I'm O-V-E-R hearing the same, regurgitated tips on how to grow a YouTube channel, how to get 10,000 subscribers, how to make your channel more popular…etc. Anyone else?

There are THOUSANDS of videos like that out there, and I've even fallen guilty to posting these generic pieces of content as well.

The thing is, there are so many YouTube content creators online talking about millions of different things. If you think you've got a completely unique idea, I hate to burst your bubble, but you probably don't.

That's because YouTube has a lot of content. Like A LOT. And that's okay. You may not be the next viral sensation, but your channel still has a place.

People won't subscribe to your channel because you have something new to say. They're going to subscribe because they've made a connection with you.

The secret to growing your channel and building your subscriber base? Make connections! Perfection is an old-fashioned way to approach social media. Start showing people you have something they (your target audience, not someone else's) want to hear, and start showing up as yourself and with a game plan in hand.

Here's how you can create a subscribable channel and turn YouTube into your biggest moneymaker.

Stop Focusing on Keyword Research

This one will ruffle some feathers, but it needs to be said.

When you start doing keyword research, you're going to find that virtually any topic you can think of has already been done and is super competitive. There are thousands of videos out there telling you how to create a YouTube channel. You can go to practically anyone for that, not just a YouTube strategist.

Instead, take a look at your neighbor niches — when you niche down, you know there is a proven market, meaning there are people out there who want to hear the things you talk about. Research similar channels to yours for topic ideas and add your secret sauce.

I'm not talking about copying them. Never rip off someone else's work. But you can draw inspo from them.

Head over to a channel you know your audience watches, and check out their most successful videos (more views than subscribers). This will give you insight into what your target audience enjoys watching. Then, head over to the comment section. See what people are talking about and what questions they have and start to think about how you can answer them.

If you already have a YouTube channel set up, do this for yours too.

Why Your Homepage Matters

Your homepage, along with suggested traffic, is one of the most valuable assets you can tap into on YouTube.

Head over to your YouTube Analytics page and see where you're getting the most viewers from. Not everyone will be the same, but you can see that even though more people find my videos through the browse feature, they watch longer when it's a suggested video.

This matters because when they watch longer, they're more likely to watch until the end and hear your CTA or binge your other videos. YouTube loves when people spend more time on their platform, so the more they watch your videos, the more YouTube will push your content to them and accounts like them.

While you're there, go ahead and make a note of which videos have a higher browser click-through rate (CTR) and which videos have a higher suggested CTR. You can utilize this data to really amplify your traffic from either source.

Be Honest — Is Your Channel Subscribable?

Remember, YouTube is still a social media platform, so the more opportunities your viewers have to connect with you, the better. Sure, your videos can be full of great content, but if there isn't anything there to make them want to subscribe, you're not going to see the leads you were hoping for.

This is a mistake I made for a while on my channel, and even though I had a lot of useful things to say, people were just watching my videos and peacing out. You CANNOT turn YouTube into a moneymaker if people don't feel like they have a reason to subscribe. You don't have to consider yourself an influencer, but you are a personal brand, and people need to find some reason to connect.

Think about the people you subscribe to. What makes them different from the 500 hundred other like channels out there? Then, think about what makes your channel different. Why subscribe to Trena Little and not some other YouTube strategists?

How to Create Subscribable Content

One of the easiest things you can do to make your channel more subscribable is to share BTS footage or tell stories. Give them a look into your morning routine, no makeup and all. Don't be too perfect or scripted in your videos. People can't relate to perfection. In some ways, you can treat your channel as a vlog (just don't go overboard unless that's the direction you want to go).

You can also share episodic content. People like to act, and leaving them wanting more is a great way to do that. People are also forgetful, so talking about similar topics close together won't hurt either. That's why I LOVE the firework approach.

The firework approach means you have one core video that serves as the basis for all your other spark videos. Core videos are kind of like a webinar. You share longer bits of information and go into more detail, whereas spark videos take bits and pieces of that content. The general idea is to expand off that core video. I would recommend doing this every month.

Pro Tip: you can check the new vs. returning viewers on your YouTube analytics to see which videos are subscribable. You'll get a feel of what your future content will need to look like to grow your subscriber base.

Diversify Your Content

No one wants to see the same video over and over. If you don't diversify what you're talking about, your audience will get bored. Don't get trapped in a bubble. You may have a lot to say about why you think the beach is the best place for a vacation, but like, we get it. Talk about something else.

This doesn't mean you're leaving your niche, it just means you aren't talking about the same topics in your niche too much. You'd be surprised how long the topic list runs for your industry.

Think about what your audience wants to see. What kind of problems do they face in their day today? What are they doing outside of working hours?

Example: I'm a business owner, YouTube strategist, and a mom. I talk about all three of those things, yet, they relate to each other.

Need help deciding what your channel can cover? Use this Venn diagram to help sort it all out.

You can also experiment with topics and check if they're performing well by heading over to your analytics page. Note where people are dropping off in your video and brainstorm ways to make your videos more engaging.

Is it during the hook? Could B ROLL or soft background music help? Did you actually deliver on the promise you made in your thumbnail?

If people aren't watching it, YouTube isn't suggesting it.

Use the Community Tab

One way you can directly connect and hear from your audience is through the community tab. YouTube's social nature makes this one of their best tools to date.

You can post polls and directly ask your audience what they want to see. You can post a selfie and share what you're up to on a random Thursday afternoon. You can share a story and connect.

And the best part? You can schedule your posts so you can set it and forget it, clearing up more time in your workday. If you want to push engagement even further, just respond to comments the day they post. It's easy breezy.

How to Get Strategic About Your Content

We've touched base on the firework approach, episodic content, content analysis on YouTube, but does your content have an overall plan, or are you just taking a shot in the dark with each video you publish?

Not having a purpose for EVERY video you make can be doing a lot of harm to how well your content is performing. Each video you publish to YouTube should fit into the overall plan you have for your business.

If you don't have a strategic content plan mapped out for at least four to six weeks at a time, check out how I created a strategic content calendar from scratch.

I bring you into my strategic content plan for social media, how I post YouTube videos, how I post my podcast episodes, and how it all ties together in my business plan.