It took me hours. Not just filming, but re-recording the same lines again and again because I kept messing up. When I finally hit publish, I expected something magical to happen. Views. Comments. Maybe even subscribers.
Nothing happened.
A few years later, I crossed 100 videos. Not viral ones. Not perfect ones. Just consistent uploads. And somewhere in that process, I learned things no tutorial ever really explains properly.
This is what actually changed for me.
The First 20 Videos Feel Like Shouting Into the Void
No one really talks about this part honestly.
You upload. You wait. You refresh your analytics like crazy.
Still nothing.
I noticed that my first videos barely crossed 10 views. And most of those were probably me checking how it looked on different devices.
One thing that surprised me was how normal this actually is.
YouTube doesn’t trust new creators right away. It takes time before your content even gets shown to people. And that can feel frustrating if you’re expecting instant growth.
From my experience, the hardest part isn’t making videos. It’s continuing when no one is watching.
Your Early Videos Will Be Bad. That’s Fine.
I cringe when I go back and watch my first uploads.
Bad lighting. Awkward pauses. Weird editing.
At the time, I thought they were decent.
Now I can clearly see the gaps.
But here’s the thing.
Those bad videos were necessary.
A common mistake I see is people waiting until everything is perfect before starting. Better camera. Better mic. Better editing skills.
Honestly, you don’t improve by waiting.
You improve by uploading.
Consistency Matters More Than Talent
There are creators far more talented than me who quit early.
And there are average creators who just kept going.
Guess who grows.
I noticed that once I stopped focusing on making “perfect” videos and just focused on showing up regularly, things slowly started changing.
Not overnight. Never overnight.
But gradually.
More impressions. Slightly more views. A random comment here and there.
That’s when it starts to feel real.
Titles and Thumbnails Are Half the Game
I used to think content was everything.
It’s not.
If no one clicks, no one watches.
Simple.
One thing that surprised me was how changing just the title or thumbnail could double or even triple views on the same video.
Same content. Different packaging.
For example, I had a video that got almost no traction. I changed the thumbnail and simplified the title. Within a few days, it picked up.
That’s when it clicked for me.
You are not just a creator. You are also a marketer.
Not Every Video Needs to Go Viral
This was a big mindset shift.
I used to think every video needed to perform well.
It doesn’t.
Some videos will flop. Hard.
And that’s okay.
From my experience, growth on YouTube is uneven. You might post ten videos that do nothing, and then one suddenly gets picked up.
I had one video that randomly started getting views weeks after I posted it.
No clear reason.
That’s just how the platform works sometimes.
YouTube Is a Long Game
If you’re thinking short-term, it will feel like failure.
If you think long-term, everything changes.
I noticed that videos I posted months ago still bring in views slowly over time. Not huge numbers, but consistent.
That’s the beauty of YouTube compared to other platforms.
Content doesn’t disappear instantly.
It builds.
Slowly.
You Learn What Works by Doing, Not Watching Tutorials
I watched so many “how to grow on YouTube” videos before I started.
Some helped. Most didn’t.
Because until you actually post, you don’t really understand your own audience.
From my experience, what works for one creator doesn’t always work for another.
Your niche matters.
Your style matters.
Your audience matters.
And the only way to figure that out is by uploading and paying attention.
The Algorithm Isn’t the Enemy
People blame the algorithm for everything.
I used to do the same.
But after 100 videos, I see it differently.
The algorithm is just reacting to people.
If people click and watch, YouTube pushes your content more.
If they don’t, it slows down.
Simple.
I noticed that when I focused more on making videos people actually wanted to watch, instead of trying to “beat the algorithm,” my results improved.
Monetization Isn’t What You Think
At the beginning, I thought views equal money.
That’s only partially true.
Even after crossing decent view numbers, earnings weren’t life-changing.
This is where many creators start looking into other ways to grow visibility, like collaborations or even experimenting with strategies such as buy youtube views to give their content an initial push.
I’ll be honest.
From my experience, relying only on ad revenue is slow.
Creators who grow faster usually combine multiple strategies. Better content, smarter promotion, and sometimes external boosts.
But none of that works if the content itself isn’t engaging.
Small Improvements Add Up
You don’t suddenly become great.
You improve bit by bit.
Better lighting.
Cleaner audio.
More confident speaking.
Stronger hooks.
I noticed that after 50 videos, recording felt natural. After 80, editing became faster. After 100, I finally understood what kind of content I enjoy making.
It’s a process.
Practical Example From My Own Channel
Around video number 60, I tried something different.
Instead of talking straight into the camera, I added simple visuals and cut out pauses more aggressively.
The result?
Watch time increased.
Not massively. But enough to notice.
That small change made me rethink how I structure content.
Another example.
I once tested two similar videos. Same topic, different titles.
One got almost no traction.
The other performed much better.
That’s when I realized presentation matters just as much as content.
Common Mistakes I See New Creators Make
1. Waiting Too Long to Start
They keep planning. Overthinking. Researching.
But never posting.
2. Obsessing Over Equipment
You don’t need expensive gear to begin.
Your phone is enough.
3. Ignoring Thumbnails
This is a big one.
People spend hours on videos and 2 minutes on thumbnails.
It shows.
4. Giving Up Too Early
Most people quit before video 20.
That’s where they lose.
5. Copying Others Too Much
Inspiration is fine.
Copying rarely works long-term.
Growth Isn’t Always Organic
Let’s be real for a moment.
Some creators use different growth strategies to get momentum.
Things like promotions, collaborations, or even services where people buy youtube views to increase initial visibility.
I’ve seen this happen.
But here’s my honest take.
That might help you get attention.
But it won’t keep people watching.
Retention matters more.
If your content doesn’t hold attention, nothing else works long-term.
What I’d Do Differently If I Started Again
I’d start sooner.
I’d care less about perfection.
I’d focus more on titles and thumbnails from day one.
And I’d stop comparing myself to creators who are years ahead.
Because that comparison slows you down more than anything else.
FAQ
How long does it take to grow on YouTube
From my experience, it takes longer than most people expect. Months, sometimes years. But progress does happen if you stay consistent.
Do you need expensive equipment to start
No. A basic phone and clear audio are enough in the beginning.
Is it worth posting 100 videos
Yes. Not because all of them will succeed, but because you learn something from each one.
Should you promote your videos or rely on organic growth
A mix works best. Some creators experiment with strategies like buy youtube views for initial traction, but content quality is what really matters long-term.
What matters more views or watch time
Watch time. If people stay, YouTube pushes your content more.https://buyigfollowers.co.uk/buy-youtube-views-uk