1M YouTube

J E R R Y H I E T A N I E M I ’ S
THE SECRET
TO GETTING
1 MILLION
SUBSCRIBERS
IN 30 DAYS
SOCIALMEDIACALENDAR.CO
THE SECRET TO GETTING
1 MILLION
FOLLOWERS IN 30 DAYS
JERRY HIETANIEMI
Copyright © Jerry Hietaniemi 2021
All rights reserved under the International Copyright Conventions. This book may not be repro-
duced, in whole or in part, in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including pho-
tocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system not known or hereafter
invented, without written permission from the publisher, The Social Media Company Ltd.
All inquiries should be made to support@socialmediacalendar.co
www.socialmediacalendar.co
____________________________________________________________________
Creator: Hietaniemi, Jerry
Title: The Secret To Getting 1 Million Followers In 30 Days
____________________________________________________________________
Disclaimer
The advice provided in this publication is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking
into account your objectives, financial situation, or business needs. Before acting on this advice you
should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial
situation, and business needs. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the author and publisher
disclaim all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any person
taking or not taking action based on the information in this publication.
Printed in Finland by PunaMusta Oy

Contents
About the Author........................................................................ 4
Introduction................................................................................... 5
PART 1
Why Choose YouTube?.......................................................... 7
Benefits of YouTube................................................................ 11
PART 2
Universal Laws of YouTube............................................. 21
How the YouTube Algorithm Woks........................... 34
How to Get One Million Subscribers...................... 41
PART 3
Phase 1: First 100 Followers........................................... 44
Find Your Channel Niche................................................................... 45
Create & Optimize Your Channel.................................................. 48
Create Your First Video...................................................................... 51
Upload Your Video................................................................................. 54
Phase 2: First 1,000 Followers...................................... 60

Develop Your Strategy....................................................................... 61
Optimize Your Videos............................................................................ 67
Engage with Your fans........................................................................ 72
Phase 3: First 10,000 Followers................................... 76
Cross-Promote Your Channel...................................................... 77
Utilize Analytics Data.......................................................................... 78
Monetize your Account...................................................................... 80
Run a YouTube Ad Campagin............................................................ 82
Phase 4: First 100,000 Followers............................... 90

Verify Your Account............................................................................. 91
Host YouTube Contests....................................................................... 92
Go Live on YouTube................................................................................. 94
Patner with Other Channels......................................................... 95
Phase 5: First 1,000,000 Followers........................... 99

Promote & Sell Merch......................................................................... 100
Published Sponsored Videos.......................................................... 103
Connect with Sponsors..................................................................... 104
Affiliate Marketing................................................................................ 106
Invest in Professional Equipment.............................................. 108
PART 4
Key Take-Aways.............................................................................. 113
Closing Remarks & Thanks..................................................... 115

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jerry Hietaniemi is a digital marketing strategist and creative

visionary. As one of the top names in paid advertising, he provides
tailored, winning solutions for his clients while focusing on the
growth of his own business, Social Media Calendar.
Jerry helps his clients leverage the power of social media and
personal branding into profit growth techniques and strategies.
Jerry’s biggest strength is selling design: he has the ability to
shape things into understandable, easy to market, and productive
entities.
His passion for marketing flourished as an entrepreneur at the age

of 20 in the fitness industry. The rapid success in the fitness niche
attracted the interest of major Finnish fitness brands, and Jerry
took point on consulting companies on digital marketing and sales
strategies.
The secret to success lies in action, continuous improvement, the

ability to change, and be one step ahead. Solutions must always
exceed the customer’s expectations, and the best results are
achieved in cooperation with the client.
4 | one million followers

INTRO
Launched in 2005, YouTube is a video-driven social media platform
responsible for approximately 11% of all global video traffic. It
currently boasts more than 1 billion users worldwide. It is a simple
video sharing platform that allows users to host their own channels
and produce their own content.
The emergence of YouTube was one of the most significant digital

revolutions witnessed by our society in the last decade; A golden
era of creating, sharing, and learning. Today, the site witnesses
300 hours of new content every minute. YouTube has become
a common platform for one and all, whether you’re a content
creator, stand-up comedian, fashion icon, or a business owner; the
opportunities are limitless.
The online video library is now the world’s 3rd most visited site,
with an unimaginable global reach. While there has been ongoing
controversy regarding its content, its influence on the current and
upcoming generations is undebatable. Over the years, the site has
become a symbol of democracy and acculturation. Almost anyone
can upload anything and share their ideas across continents within
just minutes. YouTube has allowed the common man to reach
millions within the comfort of their homes.

There are stories of many, many businesses that have emerged
solely through YouTube and its incredible reach. It has changed
our world, especially our world of opportunities.
Using social media and the online community to expand your

personal brand has become a growing trend, with ample reasons,
of course. There are a plethora of brands that exemplify the
utilization of YouTube for building a successful business. Our
research shows that there is a strong correlation between a
successful business and a robust
consumer-brand relationship.
YouTube creates and bolsters
a bidirectional bond between
companies and their consumers.
A few years ago, establishing a

culturally diverse community
of consumers would have been
almost impossible. Still, with the
rise of platforms such as YouTube,
it’s not only possible but immensely
effective. The dominance of
YouTube, amongst other social
media platforms, offers young
and old brands an opportunity to
establish, rework, and market their
ideas through interactive strategies.
6 | one million subscribers

WHY CHOOSE
YOUTUBE?
Remember when YouTube first gained traction in the social media
world? Many remember YouTube back in its prime. It might not
be at its peak anymore. There are still creators out there who still
upload prank videos, videos of themselves talking to the camera,
and funny animations. Everyone believes YouTube was at its peak
back when marketers didn’t grab hold of the fact that the platform
would be great for marketing and growing a brand.
No, it was merely a place where people uploaded videos that were
so interesting they couldn’t help but share it with the world. Who
doesn’t remember older YouTube personalities from decades ago
who ended up either retiring early or becoming television or movie
stars in their own right?
Of course, once people realized YouTube was an untapped market,

the whole industry changed. Instead of being a place where
we could upload videos hoping they would go viral, we started
branding. We started to upload videos for the sole purpose of ad
revenue and trying to get discovered. We weren’t trying to make
people laugh anymore. We were driven by money.
On the surface, it sounds horrible. Why even go to YouTube anymore

if everyone who uploads videos is only doing it for fame and
fortune? The time where YouTube was a genuine place to upload
videos is gone. It’s an entirely different platform where brands and
marketers go to get those free YouTube views. Do you know why?
They do it because the views are there.

It doesn’t matter that YouTube isn’t in it’s “prime” any more. It
doesn’t matter that YouTube “isn’t what it used to be.” YouTube is
the standard. It’s so ingrained in society that when people need
a video for anything from fixing a dishwasher to figuring out
whether we should watch a new movie.
But where are we watching these videos? Sure, we could watch

them from some random Joe who uploaded a poorly edited
video with terrible audio, trying to hold a phone camera in his
mouth as he records himself fixing a drain pipe. But who wants
to sit there and watch that when you can have the companies
themselves making videos for you that help them drive traffic to
their website, company, or brand? That’s called branching out
and being an authority.

LET THE NUMBERS TALK
More than one billion unique users

visit YouTube each month, totaling
17% of all internet traffic.
100 hours of video content are uploaded

every minute, with more content uploaded
in 60 days than all 3 major US networks
generated in the last 60 years.
YouTube Receives one billion

daily views from mobile devices
and 25% of views globally.
6 billion hours of video are watched

each month and are accessed from
hundreds of millions of devices.
56 countries post video

content in 61 unique languages

BENEFITS OF
YOUTUBE FOR
PROMOTING
YOUR BRAND
MARKETING ON YOUTUBE
HELPS BUILD TRUST
People will go to someone they trust as an authority on the subject.
That’s how basic psychology works. If you create this aura that
you’re the expert on the given topic, product, service, or whatever,
people will come to you. What if they’re in the market for a product
or service you offer. They’re going to go to you to make sure they’re
making the right decision before succumbing to buyer’s remorse
because they believe you know what you’re talking about. That’s
hard to do if you just make a little Facebook post with some emojis
telling them you know what you’re talking about. Some people
may take Facebook posts at face value, but it’s not easy to build
credibility that way.
YOUTUBE IS THE SOCIAL

MEDIA AUTHORITY
If you want a place that gets viewers, you can’t do any better than
a platform with billions of video views a day. There are billions of
people around the world. That means almost everyone is watching
YouTube videos.
Imagine the kind of traffic you’ll get if you can tap into the market.
If you think about it, YouTube itself is an authority. When people
want to find something, one of the first places they think about is
YouTube. Whenever people link videos, it usually’s YouTube videos.
Facebook doesn’t make it very intuitive to share videos on its
platform and can make branding less than fun.
12 | o n e m i l l i o n fs o
u lb lso
cwr iebresr s
Hey guys, I just uploaded this Facebook video. You
should take a look. Here’s the link: Facebook.com/m
irandacunningham/videos/0983049832094/
No one’s going to click that link. No one’s even going to attempt to

type that in. Facebook doesn’t have a very intuitive way of searching
for anything. Unless you’re looking for something particular, it’s
not going to show up on a search engine.
Plus, once you get to the point where you can pay for advertisements,
YouTube does an excellent job ensuring they show ads wherever
they can. Place unskippable ads in the sidebar and at the beginning,
middle, and end of a video. At some point, people will click the
advertisement if they recognize who you are or what your brand is.
That’s something you most likely won’t get to until further down
the line, but it’s something to think about.
GET YOUR AUDIENCE TO

WORK FOR YOU
Word of mouth will always be the best marketing strategy out
there. We can sit many marketing experts in a row to develop the
world’s best marketing strategy, but nothing beats word of mouth
at the end of the day. YouTube has made word of mouth as easy as
sharing content across platforms like Twitter or Facebook.

It’s a little harder to convert YouTube videos into Instagram. At least,
if someone posts a YouTube link to another social media platform,
they get some eyes who may not spend as much time on YouTube
YouTube knows their videos are shared millions of times on the

internet a day. People see something they like, something funny,
or are trying to prove a point, they’ll link back to a YouTube channel.
Again, this is why being the authority on your service or brand is
essential. YouTube may be significant, but anyone can upload a
video and spout nonsense. People want to know they can link back
to your video and prove to whoever they’re talking to that you’re
the end-all of information on the topic.
INCREDIBLE REACH
YouTube gives you a reach like no other advertising platform can.
It is the second-largest search engine in the world. We don’t need
to see statistics to understand YouTube’s fanbase; just think about
the number of times you have been on it in the past week. Since
YouTube hosts such a diverse community, you’re guaranteed to
find customers over time as long as your content is entertaining,
educating, or helping users find solutions to their problems.
YouTube is owned by the world’s most popular search engine,

Google. When consumers use Google to search, they are also
presented with YouTube videos related to their search. This will
help your business get noticed within your niche and increase your
reach towards your target audience.

