There are many different purposes for having a YouTube channel. Maybe you want to make money from YouTube immediately, maybe you want to become a popular influencer and realize your dream of fame, or maybe you want to promote your business to more people and increase your brand awareness.
The key to achieving all of these is to have YouTube subscribers. For example, you need at least 1000 subscribers to earn money by participating in the YouTube partner program.
Of course, I don’t think you will be satisfied with this, you will want more because more YouTube subscribers means better opportunities. But how will you increase your subscriber count?
The answer lies in having a good strategy. Don’t forget that no success is a coincidence and this is true for YouTube as well. But you don’t have to worry because there are proven methods to support you in this direction.
With the help of these methods I’m going to tell you about today, you’ll be one step closer to the successful YouTube channel you’ve been dreaming of. Now let’s take a look at these methods
1 – Creating High Quality YouTube videos
Yeah, I accept that this is very, very basic, but I’m starting with it because it’s our reference point. What do I mean? For all the other methods to gain subscribers on YouTube to make sense, you need to create videos in a high quality. If your content is not good, the other steps don’t make sense. Here, let’s emphasize that the quality of the videos is meant in two senses. One is the quality of the content, and the other is that it has a high technical quality.
High Quality in Terms of Content
People will enter a word or phrase in the search bar and see your video in the YouTube search results. When they click on your video here and watch it they will want to be satisfied in terms of what they are looking for.
If viewers are satisfied, you’ve taken the first step to keep them on your channel, but if they don’t find what they’re looking for in your video and they’re not satisfied, it will have a negative impact on them and it will be much more difficult to bring them back to your channel.
So you shouldn’t choose video titles etc. that mislead users, don’t match your content, and make sure that your content delivers what it promises.
High Quality in Technical Terms
Who wants to watch a poorly edited YouTube video with poor image quality and unintelligible sound? That’s why you need to make sure your video is technically flawless. This does not necessarily mean buying the most expensive equipment and shooting every video in 4k quality.
Of course, everyone has different financial means, but the important thing is to maximize what you can do with what you have. Even simply making sure that the sound is recorded correctly and that the camera is not blurred anywhere in the recording will improve the quality of your video. At the same time, being able to combine this with good video editing will increase the fluency of your YouTube videos.
In this way, you have taken the first and most essential step. Remember, this is a must. So keep working meticulously.
2 – Customizing the YouTube Channel Page
When YouTube users want to find out more about you, your channel page is the place to go. So you need to make sure that your channel page reflects your channel’s theme and has a consistent appearance.
So, users can be sure that you are indeed the channel they are looking for. By organizing the channel page in a smart way, you can get them to spend more time on your videos and eventually become your subscribers.
Express Yourself Using the Channel Description
YouTube is, of course, a video platform, but when people visit your channel page, they may prefer to read how you describe yourself in the about section before watching your videos. That’s why the channel description is actually more important than it seems, even though many people neglect it.
Here you should create an engaging text that talks about yourself and your channel in a maximum of 1,000 words, making the viewer think that this channel is worth subscribing to or watching your videos. Be relaxed when writing your description, don’t give misleading information and use friendly language, of course in a way that is not too flippant.
Reinforce your Identity With Channel Art
When people visit your channel, you need to reflect who you are with every element on that page. An important visual element in this sense is your channel banner. People will see your banner right at the top when they enter your channel page.
There is no doubt that the banner you will use will create an imagery of you in their minds. So, don’t use something random and use a design that reflects you as a YouTube banner. You can use applications like Canva or Adobe Express for the banner. These applications allow you to customize the templates they offer. If you want something even more special, you should contact a professional designer.
Attract Viewers by Creating a Channel Trailer
Have you ever noticed that when you land on the page of many YouTube channels, a video automatically starts playing? This is the channel trailer. The purpose of these 1-2 minute videos is to create an idea about the channel for YouTube viewers who visit the channel page.
Here you have the opportunity to convert viewers to subscribers by making a creative trailer video. A nice feature of YouTube’s channel trailers is that they are shown exclusively to users who have not yet subscribed to your channel. For viewers who are already subscribed to your channel, you can show your featured video instead of the channel trailer. This allows you to highlight different content for each different audience.
To add a trailer video to your YouTube channel, go to YouTube Studio and select the customization tab from the menu on the left. On the page that opens, you will see the options for channel trailer and featured video, click add and choose which of the videos you uploaded to your channel you want to use.
