Grow Faster on YouTube with the vidIQ Outliers Tool

Every new YouTuber has looked at the metrics under a MrBeast video and thought, “How am I supposed to compete with that?” And that begins a spiral that can quickly get out of control.

The truth is, you don't have to. You don't need a warehouse full of equipment or millions of dollars in giveaways to make your content work. What you actually need is to understand what's working for creators like you, and how to remix winning ideas into your own unique voice.

This is where vidIQ's most powerful tools come into play.

vidIQ Outlier Tool: Find Winning Content on YouTube

The Outlier Tool is designed to surface videos that outperform expectations, and most importantly, do so on channels of your size. This isn't about analyzing what works for creators with a million subscribers. This is about finding blueprints that are proven to work at your level.

What It Actually Does

The tool identifies outlier videos, which are content that performs significantly better than a channel's usual performance. These videos are absolute goldmines for inspiration because they reveal what's actually resonating with audiences right now.

Once you sign up for vidIQ and download the extension, you’ll be able to see how well a video is performing compared to the channel’s average. In a moment’s glance, you’ll be able to do minutes' worth of research. And that’s just the start of it.

Key Metrics You Need to Understand

When you're using the Outliers Tool, you'll see several important data points:

• Outlier Score – This measures how far a video exceeds the channel's average performance. A high outlier score means this video is punching way above its weight.
• Views Per Hour (VPH) – This tells you how fast the video is gaining traction. Fast growth signals a hot topic or irresistible packaging.
• Subscriber Count – So you're not wasting time analyzing a 1M-sub channel when you've got 500 subscribers.
• Days Since Upload – Recent uploads are more relevant because they reflect current trends and algorithm preferences.
• Total Views – This helps you spot both sleeper hits and explosive breakouts.

All of these metrics are available everywhere on YouTube, wherever you can click on a video.

How to Use It Like a Pro

You’ll be able to see the outlier tool on the vidIQ webapp dashboard. By default, it will show you videos on your niche that are performing as outliers.

The magic, however, isn't just in having access to the tool; it's in knowing how to filter and interpret the data strategically.

Smart Filtering:

You're not just scrolling aimlessly through thousands of videos. You're targeting with precision. And with filters, you can customize the following:

• Subscriber Range: Narrow it down to creators in your league. If you have 2,000 subscribers, filter for channels under 5K or 10K subs.
• Upload Date: Set it to the last 3–6 months to catch fresh trends that are still relevant.
• Video Type: Pick Shorts, long-form videos, or even specific thumbnail styles depending on what you're trying to create.

Pair with vidIQ Remix

Of course, all of this data can work wonders when put to use properly. And we want to make it simple for every creator. The Remix tool can take all of this data and give you:

• A fully fleshed-out video idea
• A working script
• A customizable thumbnail

These aren't carbon copies of the original idea. The Remix Tool generates inspired thumbnails, scripts, titles, and hooks while keeping the visual hooks and compositional elements that work, giving you full freedom to customize and make them your own.

Read More: How to Find Winning YouTube Video Ideas in Minutes with vidIQ Remix

When you use the Outliers and Remix tools together, here's what you end up with:

• Validated Topic: You're not guessing what might work. You're building on what already does.
• Unique Angle: Your own spin and voice make the content stand out from the original inspiration.
• Remixed Packaging: You're using tested visual and title frameworks, but improving them with your creativity.
• Original Contribution: You're adding value to a conversation that audiences want to engage with

How To Compete on YouTube Correctly

The biggest mistake new creators make is comparing themselves to mega-creators who have unlimited resources, massive teams, and years of audience-building behind them. That comparison isn't just unfair — it's useless.

• Instead, start asking the right questions:
• What videos are working for channels around my size?
• What content from other niches can be reshaped for my audience?
• How can I put my own spin on what's already working?

This shift in mindset is a complete game-changer. It replaces guesswork with smart strategy and overwhelms with focus. You're no longer trying to reinvent the wheel but learning from what's already rolling and making it yours.

Learn more about the tool right here!