The YouTuber Advice Tier List

About this video

• Video Title: The YouTuber Advice Tier List
• Channel: ZierToo
• Speakers: ZierToo
• Duration: 00:35:57

Overview

This video presents a tier list of common YouTube advice, categorizing it into F, D, C, B, and S tiers based on its effectiveness and potential impact on a creator's channel. The speaker analyzes each piece of advice, explaining the reasoning behind its placement, often referencing the YouTube algorithm and audience behavior.

Key takeaways

• F Tier (Terrible Advice):
  • Deleting old or underperforming videos: This hurts growth by removing data points the algorithm uses to understand co-watch behavior. Unlisting is a better alternative if the content is undesirable.
  • All engagement is good engagement: Negative or argumentative engagement does not benefit channel growth and can even be detrimental.
• D Tier (Waste of Time):
  • Posting at specific times or days: Generally irrelevant unless dealing with time-sensitive content.
  • The algorithm punishes breaks: Channels can take breaks without significant negative impact if their content resonates with the audience.
  • One weird trick for virality: Focusing on metadata manipulation over content quality is ineffective.
  • One bad upload can kill your channel: A single underperforming video is rarely fatal; a consistent string of uninteresting content is more damaging.
  • Monetization will hurt your channel: Audiences generally understand and support creators monetizing their content.
• C Tier (Potentially Useful, Not Universally Applicable):
  • Collabs are a good way to grow: Can work in specific contexts (e.g., cameos, game shows) but often fail to create lasting subscribers if the audience doesn't connect with the content.
  • Censor speech with euphemistic slang: While used online, direct language is generally acceptable if the context is appropriate.
  • Premieres help growth: Primarily a tool for hype and super chats, not significant growth.
  • Update/Q&A/Milestone videos: Can be valuable for audience connection but may not align with the core content a viewer subscribed for.
  • Fair use is a shield for all content: Misunderstood; using copyrighted material requires careful consideration and is not a free pass.
• B Tier (Good Advice, But Easy to Overestimate/Misinterpret):
  • Be interested (passion): Crucial, but niche or high-concept content can alienate viewers if not balanced.
  • Shorts will help channel grow: Effective for views and subs, but converting shorts viewers to long-form viewers is challenging.
  • Ask audience to subscribe: Effective, but directing viewers to another video is a stronger signal to the algorithm.
  • Focus on high CTR: Can be misleading; CTR naturally declines as a video gets more impressions. Focus on content quality over obsessing over CTR.
  • Get audience to sign up for a newsletter: A powerful way to maintain audience connection outside of YouTube's algorithm, though it can be costly.
• A Tier (Genuinely Great Advice):
  • Use AB thumbnail testing: Significantly boosts views by optimizing click-through rates.
  • Translate videos: Doubles revenue for minimal effort, especially with translated audio tracks.
• S Tier (Mindset/Ambition-Based):
  • The 80% rule: Focus on getting content 80% of the way to completion rather than getting stuck on perfection, thus ensuring content is actually published.
  • The algorithm is the audience: Prioritize what the audience wants and sees, rather than overthinking algorithm mechanics.