How to Get More YouTube Subcribers

No matter your YouTube goal, one of the most important things you need to do is increase your subscribers. When people subscribe to your channel, it signals to YouTube that you are creating high-quality content. YouTube will reward you with better ranking and visibility of your videos. Additionally, the more subscribers you have, the better the credibility of your YouTube channel.

However, getting YouTube subscribers is still one of the hardest things. You might receive thousands of views, likes, and comments, but still find it hard to get subscribers. Fortunately, this article will guide you on how to get more YouTube subscribers.

The Importance of Subscribers in YouTube Success

There are several reasons why subscribers are essential to a YouTube channel. These  include:

Audience Foundation

Subscribers are the foundation of any YouTube channel. Once people subscribe to your channel, they are more likely to watch, like, and share its content. That means you will have an audience ready to watch your videos. When they share your videos, it results in bigger growth for your channel.

Monetization Opportunity

To monetize your YouTube channel, you must have at least 1000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the last year. Therefore, growing your YouTube subscribers will open monetization opportunities.

Revenue Generation Opportunity

The number of subscribers doesn't directly translate to higher revenue. However, when they engage with your content through watch time and views, this can help increase your ad revenue. Also, when brands are looking for brand ambassadors, they consider the number of subscribers an account has. That means a large number of followers will open doors for higher revenues.

Enhanced Influence and Credibility

When you have a high subscriber count, your channel will be seen as more credible. This affects the viewer's decision to subscribe and engage with it. This can have a ripple effect, as the more engagement you get on your channel, the better its visibility. 

Access to Different YouTube Features

When you reach 100 subscribers, YouTube will unlock certain features, such as creating a custom URL. When you reach 1000 subscribers, you get additional features such as the super chat. Therefore, getting more subscribers will help open YouTube features.

Community Building

Getting subscribers can help you build a community to participate in your discussions and attend live events. This can lead to more vibrant channels that experience higher growth and engagement. The loyal fans can be the backbone of your channel, increasing its visibility and engagement.

How to Increase Your YouTube Engagement

Now that you understand the benefits of having more subscribers, here are ways to increase your YouTube subscribers.

Create Informative and Engaging Content

The only reason why people watch a YouTube video is if it is educational or entertaining. Similarly, you should create content your users find helpful to increase your subscribers. There are several tips you can use to create content that people find useful. These include:

• Find a niche for your content and stick to it.
• Create video scripts in advance to ensure that you cover all the relevant points and don't include unnecessary information that can bore viewers. You can break one video into several smaller videos if it contains a lot of information.
• Use high-quality visuals in your videos to make them more appealing.
• Use a hook at the beginning to encourage people to view the end.
• Create original content that adds a new perspective to a story.
• Increase the video engagement levels using end screens, cards, and other customization options. We will discuss more about these features later in this article.

Improve the Production Quality of Your Videos

The quality of your videos will also affect the number of subscribers you get. People will not subscribe to your channel if your video has poor-quality visuals or audio. On the other hand, a professional video will make people take you seriously and engage with your video. Here are several tips to enable you to create high-quality and professional videos:

• Record videos in a quiet place with no background noise.
• Use high-quality recording equipment to ensure clear audio in the video. Ensure that you watch the input volume meter when you are recording.
• Ensure that the video is recorded in over 1080 pixels. Such videos are ranked better by YouTube.
• Create a script for your video before you start recording so that you know what you want to say and include the relevant points.
• Leverage jump cuts and slow motions to accentuate some parts of the videos.
• Use video recording equipment such as tripods to stabilize your videos and create horizontal videos. A clip-on lens can help create vertical videos.
• Use good video editing software.
• Review the video before recording it.

Have a Great YouTube Keyword Strategy

One factor that will determine your ability to rank your YouTube videos is your choice of keywords. A common mistake people make when starting YouTube channels is focusing on high-volume keywords. This doesn't work for a new channel, as the competition level is likely to be stiff. They are, therefore, outranked by other more prominent channels with lots of videos and a higher engagement level.

A good idea would be to focus on highly relevant and attainable keywords. That means finding keywords that aren't too broad. For instance, instead of making videos on keywords like “pencil drawing,” you can focus on a keyword like “pencil drawing tutorial”. You can use a tool like Google AdWord Keyword Planner to get keyword ideas. 

When getting started, you can limit yourself to keywords with a maximum of 100 monthly searches. With a keyword such as “white charcoal pencils,” you will realize the number of fully optimized videos on it isn’t big. That means there is an opportunity to rank for such videos. By focusing on keywords that aren’t widely covered, you can easily rank on the YouTube algorithm and get traction for your YouTube videos.

