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            <h2>How to Make a Brilliant YouTube Video</h2>
            <div><h3>It all starts… with what you’re probably not expecting</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
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    </div><p id="846c">However, if I took that as a sign that I need to make as many iPhone 13 related videos as possible, or invest in countless review units to capitalise on my new-found fame in the smartphone space, it wouldn’t end well.</p><p id="7d4b">That video is an anomaly for a channel of my size. It could very easily lead me down a path to burnout, frustration, and a rapidly diminishing loyal audience.</p><p id="e020">This is why that massive view count doesn’t matter and the far smaller view count on my newsletter videos is golden.</p><p id="071b">Let me explain.</p><h2 id="29cc">Passive versus active viewers</h2><p id="dd97">There’s no competition when it comes to the engagement I get from my newsletter videos.</p><p id="07fa">By the time the latest newsletter reached the halfway mark, 76% of viewers were still watching. By the time it ended, 31% had remained tuned in. This is why, when I ask them right at the end to post a coffee or dog emoji in the comments section, so many do.</p><p id="48cc">Remember that iPhone 13 mini review video I mentioned earlier with the colossal view count? At the halfway marker, just 40% of the audience remained. By the end of the video, I’m left with the attention of just 16% of them.</p><div id="5d17" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-simple-guide-to-making-affiliate-revenue-on-youtube-6a7bf2baa10f">
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            <h2>The Simple Guide to Making Affiliate Revenue on YouTube</h2>
            <div><h3>The path to passive income starts here!</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
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            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*m0QVw0sbDHSMJqbY54q0yA.jpeg)"></div>
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    </div><p id="67a1">Most YouTube viewers are passive. They watch some of your video (a good chunk of it if you’re lucky), but rarely comment, like or subscribe. It’s why practically every YouTube channel has a higher view count than it does subscribers.</p><p id="b6d2">What’s more, most of those viewers will disappear after the first couple of minutes. That doesn’t mean y

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ou’re doing a bad job of it — that’s just how YouTube works.</p><p id="a44d">Finding active viewers is where the magic lies, and as demonstrated by my newsletter’s retention performance, you don’t need big numbers to achieve it.</p><p id="7cfe">A newsletter list with just over 1,200 subscribers is giving me more active attention on YouTube than <i>THE ALGORITHM</i> could ever offer. And remember — those newsletter videos are unlisted on YouTube and, therefore, technically hidden from <i>THE ALGORITHM</i>.</p><p id="e66d">Says it all, doesn’t it?</p><h2 id="18e8">Final thought</h2><p id="e66e">Some of my newsletter subscribers tell me that they prefer those videos to the content I publish on the main channel. And, while that’s a little ironic, given the amount of time and effort that goes into the latter, it does speak volumes about how this stuff works.</p><p id="1864">Chasing big numbers on YouTube is a fool’s game. It’s why the <a href="https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/">1,000 true fans theory</a> is something I live by each day.</p><div id="63d6" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/how-to-create-a-buzzing-discord-community-6973d9da1696"> <div> <div> <h2>How to Create a Buzzing Discord Community</h2> <div><h3>The perfect accompaniment to a YouTube channel</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*c3kQCYskL0tVaOecUa5kYQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="47b2">If a video achieves 76% viewer retention at the 50% marker, it’s a brilliant video, no matter how long it took to make, the subject matter, or whether or not it fits within my niche.</p><p id="b382">It doesn’t matter if it has 0.08% of the views of the most watched video on my channel. If I had to take one video with me to a dessert island, it’d be the newsletter video.</p><p id="2356">If you’re just starting out on YouTube, or if you’re frustrated with your progress thus far, stop chasing the big numbers. Chase the engagement!</p><h2 id="d503">Learn How to Edit Videos Like Me!</h2><p id="5712">My latest Skillshare class, Video editing basics in Final Cut Pro X (for YouTube success!) is live and free to try:</p><p id="766b"><a href="https://skl.sh/3qz4voR"><b>Learn how to edit a successful YouTube video</b></a></p><p id="61f2"><i>Originally published at <a href="https://markellisreviews.com/300-vs-300000-when-views-dont-matter-on-youtube/">https://markellisreviews.com</a> on January 26, 2022.</i></p></article></body>

300 vs 300,000: When Views Don’t Matter on YouTube

And why my newsletter beat my viral hit

My review of the iPhone 13 mini has achieved 327,128 views to date.

