Getting 100,000 subscribers isn't easy, but we know 10 creators who pulled it off in just a few weeks. Many of them used lifelong skills, such as candy making, drawing, and video game design, to pull in hundreds of thousands of views. This proves that almost 

can find their audience on YouTube, especially when making videos about their expertise. 

These lucky creators are in the vidIQ community, so we're doubly excited about their success this month. Congratulations and welcome to 

As always, we define the vidIQ community as anyone using our growth tools to reach YouTube success. So if you've 

 to optimize your videos, find keywords, or even get video ideas, this roundup is for you. We're celebrating 

Top Channels Passing 100,000 Subscribers in December

Koryer makes skits that combine funny voiceovers and 

Great Gadgets makes videos about technology and appliances that make life easier.

Andulord posts daily Shorts about the signs of normal versus genius intelligence.

EiCurioso! Español shares tales of legendary monsters.

Quizzer Kayra shares entertaining memory tests, puzzles, and "find this" challenges.

Artist Abhimanyu makes drawing tutorials for kids and adults.

Linda Vilay makes beauty, fashion, and music videos.

 is an indie game studio that shares the reality of making video games.

Rocks & Rolls Candy shows the fascinating process of making artisanal treats.

Congrats to everyone who had amazing subscriber growth last month! 🥳 If you want to see your channel grow, don't forget to 

 and get robust tools, data, and video ideas.

A graphic showing the words 100,000 subscribers 

Red badge with white text celebrating 100K subscribers and fireworks on black background

They've done it again! 10 creators, who once had small channels, hit 100,000 subscribers on YouTube. Discover who they are and how they blew up so quickly!

10 YouTube Channels that Hit 100K Subs FAST! [December]

, you’ll spend a lot of time learning how to get better on camera. This is particularly true for vloggers, makeup artists, fitness gurus, and other creators building a personal brand. For these YouTubers, their face and personality are more than just “another part of the video”; they’re tools for human connection.

So, what makes a good speaker on YouTube? A study by Quantified Communications analyzed over 100,000 presentations, 

 on their clarity, confidence, persuasiveness, and warmth. We’ll start there as a basic foundation and then tie everything back to YouTube!

Of course, you will cringe at yourself in the beginning, but you're not alone, and it doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. Talking to a camera is much easier than giving a speech in person. Depending on your audience, you get to “relax” a bit and embrace the entertainment side of content creation. That means you can bring more passion, humor, and wit to your stories.

Rather than mimic successful creators, focus on finding your unique voice. Warm-up recordings, speaking to the camera like it’s a friend, and ditching word-for-word scripts can all help you ease into a natural rhythm. As our creator Jenn mentions here, cringe is often just your true personality trying to come through. So, let it!

In this section, we’ll explain how to captivate viewers with your voice, facial expressions, and personality!

1. Practice the Art of ‘Vocal Variety’

Alternating your volume, how fast you speak, and the rhythm of your words is the best way to keep listeners engaged. Think back on all the speeches you’ve heard: Have you suffered through a boring presentation once or twice in your life? If so, we’re willing to bet one of two things happened. Either the speaker was completely monotone, or they communicated too fast or slow.

Matt Abrahams, a communications lecturer at Stanford, suggests that even a 

 can boost audience retention in listeners. For YouTubers, this means more 

Here’s how to add vocal variety to your videos:

, finding that sweet spot between softness and loudness.

Embrace a mix of fast and slow-paced speech

 to make your voice more dynamic and interesting.

 to create a "vocal melody." Decide which words to emphasize, where to create pauses, and where to experiment with volume changes.

woman speaking into a microphone on camera

YouTube is pretty relaxed, so it’s not the end of the world if you make a mistake or two when talking. At the same time, viewers need to understand what you’re saying. If your words are unclear, that can lead to misunderstandings, a loss of viewer interest, and worse of all, people leaving the video. This typically happens when the person is mumbling, speaking too softly, or using complex words no one understands.

 is the best way to deliver a clear and concise message every time. But you can become more persuasive by:

Avoiding filler words, like “um” and “uh”

It might seem weird to look directly into the camera when you’re speaking. After all, this is something we save for in-person communication, mostly because another person is giving us visual cues. A camera lens is not a human, so what’s the point of looking at it?