Be Consistent in Publishing Videos

Another essential way to increase your YouTube subscribers is to create and publish videos consistently. When people see that you have taken a long time before publishing content, they will not be interested in subscribing to your channel. Studies indicate that channels that publish regularly perform better than those that don't. You can easily get more subscribers when you publish more than one video weekly.

One reason posting frequently works is that you can surpass the channels that post intermittently. This will also give users a reason to subscribe, as they can look forward to your content. A good idea would be to look at the posting frequency of your competitors and exceed theirs. For instance, if you find that they post once per month, you can post twice.

However, the best posting schedule is the one you can stick to. A consistent posting schedule will keep your existing subscribers returning, resulting in more YouTube views and engagement. You can also use the Google scheduling feature to schedule your YouTube videos for the times when you want them to appear online.

Create Multiple Shots Out of Your Long-form Videos

You might find that you are struggling to create long-form content videos. To keep going, you can consider splitting your longer videos into segments and posting them on YouTube shorts. YouTube shorts are made to compete with TikTok and are given much more prominence than other forms of video. Statistics indicate that they receive more than 70 million views daily, which means YouTube shorts are great for marketing.

With shorts, you can create a dozen videos without much extra effort. That means you will have a better opportunity to capture and engage with your subscribers. Besides, Shorts are an excellent choice for sharing across multiple platforms. For instance, you can share them on X or TikTok.

Optimize Your YouTube Videos for SEO

YouTube SEO can help you rank highly on YouTube. Your videos will rank highly on YouTube and Google search engines. When people search for keywords in your niche, your video will appear in the search results. Some of the elements you should optimize in YouTube videos are:

Title

Keep your video descriptions short, ideally 50 to 60 characters. Ensure that the title is descriptive and clearly describes the topic. Well-optimized headlines can increase views, clicks, and subscribers. Here are the three main elements to include in your headlines:

• Keywords. Ideally, optimize your YouTube title by including the relevant keyword at the beginning. This can also indicate that your videos align well with user search intent.
• Emotive language. Ensure that the headlines of your videos are enticing, encouraging users to click on them.
• Offer value. Tell the user what they will get by watching the videos. Use the headline to hint at what they will learn by clicking on the video.

Thumbnail

Thumbnails refer to the small images visible in the search results and should be one of the must have basics of a YouTube channel. They have a huge impact on the view rate. Therefore, you need to make the most out of them by using an enticing image that encourages users to click on them. You don't have to explain to them what the video is about. You will do that in the description and title. However, the thumbnail supports these two and should be related to the title. 

If you want to create a personal brand, include your image in the thumbnail. A good tool you can use to customize your thumbnail is Canva. It has a wide range of templates you can customize free of charge. The intuitive image editor on Canvas allows you to tailor one of the templates to your brand's needs. You only need to upload the image you want to use or choose one from the Canva library.

Description

The YouTube description is the text shown on the side of the Thumbnail in the YouTube search results. It is one of the elements that YouTube uses to rank videos. Therefore, when you provide more details, you improve your chances of ranking highly on the platform. Ensure that you also include the main keywords in the first part of your description. 

The description should also be optimized with all the necessary details, such as keywords, links, and timestamps. With Timestamps, viewers can select the part of the video they would like to watch and go directly to it. You can also use this section to link to other videos and therefore, increase the engagement level of your videos.

Descriptions also enable you to provide the viewer with more details about the channel, topic, and overarching brand. Therefore, you can use the description to provide as much information as possible. This can include:

• A description of the video. Some users also prefer to see the full transcript of the video.
• Timestamps.
• Links to related videos, products or brands mentioned.

No matter what you use the description for, remember to request the viewers to subscribe. You can do that using a short code. You can also add a “?sub_confirmation=1” at the end of your channel’s URL.

Video Tags

YouTube tags refer to words and phrases you can use to help viewers and the algorithm understand what the video is about. They are a key part of SEO and can help you rank for relevant terms. 

Video tags increase the visibility of your YouTube videos. When thinking of keywords to add to your video tags, start with those that best describe the topic of your video, content, and target audience. Therefore, make sure you take the time to find the most relevant tags. While you might be tempted only to include the popular tags, a good idea would be to use a few specific tags for the video. You can then use a few broad tags for the niche.

Use YouTube Cards

In the past, YouTube annotations were a great method of engaging users. All that was required was to add links directly to the video content. However, they were discontinued due to their disruptiveness and were replaced by YouTube cards. YouTube allows you to add up to five cards featuring a customized text, image, and call-to-action. You can go to the YouTube Studio to add the card and follow these steps:

• Tap Content, and choose the video you want to add to the card. Tap on the pencil icon.
• Tap Cards in the page to follow.
• Under the dropdown menu, select the card you want to add. If you want to promote another channel, use the channel card. Links cards allow you to promote other websites, while the video card enables you to promote your other videos. You can also use playlist cards to promote other video playlists.

