As a YouTube creator, you're not just a filmmaker — you're a storyteller. But what if your videos aren't getting the traction they deserve? 

What if your story isn't reaching the audience it should?

One way to fix this problem is by working on your 

. It all starts with knowing how to edit your videos for maximum watch time and interest!

Imagine you're a viewer on YouTube. What is the first thing you see when you click on a video (minus the occasional advertisement)?

Whatever your answer is, it can be summed up with two words: 

A visual hook is an engaging element at the beginning of your video that grabs your viewer's attention and keeps them watching. It doesn't have to be flashy or extravagant. But it must be urgent (happens within the first few seconds) and interesting.

Today, YouTube shows a preview of your video when someone stops to scrolling to examine it. That's why you 

 great hooks. Visual hooks can combine funny scenes, superb acting, B-roll, and more, which work together to captivate the viewer.

Woman watching a YouTube Short on her phone

In the modern age of YouTube, visual hooks will help you stand out as a small creator amongst passive scrollers. Plus, a good hook in a YouTube Short might prevent the viewer from scrolling away!

18 Viral Video Hooks for YouTube Shorts [Proven Hacks]

Cutting, in its simplest form, is transitioning from one shot to another. It's the invisible thread that weaves your story together, guiding your viewers from one scene to the next.

There are several types of cuts, and each one serves a unique purpose:

: A basic cut that transitions one shot to another. 

: Brings the viewer closer to the action or subject, focusing their attention on a specific detail.

: Shifts the viewer's attention away from the main action to provide context or additional information.

For example, imagine watching a surfing video. If the shot transitions from a man mounting a surf board to him paddling out to sea, that's a straight cut. If all you can see is his body, a cut-back would give you a zoomed-out view of the sky and ocean. But a cut-in, for instance, might show the water splashing around his board.

A low-angle view of a man surfing. There's a cut-in to show his feet on the board

. They are the subtle, yet powerful techniques that keep your viewers engaged, creating a rhythm and momentum in your video that keeps them watching from start to finish.

3. Use Motion and Different Camera Angles

Did you know that the average attention span is now officially less than that of a goldfish? While 8 seconds might seem like nothing on paper, it can feel like an eternity on a static screen. 

Motion, in general, makes your video more engaging. Every so often, you should 

 or show different angles.

You can do a low-angle shot for dramatic effect.

Low angle shot of a man looking up at buildings

Or, try a high-angle shot to get the bird's-eye-view.

high angle shot of two people playing tennis

But when it comes to camera motion (or gentle camera shake), you have some wiggle room to play around with. You can either pan the camera every so often while filming, or simulate those movements in post-production. The latter is an advanced editing skill, but it's a good back-up plan if you're willing to learn!

B-roll is additional footage that you can use to break up the monotony of your main footage. It adds depth to your videos and keeps your audience engaged. Plus, B-roll works well in both educational and entertainment videos (but don't overdo it)!

In many YouTube videos, we see B-rolls that feel forced. This can actually create an unpleasant viewing experience, so make sure to use B-roll only when it’s a good opportunity to tell a better story and create a better video overall!

How to Film Engaging B-Roll for YouTube Videos

Some of this advice is difficult to imagine just by reading about it, so here’s a video showing all the tips and tricks. And, we have to admit: The editing in this video is absolutely stunning!

Every great creator started from somewhere, and you're on your way to becoming one. So keep learning, keep improving, and most importantly, keep creating. Your journey is just beginning, and the world is ready to see what you have to offer. 

To speed up the process, learn how to stand out as a small creator!

A man editing a video on a desktop computer

Unlock more views by learning how to edit YouTube videos in a way that keeps viewers engaged. We've got four simple hacks!

4 Editing Hacks to Make Any YouTube Video Go Viral

For just a moment, let's forget about the growth tips we normally discuss, like using the right keywords, designing thumbnails, and finding the perfect video title. They're crucial on YouTube, but you need more than that to stand out in 2023. These days, it's more important to know 

In other words, what perspective will you bring to YouTube? Turning your small channel into a big one happens much faster when you have something to say and when you target the right viewers.

3 Mistakes to Avoid if You Have a Small YouTube Channel

But by now, you probably know that any old perspective won't cut it on YouTube. It must be 

. Your viewpoint should draw people in and bind them to your channel. It should connect people to you and not just your content.

