How do you get FIRST viewers?

[Windstryke]

I've seen an awful lot of threads, videos, pages and everything else with every sort of advice there is yet everything there appears to miss one important detail - using facebook, twitter, high quality video & audio, feed, tags, etc. won't get me far if I have -no one- watching what I do or following me anywhere. So my question here is how does one go about getting those first, say, hundred regular viewers without all the usual faulty ways like spamming / begging, etc.

 

[Apoxa]

You just have to advertise your self legitimately and post great content that people will like. Make sure you take advantage of social media and ask your viewers to share your videos also.

 

[Adrian Marioghae]

it's really all about getting people to watch you initially and give you a chance. You will most likely have to do some begging to your friends to get them viewing your stuff. Your stuff also has to be catchy enough to keep them coming back. I'm no big YouTuber by any means but I can now rake in over 100 views for my videos without much promotion, simply because I did the begging when I started and kept coming with the good content. Your friends are gonna be your initial driving force when you need those beginning views

 

[Windstryke]

Make sure you take advantage of social media and ask your viewers to share your videos also.

See, again, I have no viewers so if I ask empty twitter to share my stuff it won't do anything. ;x

it's really all about getting people to watch you initially and give you a chance. You will most likely have to do some begging to your friends to get them viewing your stuff. Your stuff also has to be catchy enough to keep them coming back. I'm no big YouTuber by any means but I can now rake in over 100 views for my videos without much promotion, simply because I did the begging when I started and kept coming with the good content. Your friends are gonna be your initial driving force when you need those beginning views

My problem is that I don't live in an english speaking country so if you're talking about real life friends then that probably won't work unless I re-qualify to making pop songs (you know, the type that sounds so cheesy you really wonder why do people like them without understanding a single word).

I appreciate the advice though, thanks!

 

[Adrian Marioghae]

See, again, I have no viewers so if I ask empty twitter to share my stuff it won't do anything. ;x



My problem is that I don't live in an english speaking country so if you're talking about real life friends then that probably won't work unless I re-qualify to making pop songs (you know, the type that sounds so cheesy you really wonder why do people like them without understanding a single word).

I appreciate the advice though, thanks!

Even if you don't live in an English-speaking country your friends can still help you. Out of the goodness of their heart they can help, or they may know English speakers that you otherwise wouldn't have access too. It's worth a shot. Plus you have YTtalk to help promote yourself

 

[Arleth Smith]

random/popular/unrelated tags ?

 

[Windstryke]

Even if you don't live in an English-speaking country your friends can still help you. Out of the goodness of their heart they can help, or they may know English speakers that you otherwise wouldn't have access too.

Perhaps, but I think that goes a bit against... Well. For lack of better words, code of honor? I want to find someone who's interested in watching what I do because of what it is, not just because we knew each other since forever. What you're saying makes sense and I'll defo keep it in mind but it's just not something I'd like to start with!

Plus you have YTtalk to help promote yourself

Yes, I should probably spam-promote myself a lil' bit more here too.

random/popular/unrelated tags ?

Hm. While it sounds like it might work it will also lead to people just clicking off my video once they realize they've been fooled. I don't have partnership to fake thumbnails either. An interesting idea but the problem once again is that all popular tags are used by the big youtubers who flood first few pages of the standard search. Nevertheless, interesting advice.

 

[Adrian Marioghae]

Perhaps, but I think that goes a bit against... Well. For lack of better words, code of honor? I want to find someone who's interested in watching what I do because of what it is, not just because we knew each other since forever. What you're saying makes sense and I'll defo keep it in mind but it's just not something I'd like to start with!



Yes, I should probably spam-promote myself a lil' bit more here too.

I understand that, definitely. I'm kinda the same way in the sense that I'd rather have genuine help than helping me because one feels obliged to

 

[TheWillBox]

My original viewers were some friends and family that were on my private facebook. They would watch to see what I was doing and probably stopped watching once it wasn't something they were interested in.

Then I got some viewers on these forums and other vloggers/youtubers. This became a symbiotic relationship, where if you became their audience, they were more than happy to be part of yours... it's like using each other, but hopefully some of those genuinely like your content.

My latest audience is targeted nerds and geeks that attend conventions. Specifically cosplayers and event organizers. When I spotlight them or do interviews, they will for sure tune in since they want to see themselves as well as share to their fanbase to show off.

Long story short, I've learned to build an audience you have to engage them and cater to them. My twitter and facebook fan page is almost dedicated to interacting with them and getting them excited for my next videos.

 

[Windstryke]

My original viewers were some friends and family that were on my private facebook. They would watch to see what I was doing and probably stopped watching once it wasn't something they were interested in.

Then I got some viewers on these forums and other vloggers/youtubers. This became a symbiotic relationship, where if you became their audience, they were more than happy to be part of yours... it's like using each other, but hopefully some of those genuinely like your content.

My latest audience is targeted nerds and geeks that attend conventions. Specifically cosplayers and event organizers. When I spotlight them or do interviews, they will for sure tune in since they want to see themselves as well as share to their fanbase to show off.

Long story short, I've learned to build an audience you have to engage them and cater to them. My twitter and facebook fan page is almost dedicated to interacting with them and getting them excited for my next videos.

Interesting. So since friends and family are something I'd not like to involve, would you say lurking forums is my next second best option?

I've been pondering getting in touch with some of the other smaller-scale youtubers to get something going which I reckon is pretty close to spotlighting / interviewing.

I have already set up my twitter to interact with whatever viewership I may or may not get but, once again, since I have no viewers those are sorta just gathering dust outside of my attempts to shove my stuff into the re-tweet web (which doesn't seem to be working at all =/)

Thanks for the feedback!