vidIQ gives you the keyword data, competitor insights, and AI tools to execute every strategy here.

Understanding how to get YouTube views is a skill every creator should have in their toolbox. Because let's face it: No one wants to spend hours crafting a video, only to receive zero views after hitting publish.

So if you've ever found yourself wondering, 

Why don't my YouTube videos get any views

From creating better thumbnails to writing click-worthy titles, here are 22 ways to get more views on YouTube videos.

It’s tempting to post whatever you want on YouTube, from DIY projects to hair tutorials to your latest cryptocurrency buy. After all, it’s 

 channel, and what’s wrong with mixing things up from time to time? Viewers will learn to appreciate your love for baseball, boba tea, and trail running, right?

Unfortunately, that’s not how viewers think; they want to see videos that cater to their interests over and over again. To make that happen, you’ll want to find a niche you’re passionate about and start creating videos within that sphere.

How to Choose the Best Niche for Your YouTube Channel

You’ll get more views on YouTube by making focused content in the long run.

then recommend your videos to people with similar interests. It's free promotion and likely the best you'll ever receive.

who return to watch more videos on your channel.

2. Do Some Keyword Research Before Filming

Making popular videos is tough if you don't know what people are searching for on YouTube. The best way to overcome this hurdle is with quality keyword research. 

This task puts you into the minds of viewers so you know what they intend to watch and which target keywords to use. Then, YouTube's search engine will recognize those terms and share your video with people searching for those topics.

7 Ways to Discover the Best YouTube Keywords for Your Channel

If you need help boosting your channel's search traffic, check out the 

 from vidIQ. Simply type any word or phrase into the tool’s search bar to see how any keyword is performing on YouTube.

A list of related keywords to deepen your search

Once you find the right keywords, add them to your video title, description, and video chapters to increase your YouTube view count.

We haven’t gotten around to filming yet, but that’s OK. Having a list of strong keywords and understanding your niche helps you do other things to increase your views on YouTube, like optimizing video titles.

a good title has more than popular keywords.

9 Ways to Write Exciting YouTube Titles for Your Videos

Here’s an example: If you filmed a video about getting YouTube subscribers, “How to Get 1,000 Subscribers,” is a good starting point for your title.

” Adding that last bit of information at the end – “try this” – begs the question: What exactly should I be trying? The next logical step is to click and find out.

 If you write something like “Real Estate Tips for Buyers,” that’s not helpful because the real estate market is location-based. Plus, are we talking about houses, land, or commercial buildings? In this case, your title isn't specific enough.

To write better titles, capture your community’s shared language with each upload.

You'll find the best example of this on a channel called 

. This adorable “talking” dog has more than 29 million views, mostly because his droopy eyes and classic head tilts are irresistible.

It also helps that Zeusy's videos have amazing titles. His owner uses keywords like “talking pit bull” because pit bulls are vocal, and it’s a relatable detail. Zeusy’s owner also calls himself “dad” to emphasize the parent-child relationship between owners and their pets.

Check out this title to see how it all comes together: 

“Talking Pit Bull Argues With His Dad! This Dog Is Too Smart!”

 and has some emotional intrigue ("this dog is too smart"). And guess what? The video has more than 170,000 views and counting.

Do you pay attention to YouTube trends? If not, now’s the time to start because hopping on a trending topic is a great way to dominate YouTube search results.

The key to making trend-worthy videos is knowing which topics to embrace. That often means 

 so your channel remains focused. Every video you post needs to matter to your audience whether it goes viral or not.

 posting trending topics. You still need evergreen content to generate long-term value and get steady views. We recommend dedicating 10-20% of your content to following trends.

Are you looking for a way to track YouTube trends? 

 for your channel. With this tool, you can:

Keep tabs on specific keywords and track their performance.

See how many views per hour a competitor is getting on a trending topic.

Set up email alerts for the top trending videos on any topic.

Did you know you can upload custom thumbnails for any video after verifying your YouTube channel? 