How to Find Your Unique Perspective on YouTube

Male YouTuber filming a low angle shot in an alleyway

This will sound a bit cliché, but we have to say it: Unique channels are run by creators who know how to be themselves.

You've probably heard that before, but it's 100% true. We don't think of someone as "unique" until they dare to be themselves, and that takes a lot of authenticity — 

So, how do you build a unique perspective? We've seen it happen in multiple ways:

Combine two interests to create an uncommon YouTube niche.

Share your personal story or your life's mission.

Let's play a game real quick. Grab a pen and paper, and then write down all the hobbies and interests you could talk about on YouTube. When you're done, combine any two interests and see how they fare as a YouTube channel topic.

What's the point of doing this? Well, you'll notice that the most interesting channels are pretty unconventional. 

, a channel that reviews the most basic stuff, is the perfect example. Their latest video is a review of cats and their existence, and before that, they reviewed air, water, and anxiety.

Mikasacus has a unique perspective, which is

 — to dull things, common things, hidden things, or, frankly, everything. To illustrate that point, they combine the idea of "video reviews" with the practice of extreme observation. And a new YouTube niche was born: uncommon reviews.

A common misconception is that small creators shouldn't share their personal stories on YouTube — just search-based content. And sure, maybe you don't have thousands of viewers just yet. But if a story connects with 

, it doesn't matter if you're virtually unknown. You can still hook people with relatable content.

. He makes vulnerability a habit by opening up to his audience about his past, explaining his life choices, and encouraging others to hang on through tough times. His latest upload is about choosing a plant-based lifestyle, and it has all the ingredients of a soon-to-be viral video. There's 

 no matter what happens. And his subscribers (180,000) seem to agree.

You're bound to stand out if you do things nobody one else can do. That's why 

, a creator who does elaborate challenges, is so famous today. His main channel has 169 million subscribers, but that wasn't always the case! MrBeast was once a small creator who stood out by doing the impossible on YouTube.

In fact, he first went viral for counting to 100,000 in one sitting!

It was hard. (Seriously, who has the patience to count to 100,000?)

Nobody expected it, so the video caught people by surprise.

You could argue that MrBeast has a unique perspective, but it's not about wild challenges and stunts. He's telling us that 

You've probably heard this a million times:

"The number one way to stand on YouTube is by making content people are searching for."

And while that's correct, it's also true that thousands of people are doing the same thing.

On YouTube, 10,000 videos can share the same keywords. They're in the video title, description, hashtags, or all three. But the 

 video — the one YouTube recommends to viewers — stands out because it's satisfying.

. Use the best keywords, hashtags, and thumbnails in your arsenal. But also, make sure your video has an original, authentic message. That's going to bring 

Female YouTuber vlogging in public on a smartphone

Getting people to notice you on YouTube is simple in theory but difficult in practice. Let’s explore why (and how) small channels become big ones.

The Secret to Standing Out as a Small YouTube Creator

If you're reading this, you've probably heard that YouTube automation is the best thing since the internet itself. There are stories of creators making $10,000 

 by outsourcing the creative work for their channel, including video scripts, thumbnails, editing, or sometimes the actual videos!

And best of all? The creator doesn't have to do anything. They don't appear in the videos or lift a finger in the process.

This is nothing new, of course. YouTubers have outsourced their work for years and will continue to do so in the future. The only thing that's changing is 

and there are two types of people in the AI world:

Is there any danger in using AI? It all depends! If you want to 

 (YPP) and make money, you could hit a few roadblocks.

Is Your Content 100% AI? Getting Monetized Will Be Tough

A popular question floating around the internet today is, "Can AI videos get monetized on YouTube?" The short answer is yes, they can! However, YouTube has clear rules about using AI responsibly in your content. And one of the biggest rules is actually a warning, in which YouTube says channels with redundant, machine-generated content won't get monetized.

(AdSense is the program that pays creators), and it states that:

"Channels consisting of similar content, where videos are only slightly different from one another, are not eligible for monetization."

Screen shot of YouTube's policy, showing that videos should be unique to one another

So if you're going full speed ahead with YouTube automation, remember to 

. Let AI be your helper, not the star of the show.

'Rain Sound' Videos: An Example of Automation Gone Too Far

Have you seen those rain sound videos on YouTube? That's a good example of repetitive, mass-produced content. Many of those videos have the same thumbnail, the same thunderstorm audio on repeat, and, most of the time, the same title.

