Ask any YouTuber and they will tell you that generating significant views and subscribers isn't easy. But with the right strategy and tools, any video creator can build an engaged subscriber base when they understand what those subscribers want to watch.

Appealing to an audience to watch content you are passionate about making is just the first step, you need to know how to reach them and get your videos discovered. Our guides to how to guide more views on YouTube will give you the best tips to succeed on the platform.

Getting Views

How To Get More Views on YouTube

Getting thousands or even millions of YouTube subscribers is a dream for most creators. In the articles below, we'll show you how to turn casual viewers into long-term fans. 

Subscribers

YouTube Subscribers

Do you want to make money on YouTube? Millions of creators are earning a very good living from monetizing the platform and uploading content that drives huge views and engagements. Whether that YouTube income is from advertising revenue, merchandise sales, or brand deals, or subscriptions, we keep you updated with best practices and ideas.

Monetization

How To Make Money on YouTube

Want to see how your channel is performing? Read these YouTube analytics articles to discover what's working and what isn't. You'll learn how to identify which videos have the most Watch Time, clicks, audience retention, revenue, and more.

Analytics

YouTube Analytics

Watch Time is arguably THE most important metric on YouTube right now, and creators won’t be able to monetize their content without 4000 hours of it. But what is it and how can creators increase the amount of Watch Time their videos attract? We keep you updated on the best practices around Watch Time, and how you can increase how much your video content generates.

Watch Time

YouTube Watch Time

YouTube Shorts content is set to explode! 

All the latest tips, tricks, and rock-solid advice you need for this new feature.

YouTube Shorts

Do you know how to do keyword research so you understand what videos people are actually searching for on YouTube? Do you know how to create a custom YouTube thumbnail? Do you know how to create a Playlist on YouTube?

vidIQ has a ton of tips that will help every creator maximise their video content. We publish content every week to keep you up to date with all the best practices.

Tips & Tricks

YouTube Tips & Tricks

At vidIQ we have incredible insights into what viewers are searching for on YouTube. Not only can we confirm the top keywords being searched for, we can also show you how you can leverage that interest to create content around trending topics and tentpole events. That's going to give you a clear edge over other creators!

Insights

YouTube Insights

Your In-Depth Guide to Building a Successful YouTube Channel

If you're grinding for hours on each video and still seeing 12 views, including your replays, you're probably wondering: is YouTube too saturated to grow anymore?

That question haunts new creators more than the dreaded "0 views" screen. You put your heart into a video. You meticulously script, shoot, edit, and upload—and then? 

 Meanwhile, big creators are burning stacks of cash for thumbnails, and you're wondering if there's even any oxygen left in the room.

In the video above, Rob talks about all of it. Not in theory. Not with sugar-coated optimism. But with the raw, data-backed reality and the tools you can use to beat it.

How to Build the Right Mindset for YouTube Success

Over 20 million videos are uploaded to YouTube every single day. 

It's not just your niche that feels crowded—it's the whole platform. Even established creators are feeling the heat. Channels that used to pull 500K views per video are now seeing half that. The landscape has shifted dramatically, and the old playbook of "just upload consistently" isn't cutting it anymore.

But here's where it gets interesting. YouTube is thriving. It just hit a historic benchmark—12% of all TV streaming time in the U.S. That's more than Netflix. More than Disney+. It's not that people aren't watching YouTube—it's that they're not watching your video yet.

On top of that, most new creators don't actually create—they copy. You see what works in your niche and replicate it, hoping for similar results. But what you're really doing is blending into the crowd. In a saturated space, sameness is a slow death.

The platform isn't dying; it's evolving. And that evolution means a different approach from creators who want to break through the noise. Stop asking, "Is YouTube Saturated?" That's the Wrong Question. Instead, ask "Am I doing enough to stand out?"

Let's examine how creators breakthrough in oversaturated niches. Take the content space—arguably one of the most overcrowded areas being YouTube. Yet some creators manage to grow rapidly even here.