It's true. You don’t need thousands of subscribers, watch time, or a certain number of videos to do this. In fact, your channel doesn’t even have to be monetized. From day one, you can verify the phone number associated with your account and promptly upload custom graphics.

For example, check out this thumbnail from our YouTube channel. The video it’s paired with, “

,” has more than 450,000 views. We’d say this thumbnail is working for us so far – much better than the random frame YouTube shows if you don't upload a graphic.

Here are nine tips for creating better YouTube thumbnails:

 Viewers should be able to understand them in mere seconds.

and vibrancy of the image to make it pop.

 from your image and insert a better design.

YouTube Thumbnail Guide: 9 Ways to Boost Click-Through Rate

If you’re making custom thumbnails but aren’t getting more views, read 

to see what you’re doing wrong. Once you’ve found the problem, 

 publishing. Simply type in a keyword to compare different thumbnails.

Your video’s intro is crucial. Within the first 30 seconds, viewers decide if they're going to A) keep watching or B) abandon the video.

Making them stay means you collect more watch time, which is always lovely. But a better reward is satisfying people so they 

Want to create better intros? Here’s what you need to do:

 so viewers get what they came for sooner.

 introducing yourself and the video topic. Jump right into the good stuff and introduce yourself later.

 It’s not so much an intro as a chance to keep people watching. Tease the juicier parts of your video or do something funny to hook the viewer.

Make sure the intro aligns with the title. 

It should also align with the video’s thumbnail so viewers aren't let down.

 What works for one creator may not work for another. Do some testing and follow the proven success path, even if that means 

7. Add YouTube Cards and End Screens to Your Videos

Some people pay for views on YouTube, but you should never do that – not while YouTube cards and end screens exist. They're the best tools for promoting your channel, and they're also free to use.

are in-video notifications that recommend related content to viewers. That could be a video, playlist, extra channels you’ve created, and even outside links. When you’re aiming for more views, info cards containing videos and playlists are most helpful.

appear in the last 5-20 seconds of a video. During this video outro, viewers can click an additional video of yours to watch next.

Obviously, you want people to watch 100% of a video, and info cards will interrupt that. That’s why you should add them well into the video – past the halfway mark, if possible.

8. Create Playlists for Extra YouTube Views

Once you have a large batch of content, start dividing those videos into playlists. 

These collections help people explore one topic in depth. For example, a pets channel might have a playlist called "How to Teach the Sit Command to Dogs."

 playlist before any other. Fill it with videos illustrating what your channel is about, then move the playlist to position one on your channel homepage. With any luck, new viewers will see it and understand the value of your content.

Descriptions aren't as noticeable as the thumbnails and video titles on your channel. Nonetheless, you need quality descriptions to optimize a YouTube video for more views.

To start, make your descriptions short and sweet. While the description box accepts 5,000 characters, viewers only see the first 157. They have to click “show more” to read what's left.

That’s why vital details, such as the video's topic and why it matters, should appear in the first 157 characters. You can put extra information, such as video chapters, subscribe links, and social handles, below this point.

YouTube Video Descriptions: How to Write Them Better In 2025

Make the description an accurate representation of the video to satisfy viewers.

Don't worry about large channels leaving the description area blank

 From an SEO standpoint, descriptions with relevant keywords attract more YouTube views.

Despite what many people think, going viral isn't the fastest way to get consistent YouTube views. In fact, that’s a rare phenomenon for most people. 

A better approach is looking at your channel analytics, measuring video performance, and doubling down on what works most of the time.

Everything you need is in the YouTube Studio. If you go there often, you’re already familiar with this analytics screen:

Looking for ways to boost your views on YouTube? Here are 22 tips for attracting more viewers, making better content, and promoting your channel.

22 Simple Ways to Get More YouTube Views in 2024 (for Free)

More views start with better strategy. vidIQ optimizes titles, thumbnails, tags, and descriptions.

How do you gain 100,000 subscribers on YouTube in a year or less?

