How To Get More YouTube Subscribers

YouTube is a great space to start creating content. That’s because there are 1.78 billion users worldwide using YouTube in 2020. But in order to build your brand on YouTube, it all starts with getting more subscribers. The more subscribers you have, the greater opportunity you will have to start making money through Google AdSense and increase awareness of your brand! Sounds easy, right? It can be, but getting subscribers can be tricky if you’re unsure of how to market your YouTube channel. However, with these easy steps, you can be confident in growing your YouTube channel and increasing your subscriber count. 

Why Is Your Subscriber Count Important?

Let’s begin with the basics. Why do you need subscribers? Having people subscribe to your YouTube channel is crucial in building your brand through interaction. Your YouTube channel is deemed successful through a few measurements and subscriber count is one of the easiest ways to track this. The more subscribers you have, the more eyes are on your content therefore increasing your marketability, so increasing your subscriber count is necessary in order to benefit from the YouTube Partner Program and to work with YouTube’s algorithm. 

What Is The YouTube Partner Program?

The YouTube Partner Program, or YPP, is a program through YouTube designed to give content creators a way to make money through their videos. If you as the creator meet the guidelines set by YouTube, your videos will be monetized through AdSense and you can begin to profit off of your hard work! You can only begin to do this, however, if your YouTube channel meets the required eligibility criteria for the YouTube Partner Program. These requirements include: 

• Follow all of YouTube’s monetization guidelines.
• Have more than 1,000 subscribers.
• Live in a country or region where the YouTube Partner Program is available.
• Have more than 4,000 hours of valid watch time in the last 12 months.  
• Have a linked AdSense account. 

How To Work With The YouTube Algorithm

In 2016, YouTube created an algorithm that provides personalized content through an analysis of its consumer preferences. In layman’s terms it just means that YouTube takes notes on: How long you watch a video, engagement, and the kind of content you watch regularly. This information is vital for people trying to gain subscribers on YouTube because it dictates what content you need to create in order to build an audience based on what they want to see. When creating your video, make sure you have the necessary information to allow viewers to find you. 

Create An Effective URL

Creating a YouTube URL that is both simple and creative is important because this is how people will identify you and your channel. You can choose your personal name or a name that gives a description of what your channel is. The best URLs fall in either of these categories. 

Use Strong Keywords

In your thumbnail, use searchable, relevant keywords that are short, sweet, and to the point. Through the algorithm, YouTube will read these keywords and advertise your videos based on what people search for. For example, if you are creating a video on how to bake a vegan strawberry cake, make your video thumbnail, “How to Bake A Vegan Strawberry Cake | Easy, Simple, Quick.” This gives your audience just enough information and doesn’t overwhelm with a lot of excess words. 

Make Your Thumbnail Picture Stand Out

Your thumbnail picture is often the first thing people see when they go to click on a video. Make sure it is appropriate, clear, and relevant to the topic of your video. Investing in good camera equipment can change the game for your content creation. If you’re unsure of your skill set, reach out to a photographer for help to create eye-catching thumbnails. 

Choose a Niche

YouTube viewers are more likely to subscribe to your content if it is familiar, reliable, and consistent. If you have been consistently posting makeup tutorials, don’t suddenly post a video on how to rebuild an engine. The YouTube algorithm will recognize a lack of engagement in new content and won’t promote it. 

Upload Consistently

Creating more content will increase your YouTube subscribers by building loyalty to your brand because If your audience knows they can depend on you to upload, they will be more likely to stick around. Remember to be consistent with uploads as that can often be more important than frequency. 

With a higher subscriber count, you will get access to these YouTube programs not available to creators with a low subscriber count. This is why getting more subscribers is necessary not only for the awareness of your YouTube channel, but for the perks that come with having higher numbers. The goal should always be to increase subscribers to your YouTube channel without forgetting to engage with them. As the YouTube algorithm shows us, engagement through likes, dislikes, and comments aid in getting your video out to a broader audience and increasing your chances of building subscribers; it’s an all-encompassing circle of learning how to market your brand, build trust, and increase your numbers. 

Can I Buy YouTube Subscribers?

Short answer, no, not if you want to build a lasting foundation for your brand on YouTube. It might be extremely tempting to buy YouTube subscribers, but as we’ve read above, the algorithm is more analytical than that. It measures engagement just as much as it measures subscribers.

For the past two years, YouTube has also implemented a spam sweep to remove fake accounts, so it won’t help your channel in the long run as your purchased subscriber count will decrease every time YouTube conducts this spam removal process. If you buy 1,000 subscribers in order to join the YouTube Partner Program and are caught during the sweep, you won’t qualify and risk losing your channel by not following YouTube’s guidelines. To be safe, focus on improving your engagement and growing your YouTube channel subscribers naturally. 

Promote Your Other Social Media Channels

This is an easy way to communicate, connect, and create more content by attaching the link to your Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. underneath your video in the description section. With access to your other social media, people are more likely to engage with you depending on their favored platform. 

Ask Questions

YouTube created a story feature where you can post live videos much like Instagram or Facebook. Unfortunately, this feature is only available for creators who have over 10,000 subscribers, but if you have less, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t engage on your other platforms. Use your social media to ask your audience questions on what they want to see, how they’re doing, and how they found you. This form of engagement builds trust and friendship with your current audience and may even inspire people who are unsubscribed to you to finally subscribe and join your channel. 

Do Giveaways

A popular way to get people to engage and subscribe is a giveaway. Now, this doesn’t always have to be expensive or luxurious. It can be as simple as a one-on-one conversation or a personalized letter. Of course, the better the giveaway the more people will want to subscribe, but work with your content and make the giveaway a fun experience for both you and your subscribers. 

