
You don’t have to grow your YouTube channel the same way everyone else does. Just ask animation creator 

. He’s forging a new path on YouTube, one where making unconventional videos results in thousands of new subscribers.

How to Get Your First 1,000 YouTube Subscribers

, we chat with JONK about how he went from 500 subscribers to more than 30,000 in two weeks. His videos feature “talking stick men” who share their opinion about everything imaginable – company logos, Netflix, scam calls, and more. But it was one video in particular, which we discuss below, that put JONK's channel on the map.

Need some fresh tips to grow your channel? Here’s what JONK did to gain thousands of subscribers in record time.

1. Start Your YouTube Channel as a Learner, Not as an Expert

Plenty of creators join YouTube to share their expertise, but you don’t have to follow the same path. In fact, you can do whatever you want – skydiving, cooking, fashion design, 

. On YouTube, it’s not about being an expert on day one. All you need in the beginning is passion. That’s why 

, and simply learning as you go, is golden.

Take JONK, for example. He isn’t an artist by trade, but he loves making animated storytime videos.

“I was known in school as an infamously bad drawer…. If you go back to my first videos, you can tell that the stick men were awful,” JONK says. “The bodies didn’t even line up with the heads.”

One of those early uploads is called “Embarrassing Videos.” It has 250 views, way less than the 4,000 he averages on newer videos.

JONK is getting more views now because he never stopped improving his content. The animations are better, the transitions are seamless, and the storytelling is tight. Just watch his latest video, “

anyone can grow a YouTube channel from zero subscribers.

 And you can do it as a learner and not as a seasoned expert in your niche.

This one sounds scary, right? Why would someone shoot a video clip in one take instead of recording a few times to be safe?

 New creators need to make lots of videos before the YouTube algorithm “notices” their channel. Once that happens, YouTube will (hopefully) 

. The odds are better if a creator focuses on quantity though, not quality.

Quantity Over Quality – The One Thing New YouTubers Should Focus On

In general, here’s the fastest way to grow a new YouTube channel:

Create 30 or more videos in your first three months.

Make videos that are passable, not perfect.

“I speak to creators that write scripts, and some of their scripts can take hours to write,” JONK says. "I feel like if you write a script, and you record the same thing over and over again...it’s just not going to sound like you’re excited about it. So that’s why everything you hear in my videos, whether it’s doing a reaction to a fan or a video, every reaction you see is my first reaction.”

 four perfect videos or 30 good videos that give you some algorithm juice? If you want the latter, you’ll need to work smart and overlook those initial hiccups.

3. Be the First Person (Literally) to Cover Timely Events

Just a few weeks ago, JONK had 400 subscribers. So what on Earth pushed his channel to 30,000 in just two weeks?

Apparently, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. JONK made a viral video about rapper and YouTube creator 

JONK’s video is about The KSI Show, a pay-per-view event chronicling KSI’s life. While watching the hour-long event, JONK decided to make a “stick man” video about the show. It took less than two hours. He made a thumbnail and immediately posted the video below, which has more than 800,000 views.

“I think in the first 10 minutes, it gained about 2,000 views, and I was just saying, ‘What is going on?’” JONK says. "The thing that shocked me was the majority of views, they were coming from YouTube search. So people were 100% searching for The KSI Show.”

Other than that, why did JONK get so many views? Here are two reasons:

He was the first person to post a video about The KSI Show after the stream ended.

He knew KSI fans who didn’t watch the event would look for recaps.

Essentially, JONK covered a trending topic before it started trending.

 Then he amassed nearly 1 million views! If you want to grow your YouTube channel quickly, keep an eye out for events that have the power to trend.

Want to grow your YouTube channel with even more tips? Here are five solid ways to attract new viewers and subscribers.

You know the “normal” tips for growing a YouTube channel, so let’s switch things up. Here are 3 uncommon ways to get thousands of subscribers in record time.

3 Uncommon Ways to Grow Your YouTube Channel

It's a fantastic feeling when somebody subscribes to your channel. But which viewers hit that big, red button? And do they have large, popular channels of their own?

Follow these steps to see a list of recent YouTube subscribers:

1. Log into YouTube, click your profile icon, and go to the 

3. A pop-up window will appear showing your recent subscribers. Adjust the date range at the top to see who subscribed in the last seven days, month, 90 days, year, or the life of your channel.