The secret isn't revolutionary content. It's revolutionary consistency in presentation. Successful creators develop visual and emotional signatures that become instantly recognizable. They use specific color schemes, maintain consistent fonts, and develop a visual language that viewers begin to associate with quality content.

This isn't about expensive production values or professional graphic design. It's about making deliberate choices and sticking to them. When someone scrolls through their subscription feed, your thumbnail should feel like seeing a familiar face in a crowd.

: Open your channel in incognito mode. Scroll through your thumbnails like a stranger would. Do you look like everyone else? If so, you've got work to do.

We've all cursed the algorithm at some point. 

: The algorithm doesn't find viewers for your video. It finds videos for viewers.

Your job is to make content that keeps people watching. That starts with a clear hook, tight editing, and a reason to stay till the end. The algorithm watches how viewers behave with your content. So think like a viewer.

Would you click your own thumbnail? Would you stay past 30 seconds? Would you share that video with a friend? If the answer is "maybe not," start there. The algorithm isn't mysterious—it's responsive. It amplifies content that audiences engage with and buries content that doesn't hold attention.

A lot of creators hit plateaus not because they aren't talented—but because they're inconsistent. And no, we're not talking hustle culture here. This isn't about 4 a.m. wake-up calls and burnout-as-a-badge-of-honor. It's about clarity and commitment.

If you've only got 5 hours a week to give to YouTube, that's not a limitation—it's your blueprint. The key is being intentional about how you spend that time:

Stick to it like clockwork. Put it on your calendar. And tell someone. Accountability is underrated—post your goals publicly, join a community, even hire a coach. But do something to stay consistent. Because in YouTube, momentum isn't just helpful. It's everything.

Creative Compound Interest: The Secret Sauce

Viral growth isn't luck. It's the end result of compound creative effort. Here's how it works in practice.

Better thumbnail design leads to more clicks. More clicks generate more data about what resonates with your audience. More data informs better scripting and pacing decisions. Better pacing results in higher watch time. Higher watch time triggers stronger algorithm recommendations. And the cycle repeats, each iteration building on the last.

The 12 Best YouTube Thumbnails People Love to Click On

But here's the part most people skip over: It takes time. Most creators quit at video 4 or 5 because they didn't blow up. But here's the truth: You're still in tutorial mode. Give it 3 to 6 months. That's 12 to 25 videos. If you're not improving, reassess. But if you are? Then you're not a beginner anymore. You're a builder!

YouTube in 2025 is not the same YouTube of 2015. Back then, you could upload a shaky vlog or a basic tutorial and find an audience. Today, it takes more. More clarity. More consistency. More craft.

But also? More opportunity. The audience is bigger than ever. The tools are better than ever. The path to monetization is clearer than ever. The question isn't whether YouTube is saturated. Are you ready to do what it takes to stand out in the crowd? 

Man overwhelmed with endless streaming options

Is YouTube too saturated to grow in 2025? Discover the truth about YouTube saturation, why most creators struggle, and how to stand out in a crowded platform with branding, consistency, and smart content strategy.

Has YouTube Become Saturated?

Do you have a podcast? Are you posting visual episodes on YouTube (but need more revenue to do so)?

We’re going to share powerful tips to attract paying YouTube subscribers. These are viewers who pay a monthly subscription fee to get exclusive podcast content. They don’t have to spend much; five to $15 will suffice. But when they 

pay, they get to unlock your entire content universe.

Make More Money on YouTube with Channel Memberships

, we spoke with Saagar Enjeti and Jason Sew Hoy about building a premium membership as a podcaster. Saagar co-hosts the 

 podcast, a political news show with more than 500,000 YouTube subscribers. Jason is the co-founder and CEO of 

, which helps podcasters sell premium subscriptions to their listeners.

Want to get paid subscribers for your YouTube podcast? Here are seven tips from Jason and Saagar to get you started.

