Instead of thinking of titles like "most terrifying horror of this decade" as click bait, think of it as speaking on what you're passionate about. Why would we want to hear about "some mediocre books to pass the time" when we could be hearing about what was the most gripping, most thoughtful, most poignant, most unsettling...? The topic of the video should be something worth writing home about and it helps to tell us what we're getting upfront. Something else I would offer for new creators' consideration: what will your videos feel like to the end viewer? Are you a friend dropping by to chat about some good reads? An educator offering encouragement or guidance on their literary journey? Are you an entertainer putting on a good roast? What Olly said about coming for the books and staying for the creators is spot-on. I might find a first video by searching for "most epic sci-fi books" but I subscribe to a channel because the content conveys a personality, a style, or tone that I'd like to spend time with again.
You dont fill your videos with 5 jumpcuts a sentence and provide interesting and consistently entertaining content that is on point for your channels theme. 👍 from me until the day that changes.
Thank you. I've always preferred a more natural style of video. I only really edit out the bits where I completely dry up and just stare at the camera blankly for 5 minutes
I've heard exactly what you're saying here and will start work on my new channel CriminJerry, where I will talk about Crime, Horror, Pulp, and that Sort of Thing while using a British accent... just kidding. :)
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your tips and thoughts. I've been on booktube for a year now, yes I have a bland channel name,😂 but I started with no idea what I was doing and still don't lol!! Now, though, I'm thinking of goals and where I want to go. I'm also proud that I even started this. I feel much more comfortable now in front of the camera and that is a huge accomplishment.
Engaging and communicating with an audience is one of my biggest reasons for subscribing to RU-vid channels. You have GREAT engagement! I was sold right away. It really makes your channel feel like a community you care about and keeps me coming back.
@@CriminOllyBlog I just thought of a disturbing book I read that I became obsessed with when I read more true crime. It was called "Serpentine by Thomas Thompson. Have you read it?
First I want to say what an amazing video you've made. You provided incredible information that I took notes which is fantastic. For someone who wants to get started on being a booktuber, I want to say thank you for your video and I'll continue watching your videos.
Thank you so much for this Olly - great tips for everyone. And congratulations on the 20k subs! Wow I didn't notice that number going up so fast. I'm personally finding it hard to get viewers and subscribers and I don't know if it's because I'm so boring or if it's because I don't upload often enough? 🤷 who knows 🖤
Cheers mate! I started a couple of months ago and my main issue (having 2 full time jobs) is consistency. You’ve given some really great tips here. Love the channel.
This popped up in my feed today. Very interesting, and you've done really well with your channel, congratulations. I've been going for just over a year and am knocking on the door of 3k. Your remarks about community and engagement really resonates and I'm doing a few things along those lines. I currently do 4 a week including (like you) a weekly wrap, and am finding that just about manageable. Just. I love comments, and for a while now I've highlighted a comment of the week in my weekly wrap, and i reply to every one. It's great to see a 🇬🇧 book channel doing really well. 👍👍👍
I want to start off with this is one of my favourite booktube channels and thank you for all of your content. It's not only because of your content I like this channel but because of you. Unfortunately being a booktuber or even a content creator is not for everyone. I could listen to Stephen Fry and David Attenborough all day long regardless of what they are talking about. They just seem to have this gift of telling stories or narrating which I don't think can be taught. I also think it helps if your are well read in what ever you are talking about. Another point is that it does take time for most people. I know this is an exception but look at Marques Brownlee (tech channel), on his 100th video he mentions he only has 75 subscribers...now he has millions and probably the most watched tech channel on youtube. I know booktubers won't reach those numbers but my point is, it's a marathon and not a sprint. Anyway, sorry for such a long comment but once again thank you for everything!!
Thanks Dale - really glad you're enjoying the channel. I definitely agree it's a marathon and the more time I spend on BookTube the more I want to continue making my channel better. Marques is one of the few channels I watched with some degree of regularity before starting my own channel - love his work.
