Struggling to grow your YouTube channel? 🤔 You’re not alone. This guide combines proven strategies, real-world experiences, and expert advice to show you how to get more subscribers on YouTube fast. You’ll learn actionable tips, backed by data and success stories, that you can implement today.

To bring you the most practical advice, we’ve analyzed discussions from online communities, gathered insights from experienced creators, and reviewed expert recommendations. This article is based on real-world strategies tested by content creators who’ve successfully grown their audiences. But, to sum up all the responses in one straight answer, read below.

How to Get Subscribers on YouTube?

To get subscribers on YouTube, you want to increase AVD (average view duration) to more than 60% and CTR (click-through-rate) to more than 8%. Many creators have stated that this is the best way to have a better chance of being prioritized with YouTube’s algorithm.

This table above outlines ideal benchmarks for critical YouTube metrics, including AVD rates of 60%+, CTR of 8%+.

AVD and CTR are essential metrics to gain YouTube subscribers and grow your channel quickly.

You don’t need a massive budget, years of experience or cheat codes to grow your subscriber count. By applying the tactics in the article, you’ll avoid common pitfalls and focus on strategies that truly work. 

So, let’s dive in and unlock the secrets to building a thriving YouTube community! 🎥✨

Table of Contents

Prioritizing Average View Duration and Click-Through-Rate will get you the growth you’re looking for in subscribers and more importantly views. Below is a pie chart that highlights the most important metrics for YouTube success, including AVD, CTR, Watch Time, Session Watch Time, Session Duration and Audience Retention. Having a plan to target these metrics will help any creator get subscribers on YouTube fast.

Understanding and optimizing key metrics is crucial to gain subscribers on YouTube and grow a channel.

To do this you must combine tactics for Content, SEO, CTR, Average View Duration, CTAs and Promotion that is best for your brand, channel and audience.

Focusing on improving these key metrics can signal high-quality content, which boosts visibility and helps gain subscribers. Below is a simple outline of ways you can get started. 

• Content - Create high-quality, engaging content, upload consistently, engage with your audience

• SEO - Perform keyword research, optimize titles, thumbnails, descriptions, chapters, tags and captions

• Increase CTR - Use best practices for thumbnails and titles, share to interested audiences online and social media platforms, groups and communities.

• Increase Average View Duration - Use YouTube playlists, end screens, cards. Follow best practices to increase view duration within videos.

• YouTube CTAs - Use CTAs throughout your video in the correct places (don’t over do it).

• Promote - Take part in collaborations, trends, challenges. Again. Share to interested online communities and audiences. Don’t share with anyone or a community you know won’t be interested, this will hurt your retention rate.

It’s important to know, doing each tactic will put you in the BEST POSITION to grow with YouTube’s algorithm as it prioritizes your content. Based on your content, audience and consistency, subscribers will naturally subscribe and all these metrics will naturally increase.

The key is to publish quality content, engage and be consistent while targeting the metrics above with the right tactics to best position your channel to increase YouTube subscribers and views.

Engagement is the currency of YouTube. The more you keep people watching, the more the algorithm rewards you. YouTube prioritizes videos with strong retention rates (60% AVD or higher) to push into recommendations. One creator revealed:

“The algorithm didn’t really start pushing my videos until I got my Average View Duration (AVD) over 60%. That was the turning point.”

But engagement doesn’t mean longer videos—it’s about delivering value and holding attention throughout.

The line chart below compares engagement ratios (views per subscriber) across categories showcasing how engaging these niches are.

Understanding where specific YouTube categories excel is essential for crafting a content strategy that drives engagement and attracts subscribers.

Tips to Create Engaging Videos:

• Start strong with an irresistible hook.

• Show viewers why they should keep watching in the first 10 seconds.

• Use visuals, storytelling, and pacing to make your video feel dynamic.

• Break long videos into chapters to let viewers easily navigate.

Remember, you don’t have to create cinematic masterpieces—just focus on content that solves problems or entertains.

Create What Your Audience Wants to Watch

Growing your YouTube channel is all about giving your audience what they want. Start by diving into your YouTube analytics to figure out what’s working.

• Which videos are getting the most views?

• Which ones keep people watching longer?

• These are your bread-and-butter ideas to expand on.

It’s also helpful to ask your audience directly. Use polls, comments, or community posts to find out what they’d like to see next. People love feeling like they’re part of the process, and their suggestions might surprise you.

Stay on top of trends in your niche by checking out competitor channels or social media. What’s buzzing right now? Put your unique spin on those topics to stand out. Here are some quick tips for creating audience-focused content:

• Focus on solving problems, entertaining, or teaching something valuable.

• Stick to your niche so your content consistently appeals to your target viewers.

• Regularly revisit your analytics to refine your approach.

Stick to a Consistent Upload Schedule

Consistency builds trust—not just with your viewers but with YouTube’s algorithm. Channels that stick to a schedule are more likely to see steady growth. Consistency in uploads is the foundation to increase YouTube subscribers and achieve long-term growth.

This line chart illustrates how consistent posting leads to exponential subscriber growth. If you’re new on YouTube or have been trying to increase subscribers this is a great start to easily understand how to get 1k subscribers on YouTube.

A contributor noted:

“When I started posting every Friday at the same time, I noticed a clear bump in views and subscriber engagement. People like knowing when to expect new content.”

This doesn’t mean you need to post daily. Even a bi-weekly schedule can work as long as you’re consistent.

How many videos should I upload to get 1,000 subscribers?

Creators typically need 30–50 high-quality videos to reach 1,000 subscribers. The exact number depends on content quality, audience engagement, and consistency. Focus on:

• Uploading consistently with valuable, engaging content.

• Optimizing titles, thumbnails, descriptions, chapters, captions, and tags.

