How to kill a YouTube channel 

Confession: I’ve checked the analytics so many times on this video haha Thank you all so much for the love on this one! I’ve mainly been in the studio app to keep up with all the amazing comments. Glad to be able to help people ❤

I want my channel to be just that: my channel. My place where I can share my voice and create whatever I feel like. I made this decision a while ago knowing that it would probably make it grow slower. Oh well. Thank you for reminding me🙏

I can’t stop looking at my analytics lol I needed this. As soon as I post a short im looking to see how much it grew 😂

So psyched you’re back dude! If you just keep uploading, this channel will absolutely continue to blow up. Really loved this style of video too!

You just gave a new life to this channel, I like your style. Keep going 😊

Just started our RU-vid Channel just over a month ago - its a horror story channel. Wish you the best Ryan, keep it going! To all those reading don't give up!

RU-vid channels "die" in the same way the Mark Twain quote about "reports of his death have been greatly exaggerated" it usually takes one or two videos to get back on track.

Welcome back, dude. I found your channel through your Best Free Sound Effects video and it really helped me out a lot

I needed to hear this! My first ever video got 20k views in 2 weeks. Everything I have been posting since doesn’t get near those numbers by far. I guess I got my expectations up too much because of that video. But you are right, the numbers don’t matter. It’s the people behind those numbers that matter :) I need to more be patient, and don’t lose sight of my original goals.

I'm a audio engineer student and I feel I'm not retaining as much as I'd like in school. Its scary and now Ai. So I hope this channel can help me because I'm also an animator working on films to bring all my passions together. I'm hoping to make something brilliant that can stand the test. Sharpening my axe

Great message on mission and not falling into the trap of being blinded by vanity metrics.

You’re not alone, mate. I’ve had 4 videos do really well considering how new my channel is and I’ve practically killed it with my last few video releases. From 50K views to 100. Ugh, doesn’t that sting. I can clearly see where I went wrong and it’s the same thing - losing sight of what made the channel great in the first place.

This really helped, thanks! I've been pretty dampened recently with the lack of views I've been getting on my recent videos, but this video reminded me why I do what I do, and what SHOULD be my motivation as opposed to figures and numbers on the studio app. As you say, even if a video with a handful of views gets you that one subscriber that gets help and inspiration from you, you're doing a great job.

This video hit HARD! My wife and I love to travel. And since I already do some multimedia production for my real job I decided to start filming our trips and make travel guids / travel videos out of our trips. I was just capturing what we would do anyways. But once I started to monetize my channel I started to think more in analitics and business terms and it kind of stopped being fun. I finally realized that this is not my goal! My goal is to have fun and show people who are like minded how to have fun, and that your next adventure is right around the corner and doesn't have to be expensive or fancy. I'm in a much happier place now whenI stopped thinking about the analitics and started thinking about my viewers... and simply just having a fun experience.

While our niches may differ, as a new RU-vidr, I genuinely appreciate videos like this. They serve as valuable guides, offering insights on what to do and what to avoid. Thank you immensely for this kind of support! ☺

Just found your channel and listened to your story and I relate to your message. I think it's nice that you decided to come back, doing what you initially wanted to do and be unique. I understand the struggle with the small channels, but if we don't keep our identity I think we do not stand a chance. I personally prefer to grow slowly, but steadily and make content to my linking.

Whether this be your plan or not - I found you through this video, the one that is nothing to do with audio. I'm not really into audio, so maybe your channel is not for me ( I haven't explored it yet) but what resonates with me is the idea of having a mission statement and letting go of the dozens of (unhelpful) stats available by the minute. I'm three years into my YT journey - I'm honing my story telling craft - which when I started my channel I didn't even know was a thing for MtB videos. I'm not yet monetised but growing consistently and getting way more out of my channel than I thought possible. And I have a community beginning to swell around the channel - another thing I did not consider possible when I started. Thank you Ryan for reinforcing with me that the stats are not where it is at. Thank you and enjoy your journey.

Great video! Thank you for posting and being transparent. It’s very difficult not to check those analytics constantly haha.