In the AdSense policy, YouTube describes videos like these as "mindless" and "low educational." It also says that "templated, mass-produced, or programmatically-generated content" cannot make money.

 YouTube won't monetize videos that are all "machine" and have no human spark. 

If your content is 100% AI (and redundant!), it may fall into that category.

How YouTube Reviews Your Channel for Monetization

If you plan to join the YPP with an automated channel, you should know how the review process works.

One surprising detail is that real humans review your channel. They'll check some key areas, including:

Video titles, thumbnails, and descriptions

A screenshot of YouTube's policy about what they review on creators' channels

But what is YouTube looking for? Reviewers mostly check for 

 violations — hate speech, spam, graphic content, etc. But regarding AI and YouTube automation, they may check your most popular videos for signs of mass production or overly-templated content.

How to Use AI and Still Get Monetized on YouTube

 After all, we're not saying you can't use it in any part of the process; we encourage it! Here at vidIQ, we make a bunch of AI tools to help streamline your workflow:

: Get a content plan for your next video, including a title and description, keywords, video script, thumbnail backgrounds, and voice-over.

 Talk to our AI-powered chatbot to analyze your channel's performance, suggest your next video, and more.

Get a catchy YouTube title to make your video stand out.

Receive up to 50 daily video ideas for your channel.

AI should make creating easier, not replace it altogether. You don't want to generate a bunch of videos with no warmth, depth, or transformative information. Humans will watch your videos, so create videos for the 

Please record that awesome YouTube challenge. Just remember that an AI video editor can help you 

Go ahead and make that long-form video. If you want, plenty of AI tools will 

And if nothing else, let this quote from our senior executive producer guide you:

"The moral of the story is that creators who use AI to aid in content creation instead of fully automating it are going to win," says Dan Carson.

Watch the video below to learn more about AI, YouTube automation, and how to navigate the two, according to Dan.

Here's how to build a success mindset for YouTube, whether your channel is automated or not.

YouTube automation is hot right now, but does it pose any risks to your channel? Spoiler: It depends!


The Truth About AI: Can YouTube Automation Ruin Your Channel?

So, you’ve decided that 2023 will be the year you 

Nice!  You're taking a leap of faith that many don't take, and for that, you deserve heaps of positive energy.

But if you're feeling overwhelmed by the number of tips and suggestions on how to grow a channel, don't worry. Many people feel the same way, but today, we'll address something you need before any of that other stuff: the right mindset for YouTube!

So, let's take it back to the beginning. Do you remember how excited you were the first time you dreamt of 

You could almost taste the thrill of seeing your unique ideas broadcast to the world. And, while passion is a fantastic starting point, what truly propels us to YouTube success is a blend of discipline, perseverance, and above all, 

When you have a growth mindset, you believe that you can improve your abilities through hard work and dedication. This means that brain power and talent are just the beginning. We need a constant love of learning and resilience to accomplish great things over and over again — especially on a platform as competitive as YouTube.

So, let's dive into these "mindset principles" to help you become YouTube-ready!

1. Understand the Fixed vs. Growth Mindset

A "fixed mindset" is a belief that a person cannot improve their abilities, intelligence, and talents over time. It often comes from that voice at the back of your head, always reminding you how impossible your goals are. Simply put: Watch out for it! 

Recognize that this inner troll is trying to protect you from potential threats, but you don't have to let it hold you back.

For example, it's easy to look at a channel like 

 get that many subscribers (167 million). After all, he has resources you don't have access to right now, like a budget, a studio, and a dedicated team. But everyone has to start somewhere. 

Don't let your inner critic tell you what 

 possible. Gently remind it that many people started out just like you, only to overcome hardships and build a solid YouTube community. That's what it means to have a growth mindset!

Whether it's a brutally honest commenter on your video or your sarcastic cousin at a family dinner, constructive feedback can spring up from the most unexpected places. The secret to success lies in identifying good feedback and acting on it quickly.

Not all advice is actionable or benefits your growth in the long run. But sometimes, your entire outlook is changed by new insight, so be humble and lookout for constructive criticism.

to come from a human! At vidIQ, we have an AI Coach that can look at your channel's performance and suggest video ideas and content strategies 

Click here to start chatting with AI coach!

