It’s no secret that YouTube is incredibly popular: viewers watch a combined 1 billion hours of video on the platform every single day. That’s the equivalent of each person on Earth watching an average of 8.4 minutes of YouTube content daily! With these kinds of viewership numbers, YouTube has become impossible for marketers to ignore. However, this popularity also means there’s a ton of competition for views. The platform hosts an almost endless amount of video content, making it hard to stand out.

We’ve all been there – losing hours of our lives to cute cat videos on YouTube (no judgment!). But how can marketers grab viewers’ attention away from these captivating felines and redirect those eyeballs toward their own content? This article will teach you to do just that. After all, if you’re going to spend the time and energy creating high-quality videos, you need to see a return on that investment! It’s time to supercharge your channel’s subscriber count with a few strategic moves. Here are 12 tips to rapidly increase your YouTube subscribers!

1: Clean Up Your YouTube Channel

Before we get to the really fun stuff, we need to do some spring cleaning. You might think everything your company does is amazing, but you’re not Beyoncé. Your audience might not be as impressed. This can be tough to hear, but it’s crucial to step outside your own perspective sometimes and consider how others see you.

Take a long, hard look at your YouTube channel. You’ll probably find outdated content, videos with poor production quality, and maybe even some that completely flopped and shouldn’t be public in the first place. Content like this reflects poorly on your brand, turning off potential leads and damaging trust. If you find anything like this, delete it – and don’t look back! This leads directly into my next tip…

2: Only Create and Post Highly Engaging Content

This tip might seem obvious, but there’s so much content on YouTube that it’s tempting to think you can get away with posting videos that are just “good enough.” Let me assure you – you can’t! The only way to stand out and grow your subscribers is by creating the absolute best content you can. The key here is putting in the work during pre-production. Here’s how to create content that’s a cut above the competition:

Do Your Research

Start by watching your competitors’ videos, as well as content from other industries. As you watch, take notes on the parts you find most engaging. The goal isn’t to copy your competition; it’s to find creative ways to improve on what they’re doing. For example, if I were in the gum business (or any business, really), I would definitely take inspiration from my all-time favorite YouTube commercial, The Story of Sarah and Juan. Watch it – I dare you to tell me you didn’t tear up at least a little.

This commercial’s brilliance lies in its ability to evoke powerful emotions. How can your business do the same?

Script Everything

You might think you can just wing it when you’re on camera, but trust me, you shouldn’t. It’s crucial to plan out your script carefully. Write a draft, do a table read with your team, rewrite, read again, and repeat until the script shines. This process helps you refine your message and tell your story in the most powerful way. Many businesses underestimate the importance of a good script, but mastering this element can take your videos to a whole new level. If you’re new to video scripting, this guide from Wistia can help!

Build a Basic In-House Studio

You might be wondering what equipment you need and whether you can afford it. The answer to the second question is a resounding yes! You might be surprised to learn that the camera is actually not the most crucial piece of equipment. These days, the camera on your iPhone is almost as good as many much more expensive options! If you’re shooting videos in-house, the most important things to have are a simple backdrop, studio lighting, and a tripod. Of course, you might need other things depending on the specific video – props, audio equipment, etc. – but having these basics covered and setting up a dedicated filming space in your office will significantly improve the quality of your videos.

Wistia has another fantastic DIY Studio Set-up Guide that can help you get started. You can also check out our guide to incorporating video into your company culture.

Make the First 10 Seconds Count

A shocking 20 percent of viewers click away from a video within the first 10 seconds. That’s why it’s absolutely crucial to make those initial moments really grab your audience’s attention. (PS: We have a whole post packed with even more YouTube stats if you’re interested.) Instead of starting with a boring intro, jump right into the most captivating part of your video. Start with a bang, and viewers will be hooked!

3: Create Amazing Channel Trailers

YouTube offers a fantastic tool to help you increase your subscribers: the channel trailer. Just as it sounds, this short trailer automatically plays when someone visits your channel’s page. Channel trailers give you a perfect opportunity to convert visitors into subscribers – if you create a really compelling one, that is. Your trailer should be short and sweet (30-60 seconds) and, most importantly, give people a reason to stick around. Does it need to be funny, visually stunning, and emotionally resonant? It certainly won’t hurt! Above all, make sure to include a strong call to action that tells viewers exactly why they should subscribe. SoulPancake provides an excellent example. Their trailer hits that sweet spot length-wise, includes motivational and comedic elements, and ends with a really creative call to action.