All RU-vidrs are stuck on RU-vid studio app, I’m so hooked to it, it’s crazy. And when a video is not doing well, it kills moral to jump on the next one. But as a creator you gotta keep going! Nice video bro.

Welcome back Ryan, don’t lose sight on what it is that you WANT to create. I see a lot of similarity in what you say, and I’ve been on YT and had multiple channels since the beginning. I also took a long break from content creation and kick myself for not really sitting down and thinking about what I what to create. I can safely say I’m passionate about my current channels. I also think it’s ok to go off topic as you did, and you missed a trick if I’m honest. You could have dissected the Apple video for your true calling fans, and used it as an example. I wouldn’t have carried on the tech route but occasional posting on something you are interested in is fine. I wouldn’t have chased those viewers as it will just mess you up in the long run. Ironically I came to watch this video as it peaked my curiosity, but you have sold yourself and I’m now subscribed. That’s without watching any of your other videos. Stay honest, stay true.

Great that you're jumping back in. I just started and the advice about the analytics page really resonated with me. I have one video that's done 5-7x better than my others and it can get you down a little when you put newer videos out that don't do as well, but then I remember why I'm making these videos in the first place - for me and for anyone who wants to come along on a journey with me. I ultimately just want to show people who may not be able to go and see cool stuff themselves, cool stuff.

Good job getting back to your goals and interests. Keep-a-going!

Awesome video, Ryan. I have never seen your channel but you popped up on my home page and I was intrigued by your title. A very genuine and clear message with great points. It's easy to let instant gratification and metrics cloud the real reason most of us are here, and this is a great reminder to stay focused and never lose sight of that. Nice work. I have no doubt your channel will do very well. Thanks!

Yep - my channel is to share something that I love - b-sides and rare songs. For me the numbers are great, but ultimately, it's about sharing one of my passions, and finding people who like the same thing! Thanks for the reminder!

Keep going brotha! I feel you and what you are trying to portray through your words and your videos. I am on the same journey and I wish us both much success in helping others.

Hi! Your channel just came into my feed with this video. New subscriber! I support you in particular for your honest self-assessment and your alignment with always going back to your WHY. I am in the development stage of a new business and know at some point I will need to venture into having a RU-vid channel. Every time, so far, when I get caught up in numbers and particularly being vulnerable to negative comments, I reaffirm my WHY and that brings me back on track. I hope I will always be able to do this as my business and eventual channel grows. Thank you for risking being vulnerable and sharing your experience with us. Rest assured it will resonate with the people who need to hear it most. Like me! 🙋‍♀️💖

Thank you for this video. The amount of transparency is refreshing and validating, as I am going through the same thing. Originally started as a guitar tutorial channel, making content that inspired aspiring guitarists... Then had a video (not a tutorial) hit 6 million views, and I steered directions... chasing likes and numbers... only for me to fall out of passion of that direction and realize that I had a very disorganized approach

Thank you for sharing your honest thoughts about your journey. Chasing the numbers isn't good but chasing what you really want to make is the way. I'm still finding my footing on where I want to take my journey but I know that I want to keep on making videoes that make me happy and inspire me and others

Growth with anything is never completely linear. Always ups and downs

I keep watching and not creating. Selling titles like this thinking this would be the video that convinced me I shouldn’t do it, that I should be completely niched down. All the things I keep telling myself I not make videos. Thank you for this! Just have to get started 🙌

Is subbed to you a while ago, because I watched one your video, I can't remember which, and I liked your clarity of speech and good intentions from the video and I subbed. I'm sad that your channel has sn't going popular, people interested in audio are not that numerous after all..But as long as the u like to produce videos, and have time for so, keep going

Baby creator here and your MSG resonated with me so deeply. A video I posted 2 months ago is suddenly getting traction and welcoming dozens of new subs. I'm excited but also so scared because that video was a one off video on being a motorcyclist whereas my channel was initially meant for sharing my DIY experiments to inspire others to create. I've been worried about this motorcycle audience not being spoken to when I create the videos I meant the channel to be. Your video reminded me how to focus on what's truest to me and my purpose. Thank you for sharing your gifts in such a humble and open way!!! Subbed

Loved this video Ryan, great tips! 👏🏻 glad you’ve decided to come back to YT!

