Think about the successful channels in your niche—do their videos seem to get endless views while yours die off after just a few days?

It’s not just you. YouTube favors channels with credibility and a track record of quality content. For established creators, YouTube knows their videos will perform well when featured. For smaller channels? It’s more of a gamble.

But don’t lose hope! If you’re using YouTube as a business owner to generate leads, sales, or clients, there are actionable strategies you can implement to compete—even as a small channel.

Real Results: How My Clients Are Growing on YouTube

I’ve worked with clients launching new channels this year, and they’ve seen incredible results:

51K views and 960 subscribers
140K views and 5K subscribers
530K views and 11.4K subscribers

These channels now generate consistent leads, sales of digital products, and clients reaching out daily—all thanks to the strategies I teach.

Key Strategies to Grow a Small YouTube Channel

1. Focus on Viewer Engagement, Watch Time, and Session Time

Consistency is key: uploading a video once a week builds momentum and encourages engagement. Ask for likes and comments in a way that motivates viewers to act.
Learn from each video’s audience retention graph to improve watch time. The longer people watch, the better YouTube will treat your content.

2. Increase Session Time with Playlist Funnels

Session time is the most important metric. Create bingeable content to keep viewers on your channel. Use YouTube playlist funnels to guide viewers to the next video.

When one video takes off, it pushes your older videos to new viewers, creating a snowball effect. This is also why you shouldn’t focus too much on subscriber counts—YouTube prioritizes viewership and engagement over subs.

3. Understand Your Audience and Niche

Be crystal clear about who your content is for. You can’t appeal to everyone.

For example, while I focus on YouTube strategy, my target audience is online course creators and business owners. Look at your analytics to understand:

How current subscribers engage with your videos.
How new viewers find and interact with your channel.

Adjust your content to keep both groups interested.

4. Analyze and Improve Your Content

Posting videos isn’t enough—you need to continuously optimize for performance:

Click-Through Rate (CTR): If your CTR is below 4%, work on improving your titles and thumbnails.

Audience Retention: If viewers drop off within the first minute, refine your intros to grab their attention.

Analyze what’s working and what isn’t, then adjust your strategy for future videos.

Why Outside Perspective Can Accelerate Your Growth

Sometimes, it’s hard to objectively analyze your own content. That’s where a strategist can help.

I work with clients daily to:

• Optimize their titles and thumbnails to boost CTR.

• Restructure videos to improve audience retention.

• Pivot strategies to avoid repeating past mistakes.

If you’re ready to take your channel to the next level with expert guidance, visit trenalittle.com/coaching to learn more.

Proven Strategies to Help Small YouTube Channels Grow Fast