Uploaded October 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: You say not to tell friends and family about a new channel. Why is that? A: It's natural to want to share, but I find it's better to wait [00:04]. My friends and family care about my feelings, so they'll say my videos are great even if they're boring [00:11]. I need honest feedback to grow, and they can't be brutally honest because they want to be supportive [00:16].
Q: But isn't it good if my friends subscribe to support me? A: It sounds nice, but it can actually hurt your channel. They might subscribe and "like" your videos, but they probably won't watch them all the way through [00:34]. This gives your channel a low watch time, which tells the YouTube algorithm that even your subscribers aren't sticking around [00:41]. As a result, YouTube is less likely to recommend your content to new people [00:48].
Q: If I'm not getting feedback from friends, where do I get it? A: I get my best feedback from the strangers who comment on my videos. Some comments might be harsh, but if they are criticizing the content itself, they are the viewers I listen to [01:55]. They are watching without bias and just want the video to be better [02:02]. I've had viewers tell me my music was boring [02:31] or that I panned the camera too fast [02:38], and that feedback was incredibly valuable.
Q: What's the main point of keeping the channel a secret at the beginning? A: As a new creator, you need time to learn and find your voice [01:03]. Your first few videos might not be very good, and that's a normal part of the process [01:36]. You need time to figure out your editing, your lighting, and what content actually connects with viewers [01:15, 01:30]. It's better to go through that "setup" phase without worrying about what your friends and family think [01:42].
Q: So when should I tell them? A: My challenge to you is to not tell them at all [03:39]! Let them discover it on their own. Imagine how great it will feel when your content gets noticed organically, and one day a friend texts you asking, "Hey, were you on YouTube?" [03:44]. That's a great feeling.
Overview:
When you're starting a new YouTube channel, your first instinct is to tell your friends and family for support. In this video, I share my thoughts on why I think that's actually one of the worst things you can do for your new channel's growth.
I've learned that while your friends and family want to be supportive, they can't be brutally honest with you. More importantly, they might subscribe but not actually watch your videos, which tells the YouTube algorithm that your content isn't very good, hurting your channel before it even gets started.
Summary:
In this video, I talk about the importance of finding your real target audience from the very beginning. I share my own journey and how the most valuable feedback I've ever received came from strangers—viewers who had no bias and just wanted my videos to be better. I even share some of the specific comments that helped me improve, from my camera work to my background music.
If you're a new creator, this video is my advice on how to skip the "support" that doesn't help and instead focus on getting the real feedback that does. It's a journey that takes time and practice, and my challenge to you is to wait for that amazing feeling when your friends discover your channel organically, long after you've found your voice.
Video Chapter:
0:00 - Don't Tell Your Friends & Family 0:11 - Why Their Support Isn't Helpful 0:23 - How "Support" Can Hurt Your Channel 0:41 - The Problem with Low Watch Time 1:00 - You Need Time to Learn & Grow 1:23 - Finding the Content That Connects 1:47 - Why Feedback from Strangers is Better 2:27 - My Own Experience with Honest Feedback 3:13 - The Key is to Enjoy the Journey 3:33 - The Challenge: Let Them Find You 3:50 - Final Thoughts & Good Luck
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: You say not to tell friends and family about a new channel. Why is that? A: It's natural to want to share, but I find it's better to wait [00:04]. My friends and family care about my feelings, so they'll say my videos are great even if they're boring [00:11]. I need honest feedback to grow, and they can't be brutally honest because they want to be supportive [00:16].
Q: But isn't it good if my friends subscribe to support me? A: It sounds nice, but it can actually hurt your channel. They might subscribe and "like" your videos, but they probably won't watch them all the way through [00:34]. This gives your channel a low watch time, which tells the YouTube algorithm that even your subscribers aren't sticking around [00:41]. As a result, YouTube is less likely to recommend your content to new people [00:48].
Q: If I'm not getting feedback from friends, where do I get it? A: I get my best feedback from the strangers who comment on my videos. Some comments might be harsh, but if they are criticizing the content itself, they are the viewers I listen to [01:55]. They are watching without bias and just want the video to be better [02:02]. I've had viewers tell me my music was boring [02:31] or that I panned the camera too fast [02:38], and that feedback was incredibly valuable.
Q: What's the main point of keeping the channel a secret at the beginning? A: As a new creator, you need time to learn and find your voice [01:03]. Your first few videos might not be very good, and that's a normal part of the process [01:36]. You need time to figure out your editing, your lighting, and what content actually connects with viewers [01:15, 01:30]. It's better to go through that "setup" phase without worrying about what your friends and family think [01:42].
Q: So when should I tell them? A: My challenge to you is to not tell them at all [03:39]! Let them discover it on their own. Imagine how great it will feel when your content gets noticed organically, and one day a friend texts you asking, "Hey, were you on YouTube?" [03:44]. That's a great feeling.
Overview:
When you're starting a new YouTube channel, your first instinct is to tell your friends and family for support. In this video, I share my thoughts on why I think that's actually one of the worst things you can do for your new channel's growth.
I've learned that while your friends and family want to be supportive, they can't be brutally honest with you. More importantly, they might subscribe but not actually watch your videos, which tells the YouTube algorithm that your content isn't very good, hurting your channel before it even gets started.
Summary:
In this video, I talk about the importance of finding your real target audience from the very beginning. I share my own journey and how the most valuable feedback I've ever received came from strangers—viewers who had no bias and just wanted my videos to be better. I even share some of the specific comments that helped me improve, from my camera work to my background music.
If you're a new creator, this video is my advice on how to skip the "support" that doesn't help and instead focus on getting the real feedback that does. It's a journey that takes time and practice, and my challenge to you is to wait for that amazing feeling when your friends discover your channel organically, long after you've found your voice.
Video Chapter:
0:00 - Don't Tell Your Friends & Family 0:11 - Why Their Support Isn't Helpful 0:23 - How "Support" Can Hurt Your Channel 0:41 - The Problem with Low Watch Time 1:00 - You Need Time to Learn & Grow 1:23 - Finding the Content That Connects 1:47 - Why Feedback from Strangers is Better 2:27 - My Own Experience with Honest Feedback 3:13 - The Key is to Enjoy the Journey 3:33 - The Challenge: Let Them Find You 3:50 - Final Thoughts & Good Luck
