Almost 3 years on YouTube and close to 120K subs, here's what I wish I knew in 2023

When I started my faceless gaming channel I thought better gameplay or more uploads would fix everything, but that literally changed nothing. What actually made the difference was realizing YouTube is a business, and researching what videos I should make before pouring hours into editing them is way more effective.

Most small creators struggle because they guess what to post instead of following what already works. If you focus on making content people are already searching for and pair that with a well edited video, growth gets a lot faster and way less random.

Here’s what I’d do if I started again.

1. First, stop posting random videos. Focus on topics that already have proven demand. If people are actively watching that type of content, you give yourself a real chance to grow.
2. Second, study smaller creators who are getting results. Pay attention to their titles, thumbnails, and how they grab attention early. There are always patterns you can learn from.
3. Third, fix your first 30 seconds. Skip long intros and get straight into something that hooks the viewer. If you lose them early, nothing else matters.
4. Fourth, improve using data. Look at retention and click through rate. If people drop off, adjust your content. If something works, lean into it more.

I used this exact approach to turn a small channel into something that actually started growing consistently.

What things have YOU learned growing your channels? Let's all help each other out.