My latest newsletter video has racked up 255.

Can you guess which one I enjoyed making the most?

I wrote recently about the importance of a newsletter list for YouTubers, and as each week passes, the love I have for my own continues to grow.

3 Reasons Why Every YouTuber Needs a Newsletter

And why it’s easier to build than you think

medium.com

I shared something very personal in my last newsletter, and it felt good — cathartic, even. What’s more, it drew similar stories out of the audience and resulted in some of the best retention statistics I’ve seen on a video (more on that later).

With that in mind, I think we need to have a quick chat about numbers on YouTube.

The numbers matter (until they don’t)

I check my YouTube stats way too often. I think most YouTubers do.

However, I’m aware that they don’t always tell the full story. Sure, it’s nice to see how your subscriber count ebbs and flows; it provides a real-time view of how active your channel is.

But it’s far too easy to have your head turned when a particular metric begins to spiral. This happens most commonly when one of your videos goes viral. Which it will if you remain consistent.

That iPhone 13 mini review video is the biggest viral hit I’ve had to date. I’m grateful for every single view, and every one of the 10,000 likes it has achieved.

How to Make a Brilliant YouTube Video

It all starts… with what you’re probably not expecting

medium.com

However, if I took that as a sign that I need to make as many iPhone 13 related videos as possible, or invest in countless review units to capitalise on my new-found fame in the smartphone space, it wouldn’t end well.

That video is an anomaly for a channel of my size. It could very easily lead me down a path to burnout, frustration, and a rapidly diminishing loyal audience.

This is why that massive view count doesn’t matter and the far smaller view count on my newsletter videos is golden.

Let me explain.

Passive versus active viewers

There’s no competition when it comes to the engagement I get from my newsletter videos.

By the time the latest newsletter reached the halfway mark, 76% of viewers were still watching. By the time it ended, 31% had remained tuned in. This is why, when I ask them right at the end to post a coffee or dog emoji in the comments section, so many do.

Remember that iPhone 13 mini review video I mentioned earlier with the colossal view count? At the halfway marker, just 40% of the audience remained. By the end of the video, I’m left with the attention of just 16% of them.

The Simple Guide to Making Affiliate Revenue on YouTube

The path to passive income starts here!

medium.com

Most YouTube viewers are passive. They watch some of your video (a good chunk of it if you’re lucky), but rarely comment, like or subscribe. It’s why practically every YouTube channel has a higher view count than it does subscribers.

What’s more, most of those viewers will disappear after the first couple of minutes. That doesn’t mean you’re doing a bad job of it — that’s just how YouTube works.

Finding active viewers is where the magic lies, and as demonstrated by my newsletter’s retention performance, you don’t need big numbers to achieve it.

A newsletter list with just over 1,200 subscribers is giving me more active attention on YouTube than THE ALGORITHM could ever offer. And remember — those newsletter videos are unlisted on YouTube and, therefore, technically hidden from THE ALGORITHM.

Says it all, doesn’t it?

Final thought

Some of my newsletter subscribers tell me that they prefer those videos to the content I publish on the main channel. And, while that’s a little ironic, given the amount of time and effort that goes into the latter, it does speak volumes about how this stuff works.

Chasing big numbers on YouTube is a fool’s game. It’s why the 1,000 true fans theory is something I live by each day.

How to Create a Buzzing Discord Community

The perfect accompaniment to a YouTube channel

medium.com

If a video achieves 76% viewer retention at the 50% marker, it’s a brilliant video, no matter how long it took to make, the subject matter, or whether or not it fits within my niche.

It doesn’t matter if it has 0.08% of the views of the most watched video on my channel. If I had to take one video with me to a dessert island, it’d be the newsletter video.

If you’re just starting out on YouTube, or if you’re frustrated with your progress thus far, stop chasing the big numbers. Chase the engagement!

Learn How to Edit Videos Like Me!

My latest Skillshare class, Video editing basics in Final Cut Pro X (for YouTube success!) is live and free to try:

Learn how to edit a successful YouTube video

Originally published at https://markellisreviews.com on January 26, 2022.