10 Things I’ve Learned as a YouTube Channel Manager to Help You Scale Fast in 2024

Ever wonder what it really takes to blow up a YouTube channel? After managing numerous channels and helping creators scale to tens of thousands of subscribers, I’ve picked up some surprising truths that can help you grow your channel faster and more profitably this year. If you're ready to unlock your YouTube potential, let’s dive in!

But before we jump into it, don’t forget to grab my Starting on YouTube Cheat Sheet, designed to fast-track your YouTube success!

1. It Only Takes One Video to Blow Up Your Channel

Here’s the first surprising truth: you’re just one video away from blowing up on YouTube. It’s all about consistency and patience. I’ve had clients who felt frustrated because their views were stagnating, only to have one video suddenly pop off in the algorithm, skyrocketing their growth. One of my course creators went from 1,000 to 600,000 subscribers practically overnight. Another scaled from 1,000 to 10,000 subscribers in just a few months. The key is to stay the course—most YouTubers quit too soon.

Takeaway: Every video you upload gets better, offers more value, and increases your chance of hitting that viral moment. Stick with it!

2. Package Content the Way People Want It, Not the Way You Want

This is a hard pill to swallow, but how you present your content matters just as much as what’s in it. Consider these two titles:

• “How to Burn Belly Fat Fast for Women Over 40”
• “The Science Behind Weight Loss Over 40”

Both videos could be identical, but guess which one gets more clicks? Yup, the first one. People want solutions, not science jargon. You can still include the deep information you’re passionate about, but it’s all about packaging it in a way that attracts clicks.

Takeaway: Create titles and thumbnails that align with what your audience wants to click on. Then, once they’re watching, you can deliver the value they need.

3. Value Beats Production Quality Every Time

Good news—you don’t need expensive cameras or fancy editing to grow on YouTube! The channels that perform best often aren’t the most polished but are the ones that deliver massive value. Think about your favorite channels. Chances are, you love them because of the value they offer, not because they have Hollywood-level production.

Takeaway: Focus on providing clear, helpful content, and your audience will grow, regardless of production quality.

4. Jump on Trends to Grow Faster

Want a quick growth hack? Jump on trending topics in your niche. This is a super effective way to get more eyeballs on your content. For example, if there’s drama or a trending event, find a way to tie it into your niche. Recently, there was some MrBeast drama, and a smart move would’ve been creating a video like “5 Things You Can Learn as a YouTuber from MrBeast Drama.”

Takeaway: Stay on top of buzzworthy topics, and find ways to connect them with your content to attract more viewers.

5. Don’t Overcommit — Burnout Is Real

Burnout is no joke. Most creators can’t keep up with four videos a month, especially if they’re doing all the editing themselves. I always recommend my clients start with two high-quality videos a month and increase only when they’re comfortable. One of my clients hit 10K subscribers this year posting just two videos a month.

Takeaway: Focus on consistency over quantity. It’s better to post fewer high-value videos than to burn out and stop posting altogether.

6. Authenticity Is Your Secret Sauce

Your uniqueness is what will make your channel thrive. Viewers connect with the real you, so don’t try to be someone else on camera. It took me time to get comfortable, but showing your personality is what builds a community. A great exercise is to film yourself talking about something you're passionate about, watch it back, then delete it. This helps you get used to seeing yourself on camera.

Takeaway: Be yourself! Authenticity is what will make people subscribe and stay loyal to your channel.

7. Lead Magnets Are Non-Negotiable for Profitable Channels

If you want a profitable YouTube channel, you need to be building an email list. One of my clients went from 0 to 6,000 email subscribers in less than a year, all from YouTube. Why? Because she used lead magnets—valuable freebies like cheat sheets or PDFs that viewers could download in exchange for their email addresses.

Takeaway: You don’t own your YouTube subscribers, but you do own your email list. Build one, and you’ll have a ready audience whenever you’re ready to sell.

8. Basic Tutorials and How-Tos Are Gold

“How-to” videos perform exceptionally well on YouTube, especially if they’re relevant to your niche. A pro tip? Stay ahead of the curve by releasing next year’s how-to content early. For example, if you’re creating a video on “How to Become a Social Media Manager in 2026,” release it in November 2025. You’ll rank higher in searches as the topic becomes more relevant.

Takeaway: Basic tutorials and how-to videos are evergreen content that consistently brings in views. Plan them strategically to get ahead.

9. Small Tweaks Can Lead to Massive Results

Sometimes, it’s the smallest changes that make the biggest difference. I once updated the title of a client’s video by adding just three words, and it went from 300 views to over 8,000. That’s the power of making quick tweaks! Don’t just post and ghost. Revisit underperforming videos and experiment with new titles or thumbnails.

Takeaway: Always optimize! A simple change could drastically improve your video’s performance.

10. Understanding SEO Is a Must

If you’re serious about growing your YouTube channel, you must understand SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Your titles, descriptions, and tags need to be optimized with the right keywords to ensure your videos rank high in search results. I own 6 of the top 19 search results for “Kajabi” on YouTube because I prioritize SEO in every video.

Takeaway: Learn the basics of SEO, and apply them to every video for consistent growth. Don’t forget to optimize timestamps and descriptions as well!

And there you have it—my top 10 game-changing lessons as a YouTube Channel Manager. Which of these tips are you going to try next? Let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to give this post a like if it was helpful!

For more detailed strategies, check out my YouTube SEO Guide and my Favorite YouTube Tools Video to get an insider’s look at how I manage channels.

Start scared, stay consistent, stay weird, and I’ll see you in the next post!