%% date:: [[2022-08-14]] parents:: [[Producing videos]] %% # [[Factors for success on YouTube]] I really like [[Matt D'Avella]]'s paraphrasing of [[Cal Newport]] when he said: [^davella] ![[Get clear on your vision#^744849]] I always strive for this idea and I prefer to take this approach to success in general, instead of relying on tricks to get people to click. However, I also acknowledge that "being good" is easier said than done. Here are a few ways to get good. ## Play to your strengths D'Avella says [^davella] that most people can only have two of these three: ![[davella-3-key-ingredients-to-success.png]] If you're like most people, you're going to have to choose which three to focus on. The only exception is if you have a team behind you to backfill any weaknesses you might have. In [[Part-time YouTuber Academy]], Hasan Kuba recommends using your [[Unfair Advantage]]s: stack the deck in your favour by utilising things you have that others don't. [^kubba] Interestingly, Kubba even recommends using things that might be considered disadvantages and turning them into advantages. For example, belonging to a minority group in an industry, like being a woman in tech, can be an advantage because it's an uncommon viewpoint. [[Ali Abdaal]] cites money as an unfair advantage. If you have the money, buying great gear up front can put you head and shoulders above most of the market. [^ptya] ## Reach out to others who are doing the same thing Look for a [[Mastermind]] or [[Accountability]] group or an inner circle [^davella] of creators who are willing to cheer you on in this journey and share their own experiences. Cohort-based courses like [[Part-time YouTuber Academy|PTYA]] are based around othe idea that this is one of the most important factors for a career on YouTube. [[Internal motivation]] is important, but coupling that with [[External motivation]] is even better. Here are some ways you can get external motivation: - Joining an accountability group. - Participating in online communities. - Reach out to other creators you respect on [[Twitter]]. - Start an interview series to be able to talk to creators more successful than you. [^davella] - Read books or online content by experts in the field. ## Enjoy the grind [[Focus on the process, not the results]]: Make one video a week for two years, and make quality secondary to that. Lower the quality bar until you cna make one video a week. When you can consistently do that, then start thinking about making one _good_ video a week. [^ptya] This advice for making one video a week is contrary to the advice by Channel Makers to start with 5 or 6 videos a week! [^channelmakers] However, Channel Makers is more focused on growing a business as quickly as possible. For the most part, be prepared to create a video a week for years before you see much progress or "success". Consistency is key, and especially consistency in the absence of feedback. ![[videos-per-subscriber-ali.png]] [^ptya] According to [[TubeBuddy]], the average YouTuber has to make 3,873 videos before they hit a million subscribers. As you can see from the numbers in blue above, which are [[Ali Abdaal]]'s numbers, you can absolutely be the exception to the rule-- but even his numbers have him hitting a million subscribers only after 288 videos. ## Create processes where you can [[Systems thinking|Systematize]] your video production process to create consistent content. This includes paying attention to bottlenecks in your process and [[Delegation|delegating]] those tasks as soon as you can. [^ptya] Create templates and automate wherever you can, in all stages of the production process: - In [[Producing videos#Pre-production process|pre-production]], use a checklist for [[Idea Generation]] and a template for all the [[Create engaging thumbnails|thumbnails]] you're going to create. - In [[Producing videos#Production process|production]], use a shot list to film efficiently. - In [[Producing videos#Post-production process|post-production]], use a template project to edit videos and repurpose them for different formats. [^davella]: D'Avella, M. (2020). *Master YouTube*. Retrieved from https://slowgrowth.com [^kubba]: Kubba, H. (2022). *The unfair advantage: How you already have what it takes to succeed.* [On Amazon](https://amzn.to/3JRoxmz). [^ptya]: Abdaal, A. (2021). _Part-time YouTuber academy_. [[Part-time YouTuber Academy|My notes on this course]]. [^channelmakers]: Channel Makers. (2021). *$0 to $4000 a month on YouTube in 1 year - how I'd do it*. [On YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4Vij2QbTWQ).