The 5 Reasons Your Channel Isn't Growing and How to Fix It Today

Send us a textAuto-clip your long form into viral shorts- https://link.vidiq.com/podcast-to-shortsGet the vidIQ plugin for FREE: https://vidiq.ink/boostpluginWant a 1 on 1 coach? https://vidiq.ink/theboost1on1Join our Discord! https://www.vidiq.com/discordWatch the video version: https://youtu.be/Na8rto6X_M0We break down five core reasons channels stall and show how to restart growth with viewer-first strategy, stronger hooks, and a system you can sustain. We share practical fixes for niche confusion, retention drop-offs, and perfectionism while offering accountability tools to keep you moving.• redefining consistency as creator accountability not algorithm worship• building realistic schedules for full-time workers• defining a clear viewer and choosing three to five content buckets• becoming the through line so topics can broaden over time• matching title and thumbnail promises in the first 15 seconds• rehooking through sections and removing early ending cues• using shorts to practice hooks and pacing• planning story in pre-production to raise quality faster• shipping, measuring, and improving one lever per video• committing to a no-quit window and pivoting with purpose• joining community for feedback and accountabilitySubscribe if you like it. Email us your questions at [email protected]. Join our free Discord to meet other creators and get feedback. We have one-on-one coaching linked in the show notes. Leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts.

Send us a textAuto-clip your long form into viral shorts- https://link.vidiq.com/podcast-to-shortsGet the vidIQ plugin for FREE: https://vidiq.ink/boostpluginWant a 1 on 1 coach? https://vidiq.ink/theboost1on1Join our Discord! https://www.vidiq.com/discordWatch the video version: https://youtu.be/Na8rto6X_M0We bring John back to unpack leaving a staff role for creator life, why viral shorts didn’t feel like success, and how a mission to help creators beat “slop” changed everything. We answer audience questions on TV viewers, brand ROI, streaming strategy, and AI editing’s limits.• redefining success from views to impact and mission• separating formats when shorts overshadow long form• subtitles, metadata and clarity reviving old stories• outside perspective as the only reliable “metric”• cutting ego, tightening hooks and payoff discipline• TV watch time depressing sub conversion on travel content• pitching brands with ROI proof and affiliate data• multi‑streaming pragmatics and YouTube‑native packaging• repurposing landscape to vertical without bad crops• AI editing as assistant, not storyteller• simplifying platforms to avoid burnout and ship moreJohn's Instagram - https://instagram.com/HeyJohnScottJohn's Creator Advice - https://youtuber.help/John's Viral Shorts Course - https://viral.school/

Send us a textAuto-clip your long form into viral shorts- https://link.vidiq.com/podcast-to-shortsGet the vidIQ plugin for FREE: https://vidiq.ink/boostpluginWant a 1 on 1 coach? https://vidiq.ink/theboost1on1Join our Discord! https://www.vidiq.com/discordWatch the video version: https://youtu.be/Na8rto6X_M0vidIQ India: https://www.youtube.com/@vidIQIndiaWe test YouTube’s collab feature with real data, compare two collaborations with opposite discovery patterns, and share how vidIQ India used a single launch to stand on its own. We also tackle shorts vs long‑form conversions, time sacrifice, and cultural insights that change how you read subscriber counts.• Why audience fit beats audience size for collaborations• How the collab feature seeds subscription feeds and triggers recommendations• VidIQ India launch results and sustaining views without a collab boost• SPEED vs Nomad Push case studies and what made one “stickier”• Turning shorts viewers into long‑form viewers with bridges and expectations• Practical time sacrifices, prioritisation, and avoiding burnout• “Hyper subscribe” in India and what subscriber counts really mean• Future tools: sponsored segments, detection, and creator controlFeel free to subscribe on YouTube. If you’re listening to the audio podcast, leave us a five star review