Great message and reminder of our reasons "Why" we started something that was really important to us in the first place. Thank you for being living proof, that the only time something "dies" is if we literally just give up. Subscribed for audio wisdom, it has been the biggest struggle for me as a creator for the longest time! (10+ years)

Yeah It’s hard not to look at numbers, but I’m just creating to create now.

I'm a really small vtuber - the community is an awkward bunch where most are vying for attention and a very, very small percentage hold the majority of viewer's attention and views while the rest follow a fairly common checklist for streaming constantly, trying to be interesting, getting a new shiny live2d model they paid a lot for, being the next Gawr Gura (if you don't know, the biggest vtuber currently), but it's so easy to lose sight of goals and the creative process in general. A big focus on audio isn't even my thing - only thing I know is, my microphone quality is often crap with a lot of background noise, and I struggle with making my vocals sound distant within my recording environment. You seem like a really genuine person, and your audio expertise may be helpful to boot. Cheers

Great video! Really appreciate your honesty, Ryan.Believe me, you’re not alone in getting sucked in to analytics and then losing a sense of direction. It happens. Looking forward to your future videos.

"Get off the RU-vid Studio app." - PREACH! I've had the bad habit of adding it to my phone, removing it when I find myself checking it too much, and then adding it back. Deleting it again right now! I recently hit a pocket of slow growth / downturn. While I know that these ups & downs are part of natural growth (as growth is almost never a straight line up & to the right), it can still be disheartening if you let yourself dwell on it too much. But yes! It's time to focus on what to create next, not the vanity metrics.

I subbed just because I know what it’s like, you seem really cool and I’m really trying to just have fun 🤩 with my channel, don’t lose sight of just enjoying it ❤❤ YOU GOT THIS!!

I loved watching and listening to this. I found your channel when out Sunday school needed help running the sound board, and I haven’t touched one in over a decade. This was great and motivating. ❤

I found your channel by accident. I like your video content and since I am a newbie to youtube I am trying to learn more about editing and audio and all of that good stuff that creates great videos. You just earned a new subscriber. I will be watching. ❤😼❤😼❤

Greetings from Devonport, really nice to see other local YT channels. Excellent points raised here and noted. I am at the point i think where i killed my channel with 2 rushed new bad vids (i wanted to please my subs) my previous videos did well and i had to go away for a month, when returned i posted 2 rushed up vids and it showed… (sent them to unlisted land) new video got only 200 views so far and normally that’s where RU-vid stops suggesting the vids, in those first few days, and i can see the next going downhill too. So sad. But i do have a culprit though, i never look at analytics, just post whatever titles in my niche that i feel makes me happy. I can easily see your channel going back up though so i wish you a great return.

Saffa in OZ / NZ ? Great video btw. You probably are aware but I did some research on average subscribers for 1k views and its generally around 1 (there are exceptions and just my observation), so if you got 20 views and 1 sub thats is really incredible. It means people are finding your content valuable and you should keep posting!

Looks like you came back strong :) Good job!

Good to see this one popping off for you! The algo at work!!

Thanks for sharing your experience! I am also catching myself constantly checking the youtube studio app since I started my channel around 2 months ago. Great to have a reminder again what really counts :)

Thank you, rayen. I was making the same mistake getting caught off in analytics, forgetting my entertainment process. But thanks to your advice I will work on my creativity more ❤

I like his candor and genuineness. Keep going!

