How To Collab Like The Big YouTubers

As a Small YouTuber, you constantly compare your channel to the bigger and mightier YouTubers such as Tana Mongeau, Liza Koshy, and Remi Ashten​. They're constantly cross-promoting their brands through collaborations with their famous friends. Here's how to collab like the big YouTubers.

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Picking the Influencer

You watch a David Dobrik vlog where he and his 20-some friends crack jokes and pull pranks...super easy, right? But in actuality, there's a lot of thought that goes into his content. Jokes that aren't funny enough get eliminated or rolled into his second channel videos. No video is more than 4 minutes and 20 seconds. Easy to watch, but thoughtful creation. However, not every channel needs to collab with David to strike gold.

Below are some tips to help you decide which channels are worth collaborating with. If you are seeking collaboration with a non-YouTuber but someone popular on a different platform like Instagram, Snapchat, or a blog, please scroll down for those helpful tips. 

Check Their Channel

• CURRENT STANDING - Has this YouTuber been in the middle of any controversy? Has the internet deemed this person mean, racist, or untruthful? If the answer is Yes, you should wait until their reputation improves before linking your brand to theirs. Even if this creator has more subscribers than you, this won't be your only opportunity for growth.
• VIEWS PER VIDEOS - Video views matter more than subscriber count. Check the YouTuber's view count on their uploads from the past 2 months and assume that's how many people will watch your collab video. Maybe you won't benefit and should decline. 
• CONTENT - Are you creating content that aligns with their channel? If they share home decor DIY tutorials, a Pringles Taste Test Challenge may not do so hot. Their success is your success.
• QUALITY - If you're a smaller YouTuber, you most likely will be tag teaming this with other small channels. If their videos have bad light or camera quality, try to lead in the studio set up. If they have terrible camera presence, then hard pass!

Watch these videos that are on other people's channels.
​So make sure to then go watch my videos to give me VIEWS!!

Check Yourself

• THINK FIRST - Are you pushing for a collab just to say you did a collab? Are you forcing on-camera chemistry?  If yes, slow down. Take some time to watch their content, view their other social platforms, and get to know them personally. Slide into their Insta or Twitter DMs and start a friendship.
• PLAN IT OUT - Come up with something that you will both enjoy because negative energy shows on camera. Think about your audience and current trends. You want to deliver the best entertainment.

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Collabing with Non-YouTubers

Sometimes there's value in partnering with an influencer whose following congregates on another social platform. An Instagrammer may not be able to boost your YouTube, but usually your own Insta could receive a boost.

• CHECK THEIR STATS - Much like what I mentioned earlier about views outranking sub count, check their likes per picture over followers. It's more likely for users to buy followers and likes for their Instagram and Twitter than on YouTube, so focus on their engagement.
• CONSIDER THE PROJECT - Realize that photoshoots can take up your entire day. You may not have that kind of time. You might be better off filming the experience as a "behind the scenes" or choosing a photo challenge as your video.

Ready to learn Collab Etiquette? Read more here!

Have you had a successful collab while being a Small YouTuber? Share your experience in the comments.