When you create content on YouTube, you’re not only trying to get views, likes, and shares—you’re also trying to build a community of viewers. So if your goal is primarily about increasing the number of people who watch your videos and subscribe to your channel, then it may be worth considering how that might affect what type of content you post on the platform.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about creator loyalty on YouTube, why it matters for creators like yourself, and offer some tips for building a loyal audience with your content.
What is Creator Loyalty?
As a creator on YouTube, you’re trying to build an audience. However, that’s not the only metric you’re interested in—it’s also important to consider how many people are coming back to watch your content time and time again. This is where the idea of creator loyalty comes into play.
Think about the most popular YouTube channels out there right now. Whether it’s a comedy channel like Trevor Wallace, a beauty channel like BubzBeauty, or even a music-related channel like Kenny Beats, you’re probably thinking of accounts that have built up some serious viewer loyalty. This is because viewers feel an affinity for these channels—they eagerly return to view content and want to engage with the host.
Creator loyalty plays into some genres more than others. However, the principles behind why creator loyalty works—and why it matters for content creators—apply across the board.
Why is Creator Loyalty Important?
Creator loyalty is important because it demonstrates that people are returning to your videos from one upload to the next. It means they’re interested in what you have to say or share with them, and it shows that you have a captive audience that’s willing to come back when new content is added.
This, in turn, has a few implications for creators. First, you should focus on entertaining and engaging viewers with your content. From the moment someone arrives at your channel, you want to be thinking about how you can keep them there and what they might want to see next.
(Read: What Do People Watch Most on YouTube?)
Additionally, if you find a strategy that works for getting viewers to return again and again, then you shouldn’t feel the need to change your content radically. If you can find a regularly scheduled upload time, range of topics covered in videos, or other common elements that seem to be working for your channel, don’t drastically deviate from those.
Lastly, creator loyalty allows creators to derive new ways to monetize their channels. For example, they can advertise or create sponsored videos. In turn, this can translate into revenue for the creator.
How Can You Drive Creator Loyalty?
Create a Theme and Stick to it
One of the simplest ways to drive viewer loyalty is to keep a consistent theme throughout your videos. This can be as straightforward as having a particular color scheme or creating specific types of videos, but it should all tie together in some respect.
Being consistent with your content is also important from a strategy standpoint. If you make sure to stick to your theme, viewers will be able to use previous videos as a reference when they go to view new ones. This can help them find similar content they might be interested in as they explore more of your channel.
(Read: How Different Generations Consume Content on YouTube)
Focus on Targeted Content
Don’t try to please everyone. When you focus on creating content that appeals to a wide audience, it can sometimes leave your viewers feeling like you don’t care to connect with them. This is because they aren’t getting the type of content they want, and when people go back to watch content time and again, they’re looking for something specific.
When you focus on one type of viewer, you can provide more targeted content that appeals to them specifically. This will help you build a loyal audience of people interested in what you have to say and who want to see more from your channel. This, in turn, can lead to increased engagement, higher viewership, and monetization opportunities.
Make it Personal
Sometimes it can feel like the whole world is watching YouTube videos. However, for people to care about what you have to say and come back time after time, they need to see that you’re invested in their viewership.
Try taking some extra time on your video descriptions or talking directly to your viewers at the end of your videos. For example, you might try thanking them for watching and asking them to let you know what they think about the video. It might also be possible to get some personal feedback from your viewers by sharing a piece of information with them and seeing how they react or asking for their feedback.
Bottom Line
The number of creators on YouTube continues to grow, but if you create content that connects with your viewers, you’ll build up a loyalty and users will return to your channel time after time.