Part 5/7:
While it feels good to support smaller creators, the reality is that this form of engagement often leads to disappointment. Subscribers gained through shout-outs may not stick around for genuine engagement, underlining the importance of attracting an audience that is interested in the creator’s content, rather than in the act of supporting them.
Austin uses an example of a fictional Lego channel to illustrate this point: if a viewer subscribes only out of goodwill, they may never watch the videos again. This ultimately sends a negative signal to the algorithm, leading to poor performance in the long run.