On this panel, you will see a recent subscriber's:

Creators with the most subscribers appear at the top of the list. But you can click the 

 tabs to filter the list as you please.  

How to Find Your First YouTube Subscriber – Ever!

Want to visit a subscriber's channel? The profile icons are clickable, so simply click one to go to that creator's homepage. If you already know the creator, there's an option to subscribe to their channel, which is a nice short cut. 

Bear in mind that new subscribers will only be displayed here 

 So you probably have more subscribers than this panel will show.

Need more information about your subscribers? 

 to get instant access to robust subscriber data. 

How many subscribers a commenter (underneath any video) has gained on their channel.

How many subscribers a channel has, when viewed in YouTube search results.

 to pick out channels with a certain number of subscribers.

Want to take things to the next level? Our 

 tells you which videos your subscribers watch on YouTube and the channels they're subscribed to. This gives you more data about the type of content your audience likes so you can make better videos.

 to see your live, real-time subscriber count.

Are you curious about who has subscribed to your YouTube channel? Read this one-minute guide to get an all-time list of subscribers.

How to See Who Subscribed to Your YouTube Channel

If you’re still working toward 1,000 YouTube subscribers, here’s some good news. Unlike creators with large audiences, you still have the freedom to try new things. You aren’t stuck in a niche where viewers expect hyperfocused videos. And you still have time to find your audience and learn how YouTube works.

Gaining 1,000 subscribers is still the dream.

 Once you meet that goal, you’re one step closer to applying to the 

The Easiest Way to Get 1,000 Subscribers on YouTube

, we chat with Alan Spicer, YouTube consultant and blogger, about gaining 1,000 subscribers and beyond. His YouTube growth channel, 

, has 34,000 subscribers. He also has thousands of subscribers on other YouTube channels, and books clients on his website, 

Spicer reviews lots of channels and has noticed a pattern with successful creators. Typically, channels with over 1,000 subscribers have three things in common.

1. The Content Is Hyperfocused and Entertaining

. The first option is making focused content that caters to one audience. But if you don’t know what your niche should be, you can explore different topics to see what gets more views. Be warned, though: The results for this option are unpredictable. You’re letting the numbers decide what your niche should be, even if you aren’t passionate about the topic. That’s why we recommend option one – finding a topic you love and sticking to it.

Is your YouTube niche worth pursuing? Ask yourself three questions to find out:

Are video ideas coming to me effortlessly?

If your answer to all three questions is “yes,” you have a niche worth exploring. Whether that’s cooking, baseball highlights, makeup, or something else, embrace your newfound topic!

 is the fastest way to get 1,000 subscribers on YouTube. The deeper you dive into a subject, the better your chances of attracting like-minded viewers. If you’re a 

, for example, viewers will subscribe to watch hundreds of gaming tutorials.

Making how-to content is a sure-fire way to stand out on YouTube. 

 Spicer sees this formula all the time as a YouTube consultant – and it works.

“You can still be educational and funny,” Spicer says. “[A fencing company] was making content about ‘how to’ this and ‘how to’ that, which was great. But then they made a video that was all about a specific building material…. It’s a nice time-lapse thing, and it’s entertaining. But it still was within their focus of them telling us how to put up that fence and the specific materials you need to use.”

Of course, the video went viral. The fencing company got views from their audience and people who enjoyed the time-lapse video.

2. The Creator Is an Expert – or Passionate About Becoming One

 to reach 1,000 YouTube subscribers? During that time, they post dozens of videos, if not hundreds.

That’s why passion is invaluable on YouTube. If you aren’t excited about your niche, it’s hard to keep going with little to no views and subscribers. Chances are, you will lose motivation.

7 Beliefs You Need to Have to Grow a YouTube Channel

There is one solution, though. You can always 

share your expertise, professional or otherwise, on YouTube.

 That gives you a topic to explore for several years. You can teach viewers an array of skills, from investing to painting to cell phone repair.

Starting a YouTube Career - 7 Steps to Monetize Your Passion

“I’ve done web development for five years prior [to YouTube],” Spicer says. “I understand search engine optimization, and now I’m SEO-certified. If I can teach those things, people then know I’m a Netflix of answers for that specific field.” 