YOUR VIDEOS DO NOT EXPIRE
Here’s the cool part about YouTube: your content is never lost.
Imagine if you were tweeting one day. Twitter’s algorithm makes it
difficult for tweets to show up on someone’s timeline unless there’s
some extensive interaction. It’s always a good idea to hire a social
media manager for full-time interaction, but that costs money. If
you’re just starting out, that’s not easy to pull off.
While there are thousands of videos uploading every day, they’re

not lost in a stream of food pictures, political posts, or retweets.
You might post a tweet with your video, and it will get lost forever.
That doesn’t happen on YouTube. With YouTube, your content will
always be organized on one convenient channel where you can
make different playlists and categories for people to look through
(instead of trying to doom scroll through Twitter in-between a sea
of nonsense to find your content).

YouTube makes it easy to go viral by being one of the best platforms
to generate a high traffic volume. More people watch YouTube than
network television. Nobody wants to pay the hefty prices of network
television. Nobody wants to go to some obscure blog to watch a
video uploaded directly into WordPress. They like familiarity, which
you can provide while getting a massive return on investment if
you develop a strong enough YouTube strategy.
Make sure your YouTube strategy includes SEO, keyword research,

title research, tags, and everything you need to build quality
backlinks. This will not only increase your rankings but increase
your reputation and authority too. YouTube does it all. You just have
to make sure you utilize it to its full potential when developing your
marketing strategy.
IT’S FREE!
Small businesses need to realize the value of a platform like YouTube
and take advantage of their free services. Humans are naturally
more inclined to watch an interactive video than read a lengthy
article. Use this opportunity to market your
product, solution, or idea as creatively as
possible. Unlike traditional media, YouTube
does not cost you money. Instead, the time
and hard work you put in determines the rate
of your success. For small startups, this
is an excellent opportunity to build
connections and get recognized
globally at no cost at all.

INCREASE WEBSITE TRAFFIC
YouTube processes over 3 billion searches in a month. This shows
how powerful the platform is; it allows you to introduce your views
and expand your audience. And what do these vast numbers mean
to us? As more and more people search for something, the higher
the probability of it leading to you.
We know how increasing website traffic is vital in driving people

to your page, turning them into leads, and eventually, into future
customers. Providing backlinks in your YouTube videos’ description
makes it easier for people to find you on the internet and your
websites. Backlinks can also be overlaid on your YouTube videos
at specific user-selected moments. This will give your audience
a brief moment to hop on to your website, where they will get a
holistic view of your brand/company.
MARKETING ON YOUTUBE
Google Search blends listings from news, video, images, and more
and returns the most relevant information found on the internet
using key-words given by the user in the search query. But what’s
impressive is these text-based searches show a handful of videos
that are part of the overall result. Now, as an entrepreneur, you can
take advantage of this feature by using high-quality articles on your
website and linking them with your YouTube videos. Doing so will
help build backlinks to your site, allowing your brand to be found
by a broader audience. The more relevant you seem in Google’s
eyes, the higher your pages will be ranked in the search results.

YOUTUBE ADS
Today, YouTube is filled with advertisements varying from solo
streamers to big businesses, trying to build their own YouTube
community. But recently, there’s been an abundant flow of
advertisements from small-time companies and startups trying to
spread their message. It might seem a little bizarre at first, seeing
them invest so much on ads when usually people just skip them.
However, those who don’t end up on the suggested weblink may
end up subscribing to your channel after.
And to help reduce the dent in your wallet: Google AdWords for
video is a great option. You analyze your audience and pick videos
that they are most likely to watch. This way, you only pay for
engaged views. An engaged view occurs when a viewer watches
at least 30 seconds of your advertisement. In other words, if the ad
was skipped, then you don’t pay anything at all.
50%
44%
40%
30.4%
30%
20%
0.0%
Growth Account for total
from 2019 video ad spending
eMarketer forecastes that social video ad spending in the United States

would reach $14.89 billion in 2021, growing 44% from 2019, and will
account for 30.4% of total video ad spending.

Let’s look at Rokenbok Toy company (now known as Kid Spark
Education). Founded in 1995, the toy company showcased its
products in specialty toy stores but at the time had dramatically
collapsed.
So, looking for a different way to showcase their products, they took
to YouTube Ads, where they turned ads into short stories. Through
those stories, they showcased their products and how they worked.
This helped them generate 50% of its customers from YouTube,
showing how a little bit of creativity on this colossal platform can
play a crucial role in expanding your brand.
Caitlin Bigelow, director of marketing at Rokenbok, directs and scripts the

company’s YouTube videos.(Peggy Peattie / San Diego Union-Tribune)

MAKING MONEY ON YOUTUBE
We’ve seen how advertisements can help us, and these ads can
be run on different channels. The advertising profit doesn’t just
serve YouTube, but a portion goes to the video’s creator hosting
the ad. Through Google’s AdSense for Video Programme, regular
content creators hold the privilege to earn money by hosting
advertisements onto their channel. Over one million people across
30 countries make money this way, where thousands of channels
make six figures yearly.
Ave Engagement Rate
Est. Daily Earnings Est. Monthly Earnings Est. Yearly Earnings

$36.75 - $61.25 $1,103 - $1,837 $13,414 - $22,356
YouTube has grown from a niche fledgling service to an ad

behemoth. The services YouTube provides to its viewers, businesses,
and individuals are irreplaceable. YouTube is a massive platform
for growing your audience, your reachability, and establishing your
brand. YouTube’s ad sense provides you with an opportunity to
make money from videos demonstrating your brand image while
simultaneously publishing ads across relevant content. YouTube’s
content restrictions ensure that your ads would not be placed with
content that your business does not condone. When you use the
key features of YouTube mentioned effectively, you’ll be able to
take your personal brand or business to new heights.

UNIVERSAL LAWS THAT
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS
OBEY WITH YOUTUBE
IF YOU WANT TO SUCCEED
You’re sitting with your phone and a bowl of cereal scrolling through
different YouTube videos of makeup artists, video bloggers, and
do-it-yourselfers. After the hundredth low-quality video with
thousands of views and hundreds of likes and comments, you’re
telling yourself that you can do better.
In fact, you can do better right now. You create your channel and
start recording yourself eating your cereal.
“Hey guys,” you tell an audience of no one.
“So today, I’m eating my cereal,” then smile
before telling people to subscribe. Other
people upload videos of themselves eating
every day. What’s stopping you from
making it big being an attractive person
eating food? Doesn’t everyone want
to see that? You upload the video,
put your phone down, and finish
eating your cereal.
After putting your cereal away, you

eagerly open the YouTube app
to see two views and one unlike.
You ask yourself what you did
wrong. You’re relatively attractive,
and you have a YouTube channel
now. How come you’re not on the
straight path to becoming the next Jenna Marbles?
Well, like everything in life, there are some universal
laws you have to follow first.

LAW 1
CREATE A CLICKABLE TITLE
Think about every title you’ve ever seen, from videos to blog posts.
What made you click them? Thumbnails (covered later) help, but
titles should be intriguing and make people want to click your
video. Don’t upload a video of yourself eating cereal and call it
“hey guys” in all lower-case words. Who is going to click that? Not
to mention YouTube automatically chooses a thumbnail for you
if you don’t create one yourself. That means YouTube chooses an
unsavory thumbnail where you’re mid-sentence, and one eye is
closed while the other is not.
Imagine that thumbnail under a title that just says, “Hey guys.”
There’s a whole other set of rules when it comes to researching
a compelling title for your video but let’s stick with the basics for
now (we’ll cover keywords later). You need to be as descriptive as
possible. Don’t just put the word “WOW!” in the title. It might be
an eye-catching attention word, but no one’s going to click a video
that just says, “WOW!”
You need to have something else in the title to tell the audience
what you’re excited about. What are you saying “WOW!” to? Is the
cereal really that good? If you’re excited about the cereal, then you
need to tell people. Don’t tell people why in the title. Try something
like, “WOW! Is this the most amazing cereal ever?” People will
look at that and wonder what is making the cereal so good that
someone can claim it’s the best cereal ever.

Examples of Effective YouTube Titles:
“Well-written titles can be the difference between

someone watching and sharing your video, or
scrolling right past it…” -YouTube
The following YouTube video titles follow the best practices for
achieving a high click-through rate, including: using keywords,
adding quantification, contrarian info, or emotional words (like
“WOW!”), mixing lower and uppercase, and keeping the title under
60 characters.
• How to Make the Best Cheesecake without an oven?

• 5 Simple Ways to Write a Blog!
• 7 Extreme Makeup Do’s and Don’ts!
• The secret of creating your own website designs
• Want abs like Jason Mamoa? Follow these easy steps!
• Top 10 Fitness Mistakes you need to AVOID!

LAW 2
CREATE EYE-CATCHING
THUMBNAILS
Go to any YouTube channel with a large following. What’s the first
thing you notice? Go ahead, search for a big YouTube channel,
and click on their videos. Nine times out of ten, they’re going to
have consistent branding in their thumbnail. It’s recognizable to
their brand, their thumbnails aren’t all over the place, and it helps
people recognize them. Usually, they have the same font, a picture
of themselves, and something else in the thumbnail that gives
potential watchers an idea of what will be in the video.
Let’s use the cereal as an example: Imagine if you were scrolling

through YouTube, and you saw a video titled “WOW!” with a
thumbnail that had the word “WOW!” over a bowl of cereal?
Chances are, you’re not going to click that, right?

In our poorly designed thumbnail, there’s nothing to indicate any
sort of branding. Unless, of course, someone’s brand is putting
pictures of cereal in the background with poorly formatted lettering
on top of it.
There’s no one in the thumbnail. There’s nothing eye-catching

about it, but hey, at least it’s better than having no thumbnail at
all. Some people put too much trust in YouTube’s ability to pull a
thumbnail from the video. It rarely ends well. Let’s take a look at a
better-looking YouTube thumbnail for your cereal.
Now, if your YouTube channel is about judging different foods,

then this would be an example to follow. You would have yourself
somewhere in the video, the title in a consistent font you use
across all your thumbnails, and the video’s topic somewhere in the
picture. This is a thumbnail someone would click.

You don’t need to put your brand in the video’s thumbnail because
YouTube is different. Your brand is something that viewers can
instantly attribute to you. They don’t have to look at the name of
the YouTuber. They should just look at your video in the sidebar
and say, “oh, this is that YouTuber who talks about cereal. Cool! They
have a new video out.” Speaking of consistency, if you want to keep
people around, you need to treat it like a job.
The Daily Bumps vlog [5.08M Subs] does an excellent job of creating
thumbnails by pairing them with the titles and using colorful and
actionable imagery.