4: Keep Your Videos Under 5 Minutes

Do you create 30-60 minute videos because your digital engineering software is complex and requires in-depth explanations? Or maybe you work in law and feel lengthy video testimonials are the best way to establish trust. While testimonials are fantastic, long videos are not your friend on YouTube! No matter how complicated your product or service may be, you should never go over the 5-minute mark with your videos. Why? Science, my friend. Study after study confirms that people have short attention spans when watching online videos. Remember how I mentioned that 20% of viewers leave within the first 10 seconds? In fact, research from HubSpot shows that the ideal length for YouTube videos is a snappy 2 minutes. So, take those long webinars and transform them into short, engaging clips!

If you just can’t bring yourself to cut down your content, my next tip will help!

5: Turn Related Videos into a Must-Watch Playlist

Do you have multiple videos that cover a similar theme? Maybe you produce a recurring weekly educational series, or perhaps you have a set of webinars that all tie into the same topic. If you answered yes, you need to group those videos into a YouTube playlist. Playlists let viewers keep watching without needing to manually find and click on the next video. This is excellent for subscriber growth because it keeps people on your channel longer and demonstrates that you offer tons of high-quality content. It also keeps your videos organized and prevents your channel from becoming a jumbled mess that scares viewers away. BuzzFeed Tasty is a master of the playlist. Check out their YouTube playlist page. It’s organized by category, with sections like “Dinner,” Vegetarian,” and – my personal favorite because I hate doing dishes – “One-Pot Recipes.”

6: Add Strong Calls to Action (CTAs) to Your Videos

Skilled marketers understand the importance of a strong call to action (CTA). Use those skills to give viewers a reason to return to your channel by incorporating a “subscribe” CTA. If you think adding CTAs to videos sounds overly complicated – something that requires technical skills you don’t have – I have good news: It’s incredibly easy! YouTube makes it simple with end screens and cards. Let’s take a closer look at each: End Screens: An end screen does exactly what you’d think – it displays a CTA at the end of your video. You can use end screens to encourage viewers to subscribe, point them to the next video in a playlist, direct them to your website, promote a crowdfunding campaign, and so much more! End screens let you choose from four elements, depending on your goal.

You can even include multiple elements per end screen (like in the image below). They can appear during the last 5-20 seconds of your video, but your video must be at least 25 seconds long. To learn more about end screens, visit this link.

Cards: If end screens aren’t your thing, give YouTube cards a try! These handy tools make your videos more interactive, allowing you to direct viewers to a specific URL, highlight a particular video or playlist, promote your channel, and even poll your audience!

Here’s an example of a card in action:

The one thing to remember about cards is that viewers have to click the small “I” icon in the upper-right corner of the video for the card to appear. Check out this link will teach you everything you need to know about YouTube cards.

7: Create Eye-Catching Custom Thumbnails

We’re all told not to judge a book by its cover, but let’s be honest: we do it all the time. Your video thumbnail is like your video’s cover, and it needs to be incredibly engaging. In fact, it might be the most important factor determining whether a potential viewer clicks “play.” The most effective way to ensure people play your video is to use a thumbnail that features a person smiling and making direct eye contact with the viewer. Why? It’s simple: people connect with other people. And here’s another tip to make your thumbnails even better: add a smile!

“Smiling is the outward expression of happiness, and it helps us connect with others,” explains says Dr. Adrian Furnham, an organizational and applied psychologist.

8: Post Frequently and Consistently

I know, I know; easier said than done, right? Not every marketing team has a dedicated videographer who can constantly churn out fresh content. The good news is that if you followed my advice from Tip #2 and built an in-house studio, you’ll find that scripting and producing high-quality videos can easily become a part of your weekly workflow. Consistency is crucial. Subscribers won’t stick around if you rarely update your channel or if you upload four videos one week and then disappear for a month. If you’re at all familiar with the world of SEO, you’ve probably heard of Moz. Moz has an excellent recurring series called Whiteboard Fridays that releases a new video every week breaking down an SEO concept on a whiteboard.

Not only are these videos well-made and super engaging, but Moz is incredibly consistent with them. There’s a reason they call it Whiteboard Fridays. If you can create a regular series like this, you’ll be well on your way to keeping your current subscribers happy, attracting new ones, and increasing engagement!

