How important is consistency for a new YouTuber?

Consistency is crucial. The video likens it to a serious relationship with YouTube. Sporadic uploading (a casual relationship) will not lead to channel growth, whereas a commitment of time and consistent effort is necessary for progress.

Should I focus on quantity or quality when I'm starting out on YouTube?

When starting, focus on quantity. Making many videos, even if they aren't perfect, helps you learn and improve. Small, consistent improvements on each video (1% better each time) compound over time to lead to higher quality.

How do I know if my YouTube videos are 'good'?

There are two aspects: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic 'goodness' means passing the 'cringe test' where you feel reasonably proud of your video. Extrinsic goodness is seen when your videos start getting clicks and watch time from an audience.

Should I treat my YouTube channel as a hobby or a business?

This is a crucial choice. A hobby is about personal enjoyment and intrinsic motivation, while a business aims to provide value to an audience and potentially generate income. Treating it like a business requires a more strategic, audience-focused approach.

What are the key components of getting 'smart' on YouTube?

Getting smart involves applying business principles. The framework includes: Workflow (strategize and systemize), Cash Flow (value and products), and Outflow (hiring and management). Strategy involves goals, niche, audience, competitor analysis, and planning.

How important is niche and target audience for business-minded YouTubers?

Very important. While hobbies can be self-expressive, a YouTube business needs to understand what the target audience wants and the problems they face. The ideal overlap is between what you love, what your audience wants, and what you can monetize.

What resources are available for beginner YouTubers?

The speaker recommends their Skillshare class 'YouTube for Beginners' for getting started, their 'Part-Time YouTuber Academy' for those committed to growing, and an upcoming 'Creator Preneur Course' for scaling a YouTube business.

How To Start a YouTube Channel - Beginner’s Guide to YouTube

Ali Abdaal

Education3 min read32 min video

Mar 3, 2022|1,820,585 views|73,786|2,284

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Three stages to YouTube success: Get Going, Get Good, Get Smart, with crucial choices in between.

Key Insights

The journey to YouTube success is divided into three stages: 'Get Going' (uploading your first videos), 'Get Good' (improving video quality), and 'Get Smart' (treating your channel as a business).

Overcoming the initial fear of uploading is the primary goal of 'Get Going'; consistency and basic documentation are key, not perfection.

'Get Good' involves a focus on quantity to improve quality through iterative 1% improvements and learning all aspects of video production.

The transition between stages involves key choices: whether to continue with YouTube, and whether to treat it as a hobby or a business.

Treating YouTube like a business in the 'Get Smart' stage requires strategic planning, understanding your audience, and systemizing workflows, drawing parallels with traditional business principles.

Authenticity and identifying unique advantages are crucial for standing out on YouTube, rather than direct competition.

LEVEL ONE: GET GOING

The foundational stage of YouTube creation is 'Get Going,' where the sole objective is to overcome the barrier to entry and simply start uploading videos. This involves embracing the fact that early content will be imperfect, focusing on the act of creation rather than on producing polished work. To surpass this initial hurdle, creators are encouraged to upload even unlisted videos to demystify the process and to realize that initial fears of judgment are often unfounded due to the low initial viewership.

CHOICE ONE: COMMITMENT AND RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUTUBE

Upon completing the 'Get Going' phase, creators face 'Choice One,' which dictates their ongoing relationship with YouTube. This involves deciding whether to 'break up' with the platform if it's not a good fit, continue in a 'casual relationship' (inconsistent uploads, no growth expectations), or commit to a 'serious relationship' (consistent effort, 5-15 hours per week) to pursue growth.

LEVEL TWO: GET GOOD

The 'Get Good' stage focuses on improving the quality of video production. This is achieved primarily through consistent creation of a high volume of content, as quantity naturally leads to quality improvement over time through incremental 1% enhancements. This stage emphasizes learning various aspects of filmmaking, such as camera presence, editing, audio, and lighting, while also encouraging creators to internally assess their work, asking if it passes the 'cringe test' – meaning they wouldn't be overly embarrassed if friends or family saw it.

CHOICE TWO: HOBBY VERSUS BUSINESS

Before advancing to the final stage, 'Choice Two' presents a critical decision: whether to treat YouTube as a hobby or a business. Treating it as a hobby prioritizes personal enjoyment and creative expression, with no pressure for monetization or external validation. Conversely, treating it as a business involves a focus on audience value, growth, and potential monetization, requiring a more strategic and outward-facing approach.

LEVEL THREE: GET SMART

The 'Get Smart' stage is for those who have decided to treat their YouTube channel as a business. It involves applying strategic thinking and systematic approaches, drawing from business principles. Key elements include strategizing (setting goals, defining niche and audience, competitor analysis, identifying competitive advantages, planning, and pivoting) and systemizing workflows. This stage signifies moving beyond content creation to managing a sustainable creator enterprise.