Make your Channel URL Refer to you
Customizing your channel URL on YouTube used to be more of a challenge. Nowadays, it’s much easier. All you need to do is open YouTube Studio, then find the customization option on the left panel and click on it. On the page that opens, you need to go to the basic info tab and change your YouTube username in the handle section.
The name you enter here will also be the URL of your channel. People will be able to type this name next to YouTube in the address bar and go directly to your channel. Why is this important? First, having a unique URL will help your channel look professional. In addition, it will increase your memorability to viewers, which will lead to more YouTube subscribers.
Keep Viewers on the Channel by Creating YouTube Playlists
Once viewers are on your channel, they may want to see your new videos, but they also want to get an idea of other videos you’ve created. A great feature for this is the YouTube playlist. By creating a playlist, for example, if you have multiple videos on a particular topic, or if you have a series of content that you’re constantly making new episodes of, you can collect them in one place.
The viewers who are attracted to these playlists can spend hours on your channel without needing anything else, without making any additional clicks. Definitely use the Youtube playlist, which is a unique feature for converting viewers to YouTube subscribers. A channel with a wide array of playlists on the channel page will give the viewer a sense of discovery and arouse curiosity. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to improve your channel.
3 – Customizing YouTube Videos
Of course, you can get viewers to subscribe to your YouTube channel before they even enter your YouTube page. With smart methods you can use in your YouTube videos, it is possible to mobilize viewers while they are still watching the video. Let’s see which methods you can follow for this.
Making the Call to Subscribe
Well, this ancient method is indeed valid and works. It’s true that calling people to subscribe to a channel often brings new subscribers to that channel after that video. But it’s also true that you need to set the context well. It might be off-putting to call for a subscription in the first second of a video to a viewer who is perhaps watching you for the first time.
Instead, it’s more suitable to make this call when you’re close to the end of your video and you’ve already established a familiarity with the viewer. Of course, in doing so, you should be able to arouse curiosity about your next video so that the viewer has a reason to subscribe to your channel.
Boost Engagement with Youtube Cards
I’m sure you’ve seen those cards with an “i” next to it at the top right when you’re watching a YouTube video. These cards are actually not items that appear there by coincidence, but rather engagement-enhancing elements that will help you gain more subscribers. With the YouTube cards you add to your video, you can direct the viewer to another video, playlist, your channel or website. This will encourage viewers to spend more time on your channel, which will naturally increase the likelihood of them subscribing to your channel.
Another method similar to YouTube cards is to add an end screen to your videos. Using this feature, you can remind viewers to subscribe at the end of the video, or you can add another video or your playlist. In this way, you will again encourage the viewer to spend more time on your channel and subscribe.
Believe me, these two small steps do a great job in getting more subscribers. So don’t be lazy to deal with them.
Attracting Viewers with Engaging Video Thumbnails
To get viewers to subscribe to your channel, you first need to attract them to your videos. One of the most basic elements that will help you stand out from your competitors in YouTube search results is your video thumbnail. An engaging thumbnail will draw viewers to your video and give them a reason to explore your YouTube channel.
At the same time, if you remember, I emphasized that your channel should have a cohesive identity, and another element that can reinforce this identity is the thumbnails you create. With a custom thumbnail style, you can let viewers know at a glance that the video is yours. Creating such a style and adapting it to each of your videos will also give your channel homepage a very harmonious look.
4 – Considering YouTube SEO and optimization
You should remember that YouTube is as much a search engine as it is a video platform. Therefore, your videos should be findable. This requires using the right keywords and optimizing the necessary elements of your channel and videos for SEO. Now let’s see step by step how to optimize your channel and get more youtube subscribers.
Start with Keyword Research
The first thing you need to do for YouTube SEO is to do a keyword research. Of course, in order to do this, the topic of your video must first be clear. After deciding on your topic, there is actually a simple move you need to make. This is to search for it on YouTube. For example, if you’ve made a video tutorial on wood painting, you can type wood painting into the YouTube search bar and see what other phrases YouTube suggests.
These will usually be phrases that other users have searched for. In this way, you will see what is searched more and what is trending. In addition, it won’t hurt to do a Google search with different keyword phrases. This will give you an idea of which keywords you should use. If you want to go one step further, you can use a keyword tool. These tools make keyword analysis a lot easier. Google’s free keyword planner is a good place to start.