Send us a textAuto-clip your long form into viral shorts- https://link.vidiq.com/podcast-to-shortsGet the vidIQ plugin for FREE: https://vidiq.ink/boostpluginWant a 1 on 1 coach? https://vidiq.ink/theboost1on1Join our Discord! https://www.vidiq.com/discordWatch the video version: https://youtu.be/0RE0fZkIbI4We trace Robin’s wild journey from a struggling skate channel and homelessness to a thriving English-language travel vlog built from internet cafes, $11 nights, and relentless challenges. Skating Japan, crossing Korea, riding a gifted moped through 47 prefectures, and now vanlife—each arc stacks story, skill, and momentum.• why the skate channel rose during Olympics then collapsed in a niche market• partner exit and the choice to livestream a seven-month Japan crossing• super chats as temporary fuel and the need for durable formats• creating Nomad Push and targeting English speakers with honest travel• life inside Japan’s internet cafes and how to live on night packs• filming for serendipity, editing for pace, and using quiet well• budget Japanese food, prices, and practical tips for safe travel• the 2M-view shoutout, riding the wave, and sustaining growth• moped journey across 47 prefectures and DIY map graphics• launching vanlife to prevent a post-challenge slump• creative mindset: have fun, do something extreme, avoid burnoutCheck out Robin’s channel, links in the description

Send us a textAuto-clip your long form into viral shorts- https://link.vidiq.com/podcast-to-shortsGet the vidIQ plugin for FREE: https://vidiq.ink/boostpluginWant a 1 on 1 coach? https://vidiq.ink/theboost1on1Join our Discord! https://www.vidiq.com/discordWatch the video version: https://youtu.be/42BclmoqbB4We walk through how the guys left Donut, built Speeed from scratch, and learned to balance inspiration with packaging without burning out. We share what worked, what flopped, and why authenticity is the only sustainable strategy on YouTube.• lessons from High Low and big-budget production• why we left and how we kept it respectful• first upload panic and the rebound• the “magazine” model beyond cars• experiments that outperformed expectations• packaging rules: idea first, thumbnail second• what the algorithm gets right and wrong• analytics traps with the 1–10 ranking• tools, sponsors, and weekly ops pressure• small-channel shoutouts and influences• live two-minute channel pitch challengeIf you're new to Speeed, you can check them out. There'll be a link in the description as well as the show notes if you're listening to audio podcast.

Send us a textAuto-clip your long form into viral shorts- https://link.vidiq.com/podcast-to-shortsGet the vidIQ plugin for FREE: https://vidiq.ink/boostpluginWant a 1 on 1 coach? https://vidiq.ink/theboost1on1Join our Discord! https://www.vidiq.com/discordWatch the video version: https://youtu.be/0RE0fZkIbI4We break down how to grow on YouTube by thinking like a viewer, from using the collab feature without breaking the promise to designing for lean-back TV audiences. We also answer listener questions on mixed-format channels, browse vs search, accessibility, and naming your channel.• why the algorithm serves viewers, not creators• how to use the collab feature to meet expectations• where collabs fit in your content mix• TV viewing habits and lean-back packaging• AI upscaling and higher-res thumbnails for TVs• playlists and targeted end screens for binges• browse vs search and “scary” analytics• separating podcasts from produced videos• accessibility cues that boost retention• naming a channel for memorability and growthYou can subscribe if you feel like it. Or even better, watch another podcast. If you’re on the audio podcast, leaving us a five star review is always amazing and appreciated.

