As video creators, we often encounter a constant battle between appeasing the algorithm and staying true to our creative vision. We obsess over video length, niche selection, and viewer engagement, all in pursuing success on the platform. But in this quest for perfection, we often lose sight of what truly matters – taking action and creating content that aligns with our authentic selves.
In this episode, Grant and Augie discuss the importance of finding a balance between creating content that appeals to the YouTube algorithm and content that aligns with the viewers' desires. They emphasize the need to focus on making good videos that resonate with the target audience, rather than obsessing over algorithmic strategies. While they acknowledge the significance of the algorithm in gaining traction and growing a channel, they caution against sacrificing creative potential and authenticity for the sake of algorithmic success. They also share personal anecdotes and examples to illustrate the potential pitfalls of solely focusing on the algorithm or deviating too far from the content that initially attracted viewers.
Highlights
02:14 Importance of making good videos
03:00 Augie's experience with his basketball tutorial channel
05:03 Importance of getting videos up and sharing them around
06:13 Initial success of Treesicle came from making entertaining videos
10:44 Difference between appealing to a viewer and the algorithm
12:02 Grant's approach to creating content on YouTube
12:49 The challenge of balancing personal interests and viewer preferences
14:48 Augie advises creators to focus on getting their videos published and building their skills
15:44 The potential consequences of solely creating content for personal interests
18:32 Grant explains how focusing too much on the algorithm can lead to losing inspiration
19:27 Augie discusses the potential trade-offs between creative fulfillment and financial success
20:08 Exploring new opportunities while maintaining a balance between creativity and business
21:34 Grant reflects on his mistake of not creating a separate channel for a popular topic
24:02 Switching topics can hurt channel growth and alienate the audience
25:31 Why experimenting should happen in the beginning, not after growth
26:36 Consider starting a second channel for different content styles
28:51 Releasing different content styles can result in poor performance
31:25 Following intuition is important in making decisions
32:41 Releasing unrelated content on the main channel can alienate subscribers
33:54 Pivoting a channel to a totally new topic is challenging
34:12 Discussing the challenges of changing content direction on YouTube
35:05 Exploring the possibility of reinventing a brand on YouTube
37:56 Emphasizing the importance of evolving and changing video formats
39:20 Encouraging creators to focus on improving watch time and understanding the algorithm
40:15 Balancing intuition and business strategies as a YouTube creator
Resources Mentioned
Subscribe to the Video Creatr Youtube channel
Check out Grant and Augie’s Channels below:
Grant Ball Treesicle
Augie Johnston Vidchops Baller Boot Camp
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