Use the Keyword in the Video Title
Once you have identified your keyword, you should definitely use it in your video title. If you have chosen a successful keyword, you can be sure that this will bring your video up in the YouTube algorithm and help you achieve the YouTube channel growth you are aiming for. But there are a few things you should pay attention to when using keywords in the title.
- Don’t overdo it when using the keyword in your title. Overusing a keyword will not give you the boost you are aiming for, rather it will have a negative effect.
- Don’t make your title too long. Titles over 50 characters lose their attractiveness.
- Don’t neglect creativity. When you use your keyword, you need to do it in a creative way. Otherwise, it will be hard to stand out and get new subscribers.
Use the Keyword in Video Description
Optimizing video descriptions is another way to move up in the YouTube algorithm and get new subscribers. Before watching a YouTube video, viewers may read the video description to make sure it has what they are looking for. So, you should write video descriptions carefully and in a way that explains your video. You should include the main keyword and other keywords you have identified in your description. But just like the title, you should use keywords efficiently, not excessively. Keep in mind that a description should be 200-300 words on average and you should explain your point without making it too long.
5 – Building Social Relationships
The way to get free YouTube subscribers organically is to build a relationship with them. Viewers want to feel that you’re listening to them, that you’re hearing them. So don’t just post videos and leave the YouTube app. Touch the viewers and start building a YouTube community.
Encourage Viewers to Comment
Give your viewers a voice in your YouTube videos. This will help them feel closer to you and become your subscribers, i.e. part of your community. One of the most effective ways to do this is to ask them to share their comments. But it is important not to do it in a way that looks awkward. The context of your content should also evolve in a way that encourages them to comment. For example, you could ask a question and ask them to comment on it, saying that you are curious to know what their answer is. If you ask them to comment out of context, your call may go unanswered.
Reply to their comments
The next step will take your relationship with them to another level. Respond to their comments and let them know that you care about them. This will not only strengthen your ties with viewers but also help you understand them better and improve your content strategy.
You can be sure that a viewer who has not yet subscribed to you, whose comment you have taken into account, will then go directly to the subscribe button. You should definitely take advantage of this method used by many successful YouTube creators. You can even go one step further and do a live q&a sequence instead of replying to comments on existing videos. Because your viewers will always have questions about you. It might be a good idea to answer them too.
Collaborate with Other YouTube Creators
You are not alone in posting videos on YouTube. There are millions of YouTube creators just like you. But don’t hesitate to collaborate with YouTubers whom you think your target audience overlaps and who you believe will benefit from your collaboration. This way, you can introduce yourself to their subscribers and grow your channel. So don’t be hesitant about such collaborations, competition is always there, of course, but don’t forget that cooperation is as necessary as competition.
6 – Promoting your YouTube Channel
In order to get YouTube subscribers, you also need to promote your channel and make yourself noticed. Especially if you are a new YouTube channel, this is even more essential. To do this, you can cross-promote using other social media channels or, if you have the budget, you can use paid ads.
- Posting announcements of your YouTube videos on other social media platforms is a good way to gain followers who follow you there but haven’t yet discovered you on YouTube. Each platform has different user profiles, and promoting your channel on each will help you reach different types of users. If you have a strong presence on other social media platforms, it will be easier to convert your audience there into YouTube subscribers. Because they already have an affinity for you. This is why cross-promotion is a smart way to promote your channel.
- If you want to make sure you get yourself noticed by your target audience and don’t want to take any chances with promotion, you can use paid ads. If your budget is appropriate and you have a good strategy, there is no disgrace in using paid ads.
- YouTube’s new trend, YouTube shorts, actually offers channels a great opportunity for promotion. Because life is much faster in shorts and it’s easier to reach viewers. Creating interesting shorts from your content and diving into the world of shorts by following current trends is a good way to promote your channel.
When it comes to increasing subscribers on YouTube, the first thing that usually comes to people’s minds is whether to buy YouTube subscribers or not. Of course, it is possible and wise to use this method if you have time constraints or if the strategies you have applied so far do not yield any results.
But when you use the methods mentioned here, you will find yourself in a fun process and you will see that you can easily increase your YouTube subscribers. So, if you ask me, start building your YouTube community without wasting any time!
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