. You have to figure out how YouTube works, test different content, and craft a schedule that feels consistent. She’s still finding her way as a travel vlogger, but Sarah Fay recently hit a goal every creator wants to reach: 

It all happened once she decided to get consistent on YouTube in January 2021. Now we're sharing her story so creators know it's possible to grow their channels authentically and quickly.

YouTube Channel Stats: Travels of Sarah Fay

Here's a snapshot of Sarah Fay's tremendous growth on YouTube:

Subscribers in the last six months: 118,563

Views over the previous six months: 62 million

Looking at these stats from vidIQ, we can see that Travels of Sarah Fay gained 99% of its subscribers 

But if you think travel vlogging is about seeing pretty places and watching the subscribers roll in, keep reading because there’s more to the story. Even if this awesome photo says otherwise…

Turning Viewers Into Subscribers with YouTube Shorts

By the time Sarah Fay went viral on YouTube, she had more than 40 videos on her channel. They were a mix of vlogs and travel guides, and many of them showed her adventures in Florida, Georgia, California, and the Virgin Islands. She even posted a few YouTube Shorts of those beautiful excursions.

. In that video, Sarah Fay yawns, rolls out of bed, and gazes at the sunrise over California's Alabama Hills. The short video is called "Van Life Perks Waking Up Wherever You Want" and has 

This simple yet aspirational video brought new viewers to the channel – lots of them. But it was Sarah Fay's collection of 

“People think I just posted that Short, got 60 million views, and that's why I have all these subscribers,” she says. “But I'm like, ‘I think it was all the work that went into it across platforms and the last few years of me posting consistently and learning how to do some keyword research or how to form [video] titles.’ ”

 on her channel. She did that by returning to popular Shorts and pasting links to longer videos, letting people know she had more content to enjoy.

Running a YouTube Channel Like a Startup Business

Becoming a travel vlogger on YouTube isn’t easy. Imagine constantly paying for plane tickets, gasoline for your car, and expensive hotel rooms. And that’s just the beginning when you realize the time it takes to travel and have new experiences while vlogging.

When you get back to the hotel – which you’re hoping has strong WiFi – there’s still more work to do: editing, 

Sarah Fay approaches these challenges with an entrepreneur’s mindset. She treats her channel like a startup in growth mode, which helps her prioritize specific tasks and grow her subscribers.

Here's how to apply the startup mindset to any YouTube channel:

Solve a problem that’s close to your heart. 

Sarah Fay knew people missed traveling anywhere – domestically or abroad. She posted her own adventures to feed their nostalgia and demystify "pandemic travel."

 Traveling is expensive, but Sarah Fay finds cheap airfare using Skyscanner and Secret Flying, and she also stays in hostels. But even if you don't travel, 

 is the best way for any creator to save money.

. That might be the city you’re in now, but who knows? Sarah Fay chose Orlando, Florida, because it has flights to almost everywhere.

. What do viewers want to watch next? Sarah Fay finds the answer by testing different content or asking people on the YouTube Community tab what they want to watch.

, then find effective, low-cost ways to deliver the content people want. That’s how you gain subscribers on YouTube without sacrificing too many resources, including energy.

“Even if [you’re doing] it as a side hustle, you're going to spend hours on this, and you have to really love it,” Sarah Fay says. “Because I think a lot of people, they want to do it, and then they realize how much work it is, and they fold.”

Authentic Yet Trendy: The Perfect YouTube Mix

Following trends on YouTube is never a bad idea, especially if they mirror your YouTube niche. But sometimes, being your authentic self is even better. It makes people connect with your content faster and eventually hit subscribe.

Sarah Fay balances the two – authenticity and trends – by focusing on her life’s journey.

“I try to do a mixture of what people want, but I’m also reminding myself that this is also my journey as well in terms of exploring the world and seeing different places,” she says.

Sarah Fay doesn’t post nightlife vlogs, even if those videos get tons of views. It’s just not 

. She even turns off the camera when socializing with other travelers to avoid burnout. What she’d rather show is a place’s culture – its deep, exciting, or unknown history.

