If you could go viral tomorrow, what would you do first? How would you prepare for the moment so you’re 100% ready for it?

What started out as a joke between some high school friends turned out to be the biggest viral moment for 

 If you aren’t aware already, Jordan is a law student who became eligible for the NBA draft this year without any professional basketball experience. He found a legal loophole for entering the draft and has now been featured on Good Morning America, KTLA, and other media outlets.

Intrigued? Well, there’s more to the story of this creator turned NBA hopeful!

, we chat with him about his incredible story that’s catching media attention worldwide. Jordan has been creating content across platforms for over three years now, gaining 

. And although his channel has 215 subscribers, YouTube is still his main priority.

If you’ve been creating content on social media for a while, you’ve probably developed a sense of what works for you. And while some ideas are quickly brought to life, Jordan’s viral moment was 

. He kept it in his black book of YouTube ideas, knowing that one day, he would act on that exciting concept.

“I have 51 subscribers, and I am talking to vidIQ right now. That doesn’t happen! But I realized if you have a great idea, something that somebody can see themselves doing, you can have a story. You can go viral with a few strokes of luck!” says Jordan.

After reading the collective bargaining agreement of the NBA, Jordan found himself matching all the criteria to be drafted for 2023. After watching someone go viral because they had become a free agent, Jordan prepared the paperwork and sent it out to make his own moment. In fact, let him explain this journey himself!

What followed was major networks vying to get a piece of the story, eventually resulting in an invitation from Barclays Center! This kind of attention brings memorable yet stressful moments at the same time. So if you’re planning to go viral, expect that there will be some 

So, You’ve Gone Viral Overnight: What to Do Now?

Many creators think going viral is an end-goal, when really, it's the beginning of a long, exciting journey. Here's how to ride the wave of virality, whether life circumstances push you up or down.

Going viral brings opportunities from all sides, and that’s exactly what happened to Jordan. But if you’re a creator with little to no exposure, this can be a tricky road to navigate because there are always people working in bad faith.

“I’m very lucky to have been in the shadows the whole time to understand all these different things. And I will say to creators — get a lawyer. Know what you’re reading because that’s very important,” Jordan says.

Most people in Jordan’s position don't have the knowledge or resources to navigate contracts. But his next piece of advice offers a glimmer of hope.

Creators understand each other and are willing to help their peers, sometimes more than you can imagine! So, building a strong network not only opens doors for you, but also provides much-needed guidance.

Video creators smiling and laughing together

“Getting invited to the Barclays Center was literally because I saw somebody that I followed months ago, and just sent a cold DM,” Jordan informs.

Simply put, just send that DM you’ve been putting off. Otherwise, you’ll never know what’s on the other side of that message or who’s secretly admiring your work!

The Top 5 YouTube Collaboration Ideas to Try Right Now

While many brands and people want their piece of the viral cake, some just won’t be a good fit for you. And it’s important to know how to turn them down irrespective of the offer. At the end of the day, it’s all about serving your community and understanding what brings value to them.

“It hurts, definitely hurts, when you don’t continue those conversations, but you kinda have to stick with your gut,” Jordan says. "You need to bet on yourself.”

It’s hard to know who is right in these situations. But you need to have self-belief and consult with people who’ve known you from the beginning to make good, informed decisions, according to Jordan.

For Jordan, this viral moment is just that—a moment. His goal is bigger than temporary fame, and he hopes to create a real impact on people.

“I know a lot of people who wanna play basketball but can’t or wanna play baseball but can’t. If I can find a sponsor to get a kid a basketball or a baseball glove or a baseball bat, or find a kid that needs help in an underprivileged community by buying out a basketball court or baseball field to play, that would mean a lot,” he says.

It’s important to realize that virality may go away overnight, but having a bigger goal inspires you to keep going and keep making content. We wish Jordan the best with his cause and hope to see it come to fruition!

So, there you have it: a viral story to inspire your growth. But, here’s the question: Are you ready for your viral moment? A good first step would be to

Planning for a viral moment helped Jordan Haber enter the NBA draft and catch global media attention. Could you be next?

Creator Jordan Haber Goes Viral After 'Sneaking' into NBA Draft

Before anyone watches your videos, they see a visual representation of what your channel is about. Viewers glance at your YouTube banner and video thumbnails and make a snap decision: Do I want to engage with this channel or not?

