How to Start Over on YouTube
You'd never quit your channel, would you?
You'd never say goodbye to that huge subscriber count and full library of videos that you've built up for years. You'd never give up your official HOME BASE on the famous platform – Not to mention your hard-won channel name.
Yet, quite often, creators DO leave and start all over.
Why?
Sometimes it's because they want to pivot their content into a whole different genre. Sometimes it's because their channel has become so algorithmically damaged that new videos never pop like they used to. And occasionally, it's because of a split between co-creators.
Meet
Adam Taggart
Adam was the popular host of corporate-owned financial channel Wealthion, with 300,000 subscribers, uploading five videos a week, averaging 50,000 views per video. But after making 1000+ videos for Wealthion, Adam decided it was time to try going fully independent, with a new channel.
Zero views. Zero subs. Blank slate with the algorithm.
He was nervous as hell, and hardly sleeping.
So, he reached out and we partnered on the launch of his new channel “Thoughtful Money”, with the goal of making sure his fanbase could find him as quickly as possible.
Since he couldn’t promote the new channel from the original, we had to rely on:
His recent Substack audience and X/Twitter following
Captivating titles & thumbnails, optimized for his name and likeness
Giving the algorithm the ball
To explain #3 –
Rather than blasting the video URLs out on social media, i.e. “Here’s my new channel! Come watch my first video! [LINK]"
...We orchestrated a silent launch, and let the algorithm find us the most optimal and most interested audience for the initial videos.
We gave YouTube's system the ball.
(Cue another overly dramatic AI image complete with missing fingers)
The Pros and Cons of Adam's Relaunch
As for the pros, in just one month, we matched the performance of his original videos, with an average of 50,000 views per upload, and 43,000 subscribers. All long-form, all organic, no Shorts.
Adam and I couldn't believe it. I mean, I was confident it would work, but not that fast.
Most of the credit of course goes to Adam, who painstakingly grew this fanbase over hundreds of videos on the original channel. But it’s comforting to know that with the right strategy, the algorithm can quickly facilitate a reunion.
As for the cons? Honestly, I can't think of any. Not in this situation at least.
So. Should you start over?
It really depends on your situation, and the condition of your channel. It would be irresponsible of me to "prescribe" doing that when I don't know what that situation is. What I will say is that I've seen several creators do this and they not only see a "fresh pop" from the algorithm in views...
But it's also mentally cleansing for the creator. Starting over gets you to focus on being more specific with your programming, with a clearer value proposition for the viewer.
Our older channels are often full of different formats and experiments from over the years, as was the case with my original Matt Koval channel, where, as a filmmaker, I made whatever I felt like making. I literally told viewers it was my "experimental film ground" – not having any idea how the algorithm worked at the time. I made scripted comedies, vlogs, dating stories, thought pieces, and even a documentary about a submarine.
The poor audience! (And algorithm.) They must have been so confused.
That's why it was refreshing and reinvigorating for me to start Creator Dynamics on YouTube – even though I don't upload all that often. (I'll save that explanation for another time.)
Whatever you do in regards to your older channel, take your time and think about it deeply. This is a big decision that you never want to take lightly.
As usual, if you'd like a fresh perspective on your channel and videos, feel free to book 1:1 time with me for a Quick Answers Call or Full Channel Deep-Dive.
I always appreciate your thoughts and feedback, so also feel free to reply here and let me know what you're thinking - I read all replies!
If it’s ever of interest, 3 options:
Book a quick call or channel deep-dive with me to get a fresh perspective on your channel, from a veteran strategist and former YouTube employee.
Try VidIQ for $1 through my personal affiliate link. It is a very effective tool, so again, just choose your ideas carefully!
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-Matt