Well, imagine how viewers will experience your videos. If they can see you on camera, they’re going to look at your face. It’s a little disorienting (and impersonal) if you don’t return the favor by gazing back at them.

? It’s when you maintain eye contact 50% of the time while speaking and 70% of the time while listening. Of course, you’ll be speaking instead of listening, which means that 50% of the time, viewers need to see your eyes. This transfers a healthy dose of warmth and confidence to their side of the screen.

Excited male youtuber celebration with both hands raised

Imagine a creator discussing their favorite hobby on YouTube. Their eyes light up, their speech becomes more animated, and their enthusiasm is palpable. The passion is borderline infectious and draws viewers in, so they keep watching the video.

These behaviors not only demonstrate warmth but give your videos a magnetic pull.

The Best YouTube Speakers Prioritize Watch Time

Want to improve your on-camera presence? The simplest solution is to focus on watch time.

Determine how long you need to speak, then don’t use any extra words.

Audit your speaking patterns (volume and speed) to create vocal variety and keep viewers engaged.

Create warmth in your video by maintaining eye contact, changing your facial expressions, and using welcoming body language.

This is the art of using your voice and personality to carve out more watch time — second by second, minute by minute.

Speaking of watch time, these 10 videos attract plenty of it on YouTube!

A microphone sitting on a table in front of a large camera

Professional camera lens and microphone with studio lighting for media production.

Speaking on camera isn’t always easy, especially on YouTube. Here’s how to engage viewers with your voice, facial expressions, and unique personality.

YouTube Skills: How to Become a Pro at Speaking on Camera

 after months of researching how to become a content creator. You followed all the practical advice, like using the right keywords, designing great thumbnails, and focusing on storytelling. But two weeks into the journey, you have a troubling realization: No one is watching your videos.

The solution? Don't wait for YouTube to notice your content. Share your videos on apps like Instagram and Snapchat to gain initial views and get the algorithm's attention! Then you can start 

, all from sharing high-quality video content.

Ready to get your channel promoted? These apps are fantastic for boosting video views on YouTube.

dozens of square chips with the instagram logo

 place to share dynamic photos and videos, but of course, we'll focus on videos for now. You can use the app to show snippets of your YouTube content, tease your latest video, or even share behind-the-scenes footage.

: Photos and videos shared to a user's story that disappear after 24 hours.

Clickable bio links in Instagram profiles.

 Create a series of Instagram Stories that build anticipation for your upcoming YouTube video. Start with a teaser Story, revealing just enough to pique your followers' interest. After that, follow up with a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of your video. When the video is live on YouTube, post one last teaser as an IG Story, offering a link to the watch page.

Snapchat is a messaging app with short-lived content, including photos and videos. It's the perfect place to offer a glimpse into your daily life and build a relationship with viewers.

: Snaps that play in chronological order and can be viewed for 24 hours.

 Scannable images that prompt different functions, like adding new friends, unlocking filters, linking to websites (YouTube!), etc.

Clickable links in individual Snaps and user profiles.

 Use Snapchat's Story feature to create a narrative around your YouTube video. Post the most engaging clips throughout the day, building excitement for the story. In one last Snap, direct viewers to your YouTube video (with a link) so they can enjoy the full production.

TikTok is for creating, sharing, and discovering short videos that are sound-driven (music, soundbites, natural noises, etc.). The algorithm favors engaging content, so this is the place to make quirky videos related to your YouTube channel.

 Collaborate with other TikTokers by posting two videos in one that play side-by-side simultaneously.

 Combine your video with another TikTok to share a response or a new perspective.

 Find a popular TikTok trend that's related to your niche. For example, imagine that "'90s video games" is a trending hashtag. If you're a gamer, you could make a TikTok about the best game from that era 

 a YouTube video exploring the game in detail. Mention the YouTube video in the caption of your TikTok, letting viewers know that the link to watch is in your bio.

Twitch is a livestreaming app with a large gaming presence, but it attracts other niches too. It's a great place to host live Q&A sessions, gaming streams, or real-time discussions about your YouTube content.

 A collection of custom panels below your stream, where you can add links and other assets. This makes it easy for viewers to find and subscribe to your YouTube channel.

 Twitch lets you save past broadcasts as VODs, which you can use to guide viewers to your YouTube content.