This was a surprisingly helpful video. I've watched a few videos now about how to do booktube, and most center around editing, monetizing, scheduling, and other nuts and bolts stuff that doesn't capture why some channels and videos work better than others, even when they don't edit much or post on a schedule. I am really not aiming at having a huge following, but I am still working on improving my videos just so I can see that I am learning and getting better at being a booktuber. Oh, and I do like the crime/mystery/thriller genre range of books so I am sure I'll be watching more of your videos on books going forward. :)
Great video and very informative! I’ve been around for a while but I’ve always had 2 jobs, so uploading isn’t very consistent. Now I have 3 jobs, so uploads happen when they happen and I do it for fun 😂❤
@@CriminOllyBlog I'm often tired by 5pm but then I head to my second job, so there's no room for an early bedtime. Though I have learned what I want to do/not do on my channel because time is precious, so I think that's a big plus!
Very informative. I always tend to regularly watch people I feel I would be friends with in the real world. You know, people that I'm pretty sure that we could put together a decent pub quiz team and have a laugh. Natural is definitely better, I find it so off-putting when content is over-edited. Your 20k is very well deserved ☺
Thanks Nadine! I definitely think that in this informal style of content the relationship between the creator and the audience is the most important thing. I suspect we BookTubers might be a bit limited as a pub quiz team though...
This was a GREAT video, Olly! Lots of good, practical advice. I’m extremely impressed with the phenomenal success you’ve had, and it’s great of you to share all the tips. One thing that I think a lot of people don’t talk about is publishing frequently. It’s an overgeneralization, and it is only one factor, but it is true that, typically, frequency of posting does correlate to increased viewership. Those that are incredibly efficient at producing videos definitely see more success.
Cheers Dave! You are 100% right about publishing frequently, it really does make a difference. I think publishing regularly is just as important though - everyone is going to have a different level of output they can maintain and the key thing is to not burn yourself out. SO better to publish 1 video a week forever than 5 videos a week for a month and then nothing for a while
Bit of a weird thing for me to pick up on in this type of video, but technically the metadata for every video includes the auto generated subtitles so in a way youtube does "watch" your videos and knows considerably more than just what is in your title, but your point about making titles that draw people in is very important. You have to win the click and the only way you can do that is through your titles and thumbnails, though now the first 8 seconds is also really important since they have that feature where a video starts playing when you hover over it. Anyway, great video! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Thank you for this video! After watching this i´m realizing that i am on track to make my channel bigger. But you also gave some new tips that i´m gonna try out. This was a helpful video for me who wants to grow on my channel. I love being creative and talk about books that i read or reading/want to read. I´love books and i always have
I think I came across your channel via one of your top 10s and I'm glad I did! In my opinion, one thing that I enjoy most about your videos and reviews is that you're honest. You're not afraid to say if you didn't particularly like a book, but you can always justify the reasoning behind your opinion. You're also open to trying other books from that author, instead of just cutting them out completely. I know you touched on this at the start, but I also really like that you don't just review new releases. I've discovered so many different books that I don't think I'd have come across on my own. You also "celebrate" up and coming authors or self published works which is also really nice.
Thank you so much for sharing these tips. I've just started a week ago and noticed it's quite hard to get any views, but at least now I've got some ideas on what to change and improve 😊. I'll consider rebranding as a starting point
Thank you so much for this video! These were great tips! I like the suggestion of having a focus on the main genre I'm reading and communicating that. Also, the balance of having consistency in the kind of content you have (i.e. stand alone reviews, tag videos, etc.) and books that have engaging titles with content that matches. I took plenty of notes and hope to implement them when I start my channel!
I watched a few of your early videos, when you had around 200 subs I think, and now I've started my own channel and am looking for advice I have to say this is the best video I've seen with booktube advice.
Thanks for taking the time to think about these tips and put them together in a video. I've been working on some changes to my channel and this has been so helpful and motivating!
I just wanted to pop into your comments (since you gave such great advice about them) and thank you very, very much for making this video. I'm starting a RU-vid project myself (not about books specifically, but atomic horror in media in general because I'm a movie fan and a lazy reader) and I found your points to be very helpful. I am pretty sure that I found your channel through The House of Leaves video and I was instantly hooked. As I mentioned, I'm a lazy reader but lover of stories, so watching your videos gives me a useful summary and a vibe check, and I may seek out a book (or the audio or movie version) if it really grabs me. And yes, I'm thrilled when creators acknowledge my comments and interact with me. I never ever expect it, but it's a really nice surprise when it happens. :)
I started just weeks after you and I am astounded at your growth, 10x what I have done. This was really interesting and thank you for your candid answers!