. They want to quickly understand who you are by looking at the words and photos on your channel homepage.

For example, a tennis fan knows they’ve come to the right channel when they see rackets and a green court on your banner. And using thumbnail text like “serve,” “lob,” or “volley” might encourage them to watch your videos.

how to build your personal brand on YouTube

, director of social media at Corel, shares valuable tips for creating your online persona, such as:

How to present your channel across social media

Listen to the episode below, or keep reading for an in-depth overview.

Eliminating confusion is the main benefit of building a personal brand. By keeping things consistent, viewers know what to expect from your content.

Your personal branding strategy may include:

Creating a visual aesthetic for your channel

Using the same text font in all of your graphics

Showcasing your personality the same way in every video

Using the same profile icon across social media

“Everything has to match up because if your brand isn’t consistent, people are going to start noticing that, and they’re not going to be able to connect with you on that same level,” Carls says. “Because they’re kind of like, ‘They keep changing. Who are they?’”

Want to help those viewers connect with you and eventually 

? Here’s a complete guide to building your personal brand.

1. Choose Your YouTube Channel Name Wisely

Most creators do one of three things when naming their YouTube channel:

Choose a “middling” name that sits between broad and specific.

According to Carls, you should avoid channel names that are too specific. For example, you wouldn’t name your channel “Pixel Point of View” if you’re generally reviewing Android phones. The Google Pixel is just one phone that uses the Android operating system.

“Sometimes a broad name may be better because then you can make some adjustments,” Carls says. “But if you come right out of the gate to say that, ‘Oh, I’m the Pixel Princess,’ you have now narrowed your ideas and content. Everyone is going to assume that’s what you’re focusing on.”

, start with a broad channel name. You can always change it to something more accurate as your content evolves.

How do you create a brand that resonates with YouTube viewers? Some say you have to be funny or entertaining to grab people’s attention, and that’s somewhat true. But people connect with different things, so you should match your viewers’ energy on YouTube – whether that’s quiet introversion or chaotic adventure.

Every niche has a vibe. The gardeners of YouTube are peaceful and calm, the entertainers are hilarious, and the business creators look like they're heading to the office. Where do you fit in, and how can you connect with like-minded viewers?

“If you use the example of a real estate professional, 

,” Carls says. “Make sure it’s very clear that you’re in the real estate industry…. You want to have professional branding to match the type of clients you’re trying to attract.”

Ask yourself what viewers gain from watching your content. Then do your best to 

3. YouTube Profile Icons: Headshot or Channel Logo?

Here’s a debate for the ages: Is it better to create a logo for your channel or upload a nice headshot of yourself?

Logos are attractive, but consider the way profile icons function on YouTube. They show up when you’re responding to comments, and that’s one place you want your personality to shine.

“Do you connect with a logo, or do you connect with a person?” Carls asks of creators. “That’s what you have to start realizing. What kind of look and feel and relationship do I want to put out for these individuals?”

4. Create a YouTube Banner That Explains Your Content

Don’t forget about banners when building your online presence. Channel headers take up a lot of space on YouTube, so you may as well use them to communicate the value of your content.

Easy to read on any device – desktop or mobile

Visually consistent with everything else on your channel

Has your channel’s value proposition (what viewers gain from watching)

How to Make a YouTube Banner That Attracts New Viewers

Check out this banner from the vidIQ channel.

Our value proposition (creator-obsessed YouTube education) is front and center, so you know our brand is about helping creators grow their channels. There’s also a gold YouTube plaque to signify our 1 million subscribers. It proves that creators trust our advice!

5. Keep Your YouTube Thumbnails Consistent

Your thumbnails shouldn't look identical, but they must complement one another if you want your channel to have the “branded” look. You can do this by keeping your design elements consistent rather than repeating one design.

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

Successful creators use the same collection of fonts, colors, and niche-related imagery on their channels. That way, viewers can always spot their content in a group of recommended videos.

 does this well. When the stock market goes down, you’ll see Stephan’s sad face, a raging fire, and red numbers in his YouTube thumbnails. 

The design changes sometimes, but those trademark elements are 

6. Don’t Leave Your Channel’s ‘About’ Section Blank

 is the main benefit of personal branding. Well, not writing anything in your channel bio 

 to that confusion. It’s the only place where you can explain in detailed text why someone should watch your content.