Create Twitch streams that complement your YouTube videos. For instance, if you post gaming compilations on YouTube, you could stream the full gameplay sessions on Twitch. This creates a seamless experience for viewers who follow you on both platforms. Don't forget to direct Twitch viewers to your YouTube channel for exclusive yet relevant content!

Traditionally, X is a microblogging app for text conversations, although videos and images are popular too. The app is filled with breaking news, discussion threads, memes, and more. Ultimately, you can use X to tease new content, share clips, and link back to your YouTube videos.

: A series of connected posts that tell one story.

Pinned posts: Important posts or threads highlighted at the top of a user's profile.

 Start a thread that covers a topic related to your video. Each post should offer valuable information and build up to a final post that carries the link to your YouTube video. Engage with users who reply to your thread, and pin the thread to your profile to maximize visibility. Use relevant hashtags to reach a broader audience.

Pinterest is a visual discovery engine for new ideas. People use it to explore recipes, fashion, DIY projects, cities, and more. Pinterest users are hungry for knowledge, so it's a great option for expanding your YouTube reach.

: Pins that contain video content (uploaded to the app natively).

: An area for displaying saved Pins by category.

 Create Pinterest boards dedicated to the topics on your YouTube channel. Inside these boards, add Video Pins that tease your YouTube content while providing a link to the full video. Write compelling pin descriptions and use keywords for better discoverability.

As you can see, these are the best apps to get your videos noticed outside of YouTube. But did you know that YouTube has a social network of its own, and you can use it to promote your channel millions of times over?

Here's how to use the YouTube Community Tab!

A group of blocks with social media icons on them

Cubes with popular social media logos like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok on blue background

Which social media platforms are best for promoting a YouTube channel? Here are six apps that always get the job done!

6 Popular Apps to Promote Your YouTube Channel

Reaching 10,000 subscribers on YouTube in just a few weeks is a remarkable achievement! We're excited to honor 10 creators who reached this goal in record time, because honestly, 

. The creators on this list are making unique content, sharpening their storytelling skills, and uploading consistently — three skills everyone needs to grow a massive channel.

So, congratulations to these skilled YouTubers. You've officially joined the 10K Subs Club!

Remember, being part of the vidIQ community means you're on a journey to stardom using 

. Whether you've hopped aboard to jazz up your videos, hunt down the perfect keywords, or spark fresh video ideas, this celebration is all about you. Here's to every victory, big and small! 🎈🎊

Top Channels Passing 10,000 Subscribers in December

Trust Me Bro makes comedic videos exploring the darker side of history.

Life with Zainab teaches Pakistani viewers how to move to the UK, from getting a visa to creating new income streams.

Dimensional World shows viewers what everyday products look like when magnified hundreds of times.

Goofi-Toofi Kids Songs is a channel that helps children develop motor skills, coordination, and a sense of rhythm through musical song and dance.

Kim Funny makes endearing skits to promote joy, optimism, and the deeper meaning of life.

Human Body shares valuable advice for understanding major organs and adopting healthy habits.

The Style Story shares the latest fashion trends, from makeup to clothing to hairstyles.

Telugu_Vlogs1 posts mini vlogs centered around motorcycles.

Dr. Prabhakar is a dermatologist and hair transplant surgeon who educates viewers about hair transplant surgeries.

A graphic showing the words 10,000 subscribers 

10,000 subscribers milestone badge with stars on dark background celebrating growth

These phenomenal YouTubers got 10,000 subs in just 30 days! Meet 10 rising creators who talk about the human body, fashion, motorcycles, and more.

10 Small YouTube Channels that Hit 10K Subs [December]

November was a great month for small creators in the vidIQ community. Not surprisingly, many of you grew your channels from zero subs to 1,000 YouTube subscribers — again!

We're here to say 

and share your success with other creators!

Ready to see who got the most subscribers? These were the fastest-growing YouTube channels last month.

Top Channels Passing 1,000 Subscribers in November

 makes short stories based on the video game 

 challenges viewers to do hard things, like watching a video with one eye or staying silent throughout an entire video.