On YouTube, experience trumps perfection. You don't have to spend much time making your videos perfect, but you must believe in the importance of being consistent.

Perfectionism is a real thing that many people struggle with, and it's also a party pooper! Your videos will always have minor flaws, but those are just stepping stones to better content. Embrace those imperfections, click that publish button, and remember: Each upload makes you better than the last!

To be a high-flying creator, you need to stay ahead of the game. This means accumulating more knowledge than all of the competitors in your YouTube niche. 

In an era where 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute

And the content space is always evolving. For example, did you know you can monetize your YouTube channel 

specific video introductions lead to viral views

Study your genre, gobble up new information, and keep your learning muscles flexed!

In the race to get more subscribers, we often forget to enjoy the journey of being on YouTube. Creating content is not just about the end result. It also involves gaining valuable skills that can be used in various ways throughout one's lifetime.

True happiness comes from connecting with people, thriving within a community, and bringing value to others. YouTube allows you to do that, so take a moment to appreciate the road you're traveling!

And that's as real as it gets on YouTube.

Now that you're mentally ready to embark on your YouTube journey, get ahead by 

Want to take your YouTube channel to the next level? Try developing a growth mindset that keeps you positive and focused.

How to Build the Right Mindset for YouTube Success

“What’s one thing you wish AI could automate for your channel?”

Not surprisingly, most creators said they wanted to edit their videos faster. That makes a lot of sense, considering it takes 

three to five hours to edit a five-minute YouTube video

 our viewers about what they would   choose for their channel: a scriptwriter, thumbnail designer, or video editor. Out of 31,000+ people, 71% wanted a video editor!

So, this week, we set out to find credible and effective AI tools to help you edit your videos. And, good news, we do have some winners!

If you’ve been following the artificial intelligence conversation, you've probably been bombarded with dozens of tools. Some of them are truly wonderful, as AI has come a long way in the past few months. But, to think that an AI could produce publish-worthy results by itself is still largely wishful.

Nonethless, these tools can make you more productive on YouTube. And that is the goal — using AI to enhance your creative voice, not replace it.

Keeping these factors in mind, we found five AI tools that will get the job done.

, this is your tool. Synthesia lets you whip up videos using AI avatars, and the process is quick and easy. Plus they've got a ton of languages, templates, a screen recorder, a media library, and so much more.

The best part is you don't need fancy video gear or an enticing backdrop for your footage. Synthesia has more than 70 avatars you can choose from (that look like real people), or you can get an exclusive one just for your brand. Want to mix it up? Make your own avatar as well!

Their AI voice platform is pretty slick too. It makes getting consistent, professional voiceovers a piece of cake. And editing? That only takes a single click. They've even got 

. 

Once you're set with an avatar and voiceover, you're ready to publish awesome videos in minutes using over 50 pre-made templates.

While no AI tool can match a human video editor, this one promises to handle everything by itself!

Wisecut is a top-notch tool for editing "talking head," videos such as YouTube tutorials. It auto-trims awkward pauses and adds dynamic jump cuts to keep your videos snappy. Plus, it auto-lowers background music when you start speaking. For global appeal, Wisecut supports multiple languages, and it's also available on both desktop and mobile.

If you go for their Starter or Professional plan, you get cool perks like watermark-free videos, different aspect ratios, noise reduction, and the punch-in/out feature. They also offer auto-translation with these paid plans.

Pictory is an AI video generator that whips up top-notch content. Just feed it a script or article and watch as it transforms your text into an engaging video for social media or your website. This cloud-based service is perfect for bloggers who may also have a YouTube channel.

Editing webinars, podcasts, or Zoom recordings is a breeze with Pictory's text-based editing feature, especially if you're repurposing that content on YouTube. In no time, you'll have professional-looking videos to boost your brand and audience. Here’s a 

Want to share a sneak peek or short clips on social media? Pictory lets you create video highlight reels. It can even automatically caption your videos and summarize lengthy ones. Super handy, right?

 repurposing tools out there, but this AI editor may be the best. It extracts the most engaging clips from your YouTube video (or any video) and reformats them so they're ready for repurposing on Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms.

Plus, Munch will auto-caption your videos, crop frames in the right aspect ratio, and make sure all of the action is in the center of the frame.

. It's a nifty little tool that can track your marketing campaign data across multiple platforms. So, whether you're advertising on Google, Facebook, or LinkedIn, Munch gathers all the info you need in one convenient place.

