I hate self promotion..

[Turtle]

I don't feel bad, I have gained most of my subs from advertising and just messaging people on my friends list saying oh hey, I have this channel would you check it out. I create the content for people to enjoy, whats the point of no enjoys it because they don't see it? Just think of yourself as a business, you need to advertise to spread the word of mouth. I hope that makes sense xD

 

[LegendOfGamer]

Self promotion is key but try and do it in a creative way. The best way to self promote is to make great content because when people see something they enjoy they remember you and tell others about you as well. If you keep making the best videos that you can it all adds up in the end and you'll have an audience from there its all about working with them to get out there

 

[3 Schmoes]

Yeah, I hate telling people to check out my channel, which can easily be accessed by clicking on the link below. Seriously, it's so annoying to have to ask people to check out all my awesome videos that are truly entertaining down to their very core. If I have to ensure one more person that they won't be disappointed if they subscribe to my channel I'm gonna go nuts.

 

[Coco Chan]

I try never to tell people to check my video out in other people's videos. But I guess I won't hesitate to promote in forums or twitter or whatever other social media network there is out there. (Except Facebook, cause I'm afraid of what my friends' reactions would be ._.)

I just don't really know what else I can do to promote without being too outright whorish. :S

 

[Sal]

Honestly it can go two ways. Either people check your channel out and like it, or they give you hate. Also don't feel like ur desperate for views there's nothing a small youtubem can do about it

 

[Symph]

I know that self-promotion is key for smaller channels like myself..

BUT, at the same time I feel like I'm giving off the vibe of a kid desperate for views.. and I feel like that drives people away..

Does anyone else feel the same? Or am I just crazy?

It's how you do it Grandpaw. You don't say "hey check out my channel" You strike up conversations with people and be really active like, yes being active on the forum is good, go be active on youtube too. Respond to people who watch vlogs similar to yours, don't mention your channel just make them laugh or agree with their points or something. When the conversation gets going, look for an opening, maybe they'll mention something you've done a video on the subject of, then you say "yeah there's a video about that on my channel!" It's just... how you do it.

 

[Cherry Rammer]

Symph got it, I have no problem self promoting myself. Think of it like when you're trying to hit on a girl or on a guy or trying to get a job really. All you're doing is self promotion. So I don't mind it and I encourage my friends to put me out there. if you genuinely ask people to help you or watch you. They will often feel special and do it.

 

[Travart]

It really depends on how you present yourself and how the self promotion looks itself.

In my opinion you should do that at the beginning until you get a small portion of subscribers with whom you can work with further on. Like what are the odds that someone, for example, will type my username in Youtube search bar - none, no one even knows who I am except those few who subscribe. And self promotion in big youtuber comment section is one way of getting that start-up subscriber amount. Of course, you can do that through your friends, family, forums and what now. But, in my opinion, youtube comment section is one of those ways. Of course, it gets annoying when every kid writes "Yo, check out my cool minecraft vids", but there are some that explain the situation and are very polite on this matter. Imagine how faster things can go if you get like 300 subs at the beginning and interact with them. Of course there are these "hard beginning times" but you can always go past that by just few steps.

Me, myself - I am a new youtuber and at the beginning I had no subscribers. I shared my channel url with all my friends and that gave me about 35 subscribers. Then I did self promotion on one big youtuber comment section. But it was not one of those cheesy self promotions. Here's how mine looked "Hello, guys. I am sorry to bother you, I did enjoy video but I am also here to ask you a small favor. If you could spare just 5 minutes of your time and check out my youtube channel, you may find some good quality videos that might interest you. I know this is not the best way to do it, but all I am asking you is to check it out, maybe you will like it. And of course you can just ignore my comment and move on." It's just a short example of what I've done. And I didn't do that on like every video I watch. No - I just watched one funny video of some youtuber and posted that sort of a comment. As the time went by I kept on continuing the topic and replying to people who considered that as something wrong.

At the end I earned about 80 subs and for the beginner that is a lot. I am happy for what I've got and this is my opinion on self promotion in big Youtuber comment sections.

 

[IsntChrisL]

You gotta spice it up sometimes. Maybe instead of begging someone to visit your channel, you threaten them?

 

[Lozzamogz]

I know that self-promotion is key for smaller channels like myself..

BUT, at the same time I feel like I'm giving off the vibe of a kid desperate for views.. and I feel like that drives people away..

Does anyone else feel the same? Or am I just crazy?

I totally get what you mean! I can't even bring myself to suggest that people subscribe to my channel in my videos.