1. Know the Value of Your YouTube Podcast

Before you build a paid membership for your podcast, know the value of your content. It should make a difference in people’s lives, whether you’re providing entertainment, information, or guidance. Maybe they love hearing co-hosts discuss politics calmly. Or perhaps they value comedy and storytelling. Try to figure out what keeps people watching your podcast channel.

Saagar suggests asking yourself three questions:

What about your show makes listeners feel special?

The fastest way to get these answers is by asking your subscribers. Then you’ll begin to understand the value of what you’re offering.

2. Grow Your YouTube Podcast to 10,000 Subscribers

This is the sweet spot for starting any kind of YouTube business. With 10,000 subscribers, you have more than just a strong following. A small percentage of your audience could be super fans. With just 1,000 super fans paying you $5 a month, you can easily earn $5,000. All it takes is 1% of a 10,000-subscriber audience.

Making Money on YouTube - 7 Tips to Start a Successful Business

That’s why you need to reach this milestone. It’s easier to build a membership program when you have the numbers to support one.

3. Know the Perks People Are Willing to Pay For

Typically, it costs nothing to listen to a podcast episode. Listeners aren’t paying when they watch the show visually on YouTube. And most aren’t paying to listen on Spotify, Apple, or Google.

How do you get paid subscribers for a podcast on YouTube?

First, know which perks people are willing to pay for. According to Saagar and Jason, that’s usually:

Access to a private community group: Slack, Discord, Facebook, etc.

4. Put Full Podcast Episodes (the Video Version) Behind a Paywall

This tip reinforces the need for 10,000 or more subscribers.

When you’re just starting on YouTube, you can’t afford to put anything behind a paywall. You need to show everything related to your podcast; that includes short clips and full visual episodes.

But as your audience grows, you can monetize those visual, hour-long episodes.

“This has two benefits,” Saagar says. “At the end of the day, our real customers are our premium subscribers. So they get the full experience by watching a premium, uncut show, which is just more natural and pleasurable to watch. Second, in terms of editing, all I have going is a guy in the back, in the control room. The moment I say, ‘OK, now let's talk about [this],’ he just cuts it right there in Adobe Premiere. And so he’s actually dividing up the clips [for non-paying subscribers] while we’re going.”

upload clips of your podcast for free viewing

 on YouTube. Then you can slowly market a premium membership, where subscribers can watch full visual episodes.

5. Advertise Your Premium Membership In Every YouTube Video

When you’re posting podcast clips to YouTube, don’t forget to advertise your premium membership. Viewers have short attention spans; they aren’t going to look for something they can’t find easily, let alone pay for it.

“Like anything on the internet, the more seamless you can make a conversion path, the [easier it is] to discover something,” Jason says. “[They’ll say], ‘There’s such a thing as this premium [subscription]?'”

Talk about your premium subscription as you tape the podcast.

Explain the benefits of becoming a member.

Put the membership sign-up link in clickable 

Put the sign-up link in your video description.

Create clickable end screens that go to the sign-up page.

6. Create Experimental Content to See What Viewers Will Pay For

Sometimes you have to experiment to see what people like. If you’re unsure of which perks to monetize for your podcast, just try something – anything. See if there’s a genuine interest among viewers.

“One of our organic experiments that showed us how valuable we are, is we wrote a book,” Saagar says. “That book hit the bestseller list, and we were like, ‘Holy crap.’ We only had 200,000 subs at the time. I thought it would sell a couple thousand copies or something like that.”

Lastly, be honest about the workload you can handle, and design your business accordingly. After all, there’s only so much time in a day. It’s better to expand slowly (and one service at a time) than introducing everything at once.

Are you looking for extra ways to make money on YouTube? Here are three bullet-proof ways to grow a YouTube business.

Tube Talk logo with two smiling men in business attire on dark background

A premium membership can help you make money as a YouTube podcaster. Here are 7 helpful tips to build that revenue stream.

Podcasting on YouTube: 7 Tips to Get Subscribers on a Paid Membership

It's incredibly rewarding when subscribers engage with your content through comments. Whether it's a supportive note, a thoughtful question, or a funny joke, these interactions can brighten a creator's day and offer valuable feedback.

 to boost your channel's growth and build a loyal community.

