The dreaded 'No Views'

JordanBlower

JordanBlower

Liking YTtalk
I understand that popularity isn't why you should be making YouTube videos, but it can be so discouraging to see that 'No Views' on one of your videos - especially when you put a lot of effort into it and you actually feel it's one of those ones to get excited about.

Are there any tips you guys have for either pushing out of that entry zone or getting past the down it brings and finding motivation for the next video again? At the moment, I'm telling myself each new video will be the one that brings in new people and hopefully that keeps me going for a bit longer! I am enjoying myself and don't plan to stop, but I do think that we all want at least some people to watch our videos and it's so difficult to think popularity doesn't matter when you're getting absolutely nothing back.
 
Longer descriptions including key words, tags, good title and promotion on social media. Pretty basic stuff to do
 
JordanBlower said:
I understand that popularity isn't why you should be making YouTube videos, but it can be so discouraging to see that 'No Views' on one of your videos - especially when you put a lot of effort into it and you actually feel it's one of those ones to get excited about.

Are there any tips you guys have for either pushing out of that entry zone or getting past the down it brings and finding motivation for the next video again? At the moment, I'm telling myself each new video will be the one that brings in new people and hopefully that keeps me going for a bit longer! I am enjoying myself and don't plan to stop, but I do think that we all want at least some people to watch our videos and it's so difficult to think popularity doesn't matter when you're getting absolutely nothing back.
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Share with people... Even my least interesting videos I make for the purpose of at least sharing with family or friends, this is why I started YouTube in the first place. Not every video I do has the purpose of getting millions of views, but they are at least something I would show people I know.
 
1- I'm so tired of this attitude that you shouldn't be on YouTube for popularity or fame... I've followed that idea all the way until I JUST read you saying it, and as soon as I saw it it made me think... WHY NOT?? Why do we have to shame ourselves and others for wanting fame or popularity or even just a few people who like what they make??? -_- Anyway!

2- Build a twitter following and promote there. Build a facebook following and promote there. I'm sure your friends would love to see what you made! Promote videos more than once. Different people are online at different times, so people might miss the first post. But also don't be overbearing and post if 5 times in a single day. Also do throwback posts. After a month or something, post a video you really like.
I've also found that posting a video link on an unrelated forum can do wonders for attracting new audiences.

As for keeping the motivation alive... I wish I could help you :/ But I get discouraged by that same issue constantly. I'm trying to remind myself that this is something I enjoy, because it really is! I'm going to go to college for it for flip's sake! But it can be hard to feel that motivation when others don't seem interested. Just keep trying and remember it's not for them; it's for you AND them, but you first.
 
Thanks for the advice guys!

Willabee said:
1- I'm so tired of this attitude that you shouldn't be on YouTube for popularity or fame... I've followed that idea all the way until I JUST read you saying it, and as soon as I saw it it made me think... WHY NOT?? Why do we have to shame ourselves and others for wanting fame or popularity or even just a few people who like what they make??? -_- Anyway!
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You know, this is true. I think admitting it means people actively shame you and think that's all you care about, so you end up telling yourself that it's not important or is a bad thing.

Willabee said:
2- Build a twitter following and promote there. Build a facebook following and promote there. I'm sure your friends would love to see what you made! Promote videos more than once. Different people are online at different times, so people might miss the first post. But also don't be overbearing and post if 5 times in a single day. Also do throwback posts. After a month or something, post a video you really like.
I've also found that posting a video link on an unrelated forum can do wonders for attracting new audiences.
Click to expand...
I've been tweeting my videos to my like 870 followers, and it's bringing in some views. I'll think about when to tweet them and things, and as for Facebook, I'm still trying to convince myself it won't be embarrassing to do so and trying to think how to share them, do you have any tips?

As for forums, it's that same problem with people shaming you for sharing your videos as if you're just after promotion and views that keeps me from sharing really.

