Copying. Stealing. Inspired by… Each has a different connotation and ethical implications. So what qualifies as “copying” and when is it ok versus not in the creative world? Ricky and Julia talk through how certain kinds of copying are not only good but encouraged for new creators. Do you agree?

“You don’t need to be trying to set trends in the beginning. You need to figure out what works well. Then let your personality & own quirks [in].” – Ricky

00:15  Ethics, Trends, & Copying
08:22  Unique Angles & Topics
10:39  Finding What Works
16:27  Crappy Copying
19:05  Copying for Learning
22:23  Where is the Line?
24:19  Templating

Myth or Truth? Nathan & Julia are busting some common myths and uncovering some hidden truths in the YouTube game. Listen in and see if you can tell myth from truth.

00:55  Focus on Passion. The Audience Will Follow
03:45  YouTube is Shadowbanning my Channel
11:22  The Algorithm Will Favor Daily Uploads
13:59  You Need to Trick the Algorithm to Win
17:27  If Your Video Doesn’t Take Off Soon After Publishing, It Is Never Going to Work
19:57  Reuploading the Same Video Will Give It a Second Chance
20:30  You Can Buy Views to Kickstart Growth
23:55  Tags Help
24:45  People Watch Your Channel for Your Personality
27:59  Subscribers are the Most Important Metric

Over the past year YouTube has become the most used streaming service for television viewing (source) surpassing many household services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+. More users are also viewing YouTube via their television than any other device type. How might this impact content creators? We’re already starting to see some shifts in the algorithm recommending longer form and 4k content on YouTube. Julia and Ricky talk through some pros and cons to consider if content series might be a good fit for you.

“Anytime there’s a story, you can make it into a series.” – Ricky

“We should stop calling it the outro. It’s a hook. It is the end hook.” – Julia

00:57  YouTube & TV Streaming
03:37  Pros
08:59  Episode Planning
11:49  Is My Topic Right of Episode Content?
14:30  Cons
20:31  The 4k Boost

Thinking about upgrading your gear? Nathan and Julia talk through how you can upgrade on a budget and in the most impactful ways. They also reveal free or cheap solutions you may not have thought about taking advantage of.

00:15  Where to Start
01:38  New Channel Upgrade Path
06:48  Phone Settings
08:52  Free or Cheap Options
11:12  Using the Gear You Have
13:08  Studio Rentals
19:00  Doing the Thing

Channel Makers Video: Shoot CRAZY Good Videos With Just Your Phone (step-by-step)
Channel Makers Video: I Tested 12 of the Top Microphones for YouTubers (Surprising Results)

Ricky recently met with top YouTube strategists Colin & Samir, Aprilynne Alter, & Jon Youshaei at the exclusive Spotter Studio Idea Summit. Listen in as Ricky shares what he learned and how it can help you plan and grow.

00:15  Spotter Studio Idea Summit
06:56  Serial Content
12:10  Titles & Thumbnails
19:08  Creators Like You
21:48  Creator Challenges

Sign up for the Stand Out Idea Challenge for just $19 or contact us to get monthly challenge pass added to your P24 subscription.

In this episode, Julia and Nathan go over basic and advanced retention tactics. They discuss some often seen mistakes and ways to overcome them.

00:20  The BIG 5
01:54  Repetitions & Transcript Editing
06:35  Tighter Cuts & Storytelling
16:18  Scripting in Reverse

Luke Scripted – The YouTube Script Writing Method That Got Me 83,000 Views

Free YouTube video transcript generator: https://tactiq.io/tools/youtube-transcript

There’s nothing like a challenge to push your growth and skills to the next level. Ricky & Julia discuss how dedicated, focused effort plus group feedback and accountability can propel members forward. And the great news? We’re providing options moving forward for you to hone your skills and elevate your content.

“Without feedback it’s really hard to improve.” -Julia

“No matter where you are at, there’s some way you can level up.” -Ricky

Want to join us for our upcoming challenges? Learn how to join here.

00:15  Challenges
01:49  The Power of Community
06:08  Incremental Wins
09:54  Content Warrior Challenge
13:31  Next Challenge
15:04  An Idea is NOT…
18:03  Future Options

YouTube is celebrating 20 years by hosting a gathering in all 50 states. It’s open to all creators, but you need to RSVP apply. Julia & Nathan recently attended the Idaho event and share their experience. They also give updates on YouTube Shorts and hint at a new Channel Makers video coming soon about changes in the YouTube algorithm.

“No matter what stage you are at there’s going to be a bit of imposter syndrome. There’s going to be a bit of this struggle. It doesn’t mean you are failing.” -Julia

Additional Links: 
YouTube’s Creator Collective

00:15  The Creator Collective
07:04  Common Struggles
11:52  YouTube Strategy
16:34  The Solution
20:31  Shorts Update
26:07  YT Algorithm Update
27:43  Tip for Small YouTubers

In early March YouTube announced a Premium Lite option for viewers that would allow for an ad-free experience at a lower subscription rate. What will this mean for YT Creators and monetization potential? Nathan & Julia talk through the possible impact of the change on creators and initial thoughts on what you can do to prepare for any possible impact.

WE NEED YOU! The larger the data set to analyze the better we can assess and draw conclusions. DM @Nathan Aydelotte in the Community if you are willing to share some statistics around your YT earnings.

00:24  YouTube Premium Lite
02:31  Impact on Ad Earnings
06:17  Why the Change?
07:49  What This Could Mean for Creators?
11:42  Share Your Data

Changing up your content style or format can be intimidating. Julia and Nathan talk through the advantages of experimenting with content styles and how to determine if it is time to change things up. They also discuss some projects and style changes we have been experimenting with on channels.

“I think most business people fail if they stop trying different things.” – Julia

00:38  Niche & Style
02:43  Success Indicators
04:00  Education Style
06:58  Hold vs Change
09:22  Trying in Small Ways
17:19  Julia’s Secret Project
19:50  Channel Makers Experiment
23:34  Example Ideas