Unfortunately, not every comment is positive. Some users leave hurtful remarks that can affect your mood and community feel. Knowing how to disable comments on YouTube using your phone helps keep your space safe.

The good news is that you don't need a desktop computer to manage comments. Whether you're on Android or iOS, you can quickly enable YouTube comments mobile through the YouTube Studio app. This lets you control your channel while on the go.

How to Enable or Disable YouTube Comments on Mobile

Open the YouTube Studio app and tap the menu in the upper-left corner.

Tap the video for which you want to disable or enable comments. 

Swipe down until you see the comments option, which allows you to turn comments on or off for the video. Tap 

Check out the screenshots below to see each step:

Selecting Videos option in YouTube Studio mobile app

Advanced settings tab in YouTube Studio mobile app

YouTube Comment Settings Options Comparison

Selecting a video to edit in YouTube Studio mobile app

Tapping the pencil icon to edit video settings in YouTube Studio app

Step 6: Choose a comments option and tap save.

Comment options and save button in YouTube Studio mobile app

 Turning comments off won't delete existing comments from your video. You can see them again whenever you decide to enable comments.

Watch our tutorial below for more details.

Managing YouTube Comments From Your Phone

Mobile devices offer basic control, but there are limits. For features like bulk disabling comments or setting default options for new videos, you need to use a desktop. The YouTube Studio app on your phone focuses on managing individual videos.

But if you want to do those things on desktop, here's a 

If you don't want to completely disable comments for a video, there are some limited  options in the YouTube Studio app.

. Next to each comment, tap the three dots, which reveals the option to:

 the user so you NEVER see their comments again.

 moderate your comments, you'll need to do it on a computer. If you manage a channel with children's content, it's essential to understand the 

 guidelines, which automatically disable comments to ensure a safe viewing environment. For advanced moderation and additional options, use a computer to manage your settings effectively.

Chances are, your comments aren't 100% negative. We're willing to bet most of your content has uplifting messages of support underneath. That's why you should 

Want to identify your most engaged viewers? Discover 

 the most to find your super fans and strengthen your community.


Comment Management Options for YouTube Creators

Different Comment Settings Options Explained

YouTube presents different ways to control comment visibility. Knowing these options helps you choose what fits your content best.

 option shows every comment immediately. This is a hit if your community is friendly and engaged, though it gives you little control over what appears.

'Hold Potentially Inappropriate Comments for Review.'

 YouTube flags comments that might be spam or hurtful, letting you approve them before they show. This works well if you have a growing audience.

 puts every comment in a waiting room until you approve it. It needs more attention but keeps your space safe if you cover sensitive topics.

And if you need to stop public discussion, the 

option shuts comments off completely for a video. This is common for content made for kids or for topics that might stir up controversy.

YouTube video settings screen showing the enabled comments option with a green arrow.

Need to enable or disable YouTube comments on your mobile device? Follow our step-by-step guide to manage YouTube comments directly from your smartphone.

How to Turn On YouTube Comments on Phone: Step-by-Step Mobile Guide

Are you struggling to grow your YouTube channel? There could be dozens of reasons you aren’t getting more views and subscribers. For one, you might need 

 – the kind that make viewers stop what they’re doing and instantly click a video. It could also be a technical problem. Maybe you have a microphone that captures weak audio; after all, videos are 50% visual and 50% auditory.

5 Mistakes That Stop Your YouTube Channel From Growing

Today, we’re going to focus on just four improvements you can make. Most creators, especially new ones, overlook these powerful tips. But in this episode of 

, our co-hosts Dan Carson and Rob Wilson share the essentials for YouTube growth.

Your subscribers aren’t the only people who watch your videos. When a new viewer finds your channel, consider their intentions for being there. Are they coming to learn about you and your channel? Or do they want to learn more about a specific topic?

