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Imagine you put in all the effort of creating some content, you finally decided to put your time and resources to grow your brand, to generate sales and to be out there. After all everybody is doing it and you don't want to fall behind.
You tell yourself that you will try it for a few pieces or for a few weeks to see if it works, but is that enough?
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Worth Watching
Part of what I do daily is consume a lot of content, and here are some of my favorites:
We created a full YouTube Idea Bank with all the previous outliers.
Format: Outlier score (multiple of average last 5 videos) \ Channel Name - Video name + link - My notes
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Leverage YouTube Data to Transform Underperforming Videos
Creating video content is a lot of effort, you need to come up with an idea, one that aligns with your goals. You have to write it so that it makes sense and you can get your audience hooked, then one that many people don't look forward to, filming - you buy all the gear and get over the fear of getting on camera.
Next is post-production, which is important too, but easier to outsource.
And finally we need to post and optimize your piece of content on YouTube and/or any other platform.
WRONG
A lot of people think that this is where it ends but it's not and this is where you will make a difference between a brand that uses video content effectively or one that wastes time and effort without results.
A lot of people get discouraged when, after all of that, their video gets 15 views on YouTube or maybe their Instagram reel got 64 views and one like, but nothing happened after that. You already worked on two more videos so you might as well post them, you get another 37 views and now you are wondering why you did all of that, waste all of that money, for nothing.
The actual final part that makes all the difference is testing, testing is done through performance analysis. What worked and what didn't work? Do we adapt, shift, adjust or double down?
As mentioned above there are so many different things you need to do to create a piece of content, let alone, a successful piece of content.
So look at your content as different blocks that can be placed and moved around in different ways to align accordingly.
Let me explain all the different blocks and their colors and why it's so important
Goal
- Views: Are you optimizing purely for reach and awareness? This requires different strategies than other goals. Often focusing on trending topics, searchable content, or highly shareable formats.
- Growth: Building a subscriber base requires consistent content that drives people to subscribe. You need strong calls-to-action and content that makes viewers want more.
- Authority: Positioning yourself as an expert means creating content that demonstrates deep knowledge, provides unique insights, and showcases your specialized expertise in ways competitors can't match.
- Conversion: Driving specific actions (email signups, product purchases, service inquiries) requires strategic content that qualifies viewers and includes persuasive elements and clear pathways to your offers.
- Discoverability: Getting found through search means keyword optimization, addressing specific questions your audience is asking, and creating content with longevity.
Idea
- What topic: Choose topics at the intersection of what your audience is actively searching for, what you have unique expertise in, and what aligns with your business goals. The right topic creates the foundation for everything else.
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Content format
- Short form: Perfect for quick tips, attention-grabbing moments, or concept introductions. Requires strong hooks and immediate value delivery within seconds.
- Podcast: Ideal for in-depth discussions, interviews, and building deeper connections. Works best when you have strong conversation skills and compelling guests.
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Long form
- Talking head: Direct communication builds trust and showcases personality, but requires strong presence and engaging delivery to maintain attention.
- Vlog: Creates authenticity and brings viewers into your world, excellent for building personal connection but requires interesting environments or activities.
- Walkthrough: Step-by-step demonstrations provide clear value and establish expertise, particularly effective for technical topics or skill teaching.
- Documentary: High-production storytelling that creates emotional connection and perceived value, but requires significant production resources.
Writing
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Hook
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Grab attention
- Relate: "If you've ever struggled with..." statements that immediately connect with the viewer's pain points or desires.
- Data: Surprising statistics or results that challenge assumptions or promise significant outcomes.
- Credibility: Quickly establish why viewers should listen to you specifically - your experience, results, or unique perspective.
- What to expect: Clear promise of the value they'll receive by watching the full content.
- Pattern interrupt/curiosity gap: Create a knowledge gap that can only be filled by continuing to watch - "Most people think X, but the reality is..." or "The third technique is what most experts miss..."
- Body: The meat of your content needs clear structure, valuable insights, and engaging delivery. The best structure follows a problem-agitate-solution format with specific examples and proof points.
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Outro
- CTA: Specific, compelling call-to-action that aligns with your goals. Don't just say "subscribe" - explain WHY they should subscribe and what they'll get. Keep this as short as possible.
Filming
- Camera quality: High production quality isn't always necessary, but poor video quality can damage your credibility. Find the right balance for your industry. Financial advisors need more polished visuals than fitness trainers. Invest in quality that matches viewer expectations for your specific niche.
- Lighting: Proper lighting dramatically improves perceived professionalism even with basic camera equipment.
- Background: Should complement, not distract from your message. Consider what it says about your brand.
- Delivery style: Energy level, pacing, and personality significantly impact retention. Different niches have different expectations. High energy for motivation, calm authority for technical topics.
- B-roll integration: Supporting footage that illustrates your points increases engagement and retention by breaking visual monotony.
Post-Production
- Editing pace: Faster cuts for engagement, slower for comprehension of complex topics.
- Visual enhancements: Text overlays, graphics, and animations that emphasize key points.
- Audio quality: Often more important than video quality. Clear audio is non-negotiable.
- Music selection: Establishes tone and maintains energy through content transitions.
- Pattern interrupts: Visual or audio changes that re-engage viewers when attention might naturally drop.
Optimization
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Packaging
- Thumbnail: The single most important click factor. Must stand out in a crowded feed, create curiosity, clearly communicate value, and match your brand. A/B testing thumbnails often gets the biggest performance improvements.
- Title: Needs to balance searchability (keywords) with click-worthiness. The first 2-3 words are critical for mobile viewing. Testing title formats across multiple videos reveals patterns of what works for your audience.
- Description optimization: Strategic keyword placement, timestamps, resource links and clear CTAs dramatically improve search performance and viewer action.
- Tagging strategy: Less important than before but still helps YouTube categorize your content correctly.
- Publish timing: Consistency matters more than specific times, but analyze when your audience is most active.
Each block, or block style can have a totally different outcome based on how you place them or which one you choose.
The most important part is that you need to test different combinations to find the best results, it can take a lot of variations to figure out one perfect block placement and style.
That's why I always say, find a format and style that works for you and that you can do consistently. When you don't know what works, you need to create data points to learn from.
Start with 10 videos and adjust, then another 10 and so on. YouTube might take 20-30 videos before seeing results. Short-form content, even more competitive, can take 100s of tries as long as you keep adjusting and doubling down.
Think of it like running scientific experiments rather than creative expression alone. Each video provides data that informs your next creation. Without this testing mindset, you're essentially shooting in the dark, and that's why so many creators quit before they find their winning formula.
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