Once you are finished, close the video, and it will be updated automatically.

Engage with YouTube Viewers

The engagement level is one of the factors that YouTube considers when ranking videos. Therefore, you need to drive engagement if you want your videos to appear in the search engine algorithm. An easy way of doing that is by responding to comments, as it shows them that you value their input. They might even be encouraged to subscribe.

When someone responds with a positive comment, thank them for the comment or feedback. While you don't have to write a whole paragraph, you need to ensure that you are genuine and provide a personalized response. If the comment is negative, take it with a positive attitude and address the issue fast. You can even go ahead and thank them for the positive criticism and tell them you will address the concern in future. If trolls leave the comment, avoid getting into mudslinging content with them. If you feel the comment was uncalled for, you better ignore it.

Collaborate with Other YouTube Creators

YouTube collaboration is a great option for increasing the reach of your videos and should, therefore, be part of your viral YouTube strategy. This could be either in a one-off cameo, or you can be part of another personal channel. You can even collaborate on an ongoing feature with other creators. 

To ensure the success of the collaboration, start by brainstorming different ideas before reaching out to other YouTubers in your niche. A good idea would be to work with YouTubers with a similar follower size. After getting a collaboration or two, you can now reach out to prominent YouTubers. 

Host a Q&A Session or Webinar

Another effective tool to increase your subscription is the YouTube Live button. You can use it to host a webinar or Q&A session. YouTube also has a live chat feature, allowing YouTube users to respond to your videos in real-time. To go live, you only need to verify your channel. You can then tap on Create Button>Go Live. However, before you go live, take time to test the feature, as you may need to wait for 24 hours before you are allowed to use it.

Experiment with YouTube Ads

It's possible to increase your YouTube subscriptions without ads. However, it can be worth considering YouTube ads after you have witnessed some growth. While YouTube allows you to choose from different ads, the Discovery ads are the best choice for getting subscriptions. These ads usually appear on the YouTube homepage, search results, and in the list of user suggested videos.

YouTube ads follow a pay-per-click model, so you will only pay when someone clicks on your ads. To create your YouTube ad, go to Google Ads and Click on New Campaign. You can then click to create a campaign. Under the campaign type, choose Video. Then, you can select the most effective campaign subtype. In this case, we recommend video views.

Provide a name, budget, and campaign dates to configure your YouTube campaign. Ensure that under the Google Display Network, you untick the video partners. This will ensure that your ad only appears on YouTube. You can then choose the location. At the page’s bottom, detect the URL of the video you are promoting. Select In-feed video ads if you want your ad to appear in the search results. Go ahead and select a thumbnail, and add a headline and description for the video. Enter the maximum cost per view you intend to pay. You can then tap on Create Campaign.

Create a Video Playlist

If you have several videos under a particular theme, you can create a playlist for that theme. This is an excellent way of ensuring that your users binge-watch your videos. After they finish watching one video, they are taken to the next one without having to tap on next or search. This can help to increase your watch time. You will have more people subscribing when they see that you have several videos they like.

When creating playlists, ensure that your videos are organized under different topic buckets. For instance, if you are in content marketing, you can have the playlist under categories such as SEO and digital marketing, social media marketing, and more. You can also use a playlist to serialize a set of videos. This is among the effective tips to jump-grow your YouTube channel.

Embed YouTube videos on Your Website

If you already have a website in the niche where you are creating YouTube videos, it can be a good idea to use the website to market your channel and, therefore, grow your viewership and subscriptions. This works for both assets because you can use videos to explain complex topics on your blog. On the other hand, you can convert your blog readers into YouTube subscribers. After all, if someone is interested in your blog, they are also likely to be interested in related video content.

Create a Video Promotion Plan

It's not enough to create YouTube videos and wait for people to like and subscribe to it. You need to plan how to promote the video and channel consistently. For instance, you can use other channels, such as TikTok, to promote your YouTube videos. You can also create a Tweet embedding your YouTube video.

Final Thoughts

YouTube is, without a doubt, the biggest video-sharing platform. It's an excellent choice for brands looking to increase their visibility, share product usage videos, and even reach new audiences. Content creators, on the other hand, can use it to create content, earn money, and grow their brand.

However, to effectively use YouTube, it's important to have subscribers. Many users find this challenging, especially if they are just getting started. The good news is that by following the above tips, you can grow your YouTube subscribers.