STRATEGIZING FOR BUSINESS-MINDED CREATORS

Within the 'Get Smart' framework, strategizing is paramount for creators treating YouTube as a business. This involves setting clear goals, identifying a niche and target audience, understanding the competitive landscape (viewing colleagues as collaborators), and leveraging unique 'unfair advantages.' Planning, whether quarterly or yearly, provides direction, while the ability to pivot based on data and audience feedback ensures adaptability and long-term success.

SYSTEMIZING FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

Systemizing is the next crucial step in the 'Get Smart' stage, emphasizing the creation of efficient processes and workflows, as detailed in Michael Gerber's 'The E-Myth Revisited.' This involves documenting, refining, and optimizing various aspects of content creation and channel management. For creators at this level, understanding how to leverage systems allows for sustainable growth, scalability, and the potential to delegate or hire, transforming a creative endeavor into a robust business.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Software & Apps

●Companies

●Books

●People Referenced

Your YouTube Growth Roadmap

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Commit to uploading consistently (serious relationship with YouTube).

Focus on quantity in the early stages to improve naturally.

Implement small, 1% improvements in each video over time.

Develop an intrinsic sense of quality by passing the 'cringe test'.

Decide if you're treating YouTube as a hobby or a business.

If treating it as a business, focus on audience needs and value.

Strategize by setting goals, defining your niche, and analyzing your audience and competition.

Define your unfair advantages to stand out.

Plan quarterly and yearly, and be willing to pivot based on data.

Systemize your workflow for sustainable growth.

Avoid This

Don't be afraid to upload your first video, even if it's unlisted.

Don't expect growth if you're in a casual relationship with YouTube.

Don't try to perfect every aspect of video production at once.

Don't solely focus on external metrics when starting out.

Don't be afraid to break up with YouTube if it's not for you.

Don't treat YouTube like a hobby if you aim for business-level growth.

Don't ignore your audience's needs when operating as a business.

Don't view other creators as direct competitors, but as colleagues.

Don't neglect planning and systemization if you're serious about growth.

Common Questions

The three levels are: Level 1: Get Going (focus on just starting and uploading videos), Level 2: Get Good (focus on improving video quality through practice and iteration), and Level 3: Get Smart (focus on applying business principles for growth and sustainability).

Topics

Content Creation Mindset & Self-Improvement Business & Entrepreneurship Audience Engagement Platform Strategy YouTube Growth Strategies Video Production Basics Channel Monetization Creator Business Models

Mentioned in this video

personNathaniel Drew

Mentioned as a colleague in the productivity space whose channel strategy might be analyzed for insights.

personThomas Frank

Mentioned as a colleague in the productivity space whose channel strategy might be analyzed for insights.

bookDiary of a CEO

A podcast mentioned as being adjacent to the productivity space, whose content might be analyzed.

mediaImpact Theory

A podcast mentioned as being adjacent to the productivity space, whose content might be analyzed.

personJoey Swatcher

Mentioned as a colleague in the productivity space whose channel strategy might be analyzed for insights.

softwareMr. Who's the Boss

A YouTube channel run by Aaron, which achieved 10 million subscribers and initially focused on content where the creator's face was not shown.

personElizabeth Phillips

Mentioned as a colleague in the productivity space whose channel strategy might be analyzed for insights.

toolSkillshare

A platform where the speaker has a class called 'YouTube for Beginners', offering free access for new creators.

personPeter McKinnon

Mentioned as an example of a professional filmmaker who might already possess the skills needed for high-quality video production.

personLex Fridman

Mentioned as a podcast host whose content is in a related space (productivity) and might be analyzed.

bookThe Almanac of Naval Ravikant

A book by Naval Ravikant that includes the concept that authenticity can be a way to escape from competition.

companyIKEA

Mentioned as the source of a fake plant that the speaker used as a prop or for content in their early YouTube days.

bookThe E-Myth Revisited

A book by Michael Gerber, highly recommended for creators at Level 3 for understanding systems, leverage, and workflow in building a sustainable business.

softwareSchool of Greatness

A podcast mentioned as being adjacent to the productivity space, whose content might be analyzed.

bookAtomic Habits

A book cited for its illustration of how 1% daily improvement compounds over time, which is relevant to improving YouTube video quality.

bookTraction

A book by Gina Wickman that is recommended for quarterly planning and business strategy.

personNaval Ravikant

Author of 'The Almanac of Naval Ravikant', who espouses the idea that authenticity can help escape competition.