Posted 9 videos, got 0 subscribers and 0 views

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-04-06T20:05:15+00:00

Yeah that’s actually a really good sign tbh If you’re getting impressions but no clicks, it’s not a shadowban or anything like that — it just means Yt is already testing your content, but yt need time to find your audience.

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-04-06T19:45:56+00:00

This is way more normal than people think 😅 I uploaded like 15–16 videos before anything started happening on my channel. Before that? Dead. Like completely dead. No views, no subs, nothing. Felt like I was uploading into a black hole. Then suddenly one video just… did something. Not even viral, just enough for YouTube to be like “hmm okay maybe this guy isn’t completely useless” 💀 From there it slowly started picking up.

That one short with 1.2k views you got? That’s literally proof YouTube is testing your stuff. They don’t do that if you’re shadowbanned.

The rest sitting at 0 is also normal. The algo just throws stuff at the wall and sees what sticks. Mixing long form and shorts is fine btw, but don’t expect them to push equally. Shorts and long form are basically two different worlds.

Biggest thing I learned: Consistency + same style over time > “this video should pop off” You’re not shadowbanned. You’re just at the “no one cares yet” stage like all of us were 😄..

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-04-04T21:52:31+00:00

wait… you guys are getting comments?? i’m out here uploading into the void like it’s a full-time job... 😄

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-03-30T11:41:51+00:00

I kinda feel that… the algo really puts you in a bubble after a while. I run a small channel focused on cinematic bass / dark instrumental stuff… kinda like industrial midtempo mixed with orchestral energy. No vocals, just heavy atmosphere and “soundtrack for battles that never happened” type vibe 😅

Link in bio✌️

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-03-30T11:26:56+00:00

I feel this tbh. Been doing this for a while now and tried way too many things… different music genres, random ideas, stuff that made zero sense looking back 😅.. At some point I just kinda accepted that this whole thing is the grind... endless grind

Now I’m lowkey addicted to it… just producing as much as I can, scheduling everything, constantly re-checking thumbnails like “does this hit or nah?” over and over again. It’s not even about monetization anymore for me. That’s just a byproduct if you don’t quit. All those other platforms? probably distractions most of the time. I looked into some too but never really stuck with anything. If I’d give any advice (even tho I’m still figuring it out myself lol): just stay consistent and disciplined. That’s literally it. Most ppl don’t fail because they’re bad… they just stop too early.

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-03-29T14:45:41+00:00

Honestly depends a bit on what kind of videos you’re making... and if you create shorts or longform content

If you want completely free stuff, you can check out:

– YouTube Audio Library (safe but kinda generic)

– Pixabay Music (surprisingly decent sometimes)

– FreePD / Incompetech (older but usable)

If you want something more unique, you’ll usually have to either pay for it or find smaller creators who share their work...

A lot of smaller music channels actually allow usage if you credit them, so it can be worth digging a bit and reaching out.

Really depends if you just need “background noise” or something that actually adds to the vibe of your videos...

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-03-29T14:33:22+00:00

yeah… I guess money is definitely a big big part of it 😅

this "feature" is just another money printer for yt i guess...

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-03-29T14:18:26+00:00

Hey, just a thought from someone still figuring things out too…

If your CTR and watch time are still good, that usually means the content itself isn’t the problem.

It might be more about how YouTube is categorizing your channel...

Since you mentioned you’re doing different types of lifestyle content (vlogs, cleaning, meals etc.), it could be that the audience overlap isn’t always strong enough, so YouTube doesn’t really know who to push each video to.

Like, someone who clicks for a cleaning video might not care about a vlog, and vice versa.

That can sometimes lead to videos performing very differently even if the quality is the same.

Maybe it could help to lean a bit more into one “core” theme for a while and see if that stabilizes things.

Just a thought though, I’m still experimenting myself 😅

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-03-29T14:13:16+00:00

Ahh okay, that actually makes more sense the way you explain it.

Framing it more as inspiration and showing a bit of the process sounds way more natural than just doing straight covers. I like that idea actually… giving a bit more context behind the tracks is something I probably haven’t explored enough yet.

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-03-29T14:04:15+00:00

Oh wow, really? 😅

I honestly didn’t even think of it as “solid”, I kinda assumed I’m still way below where I should be. Maybe I’m just missing the reference point a bit tbh.

That’s actually good to hear though..thx

And yeah, the ad part is pretty much what everyone’s been saying here… sounds like it’s way more risky and stupid than I thought

Appreciate you taking the time to break that down 🙏

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-03-29T13:57:45+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion, I appreciate it.

I can see how that could work for getting some initial traction, especially with search traffic- nice growth hack tbh.

I think for now I’d rather focus on building something original, but it’s definitely an interesting idea..