At the same time, Sarah Fay understands that viewers want to see popular places. So she works hard to uncover which destinations align with her desires and viewers’ interests.

“So, for instance, I posted a Community tab post to get an idea... I said, ‘Would you rather?’ and then I [shared] options of [places] I'm thinking about traveling to. I'm not saying that's what I'm going to do, but just to get an idea of where they would like to travel to see where I should pick next. I also use Pinterest Trends to see what's trending and search for travel destinations. Or Google Trends, because I think that does help.”

Creators can learn a lot from Sarah Fay's YouTube journey. She essentially grew her audience by:

Jumping on trends that align with her interests, such as "van life" content

"Advertising" her channel with YouTube Shorts

And guess what? If she can do it, so can you!

But if you're a long way from hitting 100,000 subscribers, read this post to get your first 10,000 instead.

All photos courtesy of Travels of Sarah Fay.

Woman wearing sunglasses sitting by colorful Pena Palace with scenic mountain view

It took Travels of Sarah Fay less than a year to gain 100,000 YouTube subscribers. Here's how she vlogged her way to a massive audience that continues to grow.

How One Travel Vlogger Gained 100k YouTube Subscribers – Fast

It’s been four months since we all gushed over MrBeast’s most famous video: “

We’re checking in to announce that everyone, including MrBeast fans and general viewers, 

 stop watching this elaborate challenge. Here are some statistics for the video, according to vidIQ data:

If today’s viewing rate holds steady (12,200 VPH), the video will gain 292,800 views every 24 hours.

That’s just speculation, of course. We’re not saying those numbers will materialize in the future, but it’s an intriguing theory.

: If MrBeast can achieve all of this with 

 video, how can you (or any creator) replicate his success?

Why People Watch MrBeast’s “Squid Game” 4 Months Later

“Squid Game” is MrBeast’s most-viewed video on his main channel. Give it a watch if you haven’t seen the video, then we’ll explain its awesomeness.

MrBeast explains the challenge immediately and quickens the pace with jump cuts and multiple camera angles.

With 456 competitors, there’s plenty of action to enjoy. And if there’s a TV audience for “Ninja Warrior” and “The Amazing Race,” MrBeast proves there’s a similar YouTube audience.

 Netflix subscribers have watched more than 

 of “Squid Game” since November 2021. All of that buzz is sending MrBeast’s YouTube spin-off to the moon.

 The prize in the original show is $45.6 billion, but MrBeast’s offering is nothing to sneeze at. When money is involved, viewers stick around to see who wins it.

 on his "Squid Game" video. No YouTuber has done that, so it’s worth a second, third, and fourth watch.

Hats off to MrBeast. It makes sense that the video averages 74,400 views per hour on YouTube.

How to Make a MrBeast-Style Video For Less Money

Want to get steady YouTube views on one video for a long time? Here’s how to make a stripped-down version of the typical MrBeast video:

 Get to know creators in your area and pitch the idea of group challenges and collaborations.

 Make it $100, $200 – whatever’s reasonable. Or even better, get a brand to supply the cash reward via YouTube sponsorship.

Spend almost nothing by using the great outdoors.

 Make it an outdoor challenge with just a few props, and your bank account won’t crumble.

Encourage everyone in the video to promote it.

 You might not be as famous as MrBeast, but your network can boost the video significantly.

Think about competitions like Netflix’s “Is It Cake?” That was a meme on social media before it became a show.

If you’re looking for easy ways to boost your views, check out this post with seven awesome tips.

Smartphone displaying Squid Game logo with character in pink suit and green tracksuits background

Four months later, MrBeast is still getting massive views from his “Squid Game” video. Here’s what makes it unique and how you can repeat his success on YouTube.

MrBeast’s ‘Squid Game’ Video Still Averages 74k VPH – Here’s Why

The first 100 subs are hardest. vidIQ gives you keyword data and AI to build momentum.

A question we receive from creators all the time is, "

How long to get 100 subscribers on YouTube?"