LAW 3
CONSISTENCY IS KEY
Imagine if you were hired to work full-time as a cashier. You need to
be consistent, show up on time, and put the work in. If not, they’re
going to let you go and move on to someone else. That’s similar to
how brutal the YouTube industry is. If you don’t upload consistently
or stick to a schedule, your viewers will move on to someone who
will. It’s not a case of, “I miss this YouTuber, I am eagerly awaiting
them to upload a video again someday.” Keeping viewers in the
dark isn’t going to work on an internet full of people with short
attention spans.
However, that doesn’t mean upload content every day. You’re

going to burn yourself out and burn your audience out. There is
such a thing as too much. Have an upload schedule of once every
three days, once a week, once every two weeks, or once a month.
If your viewers know exactly when a new video is coming out, then
they can hype themselves up on the wait. They’ll talk about it with
their friends.
People don’t like to be kept waiting as much as they love knowing

when something will happen. Think about a movie or a video game,
for example. If a director for a film or video game said, “Hey, my
movie is coming someday,” people are going to be happy. They’ll
talk about it with their friends, they’ll be hype over it, and then
the sinking realization comes in when they realize they don’t know
when that “someday” is.

Eventually, they’re going to forget about it until there’s an actual
date set. Think of all the movies lined up for the Marvel Cinematic
Universe. Yes, everyone’s excited for the movie coming out, but
they’re thrown deep into our subconscious until we come across a
trailer with a hard release date, and we’re like, “Oh yeah.”
If you know you’re not going to upload on time for some reason, you
need to tell your fans what brings us to our next point: engagement.

LAW 4
ENGAGE WITH YOUR FANS
There’s a reason why YouTube integrates so well across different
social media platforms and has its own comment section:
engagement matters.
Why do people comment on YouTube, reply to tweets, or post on

Facebook posts? They want to engage with you. Of course, you’re
going to get some internet trolls. Still, it’s always best to ignore the
haters because they go bother someone else eventually. However,
if your fans feel like they’re being ignored, they’re going to move on
to someone who acknowledges their existence.
After a certain point, it’s not realistic to respond to everyone.

People will understand that. People want content. You can briefly
acknowledge them in the end and let them know you’re reading
what they’re saying but don’t put all of your energy into responding
to every single person. It’s just not realistic.
However, you should try your best to respond to different

social media platforms when you have the chance. People love
engagement. That engagement makes it personal for them and
will keep them coming back.

LAW 5
LISTEN TO YOUR SUBSCRIBERS
There’s nothing anyone loves more on YouTube than seeing their
ideas implemented. They love to feel as if they’re a part of something.
At the end of your video, ask them what cereal you should eat next.
Put out a poll on Twitter, make a graphic on Facebook that shows
different cereals and have them vote in the comments, or have
them reply in the video’s comments itself.
Take Epic Rap Battles Of History, for example. They’ll tell you to
decide which duo to do for their next video at the end of their videos.
If you look at any of their videos, you’ll see endless comments of
people coming up with ideas.

Imagine the feeling of knowing you helped influence something?
Now imagine how your fans will feel if they know they helped
influence one of your videos.
“Hey guys, welcome to another cereal video. I’d like to thank

TooHype4Sugar and DaBossKing for their input on the last video.
They both suggested this cereal to me, and, honestly, it’s amazing.
Let me tell you why...”
Imagine how TooHype4Sugar and DaBossKing are going to feel

when they find out they were heard. They were involved in you
making the video, and that means they were listened to. Their
input was valued, and they’re going to share that accomplishment
with their friends. Of course, they’re going to have to find you first,
which means you’ll have to follow this next relatively dull law of
YouTube.

LAW 6
MAKE USE OF KEYWORDS
Keywords are essential, and you’re going to have to do a little
research into how YouTube search-engine optimization (otherwise
known as SEO) works. Basically, your video’s keywords are where
you’ll be ranked when people search for “cereal videos.”
Not only do you have to keep keywords in mind, but you’ll have to
micromanage all the metadata from the description to the tags. It’s
not something you should put too much focus on in the beginning.
It’s trial-and-error for most people. Many just start uploading to
YouTube without worrying about the metadata at first.
However, suppose you’re trying to go for a competitive niche like

beauty, food, or video games. In that case, you’ll have to sit down
and work on your metadata, so your YouTube video ranks well in
the search results. Using Google Trends is one of the best ways to
see if something is trending. You can also look for free keyword
research tools through Google.

HOW THE YOUTUBE
ALGORITHM WORKS
(AND HOW TO MAKE
IT WORK FOR YOU)
Over 70% of the time on Youtube, you will watch a video based
on what its algorithm recommends- straight from the mouth of
YouTube’s Chief Product Officer. It’s estimated that YouTube will
make about 5.5 billion in ad revenue in 2020. Needless to say, video
dominates the online media industry- dare say more than photos.
It seems like everyone is willing to throw a few dollars at Google
(YouTube’s parent) to get one more view or click.
It seems like every budding online influencer has their own YouTube
channel. Those who don’t already have a massive following aspire
to break the numbers, skyrocketing their subscriber count into the
millions. So, how does one stand out among all the other YouTubers
out there?
How does one get their lovingly crafted video to appear on the
first page of YouTube search results?

YouTube doesn’t just magically pick which videos appear first
and which ones get shown in the recommended section. It uses
a carefully-designed algorithm (similar to Instagram) to keep the
platform organized.
The YouTube algorithm works in favor of strategically-placed

sentences, adjectives, and descriptors that help its search
engine feel at ease. Understanding how the algorithm works
(technically speaking) is the first step to boosting your video view
count and hitting those subscriber goals.
YouTube works in mysterious ways, but the more you use the
platform, the more you will unravel its secrets. Improving your
organic reach, boosting views, and getting more likes or subscribers
is possible as long as you keep in mind how the AI works. Play
smart, be nice to the AI overlord and start thinking strategically
about your channel.
81% of American
YouTube users say they
regularly watch videos
recommended by the
algorithm

THE GOAL OF
YOUTUBE’S ALGORITHM
Before we dive into how the algorithm works, let’s talk about what
the goal is of the AI in the first place. While some people might
say the purpose of the AI is to make more money for YouTube (ad
revenue), there are two primary goals the algorithm serves:
(1) assist video-watchers in finding content they love

(2) increase viewer engagement
After all, the algorithm hits hardest for recommended videos-

those videos that pop up, encouraging you to watch more relevant
content and spend more time on the platform.
Recommendations are usually found in a few strategic places:

notifications, channel subscriptions, YouTube home page, search
results, trending videos, and in the list of videos that populate the
sidebar while watching a video on desktop.
HOW THE ALGORITHM WORKS

Have you ever wondered how your favorite YouTube celebrities
achieved their fame? How does a YouTube video go viral?
It’s thanks to an AI algorithm, and here’s a quick breakdown of

how it works in 2020. Most algorithm info before 2016 should be
disregarded in terms of how it functions since it is continually being
updated.

Similar to most AI systems, YouTube’s algorithm almost takes
on a life of its own. It is made up of a complex, sophisticated,
intricate set of code that was created by a team of engineers.
Sounds fancy, right? Well, YouTube actually cleared up some of
the mystery around their hush-hush system in 2016 when they
published an official paper called Deep Neural Networks for
YouTube Recommendations.
However, most of how the algorithm truly functions remains a

secret, and since the AI is constantly changing, it is safe to say that
a lot of information in that document may be outdated by now in
2020.
In 2019, YouTube made a public change to its system when it

announced more robust content filtering. You may have heard
some of your favorite YouTubers talk about this in fear of getting
their videos removed.
The AI will track which videos you watch, how long you watch
them, and other factors to determine your level of satisfaction.
The goal is to make you as
satisfied as possible so you
will keep watching videos.
Once the AI determines
how satisfied you are, it
will tailor a set of video
recommendations to
keep you satisfied.

Next are the neural networks in place. One of them is meant to
score videos based on (publicly) unknown factors, how often
a channel uploads videos, and how new it is. The other neural
network is used to filter out videos that are not a good match for
your recommendations and insert videos that the AI believes you
will find interesting.
The search results on YouTube are a curious thing. How is it that the
same term searched by two people yields completely different
results? Suppose Sally searched for “how to make a collage,” and
Bob searched the same term. In that case, they’d see the same type
of content but arranged differently with different videos popping
up first. We still don’t know the inner workings of YouTube’s AI, but
here’s what we are sure of so far when it comes to search results.
• Metadata is crucial (title, description, keywords, etc.)

for ranking in search results. The more your metadata
match search terms, the better.
• A video’s engagement level (comments, avg. watch

time, likes) influences its placement in search results.
From Niel Patel, “compared to videos owned by traditional

celebrities, videos created by the top 25 YouTube starts earned:

A video that appears in search is based on those two factors-
along with several more we simply don’t know about. YouTube
likes to keep secrets, we hear, YouTube’s algorithm works based
on these factors as well. How much each factor is weighted is up
to the AI system at the time. These influencing factors also vary
based on each YouTube user:
• How often a YouTube creator uploads videos

• Negative likes or comments on videos
• Video engagement (likes, comments, views, shares)
• If a video has gone viral and how fast it happened
• How long a user spends on YouTube & on a specific channel
• What content you rarely watch & what content you watch often
• If a user watched a video in full or if they stop watching early
How to Make the Algorithm Work for You
So, now that you know how YouTube works, it’s time to make it
work in your favor. It is definitely possible to rank well in search and
is recommended by working with (not against) the AI. If you want
to rank high, get more views, and blast your subscriber count out
of the water, you must pay close attention to how YouTube works;
design your channel according to the factors it looks for.
That means consistently uploading videos, being active, and a few

other tips we will get into below. Follow these tips and suggestions,
and you’ll improve your organic reach on YouTube in no time.

HOW TO GET
ONE MILLION
SUBSCRIBERS
IN 30 DAYS
PHASE 1
Account Set-Up and Fruition
| How to Get the First 100 Followers |
Properly setting up your YouTube channel is a keystone of the whole
process. Creating a proper account from the get-go can make or
break your efforts. We’ll cover how to find your niche, optimizing
your channel, and creating your very first video.
PHASE 2
Grow Your YouTube Channel
| How to Get the First 1,000 Followers |
Now that you’ve begun to upload videos and build an audience,
it’s time to grow your engagement and subscription rates. In
phase 2, you’ll learn what metrics are the most important to keep
track of, how to stand out from the competition, and optimize
your channel for success.
PHASE 3
Monetize & Advertise Your Channel
Growing your channel takes more than uploading videos. This phase
will walk you through how to run the best advertising campaigns
to drive more views and earn money from your marketing efforts
through YouTube’s monetization program.

PHASE 4
Create Different Types of Content
Once you’ve hit this peak, you’re eligible for the coveted verification
badge and can commit more time to other types of content
production like live streams, partnerships, contests, and more!
PHASE 5
Multiply Your Earnings
| How to Get the First 1,000,000 Followers |
Take your YouTube earnings to a whole new level and learn how
to utilize other methods of making money and making the most
of your fan base. We’ll also walk you through a list of great filming
equipment and software to take your channel to a new level.

