Since the start of 2024, YouTube has shifted dramatically. Beginner creators are experiencing overnight success, even with minimal editing.

It feels like the entry barrier hasn’t been this low since YouTube began in 2005.

But does this mean everyone can make it big?

Well… not quite.

I’ve been on YouTube for over a year now, experimenting with everything - editing, scripting, thumbnail design, and more. And while I’ve learned a lot, I’ve also realised this... flashy editing doesn’t guarantee success anymore.

Creators are blowing up with raw, authentic videos where the value comes from what they’re saying, not how polished it looks. One example is bodybuilding YouTuber, Sam Sulek.

But there’s a small catch... creating authentic, valuable content isn’t as easy as it seems.

You need strategy, consistency, and a clear understanding of why you’re doing this.

But here’s why this 'authenticity' shift is exciting:

• Anyone can start creating today: You don’t need expensive gear or years of editing experience
• Authenticity is winning: People want unique stories, real personalities, and content that provides real value
• The opportunity has never been bigger: Whether you’re educating, entertaining, or encouraging, YouTube has the potential to change your life

My Personal Experience with 'Authentic' Content

Now, I’ve personally seen this with my own channel.

After making my most 'simple' video yet "YouTube is now in ‘easy mode’ (anyone can BLOW UP)" - I saw it blow up over a week, and it's now sitting at 106,000+ views.

It's the highest and faster performing video on my channel.

8 Game-Changing Strategies Helping You Put YouTube on 'Easy Mode'

Since starting my channel in March 2023, YouTube has improved my confidence, opened business opportunities, and allowed me to connect with creators worldwide.

But to succeed on YouTube, you need a strategy - one that actually works for you, and helps your channel grow not just faster, but healthier.

So, I’m sharing 8 game-changing strategies that will make it easier to create videos that perform!

Brace yourself, this is probably the most in-depth YouTube-related newsletter you'll read this week.

But I promise you, it's packed with value.

So, grab a cuppa...

And let’s start with the most important one.

1. Start with Your WHY

If there’s one thing I’ve learned since starting on YouTube, it’s that your why - your deeper purpose for creating - matters more than anything else. It’s what keeps you going when the views are low, when growth feels slow, and you’re questioning if all the effort is worth it.

Your why is your foundation.

It’s what keeps you going through the highs and lows.

When I earned $3,000 through my web design business (thanks to a client finding me on YouTube), scaling that seemed like the logical next step. But I realised that it didn’t align with my mission.

After weeks, even months of internal debates, I realised my purpose was something bigger - more on that in the next section.

If your reason for creating doesn’t deeply connect with you, it’s easy to burn out. That’s why your why has to be bigger than money or views. Which brings me onto my next point…

2. Build for Impact, Not Money

Right now, I make about $30-50 a month from YouTube Adsense (depending on the time of year).

About $0.40 an hour when you break it down.

Compare that to my web design business, where I earned $50-$90 an hour...

Scaling my web design business seemed like the obvious move:

1. Make more videos about web design
2. Attract & land more clients
3. Let the income compound

I knew I'd make more money faster.

But in February 2024, I had to stop and ask myself... Is this what I really want?

The answer was no.

Scaling a web design business wasn’t my vision for the channel. It wasn’t aligned with my mission.

That’s when I refined my focus... to help educational YouTube creators find clarity & grow their channel faster (+ make more money) by finding their audience & making the best videos possible.

I’m here for impact. Money is just a bonus.

I just love the feeling of knowing I’ve helped improve someone’s life for the better, more than I love the feeling of seeing a payment come into my bank account.

But even after a couple of days on YouTube, I began to struggle with imposter syndrome.

I felt like I wasn't qualified enough to teach people about lessons related to my niche.

That's when I realised I needed to...

3. Be the Guide, Not the Guru

I love that people can learn about anything on YouTube.

But there’s one thing I’ve grown to dislike... advice being presented as an absolute must.

Sure, some things in life are non-negotiable. To drive a car, for example, you must have a car, fuel, and a way to control it. But many so-called "musts" on YouTube aren’t universal - they’re just opinions presented as rules.

So my advice…

• Offer what’s worked for you, but let your audience experiment with what suits them
• Have the perspective of “Here’s what I’ve tried, here’s why it worked for me, and here’s how you could make it work for you”

Your experience gets people trusting you, but only if you practice what you preach.

4. Focus on Quality, Not Just Quantity

1% is the most important percentage on YouTube.

If you commit to improving just 1% with every single video you make, by this time next year you’ll be much further ahead then you ever thought possible.

