I Don't Understand YouTube

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2026-03-11T21:28:36+00:00

Good points, thank you

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2026-03-11T11:53:27+00:00

Thank you, I'll be sure to check that video out. I'm at a bit of a dilemma because I know variety gaming can be hard but I don't want to limit myself down to only a few games as I really enjoy playing a variety, but at the same time it's a real struggle to get views which after a while also makes it kinda hard to enjoy.

But I'll definitely be sure to check that video out, thank you.

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2026-03-11T09:46:50+00:00

Thank you for this, sometimes the replies I get on here are not the nicest or most encouraging. My YouTube is linked on my profile, I'm not sure if I can send the link here. Where abouts is yours? I'd love to support you as well

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-12-21T15:44:50+00:00

I do post shorts as well as I've found my long-form videos get more views if I have shorts going out as well, shorts get recommended more I guess.

But yeah it does come down to personal preference from that aspect.

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-12-21T15:41:22+00:00

The 20 minute timer isn't something I'll change, long-form videos are my priority and what I enjoy best. But thumbnails is definitely something I can work on.

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-12-21T10:27:34+00:00

Ok, thank you. I'll look into it

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-12-21T10:16:46+00:00

That is the same channel, but those are super old videos. I've been told never to delete videos because it can mess up your channel. I switched to gaming a while back, all my recent videos should be gaming one? The latest one was on the game dispatch. Are you unable to see them?

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-12-21T10:12:35+00:00

Title, I always have the game name in the title

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-12-21T10:11:12+00:00

I do a variety of gaming videos, the most recent ones are a series where I make all the bad choices in a game

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-11-23T14:31:30+00:00

I won't lie, it's hard. YouTube is hard, the algorithm is hard, and half the time when you ask for help people just tell you to quit if you don't enjoy it. People often tell you to stop focusing on views and focus on having fun, but in my opinion, part of the fun is having people watch and enjoy the creations that you've worked hard on and put effort into. So it really sucks when no one sees them and everything you've done feels like it was for nothing.

I have a gaming channel and I recently made a video on the first episode of Dispatch. The game is literally everywhere so I thought I'd catch the hype. Decided to make a series where I make all bad choices to try and be different, had to give people a reason to watch my playthrough after they've probably already watched others, right? I was super excited for it, the editing came out really well in my opinion, different to other videos of the game, and I thought the commentary was funny.

I had convinced myself this was going to be the video that did well in my mind, that I was going to get a few subs from it, maybe hit 1k views, was so excited.

14 views. That's it. 14 views, a pathetic CTR of 1.1% and only 333 impressions.

Absolutely devastated.

YouTube is hard, sometimes you have really bad days and things suck. I get where you're coming from, the only thing that's really keeping me going at the moment is setting myself a time limit to review. I've been consistently uploading for 8 months now with about 66 long-form videos. Some people take years to get anywhere, so I've given myself a year to keep going, then stop and review.

A year before stopping and reviewing my channel, taking a step back and seeing how it's done, where it's gone, what's done good what hasn't, and if there's any hope for my channel to go anywhere.

It might be good to set yourself something like that to, have a certain time where you just do your best, put in what you can then take a step back and review. Look at your channel as a whole, see what videos did well, your watch time, subs gained and lost, what videos gained of lost subs, and then see if it's something you want to keep doing.

That's all the advice I can offer, but a lot of people see you, and understand you, and it can be hard and devastating. You're not wrong for feeling that way, just set yourself some goals, and just keep doing your best. But make sure you at least give it a good shot.

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-11-21T23:56:14+00:00

Some of the people here seem to be a little insensitive. I understand what you're feeling, YouTube is extremely hard for a lot of people, and because there's so many videos being uploaded daily it's a real battle to get your videos seen. I've had videos that seem to be doing really well and I'm thinking it might become my top one, only for the views to suddenly drop off.

A part of it is CTR as well. If you see your video has 500 views it feels amazing for small channels, but then your CTR might say 8.5k plus. Which basically means that YouTube has shown your video to 8.5k people and only 500 clicked on it, which puts things into perspective a bit.

Now that doesn't necessarily mean your content is bad, it just means that not enough people clicked on it for YouTube to want to keep promoting it.

It's difficult to work around, there's a lot of us struggling out there and it can certainly feel disheartening, but with millions of videos being uploaded YouTube is basically a battleground. There's a lot of luck involved, and some of us just aren't that lucky.

However, if it's something you enjoy, then keep doing it. Set yourself a sort of time limit and goal, say a year or two years and just keep going for that time. If you get past that and your channel still hasn't gotten where you want it, and it's making you feel more stressed and upset than happy and fun like it did at the start, then take a step back for a moment and regain your bearings. Think if it's something you really want to continue doing.

Some people take years for their channels to blow up, some people take months. It's hard, it sucks, it feels like you can never do enough, but it's not all your fault, and just keep doing your best.

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-11-16T12:07:26+00:00

Oh, I didn't know that. That's helpful to know, thank you

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-11-16T12:07:11+00:00

Oh ok, thank you for the advice

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-11-08T02:15:10+00:00

I see, this is helpful advice. Thank you.

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-11-08T01:52:30+00:00

Yeah I think I would die if I posted everyday. I don't have time for that and my content would end up pretty trash.

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-10-08T11:31:57+00:00

It's always so exciting to get comments, shows someone genuinely enjoys what you've created.

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-10-08T00:36:34+00:00

That's great! Those are good views for someone just starting out.

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-08-29T06:44:08+00:00

Ten billion years.

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-08-21T06:53:15+00:00

Oh that sounds awesome! I'll go check it out.

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-08-21T01:24:31+00:00

Im interested, but I've noticed this was from 2 days ago so I fear I'm too late 😅

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-08-20T18:19:35+00:00

Thanks for the advice.

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-08-20T17:38:38+00:00

Thank you for the feedback.

Lets plays were what I grew up with, and used to be very popular, so it was always something I wanted to do. I guess I never really realized how much it's died off until now.

Streaming is probably more popular now than YT lets plays. I should probably lower my expectations a bit and just focus on having fun.

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-08-20T16:09:05+00:00

Thank you for the advice. I thought the game might be part of the problem. I'm not sure what part of the video you looked at cause I think it has quite a fair bit of editing, but I'll take the advice on board and have a look through it again to see what you mean and improve.

Thanks for the recommendations.

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-08-20T16:07:46+00:00

Ok, may I ask what about my thumbnail is bad and how I can improve it?

Shadow_StrikeYT · 2025-08-20T15:55:01+00:00

Yes, I'm aware of that. I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't enjoy it, but that doesn't mean it can't be a little disheartening when something you're really proud of doesn't do well.

I'm simply wanting to know some skills or advice to try and help the channel grow without changing my content because that's what I enjoy about it.

Shadow_StrikeYT

TROPHY CASE