How We Hit 1,000 Subscribers in Just Four Days: A Journey of Starting a YouTube Channel in 2023
When we launched our YouTube channel "Going Indie," we were overjoyed to discover that within just four days and one video, we had garnered 1,000 subscribers. This rapid growth illustrated how many small channels are currently seeing success on YouTube, creating an opportune moment for new creators to start their own channels. But what does it truly take to develop a new channel in this competitive landscape? In this article, I will detail our journey—sharing the processes we followed, the challenges we faced, how we overcame them, and the lessons we learned along the way.
The inception of our channel was a collaborative effort between my friends and me, particularly driven by my buddy Cam. As a founder of a startup and a business professor, Cam was developing a video game with some old friends. This journey exposed the realities of game development which goes beyond just creating a product. He realized the complexities surrounding marketing, sales, taxes, and ultimately, building a business out of a product.
Our discussions led us to embrace the power of YouTube as a platform to address common issues faced by indie developers. With Cam's industry expertise and my experience in curating and distributing content, we strategized on how to create value for our target audience.
Before producing our first video, we spent a couple of weeks determining what kind of content we wanted to create and for whom. Understanding "why" we were making these videos was crucial; we are passionate about indie games and aim to empower developers by sharing insights to help them create better games and businesses.
We established our channel's core principles and designed a simple brand identity, followed by conversations around the tone and emotional engagement we wanted to express in our videos. While our planning was extensive, it focused more on understanding our audience rather than perfecting every detail.
After brainstorming, we decided our inaugural video would contrast the AAA gaming industry and the indie scene. However, generating an engaging title and thumbnail proved challenging. Instead of opting for a generic title, we wanted to highlight a narrative—"The Fall of AAA Games and the Rise of Indie." I crafted a thumbnail that featured recognizable characters from both sectors, ultimately creating a compelling visual to draw viewers in.
Crafting the video's script provided another set of hurdles. The initial draft felt too academic. Remembering that audiences come to YouTube for learning, entertainment, or emotional connection, we refined our approach, emphasizing entertainment along with informative content. It took multiple revisions to strike the right balance, and eventually, we understood that our style needed to blend information delivery with engaging commentary.
After finalizing the editing, we uploaded our first video, excited yet nervous about its reception. Initially, subscriber growth was slow—expected given it was our debut effort. However, just a few days later, we witnessed an unexpected surge in viewership, skyrocketing from hundreds to over 9,000 views quickly. By the end of our fourth day on Christmas, we had achieved the requirements for YouTube monetization.
Fast forward six months, and our first video had reached over a million views, with half of our video library surpassing that milestone, resulting in 6.2 million views overall. We earned over $13,000 through AdSense, yet I’m cautious about relying solely on this income stream. We plan to diversify our income through brand deals, Patreon, and affiliate marketing, with aspirations of launching products that cater to our audience.
Through this journey, we've discovered insights about entrepreneurship. Traditionally, the approach involves identifying a problem, validating it, and building a product. However, YouTube allows us to flip this model by building a community first, paving the way to market our offerings effectively and ensuring we can test our ideas with an engaged audience.
To further support the indie game community, we're launching a Patreon to provide value through in-depth content while pledging to allocate half of the revenue towards a fund to help indie studios develop and market their games.
Initially, Cam's decision to remain faceless posed challenges in building a connection with our audience. We recognized that trust is a key component of building a community; thus, showing our personalities became vital. While being in the spotlight may be daunting, sharing our authentic selves fosters deeper relationships with our viewers.
Conclusion: Building a Successful Channel
Ultimately, the principles of building a successful YouTube channel are simple but not necessarily easy. YouTube thrives on delivering satisfying, relevant, and entertaining content to viewers. At "Going Indie," we aim to meet the needs of our audience by crafting engaging videos enriched with unique insights into the gaming industry.
Our journey has only just begun, and we look forward to continuing to grow, innovate, and serve the indie game community. If you are inspired to take the plunge yourself, stay tuned for more updates from us as we share more insights and steps on this rewarding journey.