The number on thing I avoid on my channel is posting videos that I know might get more views but aren’t about the core values/idea of my channel or preferred niche. I’ve seen this with a lot of creators, some with even over a million subs are now trying to pivot because they doubled down on the content type of the video that went viral. I think the frustration gets to us mostly, posting and being consistent yet not seeing any growth gets to you. HOW THE ALGORITHM WORKS : think of the algorithm as a language model that promotes videos based on how much data it has on a specific channel, niche and what viewers typically watch. Just like any large language model, it needs a lot of training data to know what a certain channel is about before it can actually push it to its target audience and for most small channels , the algorithm doesn’t even know it’s target audience ( hence having more uploads gives you a higher chance of blowing up because the algorithm has a dataset [your videos] to work with). One thing you have to keep in mind is that there are millions of uploads every day on RU-vid so no matter how efficient the algorithm is, it is impossible for it to review every video and know which audience to show it to, hence if you notice, no matter how big a channel is, it doesn’t get a lot of views during the first few hours because the algorithm needs time to evaluate and pick up the video but this process is much quicker for already established channels because they already have an audience that the algorithm is familiar with. I have a 2nd channel that’s doing pretty well and it usually takes about 4 to 5 hours for a video to start gaining traction. Until then, only people subscribed to me channel see the video. For small creators, if you pay attention to your impressions, you’ll notice that they are usually less than the number of subs you have ( that’s mostly the case for me) and my theory is that RU-vid has a different system (algorithm) that automatically pushes videos to your subscribers before the algorithm comes into play when you upload and when the algorithm finally notices your video, it can use the data from how your viewers interacted with it to determine which audience it should push the video to. PS: that’s just my understanding of the yt algorithm from my research, it’s totally subjective so you don’t have to agree but I think there’s something we can all take from my take. I think patience is fundamental to becoming a successful content creator. You can’t control when your videos go viral but the only thing you can control is how good your videos are. Stop focusing on getting your big break and ask yourself if the legacy you’re building on your channel is one you’d be proud of if your channel started taking off.

Incredible video. And you're gifted as a kid on Christmas when it comes to storytelling. Subscribed.

I don’t know who you are but I’m a Pokémon TCG content creator and your video showed up on my feed and I watched the whole thing soo you must be doing something right. 💪

Hey 👋🏽 the algorithm sent this to me and I'm happy it did 😁 thank you for your perspective. Keep climbing 💪🏽

you sound really good on that sm57

I would kill to know how you get such perfect audio. (Edit duh you have a ton of videos on that! Watching now).

You might have killed the channel, but then brought it back to life beautifully. Well Done!!! I am a product designer and writer, and always dreamed of starting my RU-vid channel to fight this imposter syndrome I somehow developed over the years of being a young solo immigrant in the UK. I thought I can use my voice and start faceless at first, until I work up the courage to be on camera. The hardest challenge is to actually do exactly what you said, and not focus on numbers. You reminded me that "Content is King", and it seams that if your content is valuable, people will come to you eventually. RU-vid is just another Field of Dreams... If you build it, they will come!

Seems that this video will be the one that brings you back! Congratulations 🎉 I'm still waiting for my breakthrough, anytime now 🤞😅

Thank you for this video and good luck on your journey!

Love the authenticity bro ! Keep it up :)

I've been on RU-vid for almost 5 years with a different channel. I fell into the same trap you did about a year ago. I just started this new channel which is a shift in content from my old stuff. So I'm starting from scratch. I realized I just need to get back to being me, and not try to be the best retention editor/lighting/sound tech/ voice actor guy. Viewers don't respond to that. They respond to authenticity. Take care.

I love how genuine you are, just earned a sub from me, I’m glad to see you dedicated to refocusing.

Just for your closing sentence I hit the subscribe button. I can always learn something new. Thanx

I have gotten where i am mainly from doing a lot of what I enjoy, I definitely understand deviation from that can be a problem. I hope to keep doing what I enjoy, and I hope others can enjoy the results from that. I'm glad I saw your video it was very important and informative to see, thanks for making it.