I’ve been going back and forth on starting a booktube channel for years! And I always get hung up on the name. These tips were great and I appreciate you taking the time to share this content.
Really enjoyed this video as these kinds of chats always help me think about what I’m doing and could do in the future on my channel. Totally agreed with your suggestions and I particularly value viewer engagement and comments, one of my favourite elements of Booktube. Thanks Olly.
Love this! Your transparency about your methods and the reasoning behind your choices has always been one of my favorite parts of your channel. Delivering on promises is not my strong suit, and I don’t do a lot of lists, so I’m going to take some of this advice as a challenge for this year!
Thanks Eve! I really enjoy your videos and think you deserve way more subs than you have. You blend humour and genuinely interesting insight brilliantly. Don't look at the lemon!
Just found this Olly. Great video! I got a lot out of this. Thank you for sharing your insights and experiences on this topic. Great tips that I do plan on using. Thank you again!
Some great tips! Currently I'm of the bland name variety but still figuring 'who' I am since I haven't really started yet. I definitely know of Mother Horror though. Thanks for sharing your experience.
You also have a cool accent, never underestimate that power! My phone has better sound and picture quality than anything else I tried. I had a cheap digital video camera with a mic when I started but it was another ghost casualty. You can see the difference in my earlier videos. I especially agree about the channel name. When I started I just used my real name (Selene, nice to meet everyone) but I wanted something I could use for "branding," so to speak. And, of course, Ella Gorey is a play on both "allegory" and one of my favourite writer/artists, Edward Gorey. If I ever make merch it will have that horror-cute aesthetic. FB picks the thumbnails and I don't change them because FB has a way of grabbing the dumbest faces and I find them hilarious, if not exactly flattering most of the time.
I've been wanting to change my channel name for... about a year now 😅 and I am definitely terrified of doing so!!! Thank you for making this video and giving us small channels a push 🤗
Thanks so much for this video Olly. I've been thinking about starting a channel for a while now, but had so many questions about what exactly to do with it, and how to make it work, and your video has been really useful in giving a practical and honest guide to how to go about it. I'm really grateful for the time and effort you've put in to helping out. Wishing you continued success with your own channel.
This was a great video. I much appreciated the information you shared. All of which were practical and realistic ways to start/improve a booktube channel. My channel is only 5 months or so old, and this gave me some good food for thought. I am going to look at things again and see what I can do to make things better. TY for this Olly. :)
Interesting video, but I was really hoping you'd tell me what "playlists" are all about. I always get to that section of the posting process and just throw my hands up in despair. (I realize I could learn what YT is asking for were I really motivated.) Weirdly, your video made me think maybe I shouldn't have started a channel, because I have zero interest in YT's analytics or growing my channel or establishing a brand -- I just thought it would be a fun place to think my thoughts out loud and have some back and forth with the few people who might somehow find me. Steve Donoghue chastised me the other day for not marketing my writing and I think this is a similar deal. The process itself -- writing the novel, creating the video -- is really what I'm after, and then the interaction with the audience is just gravy. Hm, perhaps you've given me a new video idea! 🙃
Thanks Troy. Playlists are really just a way of grouping your content into similar themes - they're a good way to keep people watching your content once they've watched one of your videos.
Enjoyed hearing your experience and congrats on your channel growth. The truth is though, you just don't know or can predict what will happen with, views and subscribers. I'm of the mind set to make the content you would want to watch, and that enthusiasm, and passion will show. Whether people subscribe is, ultimately their choice, but if you add value, the chances probably do increase more people will watch. It's tough because there are so many channels, and a lot of people get burnt out and stop making videos because they get discouraged with the numbers...I've seen this sentiment from people who even have 10 thousand plus subs. If you focus too much on the numbers, you'll never truly be satisfied. Just my 2 cents.
Yeah I do agree - I think it's important to focus more on the quality of the interactions than the numbers. And I also agree that you can't guarantee what will happen, especially as what the algorithm does is determined by everything else that is happening at a given time and not just your video. But I do think you can set yourself up to be more likely to get more views and engagement
@@CriminOllyBlog True...everyone has their own perspective and opinion. I don't think everyone realizes this, but booktube has been around for over 10 years. A lot of recycled content. It's hard to stand out and create original content, but some people are just fine with making the staples. The hauls, wrap-ups, and tbrs, if that works for them. Great. It's really should just be a fun hobby.
