Here's where you need to ask yourself: “Am I serious about YouTube, or is this just a casual hobby?”

If you're serious, consistency is key. You don’t have to upload weekly, but you do need to commit to a regular schedule. Consistency builds trust with your audience and tells the YouTube algorithm that you're here to stay.

Pro Tip: Consistency Matters!

If you’re juggling YouTube alongside a job (like I did as a medical student), finding time can be a challenge. But even full-time YouTubers struggle with time management. The trick is to prioritize and outsource tasks like editing if they’re taking up too much of your time.

How to Balance YouTube with a Busy Life

Back when I was working as a full-time doctor, it was tough to find time for YouTube. Between commuting, working long hours, and trying to have a social life, I barely had time to make videos. Sound familiar?

Here's the reality: even if you have a demanding day job, you can make it work. It’s about being strategic with your time and optimizing your workflow. Outsourcing editing, planning your content ahead of time, and focusing on high-value activities are all crucial steps to balancing life and YouTube.

Do You Want to Make YouTube a Hobby or a Business?

At a certain point in your journey, you'll have to decide whether YouTube is going to be just for fun or something more serious. There’s no wrong answer here! But if you're thinking of YouTube as a business, the main focus shifts to providing value to others and, yes, monetizing your content.

If you want to treat YouTube as a business, think about how you can offer value. What knowledge do you have now that could benefit others? This is where niching down starts to matter, but only after you've got a solid foundation of content and confidence.

Final Thoughts: The Secret to YouTube Growth

The secret to growing your channel isn’t really a secret. It’s about consistency, quality, and providing value to your audience. Whether you're at 50 subscribers or 5,000, focus on making every video better than the last, engaging with your audience, and learning from your experiences.

And remember, you don’t have to go it alone. Seek out feedback, invest in resources like outsourcing editing if you need it, and most importantly—have fun with the journey.

Pro Tip: Think Title, Thumbnail, Hook First!

Before you even start making a video, think about your title, thumbnail, and hook (the first 30 seconds). These are key elements that will attract viewers and keep them watching. Plan these out first, and the rest of the video creation process will flow much smoother.

So there you have it, friends! Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your channel to the next level, these strategies will help you grow and succeed on YouTube. Now get out there and start making those videos!