Hi I just found your channel :) And I myself am interested in good sound as it is important in videos like mine where engine sounds are important. But sad that it turned out that way for you Keep on the nice work . I myself had a bad period during the pandemic when I couldn't go out and make new videos and it took many years before I got any engagement again on my videos again . But something I have always done is to make the videos I think are fun to make. not because someone else thinks I should do them. And make sure you have a reasonable schedule so you can build up a stockpile of videos and take time off when you need to without feeling like you have to make a new video every week Take care from Sweden

Kia Ora! I actually killed a previous channel by mixing types of content. I had (technically still do) a stop motion channel. And to fill in the gaps between videos (because stop motion takes time), I started making explainer videos about the lore I was exploiting (ninja turtles). It's not that those videos went viral, but they were outperforming the stop motion and therefore, the algorithm profiled my channel as an explainer channel (I guess). I took the explainers down and started a new channel that I monetized in less than 6 months. And it's still going! But it has its highs and lows, so you do need to understand your goals to keep yourself motivated. I have "high" and "low" seasons (high is June-September, although at the moment there is a lot of activity). I already warned my audience that I will produce less content during the off season. All my videos are evergreen as well (some are not, but I replace them), so Google search will eventually bring viewers to me, even if he videos underperform (and they do underperform, most of the time). In the end, my goal has nothing to do with views or subscribers (or money), so even if the channel only properly works well 3 months a year, I am still working towards that goal. Subscribers are a useless metric and can actually kill your channel (like it happened to you), because RU-vid will learn the wrong things depending on which video goes viral. Like someone said, channels can return from the dead, but if it may take years of backlog to actually keep them alive without dying (too much). One last thing to consider is that your channel being in New Zealand could also complicate things. I cannot prove this, but changing the channel to "United States" may have indicated the algorithm that people in the States could be interested in my content. NZ has way less users in comparison and I suspect that could be a factor when it comes to competition. Then again, I've been wrong before.

Your views have been up and down like crazy. From the looks of it i would say u rely on search bassed content. Which is cool but u dont build much of a connection , so views will go up and down, now lets watch the video to hear what u say

I am currently facing the same problem, my channel has two different niche and I am deciding what to do next ... But after watching your video, it gives me more motivation to upload, thanks ❤

Great video mate! This is something I’ve been thinking about recently. I have a music channel, and I love making all kinds of videos: vlogs, keyboard groove, skits, educational content. I won’t stop either, even the audience don’t like skits 😂 . RU-vid is for fun, but also for business purposes too because I am building a business. But mostly for fun. Also you are a kiwi, nice bro! Good luck on your new chapter of RU-vid:)

This is really great. RU-vid recommendations have been plasma fire lately.

Never seen your channel before, but good job. I recently started posting RU-vid shorts, twice a day and I got myself shadow banned in the first few days. I would edit a short style video and post it as a short AND post it as a longform video. The shorts did well, but the long form did not and that tanked my channel. A week or two after I was shadow banned, I thankfully realized why and privated all the longform videos and now my channel is doing well, regularly getting half of the shorts 1K-15K views. This is not what I was expecting, especially because I've never made this sort of content before. Because my shorts have been performing well, I decided to make a brand new channel where I'd post the exact same content and see if it blows up the same or what would happen to it, so far each video gets about 10 views. 😂 I'm curious to see if that will change, and how long it will take to get there. TLDR: Don't edit a shorts style video and post it as a shorts AND a long form If you are a new shorts channel, RU-vid will not recommend your videos until you are validated. (After about 2 months, or you can send them a video of your face or you can send them your passport/id.) RU-vid wants to make sure you aren't spam. (I did not validate myself with my new shorts channel. This one is though.)

Thank you for this video. Helps remind me why I have an art channel. To begin with. To bring some joy to others through what I do.. I pray you keep growing .. ❤

Such inspiring advice! Thank you 🙏🏻 There are way too many channels that will post anything for attention, but lack true informative and genuine content. You nailed it 😊💜

Ryan! Thanks for making this video. 1/ I’m newish to this and have been guilty of making videos I know will do well but don’t resonate with me or what I want the channel to be about - a nice reminder, thanks. 2/ I SUCK at sound. I recently made a video about making yourself into a Lego minifig using AI and had it cranked to 12db in FCP (the max) and it was still quiet. I use a DJI Mic 2. I need to look into this and get my head around the whole sound side of things as it baffles me so you have a new subscriber my friend! I’m just across the pond in Adelaide, Australia. If you’re ever here, drop by and say hi! You’re further ahead in the game than I am but I have a small slack group of seven people building channels. We’re either just under or just over the 1,000 sub mark. If ever you’re looking for something like that, please gett in touch 👌🏼 Rich

Thank you Ryan. I feel much better now!