3. The Channel Creates Long-Term Value for Viewers

Want to gain lots of subscribers quickly? Here’s the ultimate rule for succeeding on YouTube:

Create value for your viewers, and never stop giving it to them.

This rule applies to all creators, regardless of your YouTube niche. If you want viewers to subscribe to your channel, you have to give them a reason to stay.

3 Steps to Create Valuable, Highly-Watched Videos

“Whatever your goal happens to be, that’s perfectly fine," Spicer says. "But as long as you deliver the message and value to the audience first, they will keep coming back. If I’m being selfish, telling you what I want from you, taking from you, why would you want to come back to me?”

Gary Vaynerchuk, internet personality and super entrepreneur, is a great example. He succeeds on YouTube because he gives so much information away for free. 

 about entrepreneurship and personal branding help millions of subscribers achieve their goals. Plus, his advice creates long-term value. People will continue to start new businesses and tweak their personal brands for the job market.

 doesn’t mean you’ll become rich on YouTube. But it helps you make some money and grow your audience through the YouTube Partner Program. If you haven’t earned 4,000 hours of Watch Time yet – the other YPP requirement – 

YouTube channels with more than 1,000 subscribers have 3 things in common. Read this post to discover what they are and grow your audience faster.

What YouTube Channels with Over 1,000 Subscribers Have In Common


Want to grow your YouTube channel quickly? The first step is paying attention to your audience. On YouTube, each viewer has a desire to be entertained, informed, or challenged. Figuring out which topics will satisfy those desires, within your niche, is the key to discovering your “growth factor.” And that could be almost anything these days. You could make videos about raising chickens or building Lego towers at the top of a mountain. If your content is specific enough, 

Once you’ve found your niche and a specific audience, move on to the next step. Build an active community that engages with you and attracts more subscribers.

, we chat with British creator David, who runs a channel called 

. As a UK citizen, he reacts to American culture. Foreign candy, the weather, and even the U.S. military are hot topics on his channel.

David’s channel has more than 50,000 subscribers. He has hundreds of comments on each video, which is more than most creators receive.

Want to build a community that’s equally engaged? Do these five things. 

What kind of videos are you making right now? Are they tutorials, reactions, reviews, or something else?

No matter what they are, just know that your video format can lose popularity over time. That’s why David decided to give vlogging a try, in addition to reaction videos.

“A lot of these guys are really interested in me and what I’m doing,” David says. “Even down to the cat. They 

Vlogging brings you and your audience closer together. Viewers get to peel back the curtain and learn more about you, and you get to discover what they love about your channel. This bond helps you grow faster, especially if people are addicted to your personality.

Our opinion on vlogging? Post them once you’ve built a cult following. It’ll be easier for people to transition once they know who you are and why they should watch.

2. Create Deeper Connections With Channel Memberships

Have you noticed any creators offering Channel Memberships? These paid subscriptions give viewers access to your exclusive content. You can unlock this feature by:

Being accepted into the YouTube Partner Program

Additionally, Channel Memberships must be available in your location and your channel must be in good standing.

The wonderful thing about Channel Memberships is how much you get to bond with subscribers. It’s a tiered service, with each level offering more value. On the cheaper end ($2.99/month), David offers loyalty badges and custom emojis to use in live chats. On the pricier side ($24.99/month), viewers get every perk in the lower tiers plus the opportunity to collaborate with him virtually.

Make More Money on YouTube With Channel Memberships

“With each tier you get more perks, up to getting a free merch item or free T-shirt of your choice,” David says.

So how will a Channel Membership grow your channel? Well, take a scroll down David’s comment section. There are several people with member badges, and that creates curiosity. New viewers may think, 

“Where do they get those badges from?”

Who is this creator with a comment section full of colorful, badge-having viewers? Is there something different about his channel?”

A lot of your success on YouTube is harnessing curiosity. The more you entice people to click a thumbnail, watch a video, and subscribe – or in this case, become a member – the better your chances of growing your channel. Plus, Channel Memberships are exclusive. That creates major FOMO.

When you want more YouTube views, sometimes the solution is simple. Just ask viewers what they want to see.