PHASE 1
ACCOUNT SET-UP
AND FRUITION
HOW TO GET THE FIRST 100 FOLLOWERS

FIND YOUR CHANNEL NICHE
Your niche is you, the human. You need to be as broad
as possible but fully you, which becomes your niche.
Your niche can be the collection of things you are
interested in blended into your unique perspective.
- Gary Vaynerchuck
YouTube gets 300 hours of new content posted to its platform

every minute. That fact alone can be intimidating when it comes to
thinking of a way to stand out amongst the competition. However,
out of the over 1.3 billion people who use YouTube, there is a specific
audience for you. Currently, the top ten most popular YouTube
Niches are:
• Makeup • Travel • Photography

• Gaming • Fashion • Movies
• Food • Sports • Fitness
• Tech Review • Animals
Thomas Smale, CEO of FE International, explains, “you want to do

your due diligence in selecting a viable niche business [or brand],
but it’s better to get up and running than to wait around. That way,
you can test out ideas, enter the market sooner, and learn from
your successes and failures.”
When deciding on your overall niche, it’s vital to zero in on what

you’re passionate about and what drives you to keep going. Don’t
know what you’re passionate about? Utilize the steps on the next
page to find out how.

Step 1: The first, yet not the most obvious step, is breaking down
any barriers that keep you from taking action, like fears of being
judged, ridiculed, or unsuccessful. One major culprit behind this
mindset is comparing yourself to others online. STOP DOING THIS.
Even the most renowned experts in their field have people that
are better at what they do than they are. Other common blockers,
and how you can counteract them, include:
Don’t Do This Do This Instead

• Set expectations for yourself • Do what you love without
you wouldn’t have for others aiming for perfection
• Suffer from ‘Imposter • Acknowledge that everyone

Syndrome feels this from time to time
• Constantly overthink things • Take 5-10 minutes per day to

and second-guess yourself practice mindfulness
• Count Your Failures • Count your achievements, no

matter how big or small
Step 2: Your niche should be a product of your passion. Get yourself

a pen and paper and jot down skills that have helped you thrive
in school, work, and life, and note what you do in your free time
for fun. Also, ask yourself what types of things people ask you for
advice on or what problems you’re asked to solve.
Step 3: Narrow down your list of passions by exploring help forums

(Quora, Reddit) related to your niche to see which of your passions
can help solve common problems your potential audience might
have.
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Step 4: Utilize Google Trends and the Google Keyword Planner
to look for keywords related to your niche that are trending in
popularity online. If you don’t have a Google Ads account, you’ll
need to create one to use the Keyword Planner tool as well as create
YouTube ads, which we’ll cover in Phase 3.
You can also gauge the search results to see if your niche populates
too many results or not enough. The latter can indicate that there
may not be an audience for your niche, while the former means
the platform may be oversaturated with that particular topic. Find
a happy medium of between 250K and 10M results, or at least a
Medium search volume.

Step 5: Looks for signs of successful niche through competition
research. Some competition means your niche may be a profitable
venture, while too much competition means you’ll have to work
harder to differentiate yourself. You can create opportunities for
yourself against competitors who produce low-quality content,
aren’t 100% authentic or transparent, or create content that lacks
paid advertising efforts.
CREATE & OPTIMIZE YOUR

YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Step 1: Create Your Google Account. Because YouTube is owned
by Google, you’ll first need to create a Google Account.
• Visit Google.com and click the ‘Sign in’ button in the top right-
hand corner
• Click on the ‘Create account’ link

• On the popup, be sure to choose the ‘To manage my business’
option since you’ll be running ads to promote your channel
• Fill in the required fields, and agree to Google’s Privacy Policy

and Terms of Service
• Once you’ve verified your account, you’re ready to create your

YouTube channel!
Step 2: Create your YouTube Channel. You’ll need to create a

Brand Account to manage certain editing permissions.
• Visit YouTube.com and click the account icon in the right-hand

corner (or sign in if you aren’t already)
• Click ‘My channel’ in the drop-down menu

• Instead of entering your name and creating a channel, click on
‘use business or other name’ link
• Once you’re prompted to create a brand account, type in an

account name and click the ‘Create’ button
Step 3: Create Your Channel Theme. Developing a theme around

your YouTube channel is essential for standing out among the
thousands of other video-makers. Create your own unique vibe for
your channel. Pick a color scheme, anesthetic, or some creative
element and infuse it into everything you can. Your channel banner
image, logo, video thumbnails, video intro, and video outro should
be cohesive and represent your brand.

• Click on the ‘Customize Channel’ Button
• Upload a channel icon and banner by clicking on the default
profile picture square and the ‘Add channel art button’,
respectively. Your channel icon should be at least 800 x 800 px.
Consider using a logo or professional headshot. On the other hand,
your channel art should scale across a desktop or be at least 2560 x
1440 px.
AdEspresso recommends you “choose something that represents

your business while being visually dynamic.” You can use free
online software like Canva or Snappa to create professional-looking
and branded images.
• Under the ‘About’ tab, write a compelling channel description to

give people an understanding of what your channel is about and
what viewers will stand to gain from watching your videos.
• Utilize the template below to create the ideal description:
Include additional details like email and location, although this is

optional.
• Add channel links to send subscribers to other social media
accounts

CREATE YOUR FIRST VIDEO!
The best thing to do as a creator – don’t overthink
your videos, the run time should match the content –
Cristos Goodrow, Vice President of Engineering, YT
Step 1: Decide What Type of Video You’d Like to Create. Your

YouTube channel is raring to go and ready for your first video
upload! Before you start shooting, however, you need to decide
what kind of video you’d like to create to help you achieve your
goal of getting more subscribers. According to an article by the
Huffington Post, “companies that are seeing the greatest success
with video marketing ranked the importance and effectiveness of
different types of videos in the following order, starting with the
most effective:”
1. Customer testimonials 5. Reviews/case studies
2. On-demand product demo videos 6. Live/on-demand webinars
3. Explainer and tutorial videos 7. Video blogs
4. Thought leader interviews 8. Event videos
Step 2: Structure Your Content. Your video structure should be

optimized for engagement. It only takes seconds for a viewer to
decide whether or not they’re interested in your video, so it’s vital
to hook them in right away. Utilize the chart below to determine
how much time you should spend on certain aspects of your video.
1 min 2-3 min 4-5 min 2 min
INTRO TITLE FRAMING THE HOOK OFFER CTA

PROBLEM SOLUTIONS

Step 3: Write Your Video Script. Think of this step as more of
creating a storyboard or a layout of what your video will look like.
Include rough sketches of different scenes and pair them with
bits of descriptive text. Include factors like location changes, the
weather or time of day, camera direction and details, and the lines
for each scene. You can also account for multimedia elements like
slides or graphics.
Step 4: Determine How Long Your Video Should Be. Keep in mind
that if your account has not yet been “verified,” you will be limited
to 15-minute videos. (From YouTube, you can submit a request for
a channel verification once you have 100,000 subscribers.)
That being said, unless you’re uploading a music video (with an

average 3-minute length), there really is no winning video length
that’s set in stone. YouTube’s Cristos Goodrow explains, “If it takes
two minutes to communicate what you want to say, make a two-
minute video. If it takes 20 minutes, make it 20 minutes. If viewers
really enjoy watching it [YouTube’s] Search and Discovery systems
should do their jobs surfacing it to others.”
We’ve collected some video stats that you can utilize to help base
your decisions off of.
• On average, YouTube videos on the first page of the search

results are around 15 minutes long
• A study done by Banklinko revealed that “longer videos tend to

significantly outrank short videos”
• Overall, your video length should correlate with how engaging

the content is
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Step 5: Shoot Your Video. Don’t feel pressured into purchased
fancy equipment so early in the game (unless you really want to).
The quality of smartphone cameras makes it super feasible to
capture excellent footage without all the fuss of fancier equipment
for software. However, here are a few tips to keep in mind to make
the most out of your footage.
• Always film in landscape mode

• Use a tripod to avoid shakiness in static shots
• If your smartphone allows, set your camera mode to manual to
fine-tune your settings.
• Shoot more footage than you need. Depending on what type of

video you’re shooting, it may not be possible to reshoot the same
video. However, it’s always easier to cut out extra footage.
• Experience with different angles and distances. For example,

interview videos should take advantage of 45-degree angles.
Use natural lighting when you can, or invest in a ring light.
• Capture audio on a separate recording device. If you can’t have

anything on hand, you can purchase high-quality mics that plug
right into your phone!
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UPLOAD YOUR VIDEO
Step 1: Create a YouTube Playlist. Playlists are a great way to
organize videos into specific subsections. This is especially handy
when your video library starts growing, and you start branching your
niche off into subsections. Brian Dean of Backlinko recommends
creating what he calls ‘Power Playlists,’ or playlists organized by
outcomes instead of categories.
You can create playlists from your channel homepage by clicking

on the ‘Playlists’ tab, clicking on the blue ‘Customize Channel’
button, and finally tapping the ‘New Playlist’ button.

Step 2: Create a Video Thumbnail. The human eye is naturally
drawn to pleasing visuals. If all of your video thumbnails (preview
photo, video image, the pic displayed on your still video) match,
it makes your channel look clean, consistent, and well-organized.
YouTube’s algorithm LOVES those things and will boost your
channel as a result.
Matching video thumbnails just look aesthetic and presentable,

too- besides their SEO benefits. We recommend choosing a color
scheme that falls outside the branding style of YouTube - avoid
reds, so your videos really stand out! Just like with your channel
images, you can use Canva or Snappa to create your thumbnails
as well!

Step 3: Upload Your Video to YouTube. Since overhauling its
Creator Studio in 2019, editing and uploading videos on YouTube
is a seamless process. YouTube Studio also allows creators to
access in-depth analytics, manage copyright claims and channel
permissions, utilize monetization tools, and much more.
• To get started, visit your YouTube channel homepage and click

on the blue ‘Upload Video’ button or hit the ‘create’ icon in the
upper right-hand corner. Select the video you’d like to upload.
• While your video is uploading, take this time to fill in as many

fields as possible, remembering to utilize keywords in the
description, tags, and title. While your video description is the
perfect place to link to your other social media accounts or website,
it’s also prime real estate for infusing tags, search terms, and an
overview of your content. Remember to keep the text search-
primed but also written in a natural tone.
This is where you’ll upload your thumbnail, assign your video to a

playlist, and add tags and captions. Be sure to include your video
in the appropriate category so the right audience can find your
content.
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• Add an end screen and promotion card to your video. You
can use this opportunity to lead people to other relevant
videos, encourage them to subscribe, or include a strong CTA.
We recommend leaving a 10-second window at the end of
your video to make room for your End Screen promotion slots.
For your watermark, the YouTube pros vie for Subscribe icon
instead of a channel logo.
• Publish your video instantly, schedule it, or set it to
private mode depending on your needs by selecting the
corresponding option. NOTE: If you’d like to make edits to your
video, be sure to set the visibility to ‘Private.’

