How To Make Your YouTube Channel Grow: 18 Tactics Most Creators Overlook

You might be making great videos for your YouTube channel, but seeing disappointing view counts and subscriber numbers can be frustrating. The struggle is real, but don't give up just yet! With some smart tweaks to your approach, you can turn things around. If you want to know how to make your YouTube channel grow, this guide will help you greatly.

Part 1. How To Make Your YouTube Channel Grow

So, the question lurking in your mind is how to make successful YouTube channel. Well, you need to understand that several things work together to make this possible.

1. Know What YouTube Algorithms Do

YouTube's algorithm accounts for about 70% of what people watch on the platform and looks at how your video's title, tags, and content match search queries.

The algorithm also considers your channel's reputation on particular topics. When making recommendations, Iit tracks how viewers interact with your videos - watch time, comments, and likes all matter here. This naturally increases your visibility, as the system shows your videos to more people with similar interests. The result? Your channel ranks on top according to these positive signals.

2. Make Videos Around One Topic

People naturally trust channels that show real expertise in specific areas rather than those that seem to dabble in everything. That's why most successful channels on YouTube rarely try to cover everything under the sun. They stick to what they know best.

So, before jumping into content creation, look at what similar channels in your field are doing. Their most-watched videos reveal topics and presentation styles that already connect with the audience you want to reach.

3. Focus on Video Length

Recent research shows that about half of all YouTube videos run under three minutes, with another quarter falling between 5 and 30 minutes. This isn't random - different lengths serve different purposes. YouTube Shorts are very popular and great for getting eyeballs and driving engagement, such as tips or product reviews, but they're not great for generating income.

In contrast, long-form content provides valuable and detailed information, and you can advertise using a mid-roll (around 8 minutes). This is the reason why many YouTube videos are 10 minutes or more. The platform tends to favor channels that keep viewers watching longer.

The strategy here is to mix up short and long-form content and analyze the results over time to see performance and decide on a perfect video length that works best in your niche.

4. Create Amazing Thumbnails and Use YouTube Info Cards

First impressions matter hugely on YouTube. The thumbnails in the videos might seem like small details, but they contribute to the overall success of your YouTube channel. YouTube promotes videos via thumbnails in sidebars and search results, so yours needs to stand out from the crowd. Videos with catchy titles and appealing thumbnails often rank higher, even if the content isn't necessarily better.

To make thumbnails that get clicks, try using bright colors, arrows pointing to important elements, large readable text, and images that spark curiosity.

Then, there are YouTube info cards that add another layer of viewer engagement by keeping people on your channel longer. You can add 5 cards for each video that appear as rectangular boxes or teasers at strategic moments. Place them exactly where viewers commonly drop off to redirect their attention to your other content. They can be linked to other videos, playlists, channels, or even external websites if you're in the YouTube Partner Program.

5. Optimize Videos for YouTube and Google SEO

YouTube videos show up in about 70% of Google's top search results. Just like websites need optimization to rank well, your YouTube videos need SEO to appear in both YouTube and Google searches.

The challenge is finding those perfect keywords people actually search for. Free research tools like keywordtool.io can help identify terms that matter to your audience. Include these keywords in your titles and descriptions without stuffing them unnaturally so YouTube understands what you're talking about.

Also, adding your videos to relevant categories and using specific tags gives the platform more context about your content. While you can use many tags, add only those that genuinely relate to your video. Product reviews, how-to guides, and in-depth videos covering specific topics typically perform best in search results because they directly answer questions people are asking.

6. Be a Brand

What separates serious YouTube channel creators from casual uploaders is their portrayal as brands. For personal brands, regularly showing your face in videos helps viewers connect with you as an individual. This approach works exceptionally well for content creators, fitness instructors, coaches, and solo entrepreneurs who are building a following.

If you already have branding on other platforms, carry those visual elements to YouTube for a consistent experience across your online presence. Your channel header deserves special attention, too. You should add custom URLs and write an engaging bio explaining what viewers can expect from your content.

7. Keep a Close Eye on Your Metrics

YouTube uses engagement metrics like likes, comments, and watch time to determine where videos rank in search results. This is where YouTube Analytics comes in.

Key metrics worth tracking include:

• Unique viewers (how many individuals watch your content)
• Demographic information (who your audience is)
• Watch time (how long they stay engaged)
• Average view percentage (how much of each video typically gets watched)
• Audience retention (when people stay or leave)
• Re-watches (content sections viewers find particularly valuable)
• Engagement metrics (comments, shares, likes)
• Click-through rate (measures your thumbnail and title's effectiveness at getting clicks)
• Subscriber growth (tracks channel expansion over time)
• Traffic sources (reveals show where viewers find your content)
• Views evolution (identifies which content types successfully increase your visibility)

The information in YouTube Analytics can help you shape your current and future content so that it resonates with your viewers. As a result, you'll likely see faster growth in traffic and subscribers.

Part 2. How To Promote Your YouTube Channel for Free on YouTube

Making videos, optimizing them for SEO, and checking out the metrics are the initial aspects of growing your YouTube channel. Promoting it without spending on ads is a different story if your budget is tight.

Here are a few pointers on how to promote YouTube videos and grow your channel without breaking the bank.