You can do this easily with the YouTube Community tab. Like Channel Memberships, you need 1,000 subscribers to unlock it. But once you have access, you get to engage with your community using text posts, GIFs, polls, and more. It’s an extra way to gain exposure and discover what viewers like at the same time.

YouTube Community Tab - The Underrated Growth Tool You NEED to Use

“Pay attention to your community,” David says. “What do they want? What do they like seeing? What do they like about you? It’s just a great gauge. Hitting 1,000 subscribers and having that Community tab has been wonderful.”


When posting on the Community tab, always remember to...

 (both subscribers and non-subscribers can see the posts).

4. Niche Down and Make Specific, Targeted Videos

As we mentioned before, you need a niche to grow on YouTube. But don’t make it too broad! That’s a mistake many creators make before tightening the focus of their channel.

“I thought comedy, making people laugh, was a niche…. But there’s just so much to comedy,” David says. “There are so many different ways of making people laugh and feel good.”

That’s why David makes funny videos in a specific, targeted way. He does reaction videos to American food and customs, not general comedy. It also helps him bond with his audience over a shared interest.

3 Steps to Create Valuable, Highly-Watched Videos on YouTube

Are you having trouble finding your niche? David recommends making three or four videos to see which one performs the best. The best video topic is probably worth exploring on YouTube.

5. Don’t Fake Your Passion; Do What Makes You Happy on YouTube

One thing to realize with absolute clarity is that real humans are watching your videos. They want you to be your authentic self on camera because that creates a better experience for them.

Creators who bond with viewers and grow their channels year after year aren’t faking it. They don’t live a manufactured lifestyle, and they don’t become who they think subscribers want them to be. They share their passions on YouTube and attract like-minded people. If their passion is gardening, they won’t create a channel about real estate to fit in.

“People aren’t stupid,” David says. “They will soon see if you’re [faking]. With myself, what you see is what you get. Of course, I have my down days. Everyone does. But I’m not trying to put on an act.”

In a word, it’s all about originality. Just be yourself!

Growing a YouTube channel is about building a community. And before that, it’s about overcoming self-doubt so you can grow with confidence. Avoid these 

Are you curious? Authentic? An advocate for online bonding? When it comes to growing on YouTube, that's exactly what you need to build a large community of subscribers.

5 Ways to Grow Your YouTube Channel Faster 

, where you can learn more about starting a lucrative YouTube career.

Here are some stats people were sharing on Twitter about how long it took YouTube creators to get subscribers (averaged):

100,000-1 million subscribers: 1,171 videos

The problem with these stats is that they take into account all the channels on YouTube, and that’s around 37 million. Not everyone comes to YouTube to become a creator!

, it takes much less to build that initial audience.

10 Solid Ways to Get 1,000 YouTube Subscribers

Talking about a niche topic, but presenting information as if the audience were fifth-graders

Taking titles, thumbnails, and YouTube optimization seriously

How Long It Took to Get 10,000 Subscribers on 3 Different YouTube Channels

Here are some stats on how long it took me to grow three of my YouTube channels:

Are you surprised to see how many videos attracted 10,000 subscribers? Or how many days passed before I reached that milestone? Keep reading to learn what happened on all these channels.

 in December 2014 and had no idea how YouTube works. Despite those growing pains, it only took 

39 videos and 390 days to reach 10,000 subscribers. 

This is pretty good, considering it's a Russian language channel. That's a smaller market compared to my other two channels.

2. Linguamarina (teaching English in English) 

I started this channel in February 2016, two years after Marina Mogilko. It's my fastest-growing channel right now with 80,000 people subscribing monthly. 

Relatability. I am not a native-speaker of English, but many people say it’s easier to learn from me.

I "hacked" the algorithm by using the right thumbnails and titles.

23 videos in 180 days to reach 10,000 subscribers.

Thousands of people want to learn, speak, and write English better. I took advantage of that by sharing valuable lessons, like the YouTube Short below about cutting the word "very" from your vocabulary.

3. Silicon Valley Girl (business and income)

The growth of this channel has been crazy. I started 

 with a video titled, "Buying a Lamborghini After Selling a Company to Microsoft," with me and a Lambo on the thumbnail. I knew it would work. And honestly, it wasn’t me who sold the company. It was my friend, Matt, and that was his Lambo. The whole video was about him.

