Want to know a little fun fact? On average, YouTube channels grow by about 2.5% per month in subscribers. Doesn’t sound like much, does it? But wait, there’s more.
Most YouTube channels can take anywhere from 10-12 months to reach 10K+ subscribers from scratch. And this usually depends heavily on consistency, niche, content quality, etc.
Now, this isn’t to discourage you. The point here is that growing YouTube subscribers is more about compounding small gains over time and less about virality.
But few creators stick with it long enough to see results. Luckily, we’ve got the inside scoop on how you can hit those coveted YouTube milestones, and also how Pollo AI can help you.
Why Is It Hard To Get More YouTube Subscribers?
Before we get into the how, you need to first understand why getting more subscribers as a small channel often feels like climbing a steep and treacherous mountain.
The key is YouTube’s algorithm. It’s the de facto matchmaker on the platform that recommends your videos to audiences, and this is what leads to growth.
But unlike before, it no longer evaluates individual videos but looks at channels as a whole. This means metrics like retention or CTR for individual videos aren’t enough to cut it anymore.
Simply put, having a viral video or two isn’t good enough. In fact, if you have no viral videos but people are steadily engaging with other videos on your channel, then you’re better off.
What matters now is whether viewers are developing a long-term interest in your channel’s content. Can you consistently keep viewers on the platform?
That’s what YouTube wants to know. If the answer is yes, then you will keep gaining favor with the algorithm, and it will recommend your videos on non-subscriber feeds.
If not, that’s where your growth can start to stagnate. So, how do we ensure that doesn’t happen? Let’s dive deeper into a few key strategies that you can follow.
#1. Use YouTube Shorts to Pull In New Viewers
You want new subscribers on YouTube? Then, using Shorts is the most powerful tactic for wider visibility, especially given how up to 74% of views on this format come from non-subscribers.
In other words, YouTube Shorts offers you the best chance of getting your videos in front of viewers who don’t yet know about you.
For this to work, the key here is impact. You need to ensure the Shorts are attention-grabbing and interesting enough to make non-subscribers want to see more.
You can do this by taking funny/memorable moments from long videos and creating clips to use as Shorts using Pollo AI’s YouTube video editor, for example.
From there, you can use the Related Video feature to link back to the original video. This combo works well to pull in new people that your long videos can then turn into loyal subscribers.
#2. Make an Impact In the First 10 Seconds
Have you looked at your audience retention metrics lately? You need to know how long people stick with your videos before they choose to bail.
The longer viewers are engaged, the better your chances of getting on the algorithm’s good side. And as a small channel, it’s important to show it that people find your content valuable.
But since people are quick to pivot elsewhere on YouTube, you need to make an impact within the first 10 seconds of your video. How do you do that?
One way is by jumping straight into the point of the video. A good example is @LeilaHormozi, who often dives into the subject matter within the first few seconds of her intros.
If you create fun/entertainment videos, then try using a flash-forward clip of a funny/shocking scene in the video as the intro to get viewers invested immediately.
#3. Use Eye-Catching Thumbnails for Better CTR
Thumbnails are the first thing we all see on YouTube. And for many YouTube visitors, an eye-catching thumbnail is the first thing that entices them to click on a new video.
Because of this, you need to design your thumbnails in an attractive way that is also easily recognizable in their feed. In this regard, it often helps to use expressive faces.
You can also add text (3-4 words) and place them in the thumbnail image. This works well at giving viewers an idea of what the video is about and engages their curiosity.
A good example of this in action is @TheDiaryOfACEO, who consistently uses expressive faces and big graphics to give viewers context and pull them in.
And keep improving the design over time to ensure viewers don’t get bored. This will help boost your small channel’s CTR, which increases the chances of more new subscribers.
#4. Set a Consistent Posting Routine
Most small YouTube creators hear ‘be consistent’ and think it means posting as often as possible, but that’s not true. Upload quantity is not as important as content quality.
If you compromise the content quality to post daily, then all you get is a low retention rate. And this signals to the algorithm that the video isn’t worth recommending.
So, you should focus on creating a consistent routine. This means picking a cadence that works well for you, like one long video per week or two per week, for example.
A good rule of thumb is to create content in batches, then schedule it for uploading. With a set day in place, it becomes easier for subscribers to engage with your videos.
The only time more posting helps is with YouTube Shorts (2-3 per week) because staying visible requires a bit more activity. You can use Pollo Agent to help streamline clip creation.
#5. Capitalize on YouTube’s New Collab Feature
YouTube’s new collaboration feature is a huge growth opportunity for small channels that need a little extra boost in visibility. Similar to other socials, you can add up to 5 co-creators per video.
This lets the video show up on each channel, making it easier than ever for all creators involved to access their combined audiences to mutual benefit.
As a small channel, the exposure helps you gain dozens of subscribers almost overnight from this one move. To this end, start reaching out to other creators in your niche.
You should target those who have a similar number of subscribers because it will be easier to convince them to partner up with you on equal terms.
As you can see, many small creators reach out to others on platforms like Reddit. If the initial collab video performs well, you can turn it into a recurring YouTube channel series.
#6. Create Playlists To Keep Viewers Hooked
Building a YouTube playlist of your videos can be quite effective for increasing your channel’s session time. And this always bodes well for subscriber growth.
When viewers tune into a playlist, it means they are enjoying your content enough to want more. It also helps that playlists come with autoplay, which keeps the next video rolling.
When YouTube’s algorithm notices more activity on your playlists, it considers your video content as valuable and keeps suggesting it to other non-subscribers.
A fantastic example of this is @EnesYilmazer, who has set up series playlists that keep viewers invested in seeing more of his content rather than hopping to another channel.
To create a good series playlist, always start with your best-performing video. This will help kick-start the binge for new viewers and get them hooked on more.
#7. Engage More with Your YouTube Community
If you have 500+ subscribers, you can start using community posts to engage your audience more. Since you won’t be uploading videos every day, these posts can be an in-between.
You can put up images, use polls to gather insights, share text announcements, or create teasers with Pollo AI’s promo video maker that you share on the community page.
As a small channel, you should try to post updates frequently and mix it up. Some formats may work better than others, so pay attention to those that do.
Also, don’t forget to respond to viewers in your comments section. That’s always an underrated way to cement subscriber loyalty on YouTube.
When you mix Shorts to pull in new viewers, long videos to build authority, and community posts to keep engagement high in between, then you have a solid channel growth system.
#8. Cross-Promote Your Videos Across Socials
Over-reliance on a single platform can work against you, especially given how YouTube’s algorithm changes have usually impacted creators in unpredictable ways.
As a small channel, you need to expand your reach to new subscribers by promoting your videos on other platforms like Instagram, TikTok, X, etc.
For example, you can repurpose Shorts as Reels and TikToks, then use link stickers, pinned comments, and bios to direct followers to your channel for the full video.
You can also use screenshots with quotable text and publish them as insightful static posts. If you have any behind-the-scenes content, you can also share it there.
Many YouTube creators like @MatthewHussey have built a huge online following by implementing this social media strategy, and it has delivered great results.
Conclusion
Always keep in mind that growth on YouTube is not a linear process. There will be ups and downs, but more importantly, it will take time to turn your small channel into a big deal.
As long as you remember that and follow the actionable steps we’ve laid out here, you should be able to grow your subscriber base into a juggernaut.
And if you ever want to explore new video concepts, you can try out Pollo AI’s image to video tool. It can help speed up your video creation with stunning results.