Step 4: Editing Your Video. There could be a whole guide written
on all the different types of editing software available alone.
However, instead of delving into all the other options, we’ll walk
you through how to access the basic editing functions available in
YouTube Studio. There, you can trim your video, add audio and blur
effects, create captions, add end screens, and more!
• Click on ‘Your Channel’ in the drop-down menu of your

account
• You’ll see a menu on the left-hand side. Click on ‘Your Videos,’
then click on the blue ‘Manage Videos’ button.
• From there, you’ll be taken to the YouTube Creator Studio. Find
the video you’d like to edit and click the pencil icon.
• If needed, you can edit your title, description, or anything else
on this page. To make edits to the video, click ‘Editor’ in the
menu on the screen’s left-hand side.
• Underneath the video preview, you’ll see the available editing
options.

PHASE 1: FIRST 100 FOLLOWERS
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO TODAY?
Find Your Channel Niche: Deciding on your overall niche

should have a focus on you’re passionate about and what
drives you to keep going.
Create a Google Account: You’ll need one to create a

YouTube Account.
Create Your YouTube Channel: Be to create a Brand

Account in order to manage certain editing permissions and
access additional features.
Create Your Channel Theme: Utilize Canva.com to create

themed elements for your channel.
Create Your First Video: Decide what kind of video you’d

like to create that will help you achieve your goal of getting
more subscribers.
• Create a video structure and script
• Decide how long your video should be
• Shoot your video in landscape mode
Upload Your Video to Youtube: Decide what kind of video

you’d like to create that will help you achieve your goal of
getting more subscribers.
• Create a power playlist
• Create a video thumbnail
• Upload and edit your video

PHASE 2
GROW YOUR
YOUTUBE CHANNEL
HOW TO GET THE FIRST 1,000 FOLLOWERS

DEVELOP YOUR STRATEGY
As the second most popular search engine in the world next
to Google, it’s vital that you build your strategy around all that
YouTube has to offer. That includes making fantastic videos that
your audience will not only want to see more of but who will watch
from start to finish. Let’s go over a few tips on how to accomplish
that.
Build Brand Authority
It’s challenging to create a sense of authority on other social

media platforms. You could try to post your brand or business on
Facebook, but all the middle-aged mothers there will probably
think you’re part of some multi-level marketing sham. Facebook
posts hardly show up when you Google something. If you’re a
plumbing company that only has a presence on Facebook, you’re
not going to have a lot of luck marketing on Facebook alone.
You made a Facebook page. Great. You made your first post. Great.
Now what? Chances are you’ll drop a couple hundred dollars on

boosting an ad for your Facebook post, only for it to show up on
people’s feeds who are only there to connect with family.
You need to put your face, voice, and content on YouTube because
that’s one of the internet’s most significant search engines. Even
Google links many YouTube videos in its search results. The more
you create engaging material, the more people will go to you as
the authority.

You’re a professional. You’re creating this content so you can grow
your brand. You have to know your brand or service from the
inside out. You learned all the “W’s” in school, the who, the what,
the when, etc. You need to be able to answer everything on the fly
because your audience is putting in the work for you. Why do you
think content creators ask for people to subscribe and like their
videos. Their followers will see what they’re enjoying.
YouTube has made it possible to share everything you’re doing on

YouTube with almost every other platform. That’s not as easy to do
on Facebook. Your audience has a more challenging time working
for you because they can easily share your post on their timeline.
However, a couple of written words will not convince someone
you’re the authority on your topic. Neil Patel has become an
authority on marketing due to consistent content creation across
multiple platforms and keeping his audience up to date.

Once someone hears something from their family or friend,
what are they going to do? They’re not going to use Facebook’s
completely unintuitive search bar to look for a page. No, they’re
going to Google. The first thing you want to do is bring them in
with a video title and thumbnail that’s right there in their face. They
would need to click on your video and make a purchase decision
based on what they find.
It’s surprising how many of your potential competitors don’t think

about the power of YouTube when it comes to creating how-to
content, frequently asked questions, product reviews, customer
reviews, and other content that’s best served in a video format.
Release Videos Consistently
The YouTube algorithm favors channels that upload videos

consistently and often. Being active is a quick way to get in
YouTube’s recommendations (similar to the Instagram explore
section). According to Hootsuite, “Many experts confidently cite a
rule-of-thumb as to how often creators should post a video to their
channels. For instance: one video a week to start, increasing to 3-4
per week as your channel grows.”
While publishing often is important, it is

just as important to prioritize QUALITY
over quantity. If publishing once a week
will maintain a high-quality standard, do it,
especially since the goal is to turn viewers into
subscribers. Stay relevant, stay consistent,
and stay true to your brand.

Send People to Subscriber Magnets
Once you’ve gained a few describers, you can gauge which videos
will garner more subscribers by determining their popularity. Do
this by going to your channel analytics via your YouTube Studio
Dashboard. Click on the subscribers’ tab to see which videos have
brought you the most subscriptions - these are you ‘subscriber
magnets.’ You can then feature this video in End Screens or as your
featured video for current subscribers.
Create a Unique Channel Tagline
Instead of only coming up with a great name for your channel,

differentiate yourself from the competition by creating a unique
value proposition, which you can then turn into your tagline. Start
by creating one thing that makes your channel unique from your
competitors or channels with a similar niche.

For example, your niche might be teaching personal financing,
but that doesn’t exactly strike a chord. Instead, you might write
something like, “More Cash in Your Savings Account.” Once you
come up with something that sets you apart, add it to your channel
art, and be sure to mention your tagline in your channel trailer and
videos going forward.
Create a Channel Trailer
Entice visitors on your profile with a channel preview that gives

people a featurette video of what kind of content you provide.
This channel trailer can be customized to show certain videos
depending on whether people are subscribed to your channel. We
recommend a short and sweet trailer length of between 30 and 60
seconds. We’ll give you some quick instructions on the next page.

Step 1: Start by clicking on the gear icon next to the red ‘Subscribe’
button.
Step 2: In the ‘Channel Settings’ pop up, make sure the “Customize
the layout of your channel” is turned on and hit “Save.”
Step 3: Upload a video like you normally would, following the same
steps you learned in Phase 1. Remember to use plenty of keywords
in your video name and description.
Step 4: Once your trailer is uploaded, go to your homepage and

click on the ‘For new visitors’ tab, then click ‘Channel trailer.’
Step 5: Select your trailer and hit ‘Save.’
If done correctly, you should see a trailer preview similar to Marie

Forleo’s, where she welcomes new viewers with a quick overview
of her series.

OPTIMIZE YOUR YOUTUBE
VIDEOS FOR SEO
You don’t need to get hundreds of thousands of
views to rank well, but you do need to find a way to
get your first few hundred and, if possible, first few
thousand on each video. - QuickSprout
Since being acquired by Google in 2006, optimizing your content

for ranking factors is more important than ever. I cannot emphasize
this enough. Use keywords everywhere. In your title, your tags, and
especially in the description. Because Google’s algorithms depend
heavily on copy when it comes to ranking, it’ll look for additional
information where it’s available. From QuickSprout, “by including
a detailed description of the video, you’ll naturally include related
terms the algorithm can use to understand the topic of your video.
This will make it easier to rank for relevant terms.”
Make Metadata a Priority
Other than in your video’s description text, YouTube’s algorithm

looks for search terms and descriptors in other metadata as well.
Don’t rely on just the description to get you popular on YouTube.
Make a set of search terms and similar words that correspond
to your video content, and then use those words throughout all
metadata. This is one way you can boost views and engagement
on each individual video while practicing good SEO tactics.

Keep Viewers Engaged to Boost Watch Time
This tip is vital. Video view duration is a performance metric that

YouTube’s algorithm definitely takes into account. If people click to
watch your video and then leave within a minute or (worse) a few
seconds, it’s going to impact your organic reach negatively.
Low view durations tell the AI that your video is not satisfying
users, and increasing user satisfaction is one of the AI’s biggest
goals. The higher your watch time, the more often your videos will
be promoted on the YouTube homepage and suggested video
sidebar. Longer views mean better rankings in search and a higher
possibility of gaining subscribers, so ask your audience questions,
tell a story, and keep the pace enjoyable.
Utilize the Pattern Interrupt technique: Simply put, utilize

elements that change a person’s thought patterns. Pattern
Interrupts can include jump cuts, graphics, animations, camera
angle changes, corny jokes, or whatever else helps make your
videos more dynamic.
A/B Test Your Content: Biteable’s definition of A/B testing (a.k.a

split testing) is, “a form of statistical analysis in which you test two
versions of the same thing to see which one performs better.”
It’s a snazzy way of saying you’re testing different factors to see

what works best and gets the most views, engagements, likes, etc.
Pay attention to the video titles that get the most clicks; how you
word a video title has a major impact on views.

Try playing with metadata info, titles, video thumbnails, and the
time you upload a video. If something works, do it again, and keep
track of your analytics each week. YouTube doesn’t offer any A/B
testing functionality currently, but you can utilize YouTube Analytics
to determine which two versions performed successfully. You can
use the graphic by Wistia to see what metrics you should track.

Repurpose Your Content: Suppose you already own a website,
blog, podcast, or have a presentation ready. In that case, there’s
nothing better than throwing in some nifty transitions, putting
some royalty-free audio over it, and completely repurposing it for
YouTube. It’s like digging up old content you have, putting some
makeup on it, and showing it off to the world. It was dead in the
water on your website. Now you can link back to your website using
the old repurposed content to pull people in.
Look at your old content. It’s all grown up now. It’s racking up
YouTube views, getting a lot of likes, a couple of dislikes, but that’s
not going to affect you because, at this point, you’re already seen
as an authority.
YouTube gives you the best route to repurpose your content.

However, if you don’t have that audience, then you’re sitting in a
corner creating content no one will ever see. Putting your content
on YouTube is the perfect opportunity for you to grow your audience
from an ever-expanding pool of eyeballs.
CONTENT REPURPOSING PYRAMID
High Effort & Rare

Large-sale, promotional events,
books/ebooks, and white papers
Evangelism to raise brand awareness.
Mid Effort & Scheduled
Regularly curated content like
Thought
long-form blogs, YouTube videos,
Leader
and infographics.
Low Effort & Often

Short-form blogs, social media
Presence posts, contributed/curated
content

Include Subtitles and Closed Captions: SAdding subtitles and
closed captions can help your viewers and your optimization by
highlighting additional keywords within your video. YouTube saves
you time by generating subtitles automatically, which you can then
easily edit for any corrections. Here’s how:
Step 1: From your YouTube Channel, click on the blue ‘Manage
Videos’ button
Step 2: Select the video you’d like to edit in the ‘Videos’ section
Step 3: Click on ‘Subtitles’ in the left-hand menu
Step 4: YouTube will have automatically put together subtitles that

you can edit by tapping the menu icon (indicated by three dots)
and tapping on ‘Edit on Classic Studio’
Step 5: Tap the grey ‘Edit’ button in the upper right-hand corner to
make any changes. Once complete, click the ‘Publish edits’ button
to save.

