Why is My Channel not taking off?

"I post! I market! I engage! And then I do it all again." But you still aren't blowing up like you imagined. In fact, you have not gained a single subscriber after posting multiple videos. Your content is creative, so what is happening? Let's explore why your channel isn't taking off.

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Remember to go easy on yourself. David Dobrik makes the YouTube journey look easy, but his success came from behind the scenes hard work and still a good dose of luck. You may feel like people are blowing up left and right, but that is because the algorithm is flashing these channels in front of you. More often than not, channels do not take off. 

Success is nothing without hard work.

Hard work is nothing without knowledge.

Knowledge is nothing without curiosity.

Channel Not Taking Off

You're most likely repeating a combination of errors that keep your channel from growing. You should spend your free time doing the following...

• researching updates in the YouTube algorithm
• taking notes on what top YouTubers do well
• viewing your own analytics
• finding popular keywords
• engaging in the YouTube community as much as possible
• creating helpful video descriptions that benefit your audience
• experimenting with anything and everything​

YouTube offers tips in their Creator Academy and pages to explain their features. Then take the time to explore creator tips. I suggest listening to the 'Pretty Basic' and 'Views' podcasts hosted by actual big shot YouTubers. They go in-depth about the schedule and workload. Visit skillshare.com to improve your video product skills? Not sponsored by Skillshare, but dang, I hope someday they will...

The top YouTubers constantly have meetings about analytics. They learn and experiment. Award winning actors work with acting coaches and attend classes. Take pride in your art and continue to practice and educate yourself. 

I know people have other priorities like work, family, and school; so, it can be hard to incorporate all these additional tasks into your weekly routine. Create a game plan to introduce a few more steps every week. Have a trusted friend give you honest feedback because you may be losing potential subscribers by including an annoying or lengthy intro.

You might gravitate toward the easier option of copying a successful YouTuber. I've noticed many smaller content creators attempt to replicate Emma Chamberlain. Why not right? Her editing style appears easy, the camera work looks half-ass, and sarcasm galore. However, you do not see any rising YouTube stars using her style for two reasons. One, Emma's seemingly poor quality videos have an art to them that go with her personality and punchlines. Second, nobody idolizes a wannabe. Your channel should be YOUR personality and a fusion of styles that YOU personally enjoy. 

People told me all the time that I performed well in front of the camera. I did not want to perform; I wanted relatable, casual, and authentic. I enjoyed feeling connected to the YouTubers I watch, so I wanted my subscribers to feel the same love. I can never thank my supporters enough.

There could be one or a million reasons why your channel is not taking off. Don't take it personal, have patience, stay humble, and love the journey.