Plus, if you know anything about SEO (search engine optimization), then you know the power of words on YouTube. Using 

 in your bio helps your channel appear on search pages within the app. And who doesn’t want that?

So even if your YouTube banner has no text, make sure 

“We’re all here for an SEO gain, right? [And] what is SEO going to pick up? It’s going to pick up the information you have written on your channel versus the text inside of a graphic,” Carls says.

: Make sure everything you do – the videos you upload, the ideas you share, the comments you post – puts you on the right side of history.

Carls works with many influencers at Corel. Before anyone gets featured in a campaign, the company researches creators to make sure they have a good reputation.

If it seems like the creator won’t represent the brand well, Corel protects its reputation by not working with them.

“You start realizing, ‘OK, this might not be the best type of person we want to work with because they are connected to these types of individuals,” Carls says. “So you have to pay attention to the way you’re portraying yourself online."

Now that you know how to brand your channel, here's a guide for making the exact videos your audience wants to see.

No matter how many subscribers you have, branding your YouTube channel will help you gain more. Here’s how to create your best online presence.

7 Ways to Build a Strong Personal Brand on YouTube

Two weeks ago, we discovered some shocking news. It appears that small YouTube channels prefer to collaborate with other small channels – and not the big, prominent ones that get millions of views.

We discovered this insight after posting a question on the YouTube Community tab. We asked, “

Would you rather seek a collab with a bigger creator or accept one from a smaller creator?”

Out of 14,000 respondents, roughly 10,000 said they would accept a “small collab” before reaching out to a prominent creator.

 shares a different perspective. He believes one of the biggest YouTube myths is people thinking small creators can’t work with larger ones. As a customer success manager at vidIQ, McPherson has coached enough creators to know that's a huge misconception.

“I never really let that stop me,” McPherson says. “My first year [on YouTube], I was collaborating with channels with millions of subscribers. So it’s not true.”

But no matter what, you need a solid plan to attract video partners. Here’s how to approach popular creators with a collaboration idea.

1. Offer Your Expertise to Large YouTube Creators

Sometimes the best way to secure a video collab is by taking things slowly. Instead of contacting dozens of people, build a genuine relationship with one creator. Find out what they like, dislike, and struggle with on YouTube.

Once you know all of that, McPherson says you should 

Large YouTubers are busy people, so they might need help with:

The key is to give without asking for anything in return. That’s the easiest way to befriend large creators who are open to collaborating.

2. Make Sure the Creator Is in Your YouTube Niche

Partnering with successful creators is wise, but don’t forget to consider your audience. Every week, they come to your channel to 

 – a topic so exciting they’ve decided to become regular viewers. The last thing they want to watch is a wildly off-topic video.

Let’s say you have a cooking channel, and you want to collaborate with a music creator because they have 100,000 subscribers. That might 

 tempting, but it wouldn’t benefit you or the other creator. So few of those "music" viewers are interested in cooking content.

“Is your niche completely left of center from theirs? If so, what’s the point?” McPherson says.

﻿To create the best collaboration, work with a creator in your niche who understands your content and whose audience overlaps yours.  This guarantees you'll stay on topic and continue to satisfy your subscribers.

The only exception to this rule is when you find someone 

. If you both cover the same broad niche but different aspects of it, that makes for a great collab, too.

Some people think you need thousands of subscribers to engage with famous creators, but that’s not true. All you need is a solid YouTube resume to put you in the running.

Think of it like this: It’s better to have 200 videos uploaded than have 1,000 subscribers and only 10 videos.

"I’ve jumped on channels and done interviews and collabs with channels with 100 subscribers,” McPherson says. “It’s nothing to me because I saw the work ethic. I saw that they’re really trying to do something, and I liked the content.”

Collabs on YouTube work best when they’re beneficial for both creators. So if you haven’t uploaded in six months, don’t expect a well-known creator to help launch your comeback video. Work on 

4. Brainstorm Collab Ideas Before You Start Pitching

, you know how important good video ideas are. They’re even 

 critical when reaching out to prominent creators who’ve reached some level of success.

7 Tips to Craft Irresistible Video Ideas on YouTube

Your initial pitch email should do three things:

Describe your video collab idea in great detail.