3. Curiosidades da Historia (Curiosities of History)

 is a channel exploring secrets, adventures, and interesting moments in history.

 has one long-form video so far, but it's an epic prank where he convinces people he's running for parliament.

 teaches viewers how to read, speak, listen, and write in English.

 promotes up-and-coming artists in the music industry.

 shares practical advice, daily routines, and habits to make life easier.

 explains the subject of global economics and how it affects the world.

 is a channel that tests viewers' knowledge through interactive quizzes.

Congrats to everyone who grew their channels quickly last month! 🥳 

A graphic showing the words 1,000 subscriber with celebratory sparks and stars

Celebration graphic showing 1000 subscribers with stars and fireworks background

Which small YouTube channels grew the fastest in November? In this roundup, get to know rising creators who post about music, pranks, history, and more.

10 Small YouTube Channels that Hit 1,000 Subs FAST [November]

 is, you've taken the longest break from YouTube in recorded history. Because seriously — this Shorts creator has been pulling in millions of views since 2022.

Jenny is in the finance niche, so she loves to film extreme budgeting challenges: making $1 meals, giving $5 gifts, and other cool stunts. Her viewers love it, and all the praise has lifted her channel to 1.69 million subscribers and 954 million views. But her most impressive feat is getting over 10 million views per YouTube Short.

gaining 10 million Shorts views in 90 days

 is one way to enter the YouTube Partner Program. And once you're in, you can monetize your Shorts with YouTube ad revenue.

If that's your main goal as a creator, keep scrolling or check out the video below. We interviewed Jenny to learn how she goes viral with short-form content dozens of times each month!

1. Find a Unique Niche (Blue Ocean Strategy)

Finding the right target audience for your content is more complicated than most creators know. You have to go deeper than deep, avoiding the crowded niches if you want a real shot at standing out. Or in Jenny's own words, you need to look for a blue ocean — not a red one.

Red ocean = Bloody waters. Creators don't survive because hundreds of "sharks" go after the same video topics and angles.

Blue ocean = Smooth sailing. You have room to explore many video topics and stand out within your niche.

So, how do you avoid a red ocean and find those crystal, blue waters? It's all about finding a 

"At first, I was actually copying Graham Stephan.... That's a red ocean because everyone's trying to be him. But then I looked at the money/finance industry and realized nobody's doing it for kids," Jenny says.

A hook is a three-second introduction that reels people in and compels them to keep watching. According to Jenny, the best hooks are concise, visually compelling, and tell the gist of the story within seconds. This gets people to stop scrolling and increases the odds of earning millions of views.

"It needs to be so good that you can be watching the video on mute and still know what it's about," Jenny says.

For example, pay attention to the first three seconds of the video below, where Jenny recreates a chicken sandwich (at Chik-fil-A) for $1.

The first words you hear are "$1 chicken sandwich." She wastes no time getting to the point, and she shows 

 Give a sneak peek of what happens at the end of your video.

Some phrases grab attention much better than others. Experiment with intros like "Did you know about this...?" or “I never do THIS, and here’s why…”

 Starting a video with someone laughing or crying makes viewers curious about what led up to those moments.

Storytelling has taken over on YouTube. The days of giving information without having unique characters, scenes, and conflicts are long gone! Today, YouTube videos are more like 

That may sound intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. According to Jenny, you just need three key elements, which involve:

You can bring this to life by using the words "but" and "so," Jenny says.

 I followed him for a few miles. He led me to a dark tunnel, 

 I saw a bunch of abandoned puppies at the rim of the opening.

Each "but" stops the viewer from scrolling away as conflict rises.

Setting a good pace for any story is crucial, and Shorts are no exception to the rule. But the real challenge is figuring out 

 to pace a short video. After all, you only have 60 seconds to make your point.

Make your initial hook brief (fast-paced).

Make the middle a bit slower (medium-paced).

Make the peak of your story memorable and sharp (fast-paced).

Make the resolution a bit slower (medium-paced).

A graphic showing the peak end rule using a simple line graph of peaks and valleys

"There are multiple theories to back this up. One that I want to get into is the Peak-End Theory. It's this theory that people only remember their favorite part of a movie and the ending," Jenny says."

Take your viewers on a rollercoaster of fast and medium-paced scenes. That way, important moments have more room to stand out.

5. Entice Returning Viewers with 'Content Buckets'

Did you know that viral Shorts aren't created in a vacuum? Successful creators have a strategy for each video 

 the collection of videos surrounding that one masterpiece. That's why Jenny prefers to create "content buckets", or themes that viewers can easily recognize.