Improving by 1% could mean better:

• Lighting
• Storytelling
• Scripting
• Cinematography
• Editing
• Audio
• Retention
• CTR
• Response to comments (this list could go on!)

Small improvements might seem insignificant at first, but they build up a lot faster than you think.

The 1% mindset is a mindset that helps you focus on progress, instead of perfection.

So, before you upload your next video, ask yourself... "What’s the one thing I can do to make this 1% better than the last?"

Then watch as those 1% improvements change everything.

5. Think Bigger Than Yourself

Get clarity on what you actually want out of YouTube.

When I ask most people, their answer is ‘money’ or ‘financial freedom’ or ‘just for the fun’.

While all those answers are perfectly fine, the issue with having a vague answer means your content has no real direction.

A vague channel direction gives you (and your audience) little reason to keep coming back to your YouTube channel.

I've found that having a vision that’s bigger than myself helps me think bigger, become better, create with intention, and live with meaning.

I’m building toward something much bigger.

Like, really big that it scares the heebee jeebees out of me…

But also gets me really excited!

I have a vision of creating a global production facility for content creators - a space where creators (like you) can access all the education, equipment, and tools they need to make incredible videos.

But more importantly, it would be a space for creators to connect.

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced on this journey is that YouTube can feel isolating - but these facilities would help many creators avoid this issue by finding a supportive community.

6. Quality Starts Before You Hit Record

Okay, here’s something I firmly believe - 99% of a video’s success is determined before you even hit record.

Most creators make the mistake of thinking of a cool idea, filming it, and uploading it - only to watch the video’s performance plummet. The real success of a video happens in the planning stage, not the production stage.

Here’s what to do before you film:

1. Plan Your Packaging: What will your title and thumbnail look like? If they don’t spark curiosity, or trigger an emotion, viewers won’t click.
2. Refine Your Concept: Is your idea genuinely interesting? Would it make you stop scrolling? If not, it’s time to tweak it.
3. Create a Rough Structure: Map out your video flow to keep things engaging and focused & make bullet points in each section about things you want to cover.

The big question to ask yourself... "If no one clicks, what’s the point of making the video?"

Prioritising the packaging, concept, and structure before hitting record, makes the rest of the creation process becomes easier & you’ll notice your video performance improve too.

But these aren't the only areas to focus on before hitting record...

7. Focus Your Efforts On What Matters

At first, I had no idea where to focus my efforts on YouTube. It seemed like there were too many cogs to turn, and it made me anxious not knowing which cogs made the most impact.

After a while, I realised the two most important areas are:

• Psychology: Understanding why and how people watch videos (what makes them click, and how to keep them watching)
• Scripting: I wasn’t a natural writer, but now I write at least 3,000+ words a week. Why? Because I believe writing is the most fundamental skill for success in anything. It’s helped me communicate better, land clients, get subscribers, and write scripts that keep people watching. Writing is a skill you can build with practice - I promise you with time you’ll begin to love it (honestly, you won’t be able to wait until your fingers touch a keyboard again!)

8. Start Before You’re Ready

Starting on YouTube can feel overwhelming, especially for solo creators. If you’re creating on your own, every decision - big or small - rests on your shoulders (I promise you things get easier to understand with time).

But what many new, aspiring, and even established creators don’t realise is that they don’t have to know everything to grow on YouTube.

The most important step for growing a YouTube channel? Start.

If you haven’t started yet, hit record and upload a video today. Just make a 30-second video introducing yourself and your channel.

Then simplify your approach, rather than overcomplicating it:

• Focus on one platform (YouTube) at first. Once you get good at YouTube, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to expand onto other platforms
• Discover and use your unfair advantage. Whether it’s your storytelling, expertise, time, or personality, lean into what makes you create better content & stand out

Pogress is made through action, not perfection.

In summary:

• Start with your WHY
• Build for impact, not money
• Be the guide, not the guru
• Quality > Quantity (improve by just 1% with every video)
• Think bigger than yourself (you’re capable of more)
• Successful videos start before you hitting record
• Prioritize what matters (viewer psychology and scripting)
• Start before you’re ready

Quick Win of the Week

Before we go, here’s one Quick Win you can implement right now... before you film your next video, write a title that would make your audience want to click. What would make them curious? What makes them fearful?

Use these answers to write 10-20 titles that grab attention - and narrow down the titles to your favourite one. Remember, if people don’t click, the video doesn't matter because not many people will watch it!

Hope you found this week's newsletter valuable.

Keep creating,

Nat

P.S

If you're serious about growing on YouTube, but struggling to get clarity on the direction and strategy for your channel, I'm currently offer a free 20-minute YouTube Growth Call which you can book via my website :)