Yeah I do actually think that some of the things I thought would go against me (being an old English guy who talks about books no one has heard of) actually ended up being an asset
I've watched this video a couple of times now, and I'm taking notes, LOL! Thank you for sharing it. I love doing booktube, and this video has given me some inspiration to try some things on my channel.
Thank you for this video!!! I've been dealing with books for the past 44 years and have my own bookstore (The Bookcase) and I have given thought to starting a channel. I might give it try here soon. Great advice!!! 😊
I’m always impressed by how you and the others are so natural in front of the camera. I think I’d be terrified… How do you get a little box with a book cover to appear on your vids? I see you and others do it. I usually make music vids but haven’t done any since my tech is out of date.. I have a nine year old iMac… poor thing.. may do a book review one day. Always try to keep up with your vids though.
Agree re channel names, would add further distinction between a channel name based on your own name, like yours, or one, like mine, that isn't (I have a very common name). I also wanted to avoid using my own name because I slightly disagree with your "be yourself" advice. Some of us do have professional roles that make a persona that reflects that a better fit for our booktubing. This does not mean one does not still speak from the heart, polish and passion are not mutually exclusive. Thanks for your thoughts.
@@CriminOllyBlog Glad you didn't notice a problem with my audio, I don't have a mike that connects to my tablet but I still think I need clearer audio.
The algorithm favours longer videos too ie. over 20 minutes. Many youtubers talk (complain) about this ie. the algorithm forces them to make longer videos. (Longer videos mean more opportunities for ads). I use an adblocker so it makes no difference to me but I prefer shorter videos. From an 80/20 rule (Pareto principle) perspective, booktube is predominantly Stephen King, horror, YA fantasy, and fiction. I find a lot of booktube to be quite boring actually (dare I say it 🤭🤭). If someone wants to be unique, just talk sport and/or non-fiction. You'll get zero views but at least you'll be unique. Also you forgot to mention it's probably an advantage to have a North American accent. 😉
I have an idea for a channel but it seems beyond my grasp. Perhaps there is a way to start small or float a trial balloon? In any event I appreciate your insight and congratulations on your success.
I am going to ask for comments but I am starting a Florida History Channel so the likes and comments would help me determine if they want to hear more about that particular topic.
There's no problems with clickbaity titles if you deliver on the promise. Superlatives catch people's attention "most disturbing", "best", "worst", "most frightening" etc...
Hi Olly, some fine points and suggestions this episode. I've been considering starting a booktube channel for awhile now, but I'm not sure I could make it work. I watch you and other booktubers and you all are great talkers. You are eloquent and informed and can fill up a half hour episode easily and comfortably. My problem is that I've never been much of a talker. There are books and genres that I would love to share and talk about, but I would stumble with my words and struggle to provide engaging conversation. It always amazed me how youtubers such as yourself can provide that and talk through a whole episode with apparent ease and make it look seemless. Anyway, good episode. Thanks for posting!
@@CriminOllyBlog Jokes aside do Tags not work? I always put books in my tags but not my video description and I was just assuming they would show up if you search the title of the book. (not Tag videos the tags in the description section when you post the video) I genuinely can't bring myself to be clickbaity...my brain just says 'NO'. Thumbnails....yeah I need to actually do them. Although when I did thumbnails they consistently got less views so I think I was just very bad at making thumbnails lol. Oh I have 100% fail to uphold promises lol....I started an audiobook for GarbAugust and I think I did a bad job so I only did the first chapter LOL. I think I owned up to that though haha. I never ever look at my subscriber counts other people end up telling me when I reach a goal haha. Still this was a very valuable and delightful video.
@@ITCamefromthePage I think tags do work, but it kind of makes more sense to me to put them in the description as people can see them there if they can't make out what you've said in the video
If I had a book spud channel I'd just say everything's crap. Everything should be as well-written as Saki but can't so why bother. Reading a book is like crawling in a hole.
Thanks for sharing these tips. I’ve toyed around with the idea of starting a channel and this was really informative and not in a AI sort of way😂 Congrats on all your success I enjoy your videos very much. Much continued success!!