Hi Ryan, thank you for getting me a bit more grounded again ! Wish you the best 😊

Hey Ryan👋 Thanks for the vid! I feel a lot of what you're saying. My channel is just blowing up and the studio app can be a vampire haha. I really like your vibe and I subscribed since I'm trying to be a better creator myself! Since I'm at the beginning too, could you do a video on the best beginner wireless mic's? Trying to up my game but I don't know much about it. Goodluck on the channel!

MY DUDE!!!!!!!! Welcome back. I am so happy to see you get back to it.

Great observations about your experiences. Very helpful tips. Thanks for making this video and sharing. Best wishes for your channel. I'm sure you will be very successful!

I have an audio engineering background as well. Never thought about posting content about it though. I’m still waiting to become monetized. Great content

You just got a subscriber,not cos I'm a filmmaker or anything,but cos of your honesty and your story telling ❤

This is an amazingly authentic story. Thank you for sharing 🙏❤

very helpful tips, thank you! i am sort of in the same place you were, where i tried different topics i am interested in to see what clicks and now i am unsure what route to go down. i like the idea of looking at the bigger picture of things and having a goal of what to achieve outside of monetization :)

Thank you for valuable info 👍 I came here, because I was looking for tips how to grow my channel and you reminded me why I started it in the first place 🙈 BTW I need to improve my sound so I'm pretty interested in your videos 😅 subscribed 👍

Also subbed for your channel not this video! I’m a filmmaker who is still trying to learn as much as I can about sound design. Want to clarify that your channel is very helpful.

So Question to all and anyone, Would you rather make 2 separate channels to branch out your 2 interests or keep it together on one?

Thanks Ryan. I got off track and needed to be reminded of this.

This video just popped up on my FYP. Maybe U-tube trying to tell me something, haha

Keep going man! Just found you and liking the channel! I did the same thing lol but getting back at it let’s get this!

I always get so excited when I find other Aussie small you tubers !

It might be working well. Cause I ended up here and subscribed! :) Keep going!

I have learnt something as a small RU-vidr whose channel doesn't seem to grow😢

Bro ... one of your best videos yet. Love the authenticity and you sharing the reality of the Tube my bro. PUMPED for your next one. Keep it up Ryan!

I know what this feels like. But with me, my other channel Swahili SpicE now has 20k subscribers off the back of a handful of videos in a niche that I didn't really set out to call mine. So I stopped posting and maybe just post 5 pieces of content a year but still get about 200-300 views every 48hr period. I think a reminder not to ride a wave you don't want to ride because almost all my subscribers came for a niche that I don't enjoy posting about. It's painful to be starting all over again on this new channel.

Never ever giving up us the key!

Sorry to hear about your channel 😢

I regularly delete and reinstall the studio app. It’s a vice overall but this process keeps me off it more than I would normally be on it.

So useful thanks for share it with us 😍👌👌👌🙏🙏🌸🌸

Thanks for this video,I started a channel 2months ago with the intention of improving my business while a vlog to show myself the improvements over the next year and if anyone could take anything for my content that would be amazing,yesterday I recorded my newest vid saying ironically chasing views and subscribers was taking up so much of my time it was stopping me doing the thing I set out to do. This vid has help me know I have made the right decision go back to basics and make the correct content I set out to do and now chase the subs. Thanks again

Wow! What a lovely video with an unexpectedly profound lesson! Moral of the story: NEVER FORGET YOUR WHY Thank you for the kind reminder ❤

Thank you for the message bro, hopefully we all can become a successful channel

Common sense, down to earth advice! Told by a genuine bloke. One more sub from another Aussie. 👍 Thanks for sharing Ryan.