“When you give someone an idea of what they’re getting into, what they need to do for you, and why it makes sense, people are more likely to say yes than you might think,” McPherson says.

. If all you need is a one-minute clip from the creator, let them know so they don’t expect more work than the collab requires. Overall, just make it easy for the person to say 

It’s easy to assume that popular YouTubers avoid lesser-known creators, but that’s not true. A lot is happening behind the scenes that people don’t see. Large creators are working on sponsored content, producing their own videos, getting interviewed, and brainstorming future content. They're just busy.

It’s easy to lose track of emails when you’re working hard

. If you haven’t heard from a creator in a long time, it's time to send a follow-up message.

“The thing I’ve seen people do is, they’ll ask [for a collab], and then they’ll get shy later on if they haven’t heard back in three or four days,” McPherson says. “Or five days. Or six days. And the longer the time is from the last time you talked to them, the more likely it is they’ve forgotten.”

So don’t be discouraged. Sometimes it takes an extra email (or two) to reach the best creators.

But when you do start working on a collab, these six tips will help you produce a successful video project for YouTube.

Despite what most people think, small YouTube channels can collaborate with big ones. Here’s how to approach someone with more subscribers than you.

How to Collab with Big Creators as a Small YouTube Channel

It’s hard to understand YouTube sometimes. If you’re a creator, you probably have tons of questions that all start with the word “why.”

Why does YouTube get rid of features we love?

You’ve heard this phrase elsewhere, but it applies here too: 

. YouTube may be built on the foundation of “cool” creators, but it's still a for-profit business. It has to make tough decisions to survive, even while supporting the vloggers, teachers, and entertainers who make YouTube what it is.

 tells us how YouTube operates. As a former YouTube liaison, he listened to creators’ grievances and shared them with YouTube executives. Koval also showed creators how to thrive on the platform with in-depth video tutorials. Before that, he was a creator himself back in 2008.

Ready to learn some things you don’t know about YouTube? Here’s what Koval had to say about the platform.

1. YouTube Wants to Do What’s Best for Creators

You might see YouTube as this big, faceless entity, but real humans work there and want you to succeed. They worry about everything, from how new tools affect creators to grievances surrounding monetization.

“I think creators often see this giant machine owned by Google – owned by Alphabet – and they don’t realize it's full of hundreds of caring, super nice, intelligent people who are trying to do the right thing,” Koval says.

 from videos, creators were upset because they lost a signal for gauging value. They could no longer wonder, 

Should I watch this video? A lot of people dislike it.

YouTube had to look past that and think of creators first.

 For example, some viewers weaponized the dislike button to punish channels they didn’t like. YouTube removed the button to eliminate mob mentality and keep everyone safe.

: Trust YouTube, and have some empathy for the platform. YouTube is looking out for creators, even if that’s not always apparent.

2. YouTube Doesn’t ‘Promote’ Big Creators Exclusively

In his YouTube liaison days, Koval heard some complaints more than others. Sitting snugly at the top of that list was creators’ perception of mega channels. People with small audiences felt like YouTube favored the big stars, such as Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert.

“The reality is that the more YouTube became legitimized in the world, those professional studios and networks and entities wanted to use it….You had professional comedians out there who’ve been doing comedy for years and are really funny,” Koval says. “You gotta give it to ‘em. Their videos would oftentimes outperform my videos as a comedian.”

6 YouTube Myths That Won’t Help Your Channel Grow

YouTube doesn’t push big creators. Instead, 

viewers “vote” for what they feel are the best videos

 by watching them at higher rates. YouTube tracks those trends, and then it shares satisfying videos with people who might be interested. It’s really about viewer satisfaction.

: Figure out your video format. Post your “rough draft” videos, analyze the results, and tweak your content to satisfy viewers.

3. The Most Important YouTube Metric Isn’t a Metric at All

 all the time. They’re great for analyzing your performance and making better videos, but did you know there’s something even 

According to Koval, this precious “thing” isn’t a metric at all. 

 – the broad topic you address in your content.

“You’ve got to pick something you are still going to love talking about five years from now,” Koval says.

How to Choose the Best Niche for Your YouTube Channe

Gaming is a popular niche, but that doesn’t mean you should start a Roblox channel to get more views. Before you do that, ask yourself if you even care about video games. Do you spend much time playing Fortnite, Roblox, Call of Duty – anything?