8. Make a Schedule and Regularly Upload Videos

Posting at least weekly builds channel momentum and grows your viewership in the process.

Research shows timing matters, too. YouTube Analytics reveals exactly when your specific audience actively uses the platform through a heat map in your local time zone. Check the "When your viewers are on YouTube" section under the Audience tab to find these golden posting windows.

You should also pick specific days and times for new videos, then stick to this schedule religiously. This way, subscribers know exactly when to expect new content, and they can recommend others that will help your channel grow.

9. Create Playlists and Video Series

As your video library grows on YouTube, navigation becomes challenging for viewers. Playlists solve this problem by grouping related content into categories and making your channel more user-friendly.

The best way to do this is to create a video series for each playlist. This approach also increases total watch time as videos automatically play in sequence, which keeps viewers on your channel longer.

10. Add a CTA in Every Video

Not everyone automatically thinks to like or subscribe to your channel after watching a video, so gentle reminders often work best. Include these prompts naturally in your video content or descriptions to capture interactions that might otherwise never happen.

Growing channels particularly benefit from direct subscription requests. Asking viewers questions to answer in comments, suggesting your other related videos and content on your website, or adding a CTA makes a huge difference.

11. Do Live Streams and Create Shorts

Live streaming is booming on YouTube, and your viewers love real, unscripted moments. Try hosting Q&A sessions or tutorials where you can chat directly with your audience. These live videos create a personal connection that recorded content can't match.

Don't forget about YouTube Shorts - these quick vertical videos grab the attention of people scrolling on their phones. Your old, longer videos can become bite-sized Shorts that lead curious viewers back to your full content.

12. Start a Giveaway Contest

Running a giveaway on your channel gets viewers excited and boosts engagement. The trick is to keep it simple - ask people to like, comment, and subscribe to enter. Pick prizes that match your content so you attract real fans, not just freebie hunters.

After your contest ends, watch your subscriber numbers carefully. If people disappeared quickly, they were only there for the prizes. The best way to tackle this is to space out your giveaways to make sure you're building a genuine audience who actually enjoys your videos.

13. Engage with Your Viewers

Never forget that YouTube is all about conversation. When viewers comment on your videos, try to respond - it shows you care about their thoughts. Ask questions during your videos to get people talking, and thank anyone who shares your content.

You may also check out similar channels and join those conversations too. This helps you build connections in your niche. The friendships you create turn casual viewers into loyal fans who keep coming back and, thus, grow your channel.

Part 3. How To Promote Your YouTube Channel for Free on Other Platforms

YouTube promotion shouldn't stay limited to YouTube itself. External platforms offer tremendous opportunities to attract new viewers and subscribers. If you want to know how to make successful YouTube channel by promoting it outside the platforms, here are a few tips that won't cost you anything.

14. Share Videos on Other Social Platforms

Most of your YouTube viewers (almost 85%) already use other social media too. You can take advantage of this by sharing your new videos right away on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.

The approach here is to adjust your tone to match each site's vibe - be professional on LinkedIn but more casual on Instagram. Also, make quick teasers that fit each platform. For example, square clips are used for Instagram, and vertical clips are used for TikTok. These little previews pull people back to your full YouTube video without extra work.

15. Cross-Promote Your YouTube Video

Your old videos naturally connect to your new ones when topics overlap. While you're talking in a video, you can casually mention other content you've created, and viewers will appreciate discovering more of your helpful videos.

Since YouTube removed on-screen annotations, description links work really well for guiding your audience. If you're explaining something you've covered previously, simply mention, "I've covered this in another video," and include the link. This strategy feels conversational rather than pushy and keeps your viewers enjoying your channel longer instead of wandering off.

16. Email Your Subscribers for Upcoming Videos

Your email list reaches fans who already care about your content without fighting algorithms. When you have a new video coming soon, you can share sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes moments that make subscribers feel special.

Try sending more than just a "new video" email. Add extra tips or personal stories that connect with your audience. This personal touch keeps your most loyal viewers excited about your channel and may put a word out for your channel, helping it grow.

Part 4. Use HitPaw Online Video Enhancer To Enhance Videos for Better Quality YouTube Channel

You may cover all the basics, but if the videos are not of great quality, no matter what you do, your channel won't grow. HitPaw Online Video Enhancer can take care of this problem with AI without you needing to reshoot your videos. Here's how:

• Step 1.Open the HitPaw Online AI Video Enhancer website and click "Choose Video" to upload the video.

  

• Step 2.Depending on your need, you can use an AI model of your choice to improve your facial elements with two different settings, get rid of grainy footage, enrich the colors, brighten a video captured in a dark environment, or upscale the video resolution up to 8K. To see the real-time results, click "Preview."

  

• Step 3.Finally, download your enhanced video and upload it to YouTube.

Part 5. FAQs of How to Make Your YouTube Channel Grow

Conclusion on How to Make Your YouTube Channel Grow

Getting your YouTube channel off the ground can feel like pushing a boulder uphill. In this guide, we've discussed how to make your YouTube channel grow with content strategies, SEO, and free promotional techniques. Hopefully, you've learned something new and can now start implementing these guidelines to be a top earner on YouTube.