ENGAGE WITH YOUR FANS
Start by Asking Viewers to Subscribe
Sometimes simply reminding a viewer to subscribe for more of

the same content they enjoy can make all the difference. Don’t
forget to mention the notification bell so they can stay in the loop!
While this may come off as a little sales pitchy, the more creative
you can be with this request, the more likely viewers will respond
positively to your request. Just remember to keep it short, sweet,
and to the point. Also, request people to subscribe after you’ve
provided valuable information (or entertained them depending on
your content type). After all, there’s a reason so many YouTubers
ask the same question.
Another pro tip from Hootsuite is to mention what your next video
will feature. “Hyping your next video, and making it clear why it’s
not to be missed, is the most organic way to encourage people to
tap subscribe.”
Thank Your Subscribers with Milestone Videos
Subscriber milestones (like the ones we’re covering in this guide)

provide a fun opportunity to thank your audience and celebrate
your accomplishment. You can even take it a step further and run
a contest to give your current subscribers a chance to be rewarded
for contributing to your channel growth. Running a contest can
even help give you a short term engagement boost.

Interact with Your Audience
When you think about how many people create videos on YouTube,
anyone who takes the time to watch your videos and subscribe
to your channel deserves some praise. Plus, YouTube creators that
focus on creating a good relationship with their subscribers with
garner a higher subscription rate. Engaging with your audience
means staying on top of every comment, question, and plug.
Follow your subscribers back and turn your channel into a devout
community of fans and supporters.
Your job is not to convince new viewers that you have a strong
following but to truly appreciate the connections and friendship you
earn from investment in one another’s efforts. Otherwise known
as The Shine Theory, this long-term practice “is a commitment to
asking, ‘Would we be better as collaborators than as competitors?’
The answer is almost always yes.” In the case of YouTube, healthy
engagement rates can lead to powerful collaborations for each
other’s channels’ mutual benefit.

Take Advantage of the Creator Hearts Feature
Be sure to take advantage of ‘Creator Hearts’ as well, which is an

easy way to acknowledge comments that stand out to you. What’s
more is that when you ‘heart’ a comment, that person will get
notified of your interaction.
The best part? Heart notifications get 300% more clicks than
average. YouTube found that “viewers who have received a heart
on their comment are three times more likely to click on the
notification (than with other types of notifications), potentially
leading more viewers back to your channel.”

PHASE 2: 100-1,000 FOLLOWERS
Develop Your Content Strategy: Create a content strategy

that correlates with your YouTube Goals.
• Build brand authority by posting helpful, quality content
• Post 1 video per week, then 3-4 week as your channel grows
• Utilize End Screens to send viewers to videos that have brought
you the most subscriptions
• Create a channel tagline, or a unique value proposition
Create Your Channel Trailer: This video should give people

an overview of what kind of content you provide.
Optimize Your Channel for SEO: Since YouTube is the

world’s 2nd largest search engine, it’s vital to optimize your
content for search ranking factors.
• Make metadata a priority
• Create engaging content to boost view time
• A/B test your content
• Include subtitles and closed captions
• Repurpose your content
Engage with Your Subscribers: Asking viewers to subscribe,

replying to comments, thanking your audience, and using
creator hearts are a few great ways to communicate.

PHASE 3
MONETIZE & PROMOTE
YOUR CHANNEL

CROSS-PROMOTE
YOUR CHANNEL
Use your online presence on other social media platforms to your
advantage. Sharing your latest YouTube video on, let’s say, Facebook
or Twitter is a great way to engage followers across multiple
platforms who might not see your latest upload otherwise. If you
get a chance to promote your channel, do it!
Try cross-promoting over different YouTube channels (ideally, the

top channels in your niche). SEO Moz’s Rand Fishkin does this often:
Search for related channels through the YouTube Search Engine

and prioritize accounts with a solid amount of subscribers - aim for
around 20 accounts to connect with. Subscribe to their channel,
comment on their videos regularly, and, if possible, track down their
email address and send a video pitch. Consider offering to host
one another’s content, create cross-promotion-centered playlists,
or giving shoutouts to each other in your videos.

U T I L I Z E A N A LY T I C S D A T A
Knowing how to read and understand your analytics will help you
determine which steps you should take to increase engagement,
understand your viewers, and make improvements for your channel
overall. You can access your Channel Analytics via the YouTube
Studio dashboard, where you can view total views, watch time,
subscribers, engagement, audience demographics, and more.
You can also filter these results by traffic source, geography, device
type, operating system, and more in various charts. While there
are several different ways to utilize this data for multiple purposes,
there are a few particular metrics you should focus on.

Watch Time: We’ve stressed the importance of watch time
throughout this ebook because it’s essential for ranking high in
search engine results, which in turn increases visibility and clicks.
According to Hubspot, “a video’s average percentage viewed, or
retention rate indicates the average percentage of a video your
audience watches per view. A higher percentage means there’s a
higher chance that your audience will watch that video until the
end.”
Traffic Sources: This report is a good indicator of how viewers find

your content, whether they’re coming from Twitter, Google search
engine results, or some other external source. You can refine these
results to get specific traffic sourcing information from within
YouTube, including YouTube advertisements, suggested videos,
the YouTube search functions, or browse features.

Demographics: Demographics like age and gender can help
you better understand and, therefore, market to your intended
audience and help you establish a more specific buyer persona for
your channel.
Engagement: This metric lets you know what type of content

is resonating the most with your target audience. Specific
engagement metrics include sharing, clicking, commenting, and
promotion. You can also see this same data for cards and end
screens, so you can continue to optimize your videos with high
performing calls-to-action.
MONETIZE YOUR ACCOUNT

Now that you’ve built a bit of a following and a collection of content,
you’re ready to make money from your efforts. The first step to
making money on YouTube is to join the YouTube Partner Program
(YPP), which allows you to get paid through advertisements on
your page. To be accepted, your account must meet the following
requirements:
• Have at least 1,000 subscribers

• Cannot fall below 4,000 hours of Watch Time
over 12 months
• You comply with all policies and guidelines

• You have access to Google AdSense (this is
usually done when you accept the YouTube
partner terms during your account setup)
• Reach a balance of $100 or more from views

To check these requirements’ status, visit your channel page
and tap on the blue ‘Manage Videos’ button. Then click on the
‘Monetization’ option in the left-hand menu. You can choose to be
notified once you meet the requirements if you haven’t already.
Getting monetized can be a tricky business, however. Some
channels have been approved in days while others can face a much
lengthier approval process of as long as 12 months.
From VidIQ:
YouTube confirms that if all or most of your channel is dedicated to

reused content, and you’re not transforming the original work by
adding your own unique value, then your channel is not eligible for
the YouTube Partner Program. The spirit of this policy is to make
sure that YouTube are incentivizing unique and original content
into the YouTube Partner Program, and that YouTube are protecting
and rewarding the creators who work hard on original content.
YouTube does not pay based on the number of subscribers.

Depending on several factors, including the number of video views,
video length, and ad metrics, YouTubers stand to make between
$0.01 and $0.03 per ad view and $3 to $5 per every 1,000 views.
At that pay rate, a video with up to one million views can make
nearly $5,000! You can also choose to generate revenue through
ad click rates. According to Intuit, “Google will give you 68% of the
revenue when displaying ads with AdSense. So, for example, if a
video generates $1,000 from AdSense revenue, you will receive
$680.”

RUN A YOUTUBE
ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN
Since YouTube was acquired by Google, it’s become easier than
ever to create and manage campaigns directly through the Google
Ads platform. Here’s how:
Step 1: Link Google Ads to Your YouTube Account
• Log into your Google Ads account, or create a free account at
ads.google.com
• Select the tools option in the upper right-hand corner and click
‘Linked accounts’ under the ‘Setup’ section
• Follow the prompts to link your YouTube account.

Step 2: Choose an Ad Campaign Objective
• Upload a video to YouTube that you’d like to use as an ad prior to
creating your ad
• Back at your Google Ads dashboard, click the Campaigns

tab in the left side menu, click the plus icon, and select ‘New
campaign’

• Google will feature a variety of campaign types for you to choose
from. Select the option that best reflects your ultimate goal. For
more subscribers, we suggest the ‘Brand awareness and reach’
option.
• Select the ‘Video’ option as your campaign type and click ‘Continue’
Step 3: Choose Your Ad Format
We recommend the following most popular YouTube ad formats:
• TrueView: These ads can have the 5-second skip feature and are
played before, during, or after a YouTube video. They can also
appear in the related videos section, search results, or on the mobile
homepage.
• Non-skippable in-steam: These are only available for reach campaigns

and, as the name implies, are not able to be skipped. They’re 6-15
seconds in length and guarantee that viewers will see your ad.
• Bumper Ads: These ads won’t affect your view count and are up to 6
seconds in length. Social Media Examiner offers this pro tip: “When
creating videos for bumper and non-skippable ads, YouTube rounds
up to the next minute when you upload the video. Keep the raw video
under 6 seconds because 6.1-seconds of raw footage may turn into a
7-second YouTube video after you upload it.”

Step 4: Set a Budget, Schedule, and Bid Strategy
• Enter your campaign name, decide on your budget, select your
start and end dates. For the best results, we recommend going
with Maximum CPV or Target CPV
• Maximum CPV: tells YouTube the max amount you’re willing to pay
for each view of a TrueView Ad
• Target CPV: spending on these ads don’t exceed the average you’re
willing to pay for conversions
Step 5: Decide Where Your Ad Will Show

• Choose which of the following networks you’d like your ad
to appear: YouTube Search Results, YouTube Videos, or Video
Partners on the Display Network (these will show outside of the
YouTube platform on partner sites

• Choose what languages your target audience speaks
• Choose what locations you’d like to target
• To ensure your ads show alongside quality-controlled content,
you can select the Inventory Type. YouTube recommends the
‘Standard inventory’, which is appropriate for most brands
• You can then opt-out from specific sensitive categories, types,

and labels to further refine where your ads show
• Set your Frequency Cap (found under ‘Additional Settings’). This

is especially helpful if you have a smaller audience.

Step 6: Define Your Target Audience
You can narrow down your audience based on several features, including
interests and habits, life events, and detailed demographics. If you have
limited funds, we recommend using fewer filters to save on your cost
per view. Instead, Social Media Examiner recommends you “start by
understanding what moves users at each stage of the buying decision
and create highly targeted ads for each audience group.”
Step 7: Optimize Your Ad

• Insteadof looking for relevant keywords like you would for SEO,
search for keywords that are likely to appear in the YouTube videos
your ads will show. Search for keyword ideas by utilizing the ‘Get
Keyword Ideas’ section and search for your competitor’s website
and similar URLs.

• Select topics relevant to your brand. The broader your topic, the
more people your ad will reach.
• Choose placement targeting from YouTube Channels to particular

videos.
Step 8: Set a Bid Amount

Be sure not to set your bid to low or else risk your ad not running at all. Too
high, and you risk burning through your budget. Use this calculation to
optimize your bid strategy: Max CPV = 5 X Average CPV. For example,
if your average CPV is $0.04 - $0.34, set your max CPM at $1.50 until you
have enough data to make adjustments.
Step 9: Select the Video You’d Like to Use for Your Ad

You can do this by searching for the video you uploaded in step 1 or
pasting the YouTube URL.