RunwayML is your go-to for green screen edits, letting you easily swap out different backgrounds. Its nifty in-painting feature erases unnecessary objects from your shots, with no heavy lifting required. On top of that, it works straight from your browser!

You can also customize titles, add cool animations, and track movement automatically. With RunwayML, creating eye-catching videos is a breeze!

Remember, the benefit of using AI is not to create endlessly without intent and quality. The purpose of these tools is to elevate your creativity and make your YouTube journey easier. So by and large, you should use these tools to speed up the editing process — not skip it altogether.

Watch Dan from the vidIQ team talk about it right here:

 here’s a YouTube tip you’ve probably never heard!

Man taking a break from editing videos on laptop

From automating edits to enhancing your creative voice, these AI tools will help you make YouTube videos faster.

5 AI Tools to Edit YouTube Videos Quickly

It's been a busy couple of weeks in the YouTube office after a series of major changes were announced. 

Monetization requirements have been lowered

 is on the way. While some of the updates will benefit large channels, it feels like YouTube is rallying for small creators this year.

So we figured it's a good time to talk about one of the most underused features on YouTube: the community tab. Not only does it keep your viewers engaged, but the tab also comes with quizzes, image polls, videos, and other creative ways to start a conversation with your audience. It's the perfect tool for small channels on the rise.

YouTube's Community Tab Is Your Super Secret Weapon for Channel Growth

The community tab is located on the homepage of your channel, between the playlists and membership sections. 

The community tab menu option on a youtube channel homepage

It's a bite-sized social media network where viewers can see all of your interactive posts, such as quizzes and polls. 

So if you don't have any videos planned, you can use this tab to promote yourself on YouTube and engage with your audience in the meantime!

The community tab used to be a locked feature, but earlier this year, 

. Previously, a creator needed 10,000 subscribers. But now, you can simply 

. At the bottom, turn on advanced features.

YouTube's feature eligibility page in the studio settings

Posting on the community tab is quick and easy. Everything you need is in the YouTube Studio, and there are plenty of features to customize your content.

 icon at the top of your YouTube homepage. Select 

The create button on the youtube homepage

2. Type a message to create a short text post. You can also add a gif, poll, image, video, etc.

For more guidance on this, check out the video below:

You can monitor the performance of your community posts as well. This can help you improve your future posts and also give you a taste of what your community wants from you.

2. Find the left navigation menu and click 

On the next page, you'll see some tabs at the top. Click on the one called 

 to see all the community posts you've published on your channel.

Performance of several community tab posts

The posts are in chronological order by default, but the columns are sortable. If you want to know something specific, such as which community posts have the most comments or likes, you can easily shuffle through the data.

Tips for Navigating Your Community Posts   

There are various types of content you can post on the community tab, including images, videos, polls, plain text messages, quizzes, and animated GIFs.

When you’re browsing the community posts page, these content types will appear in different ways. Plain text posts display an alphabet symbol, ‘Aa’, to quickly represent non-media messages. Any post with an image or video will be shown with the image it comes with, while voting polls are displayed with three blue horizontal lines.

If you mouse over each community post, you’ll notice a drop-down menu with more options for managing the feature. The first one lets you edit a post directly from the YouTube Studio, which is pretty cool. You can also manage and respond to comments or click a link to take you to the original community post on YouTube.

YouTube has a dedicated dashboard for managing community tab posts, and trust us — you'll want to use this feature! Learn how below.

YouTube Tips & Tricks

4 Editing Hacks to Make Any YouTube Video Go Viral

Published

The Secret to Standing Out as a Small YouTube Creator

Published

The Truth About AI: Can YouTube Automation Ruin Your Channel?

Published

How to Build the Right Mindset for YouTube Success

Published

5 AI Tools to Edit YouTube Videos Quickly

Published

How to Use the YouTube Community Tab and Engage with Viewers

Published

From Burnout to Bliss: Prioritizing Mental Health as a YouTuber

Published

8 Ways to Help Viewers Subscribe to Your YouTube Channel

Published

How to Film Engaging B-Roll for YouTube Videos

Published

Understanding YouTube Viewers: 6 Steps to Build an Audience Persona

Published

7 Types of YouTube Video Titles That Get Massive Clicks

Published

Everything You Need to Know About Starting a YouTube Podcast

Published