[2/2] I'm being told to pick a target audience and pander to them but.... that's not how I want the channel to grow? I've been telling this adviser that but things got to a point where they've given up on me (I've only been at it a month) say they don't know what I want from them (they haven't watched any of my vids except kinda clicking through and criticizing the 4/40 minutes they saw, so maybe watch plz) so I don't know if you've seen how youtubers go up without clickbait that I haven't :/
I honestly don’t know anyone who hasn’t used a little bit of clickbait. The reason being is that it actually works– the science behind it is that as human beings, we want to complete a lot of things. With clickbait, our minds read the headline or tidbit that is considered clickbait, and to answer our wonder about it, we often click it to find some sort of resolution. Many popular YTers definitely use clickbait, even now that they are more known, you know? So if you use clickbait (which it seems like you’re against which isn’t bad at all and I find very honorable), don’t be hard on yourself.
But I’ll gladly watch your videos if you’d like! I don’t mind doing that at all! And I can try to give an honest opinion if you’d like.
But I’m sorry that you feel really frustrated and discouraged. That’s the worst, especially when it’s something that you’re very passionate about. But just know that it happens to everyone. When you’re working with the creative process, it’s part of the cycle and isn’t abnormal. I know that this isn’t a solution to your worries about your direction and such, but I just wanted you to know that it is normal and will happen, and likely will happen again. While it is hard, you have to push through. Rome wasn’t built in a night!
It’s hard starting from the bottom, but unfortunately everyone has to do it. It can be hard trying to climb up and trying to get where you want to be, but it’s a fight that makes everything worth it. So it might seem so daunting right now, but you need to work through it all and make sure that in the future, you’re glad you kept going.
I don’t know if you follow me for my writing or anything, or just because of my content. But if it was for my writing on Ao3 and tumblr, I too had to start at the bottom. I was getting like three notes on pieces I had poured my heart and soul into. It was devastating refreshing and refreshing to see no one giving it the attention I thought it needed and the attention I personally needed to validate myself. Validation is normal– everyone wants validation. It’s what also makes us human. There were so many people who I looked up to who were getting a lot of notes and kudos on their works, and it discouraged me every time. You put so much work into something and to receive little to no recognition or praise like you feel like you deserve. But the more you push on, the harder the battle gets, it’s more steps you’re taking in the right direction.
If you give up, there’s no chance for you to get where you want at all, right? Let’s say I had given up writing. I never would’ve gotten where I was. I went from two to three notes on my first story that I had worked so hard on to 50+ on a short little prompt I did as practice. It’s something that you, as another creative mind, also need to have and work on: learning that while yes, you are probably not as popular as you’d like to be, but if you stop and give in to your discouragement, there will never be opportunity for you to achieve your full potential.
But while I say all of this, it seems like you definitely have some sort of vision for your channel, yes? You don’t want to pander to a specific audience, you don’t seem like you want to choose a clickbait path, and it seems like you have your heart definitely set on your channel. And I think that’s absolutely wonderful! It warms my heart that you feel this way because it definitely means you care about what you’re doing, and you care a lot!
My only honest way of suggestion on raising your numbers is networking. It’s something that helps out in a lot of ways. Networking allows you to have support from others, and allows you to build off of other creative minds that might help you create something you didn’t really think of before. I personally love working with other creative minds, because you can bounce ideas back and forth. They can give you advice, you can build friendships and work together to rise your numbers. Networking, aside from being a tool for creation, also allows more exposure. If you do a video with another YTer for example, you’re exposed to their audience, who might not have heard of you before! Maybe they like what they see, and they’ll check you out! Same for the one you worked with, some people from your channel might see their channel, and check them out. It can be a very useful tool.
Hang in there friend. I’m sorry if this didn’t help completely, I just wanted to remind you that you need to persevere and keep trying! Because if you don’t, you don’t achieve what you want. It’ll be hard, yes, and you might not have all of the tools others have, but you need to make do with what you have. Reach out to others. Make friends. Keep trying hard. It’ll work out eventually. But you need to get there first, and that definitely means you need to keep going and follow your heart.
I’m sorry that person just criticized you and aren’t being much of any help it seems. If they’re not coinciding with your views and don’t seem to be actually helping, please don’t be afraid to drop them and find some better advice elsewhere. Not everyone is a perfect fit. It might take a few times to get there and find someone who is, but don’t be afraid to follow your heart and follow your morals and goals. This is your vision, you need to be driven enough to see it through, and to board on the right people who will help you along the way.
