The Market Your Message Show
The Market Your Message Show
From Church Basement to YouTube Millions—Here’s How (Ch 13. Build Your Audience)
Mastering YouTube Growth: Strategies from Think Media's Journey
Grab a Copy of the Build Your Audience Book: https://platformgrowthbooks.com
This episode of the Market Your Message Show, hosted by Jonathan Milligan, dives into the origin and success story of Sean Canal's Think Media. From starting out with minimal resources to building an eight-figure brand with millions of YouTube subscribers, Sean's journey exemplifies grit, consistency, and strategic growth.
The episode covers essential strategies for YouTube success, including the importance of a clear content plan, mastering SEO, and engaging with audiences. Advanced tactics such as leveraging Google search visibility, using email lists for momentum, and analyzing competitors' channels are also discussed. Listeners are guided through actionable exercises to brainstorm viral video ideas tailored to their passions and audience needs.
00:00 Sean Canal's Humble Beginnings
00:59 Introduction to Market Your Message Show
01:59 Chapter 13: The YouTube Traffic Playbook
03:44 Avoiding Common YouTube Pitfalls
04:38 Crafting a Winning YouTube Strategy
07:54 Advanced YouTube Growth Strategies
10:40 YouTube Topic Brainstorming Exercise
12:12 Key Takeaways for YouTube Success
No film school, no fancy gear, just a cheap camcorder, a small town church, and a big dream. That's how Sean Canal's YouTube journey began back in 2003. Armed with nothing but a basic editing setup and a relentless drive to learn. He created one video a week building his skills brick by brick. Fast forward to today and Sean runs Think Media, an eight figure brand with millions of YouTube subscribers. But his story isn't just about success, it's about grit. It's about making 52 videos in two months while life was falling apart around him. It's about showing up scared. Underqualified and uncertain, but showing up anyway. Why does that matter? Because it proves something vital. You don't need perfect conditions to grow on YouTube. You need a plan, persistence and the courage to hit. Record. Hi, I am Jonathan Milligan. I'm the host of the Market Your Message Show. And we here help you that have a message, earn and create multiple streams of digital income. And we are currently working through. The fourth book in my series, build Your Audience. The Your Message Matter series has six books in total, and it goes all the way from discovering your message to creating those income streams. And we are releasing one audio, audio book chapter a week as we go through this. So if you'd like a copy of the book to go along with what you're learning here on the podcast, you can go to platform growth books.com or you can click on the link in the show notes, go grab a copy of Build Your Audience, and today we're gonna jump in to chapter 13, the YouTube Traffic Playbook. Let's get started.
Speaker 26:Chapter 13, the YouTube Traffic Playbook, a cheap camcorder zero training, a small church near Seattle. That's where Sean Kane's journey began in 2003. No fancy equipment, no film school degree. Just a spark of passion and a willingness to learn. Sean Dove headfirst into video creation, armed with nothing but determination in a basic Adobe Premier setup. He cranked out 52 videos a year, building his content creation muscle, one project at a time. Fast forward to today, Sean is the mastermind behind Think Media, a YouTube powerhouse with millions of subscribers. His company is raking in eight figures, and he's living proof that YouTube success isn't just a pipe dream, but hold up. It wasn't all smooth sailing. Sean faced his fair share of bumps along the way. His wife's health crisis nearly derailed everything, and he lost all his freelance clients in one brutal swoop. Yet he kept pushing, churning out content like a machine. At one point, he was talking 52 videos in just two months. Why does Sean's story matter to you? It shows what's possible with grit, consistency, and a will to adapt. So Sean didn't wait for the perfect moment or skills. He started scared, learned on the job, and kept showing up. Even when life threw curve balls, this chapter will explore strategies to grow YouTube channels into successful businesses. We'll unpack the techniques that helped Sean and countless others build their online empires. Buckle up whether you're just starting out or looking to level up your existing channel. We're about to explore the wild, wonderful world of growing an audience on YouTube ready to turn your passion into a platform. Let's dive in. YouTube trap. Most aspiring YouTubers fall into a common trap. They upload whatever strikes their fancy whenever they feel like it. There is no strategy or plan, just random content thrown at the wall hoping something sticks. They treat SEO as optional. Ignoring the power of well-crafted titles to descriptions and tags. Audience engagement is an afterthought if it happens at all. Here's the harsh truth. This approach is a one-way ticket to YouTube obscurity. Without a clear focus, your channel becomes a confusing mess. Viewers can't figure out what you're about so they don't stick around. Your videos get lost in the vast sea of content because you've ignored the very algorithm designed to help people find you, and that inconsistency is killing your growth. Viewers crave reliability, and when you don't deliver, they move on to channels that will. So what's the alternative? It's time to flip the script. Start with a rock solid content strategy. Know your niche, understand your audience, and plan your videos with purpose. Embrace SEO like it's your new best friend. Learn the ins and outs of YouTube's algorithm and make it work for you, not against you. And here's the real game changer. Engage with your audience. Like your channel depends on it because it does respond to comments, ask for feedback, and analyze your performance data like a pro. Remember, growing on YouTube isn't about luck. It's about strategy optimization, and consistent engagement. Master these and you'll be light years ahead of the competition. The YouTube Growth Playbook, most YouTubers are playing a losing game. They upload random videos. Ignore SEO and treat audience engagement as an afterthought. It is like throwing darts blindfolded and