The #1 Advice for YouTube Beginners | Aprilynne Alter

In this episode of the Play Stack podcast, Aprilynne A., a YouTube creator and educator, shares her journey and strategies to become a successful YouTuber.

Aprilynne Alter's journey to YouTube success is a testament to her strategic approach and determination. With three channels reaching over 30,000 subscribers each, her experience provides valuable lessons for aspiring YouTubers. Her story highlights the importance of understanding your audience, focusing on quality content, and continuously adapting your strategy based on performance metrics.

Personalized Content Creation System

One of the key takeaways from Aprilynne’s experience is the importance of finding a content creation system that works for you. She says, "The best system possible is the one that works for you." Initially, she followed the typical weekly upload schedule but found it demoralizing when she didn't get the traction she expected. This led her to set a 90-day challenge to get her channel monetized, uploading three videos per week. This intense schedule helped her identify her baseline quality and areas for improvement.

Aprilynne emphasizes the need for creators to experiment and find their "minimum viable video" - a concept she used to streamline her content creation process. For her, this meant dedicating one day each to research, scripting and filming, and editing and uploading. This approach allowed her to produce videos quickly while maintaining a standard quality level.

Quality Over Quantity

Inspired by Mr. Beast, Aprilynne shifted her focus from weekly uploads to creating high-quality videos, even if it meant spending more time on each one. She recalls, "A common mistake that a lot of beginners go through is saying you have to upload once per week no matter what." Instead, she decided that each video should be as good as possible, regardless of how long it took to create.

This shift in strategy paid off when one of her videos, which she spent two to three weeks producing, went viral. She learned that investing time in quality can lead to significant payoffs in terms of views and subscriber growth. Aprilynne's approach underscores the value of prioritizing quality over quantity to build a loyal and engaged audience.

Importance of Experimentation

Aprilynne believes in the power of experimentation to keep content fresh and engaging. She mentions, "Giving myself the permission to experiment and work on a video that might not do well was crucial." This mindset allowed her to explore different video formats and styles, pushing her creative boundaries and preventing burnout.

She also stresses the importance of not pigeonholing oneself into a single content style. For instance, after creating a successful series of videos, she decided to take a break and experiment with more cinematic content. This not only helped her grow as a creator but also kept her audience engaged with diverse content.

Using Data to Drive Decisions

Data-driven decision-making is a cornerstone of Aprilynne's YouTube strategy. She regularly analyzes her YouTube analytics to understand what works and what doesn’t. Key metrics she focuses on include retention rates, click-through rates (CTR), and the performance of new versus returning viewers. By studying these metrics, she can refine her content to better meet audience expectations.

Aprilynne also looks at traffic sources to see where her videos are being discovered and how different sources affect engagement. She notes that understanding these nuances can help tailor content to maximize its reach and impact.

Building an Email List

Despite initial reluctance, Aprilynne acknowledges the importance of building an email list to maintain audience ownership and ensure long-term engagement. She explains, "I was so sick and tired of hearing the advice 'get off platform, own your audience, start an email list,' and I was like fine, I will."

Although her conversion rate from video views to email sign-ups is not as high as she hoped, she has managed to build a substantial list of nearly 3,000 subscribers. This email list provides a direct line to her audience, independent of YouTube's algorithm changes.

Drawing Inspiration from Other Creators

Aprilynne draws inspiration from various creators, including Katherine Manning, Ali Abdaal, and Life of Riza. She incorporates their techniques and styles into her content, continuously learning and adapting to improve her videos. She highlights the importance of finding mentors and role models in the YouTube community to guide and inspire your creative journey.

Implementing Frameworks and Lead Magnets

To provide additional value to her audience and collect emails, Aprilynne integrates frameworks and PDFs as lead magnets in her videos. This approach not only helps her build her email list but also offers viewers tangible takeaways that enhance their learning experience. She says, "All of the ones in how to make a killer video series will have those... If I break it into a framework, it's going to have a PDF associated with it."

Dealing with Imposter Syndrome

Like many creators, Aprilynne has faced imposter syndrome, especially after a video goes viral. She shares, "I felt some imposter syndrome of like, well, how do I prove to everyone else and to myself I'm not a one-hit-wonder?" Overcoming these doubts requires persistence and a focus on continuous improvement.

Strategic Shifts and Future Plans

Aprilynne plans to continue experimenting with new content styles and strategies. She mentions her interest in more cinematic videos and the importance of giving herself the freedom to create content that might not perform well. This approach helps her stay motivated and creatively fulfilled, ensuring long-term sustainability in her YouTube career.