Part 1/10:
How We Hit 1,000 Subscribers in Just Four Days: A Journey of Starting a YouTube Channel in 2023
When we launched our YouTube channel "Going Indie," we were overjoyed to discover that within just four days and one video, we had garnered 1,000 subscribers. This rapid growth illustrated how many small channels are currently seeing success on YouTube, creating an opportune moment for new creators to start their own channels. But what does it truly take to develop a new channel in this competitive landscape? In this article, I will detail our journey—sharing the processes we followed, the challenges we faced, how we overcame them, and the lessons we learned along the way.
The Genesis of Going Indie
Part 2/10:
The inception of our channel was a collaborative effort between my friends and me, particularly driven by my buddy Cam. As a founder of a startup and a business professor, Cam was developing a video game with some old friends. This journey exposed the realities of game development which goes beyond just creating a product. He realized the complexities surrounding marketing, sales, taxes, and ultimately, building a business out of a product.
Our discussions led us to embrace the power of YouTube as a platform to address common issues faced by indie developers. With Cam's industry expertise and my experience in curating and distributing content, we strategized on how to create value for our target audience.
Laying the Groundwork
Part 3/10:
Before producing our first video, we spent a couple of weeks determining what kind of content we wanted to create and for whom. Understanding "why" we were making these videos was crucial; we are passionate about indie games and aim to empower developers by sharing insights to help them create better games and businesses.
We established our channel's core principles and designed a simple brand identity, followed by conversations around the tone and emotional engagement we wanted to express in our videos. While our planning was extensive, it focused more on understanding our audience rather than perfecting every detail.
The First Video: A Learning Curve
Part 4/10:
After brainstorming, we decided our inaugural video would contrast the AAA gaming industry and the indie scene. However, generating an engaging title and thumbnail proved challenging. Instead of opting for a generic title, we wanted to highlight a narrative—"The Fall of AAA Games and the Rise of Indie." I crafted a thumbnail that featured recognizable characters from both sectors, ultimately creating a compelling visual to draw viewers in.
Part 5/10:
Crafting the video's script provided another set of hurdles. The initial draft felt too academic. Remembering that audiences come to YouTube for learning, entertainment, or emotional connection, we refined our approach, emphasizing entertainment along with informative content. It took multiple revisions to strike the right balance, and eventually, we understood that our style needed to blend information delivery with engaging commentary.
The Launch and Initial Reception
Part 6/10:
After finalizing the editing, we uploaded our first video, excited yet nervous about its reception. Initially, subscriber growth was slow—expected given it was our debut effort. However, just a few days later, we witnessed an unexpected surge in viewership, skyrocketing from hundreds to over 9,000 views quickly. By the end of our fourth day on Christmas, we had achieved the requirements for YouTube monetization.
Six Months of Growth and Revenue
Part 7/10:
Fast forward six months, and our first video had reached over a million views, with half of our video library surpassing that milestone, resulting in 6.2 million views overall. We earned over $13,000 through AdSense, yet I’m cautious about relying solely on this income stream. We plan to diversify our income through brand deals, Patreon, and affiliate marketing, with aspirations of launching products that cater to our audience.
The Evolution of Our Approach
Part 8/10:
Through this journey, we've discovered insights about entrepreneurship. Traditionally, the approach involves identifying a problem, validating it, and building a product. However, YouTube allows us to flip this model by building a community first, paving the way to market our offerings effectively and ensuring we can test our ideas with an engaged audience.
To further support the indie game community, we're launching a Patreon to provide value through in-depth content while pledging to allocate half of the revenue towards a fund to help indie studios develop and market their games.
Overcoming Challenges
Part 9/10:
Initially, Cam's decision to remain faceless posed challenges in building a connection with our audience. We recognized that trust is a key component of building a community; thus, showing our personalities became vital. While being in the spotlight may be daunting, sharing our authentic selves fosters deeper relationships with our viewers.
Conclusion: Building a Successful Channel
Ultimately, the principles of building a successful YouTube channel are simple but not necessarily easy. YouTube thrives on delivering satisfying, relevant, and entertaining content to viewers. At "Going Indie," we aim to meet the needs of our audience by crafting engaging videos enriched with unique insights into the gaming industry.
Part 10/10:
Our journey has only just begun, and we look forward to continuing to grow, innovate, and serve the indie game community. If you are inspired to take the plunge yourself, stay tuned for more updates from us as we share more insights and steps on this rewarding journey.