"Buckets are repeatable formats, and I try to build mine around very similar titles. For example, my bucket would be '$1 fast food item versus restaurant'.... All the videos are [metadata-linked using that title]. YouTube will say, "Oh, the viewer liked when she made '$1 pizza.' They're going to like it when she makes a $1 sandwich or $1 burger too," Jenny explains.

Creating content buckets (based on what worked in the past) is the fastest way to get returning viewers and increase your Shorts views.

YouTube Shorts Monetization: It's Easy When You're Going Viral

Compared to long-form content, YouTube Shorts don't bring in as much ad revenue. Going viral helps in that department, but many creators make as low as $100 for a Short with millions of views. It's a common problem that pushes Shorts creators into making long-form videos.

But what if you have no desire for that? What if you love making Shorts and nothing else on YouTube? 

"If you have products, courses, and sponsorships, that's where the money is made. I know a couple of creators who literally make a million dollars per sponsored Short," Jenny says.

Of course, going viral is the best way to get lucrative sponsorships or sell the right number of products to support yourself.

So, if you haven't already, learn how to boost the YouTube Shorts views on your channel!

Jenny Hoyos pointing to the words 10 million views formula

Person pointing at text reading "10M Views Formula" in a bright yellow and black graphic.

Are you still working your way toward 10 million YouTube Shorts views? Learn how Jenny Hoyos, a viral creator, reaches this milestone with each video!

How Jenny Hoyos Gets 10M Views Per YouTube Short

Every few years, it's wise to look at your YouTube icon and see if it needs updating to better match your channel. Fortunately, it's pretty easy to make the switch, especially when using a desktop computer. 

The tricky part is attempting this on a smartphone.

 There are extra steps, more menus, and a longer process overall.

Don't worry, through: This guide will cover both methods 

 help you achieve the right size and aesthetic for your image.

How to Change Your YouTube Icon (Desktop)

1. Log in to your YouTube account. On your channel's homepage, click your current profile icon.

This will take you to the YouTube Studio, and more specifically, the branding section of the customization page.

Use your computer's file browser to choose a new photo for your channel (you might have to crop it to get the right fit).

the change button to select a new youtube icon

 in the top right corner to save the changes.

How to Change Your YouTube Icon (Mobile App)

2. Go to your YouTube channel's homepage. Click the 

a youtube channel homepage on the mobile app with pencil icon highlighted

3. Under channel settings, click the camera symbol inside of your profile icon.

4. Choose a photo from your camera or gallery. Again, you might have to crop the image to get the right fit.

Options for uploading a channel icon: camera roll or gallery

How big does a YouTube icon have to be? Fortunately, it can be pretty small compared to the rest of your channel art, like YouTube banners and thumbnails. 

, according to YouTube. You can upload a GIF, BMP, JPG, or PNG file. Just make sure the image is 4MB or less.

Also, square or round images work best. That's because YouTube displays every profile image as a tiny circle on mobile devices, desktop computers, and even TVs.

So, orient your image well before you set a YouTube channel icon. It helps to center the subject of the image, and make it large enough for viewers to see!

The best channel icons are simple enough to identify yet bold enough to 

Ready to update your YouTube icon? Here's how to upload a new profile image to your channel using a smartphone or laptop.

Lydia Sweatt

Posts Written By Lydia Sweatt

10 YouTube Channels that Hit 100K Subs FAST! [December]

YouTube Skills: How to Become a Pro at Speaking on Camera

6 Popular Apps to Promote Your YouTube Channel

10 Small YouTube Channels that Hit 10K Subs [December]

10 Small YouTube Channels that Hit 1,000 Subs FAST [November]

How Jenny Hoyos Gets 10M Views Per YouTube Short

How to Change Your YouTube Icon [Mobile and Desktop Guide]

10 YouTube Channels that Hit 100K Subs FAST! [November]

Sam Sulek Breaks Every YouTube Rule, Still Goes Insanely Viral

10 Small YouTube Channels that Hit 10K Subs [November]

Holiday Hacks: How to Go Viral on YouTube at the End of the Year

10 Trending Topics to Grow a Small YouTube Channel [November]