Kevin Colby's Journey on YouTube

Overview

• Celebrating 20,000 subscribers, Kevin reflects on his growth journey.
• Shares key lessons learned from growing his YouTube channel from 0 to 20,000+ subscribers.
• Focuses on advice particularly for creators over 40.

Key Lessons

1. Growth Takes Time

• Growth is typically slow; do not be discouraged by others' rapid success.
• Kevin started his channel in January 2017 and reached 411 subscribers by 2020.
• Patience and consistency are key.

2. Open to Mentoring and Coaching

• Mentors and coaches can provide valuable insights.
• Kevin's channel was audited during a virtual conference, leading to significant improvements.
• Being open to critique helped him focus and take YouTube seriously.

3. Adapt as Needed

• Flexibility in content creation is important.
• Initially tried uploading 3 times a week but adapted to a more manageable schedule.
• Personal circumstances, like having a child with special needs, influenced his adaptability.

4. Experiment with Different Formats

• YouTube offers various formats: Long-form, Shorts, Live streaming, Podcasts, etc.
• Experiment with styles like Vlogs, talking head videos, and faceless videos.
• Community posts are underutilized but beneficial.

5. Don't Compromise on Content

• Avoid pressures to conform to certain content types if they don't align with your interests.
• Ignore non-constructive feedback and maintain your content integrity.
• Stay independent in content creation decisions.

6. Ignore the Noise

• Avoid being overwhelmed by feedback, especially negative comments.
• Focus on your vision and ignore unsolicited advice.
• Stay true to what defines you personally and creatively.

7. Be Open to Pivoting or Refocusing

• Refocusing the channel can align with personal goals and audience needs.
• Kevin chose to target an older demographic (40+).
• Caution advised against pivoting too soon for YouTube's algorithm to understand your content.

Conclusion

• Kevin expresses excitement about his growing channel and community engagement.
• Emphasizes the importance of giving yourself grace and continuing to create.
• Encourages creators to share their unique perspectives with the world, as someone out there needs it.

Final Thoughts

• Content creation is a journey that requires patience, adaptability, and resilience.
• Kevin encourages creators to stay true to their goals and ignore negativity.
• There is value in every creator's story, and it can resonate with the right audience.