9: Invest in YouTube Advertising

Now it’s time to talk about money. You didn’t think all of these tips would be free, did you? Don’t worry; I’m not suggesting you break the bank. However, putting some of your marketing budget behind promoting your YouTube channel is a surefire way to increase subscribers. The internet is a crowded space, and money talks, so investing in your channel is essential. YouTube gives you a ton of flexibility in your ad campaigns with various formats, including:

• Display ads
• Overlay ads
• Skippable and non-skippable video ads
• Bumper ads
• Sponsored cards Like platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, YouTube also allows you to target your videos based on user interests, demographics, and in-market audiences.

If you’re new to YouTube advertising, this blog post offers some helpful tips to get you started.

10: Promote Your Channel in Relevant Online Communities

Actively engage with your industry’s online communities and share your videos when it’s relevant. This could include Twitter chats, LinkedIn groups, subreddits, or other popular online spaces where your audience hangs out. Let’s imagine you work for an accounting firm, and you’re participating in an online discussion where people are clearly struggling with their taxes. This is the perfect opportunity to share a helpful video about your services – you might even get some new clients out of it!

11: Incentivize People to Subscribe to Your Channel

Any parent understands the persuasive power of bribery – “If you eat your veggies, I’ll let you have 10 minutes of iPad time before bed.” My sister says this to her boys all the time! And the funny thing is, this tactic doesn’t stop working once we grow up. Bribery works on adults, too, because humans love free stuff! So yes, you absolutely should consider offering incentives to get people to subscribe to your YouTube channel. I know it sounds a little crazy, but it really does work!

Here are two ways to encourage people to subscribe through incentives:

• Run a cross-channel contest: This is one of the oldest tricks in the marketing book, and for a good reason – it works! For example, let’s say you manage a local bowling alley. Promote a contest across your Facebook and Instagram accounts. To enter, users have to like the post, leave a comment, and subscribe to your YouTube channel. Include a reminder that the link to your YouTube channel is in your Instagram bio (#linkinbio) so people can easily find it. And there you have it! You’ve just increased your YouTube subscriber count overnight!
• Offer bonuses for subscribing in your videos: Another effective way to gain subscribers is by targeting people who are already watching one of your videos. They’re clearly interested in your brand on some level, so why not capitalize on that interest and get them to subscribe? Offer subscriber-only giveaways: Mention in your video that viewers can get a free ebook or month-long trial of your software if they subscribe. You will, of course, need to fulfill your end of the bargain, but this is a great way to attract new subscribers!

12: Optimize Your YouTube Videos for Search

Last but certainly not least, make sure your videos are optimized to rank well in search engines and in YouTube’s internal search results.

SEO for YouTube can be a bit technical, but you can easily make a few quick changes to improve your videos’ ranking. Some best practices include:

• Create searchable titles: Do some keyword research to identify terms people are searching for that relate to your video, and incorporate your target keyword into the video title. (AdWords and our Free Keyword Tool are excellent resources for this!) Don’t make the title too long; around 50 characters is ideal.
• Add a transcript to every video: Video transcripts make your content accessible to a wider audience and also benefit your SEO! Think of transcripts as page copy for your video – they provide more indexable text that helps you rank for more search terms.
• Optimize your video descriptions: Don’t just cram this section full of keywords. Instead, write an engaging, well-written description of what your video is about, naturally incorporating your target keywords.
• Don’t forget about meta tags: Meta tags are another way to add your keywords to your videos and make them easier to find. Do some research and see what meta tags other videos in your niche are using. Again, avoid keyword stuffing; focus on your most important terms.
• Use YouTube hashtags: Our YouTube hashtag guide has everything you need. Ready for your YouTube subscriber count to skyrocket? Put these tips into action and watch your subscriber list grow! To recap…

Here are the most effective ways to gain subscribers on YouTube:

1. Delete outdated, low-quality content from your channel.
2. Write engaging scripts, use the right equipment, and keep your videos short to maximize engagement.
3. Create a compelling channel trailer.
4. Keep your videos under 5 minutes and hook viewers within the first 10 seconds.
5. Combine shorter videos into binge-worthy playlists.
6. Add CTAs to your YouTube videos using end screens and cards.
7. Create eye-catching custom thumbnails that feature a smiling face.
8. Upload new videos on a consistent schedule.
9. Use YouTube advertising to promote your videos.
10. Share your videos on other relevant social media channels and online communities.
11. Run contests and offer giveaways to incentivize people to subscribe.
12. Optimize your video for search using video SEO techniques.