Respond to Your Audience

The easiest, cheapest, and most effective way of engaging with your audience is to simply talk to them. Respond to as many questions or comments as you can. This shows your subscribers you value their input and will encourage them to continue reaching out to you. 

How To Get Free Subscribers

The only, legitimate way to get subscribers that won’t cost you and won’t get you kicked off YouTube is to ask! You’d be surprised how far you can go with a simple channel promotion at the beginning or end of each video. Remember, not everyone knows that subscribing to a channel is free. Don’t assume your entire audience is filled with YouTube experts. Some may be turned off by their perceived belief that subscribing is a hassle. 

Create a Pitch

Developing a short, non-invasive pitch to encourage your viewers to subscribe is one more way to win them over. Let them know that subscribing to your channel is 100% free and helps support you, but don’t be too aggressive as it can give the wrong impression. Letting them know that subscribing to your channel means more content and it’s a win on both sides. 

Encourage Your Audience to Share Your Videos

Word of mouth marketing is still one of the most effective ways to market your product; it’s free and means that your audience is doing a lot of the work for you! Encourage your subscribers to share your video across their social media channels with the intention of helping, inspiring, or teaching someone with your content. The reason this method is so effective is because 92% of people trust word of mouth. When your audience trusts you, they’re more likely to spread your content to people they know. 

Whether you’re uploading videos for fun or building a business through YouTube, its increasing popularity has continually made it one of the best platforms to create content. Getting more subscribers is a crucial part of building a following and increasing awareness of your content. For more information on how to build your social media content, contact us at SEO Design Chicago.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long does it typically take to reach 1,000 YouTube subscribers?

The timeline varies significantly based on content quality, consistency, and niche. Most creators take 6-18 months to reach 1,000 subscribers with consistent uploading and engagement. Channels posting 2-3 times weekly with strong SEO optimization might reach this milestone in 4-8 months, while irregular uploaders could take years. Factors affecting growth include your niche’s competition level, video quality, thumbnail design, and how well you engage with your audience. Focus on creating valuable content consistently rather than rushing to hit subscriber milestones – sustainable growth builds better long-term success than quick fixes.

2. What’s the best posting schedule for growing YouTube subscribers?

Consistency matters more than frequency. Whether you post once weekly or three times weekly, stick to a regular schedule so subscribers know when to expect new content. Most successful creators post 1-3 times per week, with Tuesday through Thursday being optimal days for engagement. Avoid overposting, which can overwhelm subscribers and reduce individual video performance. Use YouTube Analytics to identify when your audience is most active and schedule uploads accordingly. Announce your posting schedule to subscribers so they anticipate new content, and consider using YouTube’s premiere feature to build excitement around uploads.

3. Should I focus on short-form or long-form content to gain subscribers?

Both formats can drive subscriber growth, but they serve different purposes. YouTube Shorts (under 60 seconds) are excellent for discovery and reaching new audiences quickly, while long-form content (8-15 minutes) builds deeper connections and better monetization potential. Consider a hybrid approach: use Shorts to attract viewers, then convert them with engaging long-form content. Long-form videos typically generate more watch time, which YouTube’s algorithm favors, but Shorts can go viral more easily. Choose based on your content type and audience preferences, but prioritize the format that best showcases your unique value.

4. How important are thumbnails and titles for subscriber growth?

Thumbnails and titles are crucial – they’re your first impression and determine whether people click on your videos. Effective thumbnails should be clear, colorful, and readable on mobile devices, with faces or key visual elements prominently displayed. Titles should be compelling and include relevant keywords while staying under 60 characters for mobile optimization. A/B test different thumbnail styles and analyze which perform best. Use tools like Canva or Photoshop for professional-looking thumbnails, and study successful creators in your niche for inspiration while maintaining your unique style.

5. What’s the difference between watch time and subscriber count for YouTube success?

While subscribers are important for community building and eligibility programs, watch time is often more valuable for algorithm performance and monetization. YouTube prioritizes content that keeps viewers engaged longer, so a video with 1,000 views and high watch time often outperforms one with 5,000 views but low retention. Focus on creating engaging content that holds attention throughout the video. However, subscribers provide a reliable audience base and are essential for the YouTube Partner Program. Balance both metrics by creating compelling content that attracts new viewers while keeping subscribers engaged and coming back.

6. How do I avoid losing subscribers after gaining them?

Maintain subscriber retention by staying consistent with your content style and posting schedule, engaging authentically with your community through comments and community posts, and avoiding dramatic changes to your channel’s focus without warning your audience. Monitor your YouTube Analytics to identify which videos cause subscriber drops and learn from those patterns. Don’t chase trends that don’t align with your brand, as this confuses your audience. Regularly ask subscribers what content they want to see, and balance new topics with your proven successful formats.

7. Can collaborating with other YouTubers help grow my subscriber count?

Yes, collaborations are highly effective for subscriber growth when done strategically. Partner with creators who have similar audience sizes and complementary content styles rather than competing directly. Cross-promotion exposes you to their subscribers who might be interested in your content. Types of collaborations include guest appearances, joint challenges, reaction videos, or podcast-style discussions. Ensure collaborations feel natural and provide value to both audiences. Start with smaller creators in your niche who are more likely to collaborate, then work toward bigger partnerships as your channel grows.

8. What analytics should I track to optimize subscriber growth?

Key metrics include subscriber growth rate, watch time and audience retention, click-through rates on thumbnails, top traffic sources, and demographic data about your audience. Use YouTube Studio to track which videos convert viewers to subscribers most effectively, then create similar content. Monitor comments for feedback and engagement patterns, track which keywords drive discovery, and analyze when your subscribers are most active online. Pay attention to the subscriber bell notification percentage – aim for higher notification rates through compelling community posts and consistent quality. Review monthly analytics to identify trends and adjust your strategy accordingly.