: Don’t take the shortcut to channel growth. YouTube doesn’t work that way, and people can tell when your heart’s not in it.

4. It’s True: YouTube Caters to Those in the Partner Program

Don’t take this one personally, folks. YouTube is a business, and businesses survive when they have enough money. Since advertising dollars are a large chunk of that revenue, monetized creators – such as those in the 

The advertising split on YouTube is 55/45, meaning creators get 55% of the revenue, and YouTube takes 45%. In 2021, YouTube made 

. The company might not be able to prioritize them on a large scale, but it tries to address their needs.

 if you need a question answered. This team of real humans is highly responsive, and they work hard to demystify YouTube.

“Some people complain that some of the replies are canned responses, but keep in mind, they respond in 40 different languages around the world,” Koval says. “It’s a huge challenge, but they’re doing a great job.”

: Try to understand that YouTube has to survive for creators to be there. No one wants creators to win more than YouTube because it’s the company’s entire business model.

Want to learn more about YouTube and how it works?

Here are six things the YouTube algorithm likes to see on creators’ videos.

Former YouTube liaison Matt Koval helped creators succeed for almost a decade. Now he’s sharing years of advice for budding creators, plus the inner workings of YouTube itself.

Matt Koval Shares More Creator Advice After Nearly a Decade at YouTube

Every creator wants to know how to get brand deals. They want to know what it’s like to work on a lucrative campaign and why they haven’t reached that magical point. Until it happens, they imagine having an overflowing bank account and plenty of sponsors.

The Truth About Getting a Brand Deal on YouTube

 side – what brands wished creators knew. It’s a better approach, especially if you want to discover what makes a brand say, “You’re hired.”

, product marketing specialist at TCL Communication. As a public relations expert, Hornick works with influencers to make brand deals happen. Now he's helping creators understand what brands are truly looking for.

If you’re wondering how to get brands to sponsor you, here are five things to know before sending a pitch.

1. Brands Don’t Always Care About Subscriber/Follower Count

Did you know that selling products isn’t the goal of every campaign? Some brands want to raise awareness so people know they exist. They also want to collect content from creators and repurpose it on social media.

There are different campaign types, and brands need different kinds of creators to make them successful.

Someone with 500,000 subscribers can drive awareness, but what about other, more concrete goals? If we’re talking about email sign-ups and purchases, 

companies need the best creators for those outcomes

. And that’s not always a mega influencer.

Plus, brands are cautious when seeking prominent, successful creators.

“No shots intended, but there are plenty of people out there with [lots of followers], and I can tell you that 90% of them are all bots,” Hornick says.

It’s OK to start where you are with the subscribers you have. 

There will always be brand deals for small YouTubers and other creators.

To reach different campaign goals, brands look for:

Nano-influencers (1,000-10,000 followers)

Micro-influencers (10,000-50,000 followers)

Macro-influencers (100,000-1,000,000 followers)

2. Your Tweets Can Make or Break a Brand Deal

Most people don’t realize, but cringey tweets from the past are easy to find, Hornick says. All it takes is an advanced Twitter search and 

: Everyone knows your worst takes and opinions.

A non-creator doesn’t have to worry as much, but anyone building a brand on YouTube, TikTok or Instagram does. Creators get searched more because brands want to know who they’re sponsoring ahead of time.

“If we’re doing a deep dive on you, and you’re popping off and saying some pretty gnarly stuff – and I don’t mean having political opinions," Hornick says. "It doesn’t matter if you’re left, right, middle. I don’t really care in that regard. But if you’re dropping racist epitaphs and saying some really awful things, then….”

At that point, Hornick fell silent and sucked his teeth against the mic, as if to say, “No more sponsorship.”

3. You Can Be Honest About a Brand and its Products

Brands aren’t perfect, and neither are their products. It’s OK to give your honest review of something, 

even if you’re getting paid to make the company look good

. On YouTube, you are responsible to your audience first and brands second.

Admittedly, not all companies will understand. That’s why partnering with the right brands leads to better sponsorships. Your audience will appreciate you for sharing the truth, and the brand will improve through consumer feedback. Everyone wins.

We know you want a brand sponsorship for your YouTube channel. But have you considered what brands want from the deal? 

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