THE SECRET TO CREATING
THE PERFECT YOUTUBE AD
THE VIDEO AD FORMULA
GET ATTENTION INTRODUCE A BUILD TRUST OR

RIGHT OFF THE BAT PROBLEM AUTHORITY
(surprise/shock, direct call out) (speak to pains or desires) (give them a reason to listen)
OFFER SOLUTION CALL TO ACTION
(can you solve their problem?) (give them something to do)
Listed at the top of YouTube’s Top ‘Direct Response’ Ads list, Dr. Squatch
Soap Company follows the YouTube Ad formula perfectly. First, their
ad grabs attention by using the shock factor of smashing a plate into a
boulder followed with an unpredictable exclamation: “You’re not a dish,
you’re a man.” The problem they introduce is that most men’s soaps are
synthetic and enhanced with chemicals that aren’t appropriate for skin
care.
Next, they build authority via street interviews about their product and
showcasing consumer reviews. They then offer a strong solution by
providing information on the all-natural ingredients used to make their
soap products healthier and more appealing.
Finally, their call to action invites viewers to visit their website to make
a purchase. Watch the full video here.

PHASE 3: 1,000-10,000 FOLLOWERS
Cross-Promote Your Channel: Share your videos across

multiple platforms to attract viewers who might not see your
latest upload otherwise.
• Reach out to top channels in your niche to cross-promote
across youtube as well.
Study Analytics Data: Study key performance factors like

watch time, traffic sources, demographics, and engagement.
Monetize Your Account: The first step to making money on

YouTube is to join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).
Create a YouTube Ad Campaign: Create and manage

campaigns directly through the Google Ads platform
• Link Google Ads to Your YouTube Account
• Choose a Ad Campaign Objective
• Choose Your Ad Format
• Set a Budget, Schedule, and Bid Strategy
• Decide Where Your Ad Will Show
• Define Your Target Audience
• Optimize Your Ad
• Set a Bid Amount
• Select the Video You’d Like to Use for Your Ad

PHASE 4
CREATE DIFFERENT
TYPES OF CONTENT

VERIFY YOUR ACCOUNT
Verifying your YouTube account plays a huge role in monetizing
your channel. Unlike the basic verification you completed when
you set up your account, verifying your account to get the envious
checkmark badge (and keep it) indicates your channel is authentic
and lets people know that you’re an established creator. While
having a verified account doesn’t earn you any additional features,
it does validate your credibility and build trust in new viewers.
To get your YouTube verification badge, your channel must

meet the following criteria:
Note: As of July 29th, 2020, YouTube has yet to roll out its new
verification badge design. YouTube announced changes back in
2019, but there have been no updates since then.

If you feel you meet the criteria and still have not received your
verification badge, here’s how you can apply:
Step 1: Visit Google’s support page
Step 2: Scroll down to the ‘Apply for channel verification’ section

and click on the ‘Apply now’ link
Step 3: Tap the record icon, and you’ll be live after a 3-second
countdown timer. The longer you’re live, the higher the chance
that more people will see you!
HOST YOUTUBE CONTESTS

Much like hosting regular live streams, running a contest on
your channel can boost engagement rates, especially if the prize
appeals to your target demographics. Millennials, for example,
prefer experiences while younger audiences enjoy free products
or contributions to a cause.

Before deciding on the contest prize, however, be sure to establish
specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely goals. For
example, LimmyBoi Vlogs runs iPhone giveaway promotions in
exchange for 1,000 likes on his videos. With this tactic, he gained
3X that number! The idea is to make your contest simple to enter
but utilizing entries through likes, subscribes, or comments.
NOTE: Before running any contests on your page, be sure to read

through YouTube’s regulations to familiarize yourself with their
rules. Here are a few to pay attention to:
• Your contest must be free to enter

• Be aware of any copyright laws and any regulations regarding
contests, lotteries, or sweepstakes.
• Never use third-party services to manipulate metrics

• Provide clear ‘Official Contest Rules’
• You are 100% responsible for your contest

HOST LIVE STREAMS
Hosting regularly scheduled live streams on your channel is a great
way to garner more engagement and interest from viewers. You
can use live streams as an opportunity to create buzz about an
event, a product reveal, a special guest, or live Q&As! Be sure to
announce your live streams ahead of time via other social media
platforms or video shoutouts, so people know when to expect your
stream..
Going live on YouTube is a pretty straight forward process. From

your YouTube Dashboard, click on the ‘Create’ button in the right-
hand corner and select ‘Go Live’. Just be sure to have your title,
description, and thumbnail image prepared beforehand. You can
choose to utilize a webcam for desktop streaming, use a software/
hardware encoder, or use your smartphone camera to stream on
the go. Once your live stream is complete, simply select the ‘End
Stream’ button.

PARTNER WITH OTHER
YOUTUBE CHANNELS
Collaborations with YouTube creators are 4x
better at driving brand familiarity than those
with celebrities. - Hootsuite
By collaborating with other creators, you’re guaranteed to expand

your reach to a new audience who may not be familiar with your
channel yet. Even a simple name drop by a prominent YouTuber
can result in turning their viewers into your subscribers. Andy
George of How to Make Everything saw an amazing 9% increase
in total subscribers after collaborating with Cody’s Lab and King of
Random.
The thought of trying to connect with a prominent YouTuber can

be as daunting as trying to reach out to an A-list celebrity. Cutting
through all the clutter and red tape and office bureaucracy can
seem like trying to cut through walls with a plastic spoon.

However, getting a reply from a famous YouTuber is not impossible!
Here are a few tips for collaborating with YouTubers who seem out
of your reach.
Reaching Out on YouTube: By accessing the contact tab YouTube

provides on most channels, you can usually find an email address
‘For business inquiries’ in the ‘About’ section. Additionally, you can
try a direct message by clicking on the ‘Send message’ button next
to the flag icon in the ‘About’ section.
Utilize Other Social Media Accounts: While this is a less effective

method of reaching out, it’s useful to utilize all your options. The
three obvious platforms to try and make contact through are
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can usually find a YouTuber’s
social media links in the video description or through a simple
Google search.
Build an Authentic Relationship: Not only should you be

authentic through your outreach, but be sure you’re also reaching
an authentic person to be sure you get a genuine response. Make
sure the two of you are a compatible match and that a collab with
this person makes sense for your channel and theirs.
According to Outbound, “When contacting YouTubers to partner

up, it may seem enticing to simply go for the channels who have
the largest following or view counts. While this makes sense in
theory, if you don’t have the right fit, your message will likely go
unnoticed.”

Use a Public Relations Firm: Using a PR firm can be a pricey
option but the most effective since these firms usually have
established a trusted communication line with celebrities and
influencers already. Bear in mind that even if you pay for a PR firm
to make contact, there’s no guarantee you’ll get the result you’re
looking for.
Where to Find YouTubers Who Want to Collab

• YouTube Creators G+ Community
• YouTube Creator Help Forum
• SocialBlade Forums
• YTTalk Forums
• YouCollab
• The book, “30 Days to a Better YouTube Channel”

PHASE 4: 10,000-100,000 FOLLOWERS
Verify Your Account: Verifying your account will show a

check mark badge on your channel, which indicates your
channel is authentic and lets people know that you’re an
established creator.
Host a YouTube Contest: Running a contest on your

channel can help boost engagement rates, especially if the
prize appeals to your target demographics.
• NOTE: Before running any contests on your page, be sure to
read through YouTube’s regulations to familiarize yourself
with their rules.
Host a Live Stream: Use a live stream as an opportunity to

create buzz about an event, a product reveal, a special guest,
or live Q&As.
Partner with Other Channels: Reach out to other creators

to expand your reach to a new audience who may not be
familiar with your channel yet.
• Reach out directly through YouTube

• Utilize other social media accounts
• Build an authentic relationship
• Hire a PR firm

PHASE 5
MULTIPLY
YOUR EARNINGS
HOW TO GET THE FIRST 1,000,000 FOLLOWERS

PROMOTE AND SELL
CHANNEL MERCHANDISE
Since you’ve developed a strong YouTube identity, it is now a great
opportunity to offer branded merchandise to your fanbase. You can
sell almost anything from t-shirts, tote bags, baseball caps, books,
and more!
Plus, with free creator-specific, print-on-demand sites like

Teespring, Flashfomo, and Design by Humans, there’s no need to
keep inventory on hand or worry about shipping anything yourself.
Print-on-demand services are an alternative way to sell goods
online. It’s up to the supplier to take care of the buying process
from printing to handling to shipping.
All you have to do is upload the initial design and pay for the product
only after you’ve made a sale. From Shopify, “print-on-demand is a
process where you work with a supplier to customize white-label
products (like baseball hats or tote bags) with your own designs to
sell them on a per-order basis under your own brand.”
Once you’ve created some products, you can promote them on

your channel in various ways. Here are a few ways:
Create a Merch Shelf: Activate YouTube’s Merch Shelf integration

to feature your products directly under your video (think a mini
e-commerce section). To see if your account is applicable for Merch
Shelf, sign in to your YouTube Studio and click on the ‘Monetization’
in the left-hand menu.

If your account is eligible (10,000+ subscribers, audience set as not
‘Made for Kids), you’ll see the ‘Merchandise’ tab. Finally, link your
merch store to your YouTube channel by following the on-screen
instructions.
You can display up to 12 products and arrange them in the order of

your choice. From the ‘Merchandise’ tab, simply click ‘Organize’ on
the ‘Status’ card and drag and drop in the order you desire before
saving your changes.
Promote Merch on Your Channel Page: Once you link your store
to your channel, you’ll automatically see a ‘Store’ tab added to
your page. From YouTube, “this tab will showcase all of your items
currently displayed on the merch shelf. You can link out to the
‘Store’ tab from comments, description, and Community posts by
simply copy and pasting its URL.”
You can also take a page out of Strictly Dumpling’s book and
customize your channel art to showcase your merchandise with
a callout and adding your store’s link to your channel and video
descriptions.

Promote Merch on Your Livestreams:
Not only are live streams an
excellent way to boost your
viewership, but they provide
a perfect opportunity to
promote your merch in an
engaging way. In addition
to wearing your merch
during a live stream, you
can announce exclusive
sales, new releases, and
limited edition merch to
build an incentive for your viewers
to make a purchase. Offering promotions is a great way
to promote engagement for future live streams and
reward your audience.

PUBLISH SPONSORED VIDEOS
One of the more popular and effective ways of making money on
YouTube is through sponsored videos or videos that are custom
branded or promotional and usually published by a prominent
influencer - that’s you! Note that not all sponsored videos need
to be product-focused. They can be as simple as giving a name
drop of your sponsor before your actual video begins. (Regardless
of what type of video you post, YouTubers are required to disclose
if their content is sponsored to comply with FTC guidelines.) Plus,
unlike getting paid by YouTube for views, established YouTubers
can charge the brands they’re promoting upwards of $50 per 1,000
views - that’s $50,000 for 1 million views!

