Why I Wasn’t Getting Views
Initially, when I launched my YouTube channel, I thought uploading videos would suffice. I dedicated time to video production, editing, and even titling them properly, but they did not receive many views. This was very disappointing.
Eventually, I understood that it was not only a content issue but also the lack of knowledge about YouTube SEO. Since my videos were not targeting the right people, they were not clicked on or viewed at all.
Only after I learned how YouTube worked and implemented SEO techniques did everything start to fall into place. Here is an exact step-by-step guide on how I achieved 10k views on YouTube.
YouTube SEO – What is it? (My Understanding)
YouTube for me is just like Google. When we search for something, YouTube tries to show the most relevant videos, like how Google displays the most relevant sites.
Therefore, by doing YouTube SEO, my goal is to make my videos understandable and searchable by YouTube itself.
These include:
– Using relevant keywords
– Creating better titles for my videos
– Creating attractive thumbnails
– Enhancing watch time
Since doing these things, I found that YouTube was promoting my work more often as if it understood what I was doing.
Step-by-Step: How I Got My First 10K Views
I didn’t go viral overnight, and honestly, there were days I wanted to quit. Instead, I followed a simple system and focused on getting just a little bit better with every single upload.
Step 1: I Focused on the Right Keywords
In the beginning, I made the mistake of targeting broad topics like “YouTube tips” or “fitness advice.” These were too competitive, and my videos never ranked.
Then I switched to more specific topics like “YouTube SEO for beginners” or “how to get views on YouTube without subscribers.” These are easier to rank for and bring in targeted viewers.
Once I started doing this, I noticed my videos were slowly getting impressions and clicks.
Step 2: I Improved My Titles
At first, my titles were very basic and didn’t attract attention. I realized that a title needs to do two things: it should include the keyword and also make people curious.
So instead of writing something simple, I started making my titles more engaging. For example, I changed from “YouTube SEO Tips” to something like “YouTube SEO for Beginners: Get Your First 10K Views Fast.”
That small change alone improved my clicks.
Step 3: I Worked on My Thumbnails
This was a big turning point for me. I noticed that even when my videos got impressions, people weren’t clicking.
That’s when I realized my thumbnails were weak. They were either too plain or too cluttered.
I started using:
- Bold text (2-4 words)
- Clear visuals
- Emotional expressions
Once I improved my thumbnails, my CTR began to increase. If you want to dive deeper into this, I highly recommend reading:
YouTube Thumbnail CTR: 5 Proven Tricks to Increase Clicks.
This helped me understand how small changes can double my clicks.
Step 4: I Optimized My Descriptions
Earlier, I completely ignored descriptions. I thought they didn’t matter much, and I was wrong.
Now, I always include my main keyword in the first two lines and naturally add related keywords. I also make sure my description clearly explains what the video is about.
It’s a simple step, but it helps YouTube better understand the content.
Step 5: I Focused on Watch Time
At one point, I was getting clicks but still not growing. That’s when I realized people were leaving my videos too early.
So I changed my approach. I stopped adding long intros and got straight to the point. I focused on making my videos more engaging from the first few seconds.
As my watch time improved, YouTube started recommending my videos more.
Step 6: I Started Posting at the Right Time
Another thing I overlooked was timing. I used to upload at random without thinking about when my audience was active.
Later, I realized that posting at the right time helps get initial engagement, which is very important for growth.
If you want a more detailed guide, I recommend checking this out:
Best Time to Upload YouTube Shorts in India (Data + Strategy)
Once I aligned my uploads with active hours, I noticed better performance.
Step 7: I Stayed Consistent
One thing I learned is that one video won’t change everything. Growth takes time and patience. In the beginning, my videos got very few views, sometimes fewer than 50. But I didn’t stop. I kept uploading and improving.
With each video, I got slightly better at SEO, thumbnails, and content. Over time, those small improvements added up.
How I Reached My First 10K Views
My journey to 10K views wasn’t instant. It happened gradually.
At first, I was getting:
– 50–100 views per video
Then, as I improved:
– 300–500 views
Eventually:
– 1,000+ views on some videos
One or two videos started performing better, and that boosted my entire channel. That’s when I crossed 10K total views.
This made me realize that YouTube growth is not about just one viral video; it’s about consistent improvement.
Mistakes I Made (So You Don’t Have To)
Looking back, I made several mistakes that slowed my growth.
I targeted highly competitive topics without thinking. My titles were boring, and my thumbnails didn’t stand out. I also ignored watch time and uploaded without any schedule.
But once I fixed these issues, I started seeing real progress.
Conclusion: What I Recommend
If I had to do it all over again, the things I would do
First, it would be choosing low competition keywords, then creating better titles, and designing thumbnails that actually make people click. I would then focus on keeping viewers engaged and uploading consistently.
But most importantly, I would be patient. Growth on YouTube is very slow at first, but once it picks up, it accelerates quickly.
If you follow the same approach I used, I’m confident you can reach your first 10K views—and probably faster than I did