Anyway thank you!
 
JordanBlower said:
Thanks for the advice guys!



You know, this is true. I think admitting it means people actively shame you and think that's all you care about, so you end up telling yourself that it's not important or is a bad thing.


I've been tweeting my videos to my like 870 followers, and it's bringing in some views. I'll think about when to tweet them and things, and as for Facebook, I'm still trying to convince myself it won't be embarrassing to do so and trying to think how to share them, do you have any tips?

As for forums, it's that same problem with people shaming you for sharing your videos as if you're just after promotion and views that keeps me from sharing really.

Anyway thank you!
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I've been learning that a lot of twitter people are more like... How do I say this...
The follow people to be followed so they have followers. I don't know why I'm still so hung up on twitter. It's not a very social place it seems... It's more a promotional place. What we should really be switching to is Google+. You get a lot more views and recognition that way. It's slowly taking over. But now Facebook is competing with it, so... We'll see how that goes.

As for promoting yourself on your facebook... You will probably get those few people who will have a problem. They might accuse you of doing it the views... well... that's exactly what you're doing! So... Own it! You're doing it so people will see what you do and so that, if they like it, they can enjoy what you do. If there's a problem in that, then the person with the problem has some priorities to check. And if people make fun of you, well... Message me and rant about it, and I'll sit there and tell you how awesome you are :P
 
The mentality of doing YouTube because you enjoy it and not just for the fame is not a negative attitude. It is meant as a safety net for when you don't become as popular as soon as you'd like. It is to help you to become less discouraged. Also, most people will put a lot more time and love into their videos when they are doing it for the fun of it and not thinking about the views because most people do better work when it doesn't feel like work. But that's not to say that views shouldn't be part of your thoughts, because you do need to make videos that people will actually want to watch and you do have to promote them.

A really good way of getting views is using Adwords, but that costs money. But when I tried it, I got people leaving comments saying, "Why was this an ad?" which is kind of similar to when people accuse you of promoting your video just for views. I've just replied to those people with something like, "Well, did it work? Did you watch it?" or "Oh crap, doing this will get more people to view my video? I was hoping no one would see that."
 
Be active on social media. For me Google+ helped me out the most. I joined communities what i like and was active posting stuff and scored quite allot of subs(and views). My G+ page views pretty much blown up for a couple thousands to almost 600K views now! Google+ is fantastic:)
 
Idec Sdawkminn said:
The mentality of doing YouTube because you enjoy it and not just for the fame is not a negative attitude. It is meant as a safety net for when you don't become as popular as soon as you'd like. It is to help you to become less discouraged. Also, most people will put a lot more time and love into their videos when they are doing it for the fun of it and not thinking about the views because most people do better work when it doesn't feel like work. But that's not to say that views shouldn't be part of your thoughts, because you do need to make videos that people will actually want to watch and you do have to promote them.

A really good way of getting views is using Adwords, but that costs money. But when I tried it, I got people leaving comments saying, "Why was this an ad?" which is kind of similar to when people accuse you of promoting your video just for views. I've just replied to those people with something like, "Well, did it work? Did you watch it?" or "Oh crap, doing this will get more people to view my video? I was hoping no one would see that."
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I guess it's a mixture of both. I mean, I do think that low expectations mean you won't be disappointed in the long run but without them you don't have the passion to get somewhere. It's just the thought that sometimes the views are SO low that you can't help but find it a little disconcerting. People always trying to get others down, I guess.

Jaguar550 said:
Be active on social media. For me Google+ helped me out the most. I joined communities what i like and was active posting stuff and scored quite allot of subs(and views). My G+ page views pretty much blown up for a couple thousands to almost 600K views now! Google+ is fantastic:)
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I've literally never spent a minute looking at Google+ but you've convinced me. I do think other social media does help keep you motivated, and I've had a few messages there from people enjoying videos and such which do serve to really give you an injection of motivation.
 
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