You’re looking to grow your YouTube channel. If you’re a small or growing YouTuber, you already know the effort it takes to create a great video. But what you do after hitting “publish” is just as important as the video itself.
Far too many creators upload a video, share it once, and simply hope for the best. Then they wonder why their views stall at 17. If that sounds familiar, this guide is for you.
In this article, we’ll walk through the complete post-upload strategy that helped drive millions of views across multiple videos. Whether you’re just starting out or already gaining traction, these techniques will give your content the best possible chance of success.
1. Start With the Right File Name
Before your video even hits YouTube, give the file a name that matches your video title. It might sound trivial, but it can contribute to your SEO.
YouTube can read the file name during upload. So naming it something like how-to-grow-on-youtube.mp4 instead of final_edit_v5.mov helps reinforce your video’s relevance. It’s a small edge, but worth doing.
2. Craft a Click-Worthy YouTube Title
Your title is everything — especially if you don’t already have a large audience. It needs to:
- Spark curiosity
- Include a descriptive keyword
- Accurately reflect the video content
Don’t overpromise. If your title says one thing but the video delivers another, viewers will click off — and YouTube’s algorithm will notice.
Take inspiration from titles that include high-performing keywords. For instance: “How Shorts Helped Me Beat the YouTube Algorithm” or “Why This Bullet Train Broke All Records”. These titles are clear, searchable and make viewers want to learn more.
3. Write a Powerful YouTube Description
Most creators neglect the video description, but it’s one of the most valuable SEO tools available.
Here’s a method that works:
- Paste your transcript into ChatGPT or another AI tool like Grok.
- Prompt it to generate a concise, keyword-rich paragraph optimised for YouTube SEO.
- Paste the result into your video’s description — and tweak it if needed.
Be sure to include your main keywords naturally, give a clear overview of the video, and provide value upfront. A strong description helps YouTube understand your content and improves discoverability.
4. Add Links and YouTube Playlists for Retention
Your video description should also include:
- Links to your website, affiliate products, or lead magnets (if relevant)
- A direct call to action
- Deep links to other videos within a playlist
Why playlists? Because when viewers watch a video inside a playlist, YouTube is more likely to recommend your own videos in the sidebar instead of sending them to a competitor. This keeps people on your channel for longer, boosts your watch time, and improves your channel authority.
To do this:
- Copy the playlist URL or an individual video URL within the playlist
- Add it to your video description with a short call to action
- Mention it in your video, too
5. Use Smart Hashtags
YouTube allows up to 60 hashtags, but only three will show above the title. You don’t need to overdo it — aim for three to five relevant tags that include important keywords or common search terms related to your content.
Examples:
#YouTubeGrowth#SmallYouTuberTips#HowToGetViews
Tailor your hashtags to each video. This improves SEO and discoverability, especially when paired with a strong title and description.
6. Design Eye-Catching YouTube Thumbnails
Your thumbnail, along with your title, is what gets people to click. If your thumbnail is dull, busy, or unclear, it won’t matter how good your video is — people simply won’t watch it.
Here’s a practical tip: create three versions of your thumbnail. Upload all of them and let YouTube’s algorithm test which one performs best.
Not sure how to design a compelling thumbnail? Use a tool like One of 10, which shows thumbnails from high-performing viral videos in your niche. Search by topic, see what works, and use those examples for inspiration.
7. Set the Right Upload Settings
Before your video goes live, be sure to:
- Add it to the appropriate playlist
- Select “not for kids” if it’s general content
- Choose “no” for paid promotion unless applicable
- Uncheck automatic chapters (if you prefer to add your own)
Then, under visibility, don’t publish straight away. Instead, set the video to private or unlisted for 2 to 24 hours. This allows YouTube to:
- Run all checks
- Analyse metadata
- Decide the right audience before the video is shown
Once you publish it properly, the algorithm will have a better chance of pushing it to your ideal viewers.
8. Add and Translate Subtitles
Subtitles increase watch time, accessibility and retention — especially if you’re targeting an international audience.
Here’s how:
- Go to your video and open the Subtitles tab
- Review the auto-generated English captions and make edits if needed
- Click “Add Language” and choose another (e.g. Hindi, Indonesian, Filipino)
- Use auto-translate and hit publish
This simple step allows viewers from other countries to understand and enjoy your content, making them more likely to subscribe and return.
9. Boost Early Engagement with a Support Account
Set up a second YouTube account — many creators do this. Once your video goes live:
- Watch it from your second account (in full)
- Like and comment
- Watch it again from a non-logged-in browser for an extra view
This early engagement helps your video start off strong in the first 24 hours. It’s all perfectly above board, and a common tactic among seasoned YouTubers.
10. Link Shorts to Long-Form Videos
If you’re not already using YouTube Shorts, you’re missing out on serious growth.
Shorts can rack up thousands of views quickly. Better still, you can link your new long-form video to your older Shorts. That way, when someone watches a Short, they’re presented with your full video next.
To do this:
- Go to each Short in YouTube Studio
- Click on the “Related” tab
- Link it to your most recent video
It’s quick, easy and very effective. Cross-promoting Shorts and long videos helps drive more traffic and build deeper engagement.
Bonus tip: if you’re struggling to create Shorts, try Nexus Clips, a clever AI tool that automatically generates up to five vertical Shorts from your long video, complete with subtitles and smart cropping.
11. Respond to Every YouTube Comment
In the hours and days after publishing, it’s vital to stay active in your comments section.
If you’re a small channel, reply to every single comment — even if it’s just a quick thank you. Ask questions, spark conversation, and make viewers feel seen.
This does two things:
- It increases your engagement, which helps your video performance
- It builds loyalty, encouraging viewers to subscribe and return
As your channel grows, this will get harder, but always make time to reply where you can.
Final Thoughts
Growing on YouTube isn’t just about creating content. It’s about what you do after uploading that makes the difference.
If you follow this proven workflow — from file naming to comments — you’ll give every video its best shot at success and the odd one might go viral. Small steps, done consistently, can lead to big results over time.
Thanks for reading, and here’s to your next video getting the attention it deserves.