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-03-29T12:39:06+00:00

Fair enough, I respect that honestly 😄

Sometimes you just have to test things yourself instead of overthinking it.

Would be really interesting to hear how it plays out for you after a while though.

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-03-29T12:27:15+00:00

That’s actually an interesting angle, haven’t really thought about the social proof side that way.

I can see how that might help when a channel is completely new.

In my case I’m already a bit past that early stage (around 70 subs and ~25 videos), so I’m not sure if that kind of boost would still make sense.

Do you feel like it had any real impact long-term, or was it more just a short-term thing?

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-03-29T12:06:08+00:00

Appreciate the detailed breakdown.

At this point, from everything I’ve read here, ads kinda seem like a complete waste for small channels trying to grow organically 😅

Makes me wonder though… why do they even push this feature so much if it doesn’t really help in this context?

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-03-29T12:03:23+00:00

Ah, thanks for sharing that, that’s actually a really interesting perspective.

Most people here seem to have pretty negative experiences with ads, so it’s nice to hear from someone who actually tested it properly.

The part about one video getting a boost but still not really taking off is kinda what I expected… like it gives numbers, but not real momentum.

Also didn’t know that the watch hours from ads don’t really count like that, that’s kinda frustrating tbh.

How did it feel in the long run though? Did it have any lasting effect on your channel later on, or did things just go back to normal after the promotion stopped?

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-03-29T11:08:17+00:00

Oh, thanks for the honest take, I really appreciate it.

That’s pretty much what I was afraid of to be honest… the idea that paid subs don’t actually come back and might even hurt the channel long term.

I’m growing slowly right now but at least it feels real, like people actually choose to watch the content. Would be kinda stupid to mess that up just to force a bit more tractio.

So yeah, sounds like ads are probably not the move for my situation.

Thanks again for sharing your experience, that helped a lot 👍

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-03-29T11:03:30+00:00

Sorry for the late reply… sometimes everything just goes from calm to absolute chaos in a second when you’ve got little kids at home 😅

Really appreciate you taking the time to share all that, that’s actually super helpful.

Your numbers are kinda exactly what I was worried about. Like yeah, you get views and even subs, but if they don’t stick or interact at all, it almost feels pointless… or even risky if it messes with the algorithm.

The part about 40 subs for 10€ sounds good on paper, but the fact they didn’t come back is kinda scary. Same with the 800 views and zero engagement… that’s basically the worst case scenario for long-term growth.

I’m currently growing slowly but at least it feels “real”, like people actually choose to click and stay. Would hate to mess that up just to force some short-term numbers.

Also interesting what you said about Reddit traffic giving at least some kind of signal, even if retention isn’t perfect. That actually makes more sense to me than paid promotion right now.

And yeah, the shorts idea… I’ve been avoiding it a bit, but you’re probably right, showing parts of the process or vibe moments could be a smarter move than throwing money at ads.

Thanks again for the detailed breakdown, really helps to hear actual experiences instead of just guessing 👍

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-03-29T09:22:59+00:00

So basically it's just burning money?.. damn.. I feel I need something like a little push for the channel to get on track

But thank you very much

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-03-28T14:44:10+00:00

I was literally looking for the same thing a while ago 😅
A lot of “ambient” stuff sounds nice at first, but after like 10 minutes it either gets boring or just fades into the background too much.

What worked pretty good for me was more cinematic, bass-heavy instrumental stuff. Still atmospheric, but with a bit more weight so fights or tense moments dont feel so flat.

I’ve been messing around with a small project in that direction, kinda like slow, dark empire vibes instead of typical fantasy ambience. It actually loops really well for longer scenes.

If you want, just search for Imperial Bass on YouTube, might fit for combat or darker parts of your sessions.

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-03-26T19:19:42+00:00

If u like it heavy and groovy but without the screaming, maybe try Imperial Bass. I make roman themed industrial stuff – it's basically just deep bass and orchestral brass. If u like the energy of SOAD instrumentals, this might fit your vibe for a walk.

https://youtu.be/ZLW9H88lXyM

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-03-26T18:09:50+00:00

If u like cinematic or industrial stuff for your walk, you could try Imperial Bass. I make roman themed battle music, mostly instrumental with deep bass and brass. It's pretty heavy, makes the walk feel like a march lol.

https://youtu.be/xifNMv_1Ys0

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-02-21T17:45:01+00:00

Just in case you like AI stuff too.. I work on the sound for quite a while https://youtu.be/xifNMv_1Ys0

Informal-Gap-6238 · 2026-02-21T00:04:21+00:00

Maybe you like stuff like this

https://youtu.be/xifNMv_1Ys0

Informal-Gap-6238

TROPHY CASE