Well, we won’t keep you in suspense. Our answer is roughly two months or 

How did we get this number? By asking you, of course.

, we asked creators how long it took them to gain 100 subscribers on YouTube. More than 13,000 people responded to our poll, and here are the anecdotal results:

As you can see, 58% of respondents haven’t reached 100 subscribers yet. That left 5,500 creators we could get some kind of data from.

If we only include those respondents, here are the new percentages of how long it took some creators to get 100 subscribers:

Before we go any further, we need to add a quick disclaimer. The poll results above are purely anecdotal and don’t represent official vidIQ data.

Nonetheless, we did some extra math to see if our results 

 believable. With basic addition, we know that 45% of respondents got 100 subscribers in less than 50 days. And 55% of respondents accomplished the same goal in less than 365 days. With extra calculating and extrapolations (all speculative, really), that's how we reached our magic number of 61 days to reach 100 subscribers.

To see how we arrived at that number, watch the video below:

Also, if you’re way better at math, tweet us your answer at @vidIQ.

We’re answering the 100-subscriber question anecdotally, so here’s a fun theory. 

If it takes 61 days on average to get 100 subs, you'd need:

Does YouTube Get Easier After 100 Subscribers?

Not substantially. With 100 subs, you're still in the small creator club. YouTube is difficult at this point, but you'll feel more confident with 100 strangers believing in your channel.

YouTube gets easier once you have 1,000 subscribers

. That's the number you need to enter the YouTube Partner Program and monetize your channel. You also need 

How to Monetize Your YouTube Channel - A Beginner's Guide

Combine those two milestones, and you'll unlock the best YouTube has to offer: 

, Super Chats, Channel Memberships, and more.

What Happens When You Get 100 Subscribers on YouTube?

The main perk you receive is the ability to 

. So if you're interested in starting a business, reaching 100 subscribers is good for your online brand.

Also, you need at least 50 subscribers to live stream on YouTube using a mobile device. One hundred subscribers is twice that amount, so naturally, you'll unlock the ability to go live anywhere there's internet access.

Gaining YouTube Subscribers Is About More Than Numbers

The data above is what many creators want to see. They want to know how long it takes to get a certain amount of views or subscribers on YouTube, because there's so much uncertainty from the start.

The problem with trying to come up with a solid answer is that the math doesn’t make sense. It’s hard to calculate on-camera likability, the quality of your keywords, or how attractive your thumbnails look. But somehow, you need to measure those things because they help your YouTube channel grow.

Keyword research for dominating YouTube search results

A tool that compares your thumbnails to your competitor’s

A channel audit tool that shows which videos attract the most subscribers

What You Should Actually Focus on as a New Creator

When you start your YouTube journey, it won’t be easy or feasible to follow 

. Most likely, you won’t post two videos each week and earn exactly 100 subscribers in 61 days. You’ll probably try new things to see what works best, which could mean posting five videos one week and three videos the next.

Also, the distribution of views and subscribers doesn’t adhere to a strict formula. Some videos will get less than 10 views and earn you no subscribers; next week, a video may get hundreds of views and attract 25 subscribers.

When you’re just starting out on YouTube, take care of the basics:

Create eye-catching thumbnails for your videos

That will earn you more subscribers than any YouTube posting formula.

Have you reached 100 subscribers on YouTube? Here are 10 tips to get your first 1,000 this year.

The time it takes to gain 100 YouTube subscribers depends on many factors. But if you're looking for an exact number, here's our honest guess.

How Long Does It Take to Reach 100 Subscribers on YouTube?

vidIQ's keyword tools help you target topics new viewers search for, so your videos get found.

Lydia Sweatt

Posts Written By Lydia Sweatt

22 Simple Ways to Get More YouTube Views in 2024 (for Free)

How One Travel Vlogger Gained 100k YouTube Subscribers – Fast

MrBeast’s ‘Squid Game’ Video Still Averages 74k VPH – Here’s Why

How Long Does It Take to Reach 100 Subscribers on YouTube?

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