Usually, it’s the latter. That’s why you need a brief yet irresistible introduction that reinforces the video’s topic. It should reel the viewer in and stop them from clicking away.

That’s a real challenge for most people. 

Here are two intro mistakes we always see creators make:

Having an intro longer than five to 10 seconds

Using a generic script like, “Hi, my name is [your name], and welcome back to [channel name]...”

Opening videos with a splash screen showing your channel’s logo or something similar

Instead of doing the things above, get straight to the point.

“If your video is something along the lines of, ‘how do I get 1,000 subscribers in a week,’ then you’d better reinforce that result in the first 10 to 15 seconds before there is an introduction of your channel,” Wilson says.

Of course, there are exceptions to the rule.

 Some vloggers open with the generic intro of, “Hey guys, welcome back to my channel,” and their channels are growing regardless. 

Experiment and find what works for you. You might get better results by introducing yourself in the middle of the video or having no intro at all (yes, that’s a thing).

2. Make Your YouTube Videos the Right Length

If your channel isn’t growing, take a look at the length of your videos. Are they too short, leaving viewers confused about what they just saw? Or are they so long that dozens of people abandon your content?

3 Ways to Find the Best YouTube Video Length

 If you can explain something in less time, do it. You’ll make tightly focused videos that people find useful, which is the key to gaining more views.

 people will reference a video and under what circumstances. A viewer that needs to unclog their toilet isn’t seeking a 30-minute tutorial. They need an immediate answer to their question, preferably in five minutes or less.

“The example I like bring up is when I was doing a game night,” Carson says. “I had gotten this new board game, and the instructions were meaty, as they are with board games. It’s so much easier to watch somebody play around with it, and then you understand it. So I searched for the board game [on YouTube], and I think I might have put ‘tutorial’ or ‘how to play.’ Two of the top results popped up, and the first result was double the length of the second one – a difference between 20 minutes and 10 minutes. Which one do you think I clicked on?”

Despite what anyone says on YouTube, editing your videos is a must. Even if you’re just doing cuts to meld different scenes together, that plays a significant role in the appeal of your videos. No one wants to watch 10 minutes of lulls and dead air while other creators post beautiful, seamless stories.

Here are some editing tips to help you out:

 as soon as you finish filming. The errors are still fresh in your mind, so you can easily remember where they are.

 so you can remove “um’s,” “uh’s,” and dead air.

. That’s the only way to edit faster and make the experience more enjoyable.

, have a group of pre-edited selfies ready to go. It makes thumbnail creation more manageable.

 so people don’t lose interest. Introduce pattern interrupters like music, new clips, text, images, etc.

and come back to it tomorrow. Let your mind rest so you can return with a fresh perspective.

4. Avoid Using Copywritten Materials, Especially Music

Our last tip is the most important. If you want to keep growing your YouTube channel, you have to play by YouTube’s rules. That means uploading content that belongs to you or content you have permission to use. Anything else leads to copyright claims and strikes against your channel. The penalties range from 

 to having your videos taken down to YouTube terminating your channel.

What's the Difference Between a Copyright Claim and a Copyright Strike?

Most creators run into issues when they use copywritten music; they think using 30 seconds of a popular song won’t get them in trouble. But YouTube has a Content ID system that scours the platform for “matching” media. If you use someone’s content in your video, you, YouTube, and the copyright holder will know about it.

. YouTube negotiated a deal with music labels that allows creators to use songs in brief, vertical videos – no copyright claims or strikes allowed.

 will keep you out of trouble. You’ll learn helpful tips, like 

how to get royalty-free music from the YouTube audio library

Here are six ridiculous myths that hold creators back from their goals.

Man with beard thinking beside colorful Tube Talk logo on dark background for video podcast

Growing a YouTube channel comes with challenges, but it’s nothing you can’t overcome with the right tips. Here are four that most creators overlook on their journey to more views and subscribers.

Growing a YouTube Channel: 4 Things Creators Overlook


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.

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.

Your In-Depth Guide to Building a Successful YouTube Channel

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