 Then I just needed 44 days and four videos to reach 10,000.

How did I do this? Here are four key reasons:

 (a questionable approach because the audience wasn’t exactly entrepreneurs, which was the initial goal).

 with click-worthy titles. That was a good start, but now I'm looking to build a more engaged audience on that channel.

So what are the key takeaways from my 10,000-subscriber journey?

Make sure your first videos are searchable

, which means people are actually searching for those topics on YouTube. Make sure the titles are juicy and intriguing. Imagine the views you can get from "Buying a Lamborghini After Selling a Company to Microsoft" versus "A Successful Entrepreneur’s Story."

Aim for a bigger market, but start with niche content.

 I started Linguamarina, my English channel, with videos about the TOEFL exam. The content was highly-searchable and helped me build my initial audience.

 Familiarize yourself with the power of SEO, attractive thumbnails, and good titles. This will help you take advantage of the algorithm and fast-track your journey to 10,000 subscribers.

Need a smaller goal to reach? Here's how long it takes to get just 

Ready to get 10,000 YouTube subscribers? Here's how long the journey takes, plus tips to expedite the process.

How Long It Takes to Get 10,000 YouTube Subscribers

What is the easiest way to get 1,000 subscribers on YouTube? Should you try to go viral with a trendy video that gets millions of views?

There’s nothing wrong with this method, but it’s not the best way to gain subscribers. Viewers will move on when the hype is over because trends – and trending videos – always lose momentum. Plus, going viral on YouTube is 

You need a deeper plan to make people stick around – one that prioritizes five parts of 

Making videos that YouTube will (likely) recommend to viewers

Understanding which videos make people subscribe

Watch the video below to learn more about these five areas of YouTube growth:

If you can master those five things, you’ll get 1,000 subscribers in no time. Here’s a guide to help you get started.

If you haven’t posted many videos, make that your first step. This will help YouTube understand what your channel is about and which viewers enjoy your content.

Quantity Over Quality - The One Thing New YouTubers Should Focus On

 in the next three or four months. That’s a big number, and it’s going to be hard to stay on track, but don’t panic. The goal isn’t to make a few perfect videos people rave about; at this stage, you want to make lots of content so YouTube can test your videos with different audiences. One hundred videos should be enough to penetrate the algorithm and have YouTube suggest your content.

As you create, avoid the trap of making perfect videos. That will only slow you down and make “100” seem like an impossible number. Instead, focus on 

 that have good information, proper lighting, and adequate audio. That’s what viewers need to enjoy a video, and ultimately, subscribe.

2. Identify Your Top 5 ‘Suggested’ Videos. Make ‘Companion’ Videos for Each One

OK, here’s where the fun starts. Now that you have dozens of videos to analyze, you can go into the YouTube Studio and see which ones are performing well. This is a crucial step to gaining 1,000 subscribers; your absolute best videos – not the average performers – are more likely to make people subscribe.

top five suggested videos on your channel.

 These are the videos YouTube recommends to viewers based on what they’ve already watched or what they might watch next. So essentially, YouTube will “pair” one video with another if people frequently watch them “together” on the platform.

YouTube Algorithm Guide - How Your Videos Are Recommended to Viewers

If someone watches a video about how to get more subscribers on YouTube, they might see some of the suggested videos below. These could appear as a “watch next” prompt within the video, on the right side of the screen (pictured below, as seen on desktop), or below the video being watched (mobile).

Follow these steps to see your top five suggested videos:

Make sure you’re on the Overview tab, then click 

 below the graph that shows views, Watch Time, estimated revenue, and subscribers.

From the list of traffic sources, select 

 (in the top right corner) to make sure you get enough data.

Your suggested videos list should look something like this:

Write down the top five videos on your list, and for each one, film a companion video on the same topic. As YouTube suggests "pairs" of videos to viewers, you'll give the algorithm popular but similar content to pull from.

3. Identify Your Top 5 ‘Search’ Topics. Make Similar Content

Out of all the videos you’ve made, how many of them are searchable? Do they address problems people are always trying to solve? If so, find out which video topics are most helpful to viewers.

Is there a foolproof way to get 1,000 subscribers on YouTube? Yes! Here are five amazing tips to reach that big goal.

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