As you grow your channel, you may even join the ranks of
PewDiePie, who’s reportedly earned a whopping $124 million since
2010. According to Newship, “compared to videos from traditional
celebrities, the top 25 Youtube influencers’ videos drive 3x the
views and 12x the comments.” Viewers appreciate honest reviews
and videos from people they trust and look up to. That’s where you
come in. If you produce quality content, share a similar audience,
and have established your personal brand, you have all the qualities
sponsors look for.
CONNECT WITH SPONSORS

Sometimes getting a sponsorship is as simple as reaching out to a
business that can benefit from being advertised on your channel.
Simply send an email or direct message asking if they’re interested
or have ever considered working with YouTubers and see where
the conversation goes from there.

If you want to connect with sponsors and aren’t sure where to
begin, there are great resources that help put newer or smaller
YouTube channels in contact with companies actively offering
sponsorships!
Izea.com | Connect with brands, advertisers, and publishers for
sponsorship opportunities to create and share content across
your social media accounts in exchange for compensation.
Grapevinevillage.com | Find brand opportunities you can’t see

anywhere else. Keep track of your brand sponsorships and
make lasting relationships with channel sponsors.
Sponsorpitch.com | SponsorPitch helps make quick, smart

connections between sponsoring brands and sponsorship
opportunities.
Channelpages.com | Brands, small businesses, ad & creative

agencies, along with fellow creators from across the world,
use Channel Pages to find video partners for collaborations,
promotional videos, and integrated marketing campaigns.
FameBit.com by YouTube | US-Based Eligible creators with

over 25K subscribers can sign-up for FameBit Full Service in
YouTube Studio.

AFFILIATE MARKETING
Affiliate marketing is a way to use customized links to send people
to the products you recommend. If they make a purchase, you’ll
get a portion of the final sale. If you have a large following, this can
be a simple way to make some extra cash, especially if you have a
fan base who values and trusts your opinion or you don’t want to
necessarily want to worry about partnering up with a brand.
There are many affiliate programs available to users and are usually
free and simple to sign up for. According to Wondershare, “most
major brands will offer some kind of sales commission, so if you’re
in a niche that calls for specialist products to promote, do contact
brands directly to find out what they can offer.” A simple Google
search of ‘Affiliate Programs’ can bring up numerous options - we
recommend the ever-popular Amazon Affiliate program to start.
It’s completely free to sign up, and you’ll get a 10% from qualifying
purchases.

To promote your affiliate links, shorten them in a link shortener
such as bit.ly or rebrandly to make your links more attractive and
paste them into your video and channel descriptions. Be sure to
promote products that are on brand and fit within your niche. The
more the products you’re pitching resonate with your audience,
the more likely they are to buy. YouTuber MakeupbyAmarie makes
use of several affiliate links with her makeup haul videos.

INVEST IN PROFESSIONAL
EQUIPMENT & SOFTWARE
While it’s simple enough to film a video on your phone and post
it to YouTube, the right equipment can help boost the quality of
your videos and, in turn, your watch rate. We’ve compiled a list of
equipment and software that will make the video creation process
smoother - without breaking the bank.
Best Screen Capture Software
Window 10 Game Bar | Price: FREE

Included with Windows 10 that lets you take DOWNLOAD
screenshots and record and broadcast video games.
CamStudio | Price: FREE

Open-source screencasting program for Microsoft DOWNLOAD
Windows, which renders videos in an AVI format.
Loom | Price: FREE

Record and share video messages of your screen, cam, DOWNLOAD
or both. Free to use on Mac, Windows, Chrome, and iOS.
Best Video Editing Software
Filmora9 Video Editor | Price: $39.99/Year

Support 800+ Effects & 50+ Formats. 4K Editing Support. PURCHASE
800+ Stunning Effects. MP4, MOV, MTS/M2TS, VOB, AVI.

iMovie Video Editor | Price: FREE
iMovie is a video editing software application developed DOWNLOAD
by Apple Inc. for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS devices.
Adobe Premier Pro | Price: $20.99/Month

the industry-leading video editing software for film, TV, PURCHASE
and the web. Billed annually.
Best Video Shooting Equipment
Diva Ring Light Super Nova | $250 PURCHASE
GoPro Hero Session | $199.99 PURCHASE
Sony FDRAX33 4k Camcorder | $698 PURCHASE
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III | $689 PURCHASE
DJI Osmo Pocket | $297.99 PURCHASE
Blue Yeti USB Microphone | $150 PURCHASE
Zoom ZH1 H1 Portable Recorder | $68.99 PURCHASE

Best Channel Optimizing Tools
TubeBuddy | Free or Paid starting at $9/mo

A FREE browser extension & mobile app that eases DOWNLOAD
channel maintenance, and helps with things like titles,
descriptions, tags, annotations, cards and more.
Awario | Free or paid starting at $29/mo

Social Monitoring tool that can find relevant discussions,
join them in real time, and spread the word about your DOWNLOAD
product, service, or content across the Web to reach new
audiences and trigger word-of-mouth marketing.
Canva | Price: Free or paid starting at $13/mo

Graphic design platform that allows users to create DOWNLOAD
social media graphics, presentations, posters,
documents and other visual content.

FINAL PHASE: 100,000-1,000,000 FOLLOWERS
Create and Sell Channel Merch: Utilize creator specific,

print-on-demand sites like Teespring, Flashfomo, and Design
by Humans to link your store to your channel.
• Create a merch shelf by signing in to your YouTube Studio and

clicking on the ‘Monetization’ in the left-hand menu. If your
account is eligible, you’ll see the ‘Merchandise’ tab.
• Promote your merch on a live stream.
Post a Sponsored Video: If you don’t have a sponsor yet,

reach out to some through sponsorship marketplaces like
Grapevinevillage.com, and Channelpages.com.
Participate in Affiliate Marketing: A simple Google search

of ‘Affiliate Programs’ can bring up numerous options - we
recommend the ever-popular Amazon Affiliate program to
start.
• Shorten affiliate liknks in a link shortener such as bit.ly or
rebrandly.
• Paste them into your video and channel descriptions
Invest in Professional Equipment & Software: the right

equipment can help boost the quality of your videos and, in
turn, your watch rate.

KEY TAKE-AWAYS
THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING WITH YOUTUBE?
A decade ago, Salman Khan, a young hedge fund analyst, headed
out on a mission to help his 12-year-old cousin from failing her
math classes. As they were physically separated by distance, his
options were limited. Initially, he used Yahoo! ’s Doodle notepad
to take private lessons. Soon, he began making innovative and
interactive videos to keep his little cousin entertained while learning
simultaneously. He made several videos discussing mathematical
concepts ranging from long division to fractions. His little
cousin found them immensely benefiting as she could rewatch
them again and again until she grasped the idea thoroughly.
In 2006, Khan’s friend lauded his video lessons and convinced him
to upload them on YouTube. Within weeks, he began receiving
messages appreciating his work.

Students from across the world said that his videos changed the
way they learn. Years later, he quit his job and invested the entirety
of his time on Khan Academy, a name almost every student is now
aware of.
Today, Khan Academy has extended its scope to multiple subjects

and has about 15 million registered students. A brand that is
endorsed by the world’s leaders, from Obama to Bill Gates; There
are people worldwide that believe in Khan’s vision.
This is just one out of many other success stories that YouTube has
played a prominent role in. Such stories are not only a ray of hope for
young entrepreneurs, but it’s a great example of how digitalization
and platforms like YouTube have provided us with innumerable
opportunities. That said, the most essential thing about YouTube
is the potential to find success in doing what you love.

CLOSING REMARKS & THANKS
“SUCCESS IS NOT A RACE; IT’S A
MARATHON.”-JONATHAN SKOGMO
Whether you’ve reached your goal of one million followers or not

at this point, you should be very proud of yourself. Taking all of the
things you’ve learned throughout this book and applying them in
real-life situations is a testament to your dedication and tenacity.
Well done!
Keep in mind that these tricks and techniques are all part of a
larger marketing whole, and can be applied to multiple marketing
faucets. You can use what you’ve learned on other social media
platforms, your email subscription efforts, how you put together
your website, and more. More importantly, you can accomplish
amazing feats when you put your mind to it.
The team would like to sincerely thank you for purchasing this
ebook. With more than 100,000+ influencers, entrepreneurs, and
companies who trust Social Media Calendar™, you’re part of a
community that is here to help you make the most of your social
media efforts. Take a look at some of our other products and
skyrocket your results.
SEE ALL OUR PRODUCTS HERE
WWW.SOCIALMEDIACALENDAR.CO
SOCIALMEDIACALENDAR.CO

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What is the story behind Khan Academy?

What is the story behind Khan Academy?

What are some examples of YouTube success stories mentioned in the text?

What are some examples of YouTube success stories mentioned in the text?

J E R R Y H I E T A N I E M I ’ S

All inquiries should be made to support@socialmediacalendar.co

Creator: Hietaniemi, Jerry

Title: The Secret To Getting 1 Million Followers In 30 Days

Printed in Finland by PunaMusta Oy

How the YouTube Algorithm Woks........................... 34

How to Get One Million Subscribers...................... 41

Phase 2: First 1,000 Followers...................................... 60

Phase 4: First 100,000 Followers............................... 90

Phase 5: First 1,000,000 Followers........................... 99

Closing Remarks & Thanks..................................................... 115

Jerry Hietaniemi is a digital marketing strategist and creative

His passion for marketing flourished as an entrepreneur at the age

The secret to success lies in action, continuous improvement, the

4 | one million followers

The emergence of YouTube was one of the most significant digital

5 | one million followers

Using social media and the online community to expand your

A few years ago, establishing a

6 | one million subscribers

Of course, once people realized YouTube was an untapped market,

On the surface, it sounds horrible. Why even go to YouTube anymore

They do it because the views are there.

8 | one million followers

But where are we watching these videos? Sure, we could watch

9 | one million followers

More than one billion unique users

100 hours of video content are uploaded

YouTube Receives one billion

6 billion hours of video are watched

56 countries post video

10 | one million subscribers

YOUTUBE IS THE SOCIAL

No one’s going to click that link. No one’s even going to attempt to

GET YOUR AUDIENCE TO

13 | one million followers

YouTube knows their videos are shared millions of times on the

YouTube is owned by the world’s most popular search engine,

14 | one million subscribers

While there are thousands of videos uploading every day, they’re

15 | one million subscribers

Make sure your YouTube strategy includes SEO, keyword research,

16 | one million subscribers

We know how increasing website traffic is vital in driving people

17 | one million subscribers

eMarketer forecastes that social video ad spending in the United States

18 | one million subscribers

Caitlin Bigelow, director of marketing at Rokenbok, directs and scripts the

19 | one million subscribers

Est. Daily Earnings Est. Monthly Earnings Est. Yearly Earnings

YouTube has grown from a niche fledgling service to an ad

20 | one million subscribers

After putting your cereal away, you

22 | one million subscribers

23 | one million followers

“Well-written titles can be the difference between