Send us a textAuto-clip your long form into viral shorts- https://link.vidiq.com/podcast-to-shortsGet the vidIQ plugin for FREE: https://vidiq.ink/boostpluginWant a 1 on 1 coach? https://vidiq.ink/theboost1on1Join our Discord! https://www.vidiq.com/discordWatch the video version here: https://youtu.be/s4dQbeDH0VsWe dig into YouTube’s AI push, the underrated power of the new collaboration tool, and why understanding human behavior beats chasing algorithm lore. Listener questions take us from reptile care positioning to audio-only let’s plays to the collector mindset that turns variety into a focused channel.• AI-enabled creation vs policy enforcement tension• Collaboration tool benefits and onboarding friction• Entertainment vs education packaging for animal niches• On-camera energy: the 130 percent rule• Audio-only let’s plays limits and visual repackaging• Titles that trigger curiosity through specificity• Collector through lines that enable channel variety• Search intent, answer-first structure, and personality layering• RPM realities for shorts and likely AI feeds• Hype feature timing and practical CTAsIf you’re listening and you want to send us an email, you can send it to theboost at vidik.com

Send us a textAuto-clip your long form into viral shorts- https://link.vidiq.com/podcast-to-shortsGet the vidIQ plugin for FREE: https://vidiq.ink/boostpluginWant a 1 on 1 coach? https://vidiq.ink/theboost1on1Join our Discord! https://www.vidiq.com/discordWatch the YouTube version: https://youtu.be/-PzSEl2E2UoWe put YouTube’s new Collab feature through a real test and watched first-day impressions jump from 2,800 to 58,000 on a new channel. We dig into analytics, tradeoffs, and how smaller creators can partner smart without changing their format.• How the Collab feature expands distribution into partner subscriptions and browse• Why launch timing matters more than retroactive collabs• What to expect when CTR and AVD dip but total watch time soars• Practical steps for small-channel collaborations and shared analytics• When to separate education from entertainment to avoid audience confusion• Diagnosing big impression drops with traffic sources and seasonality• Using AI to lift scripts, audio, and ideation without losing your voice• Positioning in saturated niches and when identity should inform brandingSubscribe on the podcast channel for weekly Q&A and leave us a five star review on Apple if you’re enjoying the show

Send us a textAuto-clip your long form into viral shorts- https://link.vidiq.com/podcast-to-shortsGet the vidIQ plugin for FREE: https://vidiq.ink/boostpluginWant a 1 on 1 coach? https://vidiq.ink/theboost1on1Join our Discord! https://www.vidiq.com/discordWatch the YouTube version: https://youtu.be/gpTP3s-AOMIWe grapple with AI’s blurry line between prompting and creating, then dig into practical, grounded tactics for pivots, thumbnails, and growth that hold up under pressure. Along the way, we unpack niche strategy, device behavior, and how to build repeatable “luck” on YouTube.• creator vs prompter with AI ethics and friction• pivoting a monetized reaction channel into parenting• leveraging a unique life story as a moat• why inconclusive A/B tests default and what to do instead• when to stop testing and enforce visual consistency• YouTube variance vs luck and how skill compounds• packaging tiny niches for broader curiosity• translations and auto-dubbing realities• TV vs mobile: lean-back design and length experiments• experiment scope: three to five videos before judgingHit that subscribe button if you feel like itLeave us a five star review

Send us a textAuto-clip your long form into viral shorts- https://link.vidiq.com/podcast-to-shortsGet the vidIQ plugin for FREE: https://vidiq.ink/boostpluginWant a 1 on 1 coach? https://vidiq.ink/theboost1on1Join our Discord! https://www.vidiq.com/discordWatch the YouTube version: https://www.youtube.com/@vidIQPodcastsWe break down why Sora 2 feels like a before-and-after moment for content creation and what it means for tools, creativity, copyright, and trust. We push past hype, share where lines get crossed, and map practical ways to adapt without losing your voice.• what sora 2 is and why it matters• prompting vs creating, and where tools end• lowering barriers and rising competition• “ai slop” definitions, intent, and quality• accusations of ai use and proving human work• likeness, consent, and ethical red lines• copyright risk, parody limits, and safe uses• practical workflows: b‑roll, editing, ideation• misinformation loops and fact-check habits• what platforms may restrict next and why• how to futureproof with voice, trust, and seriesFollow us on all the social medias if you're listening to a YouTube video. Hope to hit that subscribe button, hit that like button. You can always send us a message using the text test message in the show notes.