hoping to hit the bullseye. This scattershot approach leads nowhere fast. Viewers get confused by the lack of focus. Your videos get buried by YouTube's algorithm and your growth stalls. It's a recipe for frustration and burnout. So what's the winning strategy? First, ditch the randomness. Develop a clear content strategy that speaks to your audience's needs and interests. Then make YouTube's algorithm your ally, not your enemy. Finally, engage with your viewers like your channel's. Life depends on it because it does ready to level up. Here's your step-by-step guide, one master keyword research. Don't guess what topics will resonate. Use tools like Tube Buddy or Vid IQ to find popular low competition keywords. It's like having a treasure map for your niche. Choosing YouTube topics without keyword research is like phishing without knowing where the fish are. Two, craft compelling content. Focus on one of three video styles. Talking head. Presentation slides or screen share, recording, whichever you choose. Make it engaging. As Gary Vaynerchuk says, content is king, but engagement is the kingdom. Three. Optimize for SEO craft titles, descriptions, and tags that sing to both viewers and YouTube's algorithm. Think of SEO as putting up clear road signs to your content in a busy city of videos, make it easy for your audience to find you. Four, create thumb stopping thumbnails. Your thumbnail is your videos movie poster. Make it pop. Use tools like Canva to create visuals that demand attention as YouTube expert Roberto Blake advises. Your thumbnail is your videos movie poster. Make it pop. Five publish consistently. Establish a regular publishing schedule. Treat it like watering a plant. It's essential for growth. Consider using YouTube shorts. They can diversify your content and reach new audiences. By following these steps, you'll transform your YouTube strategy from haphazard to laser focused. You'll work smarter, not harder, and watch your audience grow. Remember, success on YouTube isn't about luck. It's about strategy, optimization, and consistent effort, advanced YouTube strategies, taking your channel to the next level, ready to supercharge your YouTube growth. Let's dive into some advanced strategies that can set you apart from the crowd. Double your visibility with Google search. Wanna cast a wider net? Look for keywords in your niche that display videos in Google search results. This clever tactic puts your content in front of viewers on both YouTube and Google. Visibility is the key to success, says one digital marketing expert when your video appears in both YouTube and Google search results. You're essentially fishing in two ponds with one line. Imagine doubling your reach with the same amount of effort. That's the power of this strategy. Harness your email list for instant Momentum. Have an email list. Use it to boost your new videos. Send out an email within 24 hours of publishing this initial surge of views tells YouTube your content is worth showing to more people. Think of your email list as your loyal fan club. When you release a new video, they're the first ones to cheer you on, giving you the momentum to reach a wider audience. Tap into YouTube's brain. Have you ever wished you could peek inside YouTube's mind? Now you can head to the inspiration tab in YouTube's studio. It's a gold mine of personalized insights, what people are looking for, trending keyword phrases, new videos to inspire you. Successful competitor videos make a short. Topic suggestions for YouTube shorts. As one YouTube strategy consultant says, the inspiration tab is like having a direct line to YouTube's brain. It tells you exactly what the platform and its users are hungry for. Become a content detective. It's time to put on your detective hat and analyze your more successful competitors' channels. What are their most popular videos? Which recent uploads are outperforming the rest? Use these insights to inform your content strategy. But remember, you're not copying, you're finding inspiration. One expert explains studying your competitors is like being a detective in the world of content creation. You're looking for clues about what resonates with your shared audience. Then using that information to craft your own unique approach By implementing these advanced strategies, you're not just playing the YouTube game, but changing it. You're finding hidden opportunities, using your assets, and outpacing the competition. Remember, success on YouTube isn't just about creating great content. It's about being innovative, strategic, and always looking for new ways to grow. So go ahead and give these tactics a try your future. YouTube stardom awaits today's exercise, YouTube topic, brainstorm exercise. Ready to uncover your next viral video idea. Let's flex those creative muscles with this YouTube topic. Brainstorming exercise. Grab a pen and paper. It's time to dive in. Core interest dump. Write down everything you're passionate about. Don't overthink it. Hobbies, skills, experiences, jot it all down. Audience pain points For each interest list, potential problems or questions your audience might have, what keeps them up at night? Keyword exploration. Use YouTube's search bar. Type in your topics and see what auto completes. These are golden nuggets of viewer interest. Trend surfing. I. Check Google Trends or YouTube trending. Can you put your unique spin on a hot topic question overload. Write down as many questions as possible about your top three interests. What, why, how, when? Get curious. Title Ts craft five attention grabbing titles for your top ideas. Remember, intrigue cells, gut check. Circle your top three ideas which ones excite you most, which could provide the most value to your audience. Congratulations, you've just generated a gold mine of video ideas tailored to your passions and your audience's needs. Pick your favorite and start planning that video. Remember, the best idea is the one you actually create. So what are you waiting for? Lights, camera, action. Key takeaways. Keyword research and SEO are vital for growth on YouTube. Consistent high quality content creation in a recognizable style helps build a loyal audience. Engaging with your audience and analyzing performance data are key to long-term success on the platform.
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