Ah, YouTube—the land of endless possibilities and… crushing disappointment when your first videos get 3 views. Sound familiar? You’ve just spent hours filming, editing, and uploading your latest masterpiece, only to find out your most loyal viewers are your mom and your best mate (if you even convinced them to click). If you’re nodding along, I get it. You’re not alone.
When I first started, I felt the same way. I wondered, Why is no one watching? I thought about quitting more than once. But here’s the good news: there’s a way to get past this, and I’m here to help.
Why Listen to Me?
Am I a YouTube guru with 10 million subscribers? Nope. I’m just a regular dad of three with a full-time business who started making content seven years ago. Over those years, I’ve watched countless hours of YouTube advice, sifted through forums, and figured out what actually works. Spoiler: a lot of the advice out there is, frankly, garbage. But I’m here to give you the no-BS version of what’s worked for me.
YouTube Frustration Is Totally Normal
Let’s be real: low views feel like rejection. You’ve put your heart into your video, and it hurts when no one watches. But remember, time is a huge factor. Most of those big YouTube channels you envy have been around for 6, 7, or even 10 years. Even Mr. Beast—the YouTube king—posted videos for five years before he had his first viral hit.
A stat that always sticks with me? Only 8.86% of YouTube’s 103 million channels ever make it past 1,000 subscribers. So if you’re struggling, it doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. It means you’re right where you’re supposed to be.
So, Why Aren’t Your First Videos Getting Views?
The YouTube algorithm doesn’t exactly roll out the red carpet for new creators. Your first handful of videos probably won’t get many impressions (the number of times your video shows up on people’s screens) until YouTube figures out who to show your content to. It’s frustrating, but it’s part of the process.
The Key to Getting More Views: Make Searchable Content
Here’s the trick: make videos that are easy to find in YouTube search. YouTube is the world’s second-largest search engine (owned by Google, the first), so use that to your advantage.
Let’s say you have a gardening channel. Instead of titling your video “Planting Tomatoes,” try something more specific, like “How and When to Plant Heirloom Tomatoes.” Fill your description with relevant keywords to give the YouTube algorithm something to work with. If you’re not sure what SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is, let me know in the comments, and I’ll make a separate video on it!
Once you’ve got a few searchable videos under your belt, you can branch out and make the content you really want. But trust me—starting with search-friendly content will help your channel grow faster.
Keep Viewers Hooked
Getting people to click on your video is half the battle. Keeping them watching? That’s the other half. Make sure your first 30 seconds are engaging enough to hook viewers. After that, focus on making your entire video interesting so they stick around until the end.
Consistency Matters (But Only If You Improve)
Yes, you’ve heard it a million times—consistency is key. But here’s the catch: there’s no point in consistently making bad videos. Every video is a chance to improve, whether it’s your audio, lighting, script, or thumbnail.
Want to hear a funny (in hindsight) story? My first 50 videos had terrible audio because my wireless mic was recording in one sound channel instead of stereo. It sounded fine on my TV, but viewers with AirPods were only getting sound in one ear. I didn’t realize until someone left a comment pointing it out. Lesson learned!
Avoid Burnout
Post as often as you’re comfortable with, but don’t overdo it. Burnout is real—I took an entire year off social media because of it. Every channel grows at its own pace, so don’t compare yourself to others. YouTube is a marathon, not a sprint.
Success Takes Time
Most channels take years to hit 1,000 subscribers. Yes, there are exceptions with viral hits, but for most of us, slow and steady wins the race. The key is to stay patient, keep improving, and take it one video at a time.
Join Our Community
If you’re feeling stuck, frustrated, or just want to vent about your YouTube journey, you’re welcome here. Join our small but growing community, where we share tips and stories to help each other out.
And if you want even more tips, watch my full YouTube video
(because it’s way more fun with my commentary!).
Never give up.
—Ben, The Rusty Results Academy
I totally get the frustration of getting zero views on YouTube. One thing that really helped me improve my content was using https://www.movavi.com/audio-converter/aac-converter.html for editing. It’s super user-friendly and gives a professional touch to your videos, making them stand out more. It helped me refine my thumbnails, intros, and overall video quality, which I think is key in getting noticed!