• Including clear CTAs asking viewers to subscribe.

• Promoting your channel on social platforms and communities.

• Increasing CTR (8%+) and Average Viewer Duration/Retention Rates (50%+).

• Reviewing analytics to refine and replicate successful formats.

Each video acts as a new opportunity to attract viewers and convert them into subscribers. 

“Once I hit 33 videos, I could analyze what worked and doubled down on that format,” shared one creator.

Pro Tip: Focus on quality over quantity. A small number of engaging, well-optimized videos will outperform a large volume of poorly produced content.

Create Evergreen Content

Evergreen content continues to attract views long after its initial publication, contributing to sustained channel growth. For instance, a video by Trend Spot gained over 1.5 million views within ten days, months after its release, demonstrating the lasting appeal of evergreen content. 

Focus on tutorials, how-to videos, or explainer videos that remain relevant over time. Regularly update descriptions to keep them current.

👉 Find out what Types of Videos That Engage Viewers

Buying subscribers might seem like an easy way to grow your numbers, but it’s a dangerous game. Fake subscribers won’t engage with your content, which lowers your overall engagement rate and makes it harder for the algorithm to promote your videos. Many creators have mentioned:

“YouTube has cracked down on fake subscribers. It’s just not worth it anymore. Plus, genuine subscribers are the ones who actually watch and support your channel.”

Instead, focus on building a genuine audience through consistent posting, high-quality content, and engagement. This will help grow real subscribers to your channel that actually engage with your content and increase key metrics that will help you reach more viewers.

How can I grow YouTube subscribers organically?

Growing organically means focusing on content that resonates with your audience and optimizing it for discoverability. Start by identifying your niche and creating videos that address specific needs or solve problems.

• Optimize your titles, thumbnails, and descriptions for YouTube SEO.

• Use playlists to guide viewers through your content.

• Engage with your audience by responding to comments.

• Collaborate with creators in your niche for exposure to relevant audiences.

How to Increase YouTube Subscribers

• Optimize your channel layout with playlists and a trailer.

• Ask viewers to subscribe in your videos.

• Create evergreen content for lasting growth.

• Host subscriber-focused giveaways.

• Refine your content using YouTube Analytics

CTR measures how many people click on your video after seeing it in their feed or search results, and it plays a critical role in boosting your visibility and engagement. A higher CTR not only helps your videos gain more views but also signals to YouTube’s algorithm that your content is worth promoting.

YouTube Video CTR Benchmarks

Average CTR: 4-5%

According to Databox research, the average CTR on YouTube is 4-5%. A CTR in this range is often considered healthy for most channels. However, highly optimized videos, strong thumbnails, and compelling titles can achieve higher CTRs.

This bar chart compares average CTR benchmarks for different YouTube categories, helping creators understand how to optimize thumbnails and titles to increase YouTube subscribers. A high CTR is critical to gain subscribers on YouTube.

To get YouTube’s algo in your favor you must reach at 8% CTR. There are several tactics to accomplish this goal that you can start doing in your videos now using thumbnails, descriptions and including targeted keywords.

How to get a boost in YouTube Click-Through-Rates:

• Use custom thumbnails with bold text and contrasting colors.

• Write curiosity-driven titles that hint at something exciting or valuable.

• Add target keywords to your descriptions naturally.

Did you know that 90% of top-performing videos on YouTube use custom thumbnails? It’s true, and it’s a game-changer for improving click-through rates. 

👉 Check out our guide on How to Make YouTube Thumbnails

Your title and thumbnail are your video’s billboard—get them right, and viewers can’t help but click. Creators across forums emphasize the power of an eye-catching thumbnail with bright colors, clear visuals, and text that pops. Pair that with a title that sparks curiosity or answers a question.

One shared:

“Many of my successful videos have custom thumbnails with bold text and clear visuals. It’s the first thing viewers notice.”

Descriptions also play a crucial role by providing context for both viewers and YouTube’s algorithm. When optimized, they boost your discoverability in search results and recommendations.

A case study from Chillital demonstrated that optimizing video titles, descriptions, and tags led to a significant increase in views and subscribers.

Simple steps to best optimize for Thumbnails, Titles and Descriptions:

• Use close-up faces or bold text in thumbnails to evoke emotion.

• Write curiosity-driven titles like “This YouTube Hack Will Double Your Subscribers in 7 Days!”

• Use tools like TubeBuddy or VidIQ to identify relevant keywords.

• Keep descriptions concise but include target keywords naturally within the first two lines.

• Add timestamps or chapters to make your content user-friendly.

• Test different styles of thumbnails and titles to see what resonates with your audience.

•  Include related tags and hashtags within the video descriptions.

👉 Check Out How to Title YouTube Videos

SEO for YouTube Growth

Optimizing your videos for search is essential to getting discovered. YouTube is the second-largest search engine, and videos that rank well for high-volume keywords can drive consistent traffic.

The table above can help you increase YouTube subscribers, if at minimum, you focus on optimizing these 3 areas of your videos. Then you can expect more impressions in search. 

For search visibility to take place on your videos in the best way, you want to cover all areas influenced by YouTube’s search engine.

This can also require keyword research, using targeted keywords and using the keywords in engaging thumbnails because YouTube captures that as well.

A well-optimized video ensures higher CTR, better rankings, discoverability and more subscribers on YouTube.

How to Optimize for YouTube SEO:

• Conduct keyword research using tools like TubeBuddy or vidIQ.

• Include your target keyword in the title, description, and tags.

• Write detailed descriptions that include secondary and supporting keywords naturally.

• Use chapters and captions along with secondary keywords.

• Include annotations and cards

• Use hashtags and relevant tags to improve discoverability.

• If location specific use geo-tagging in your videos

• Add transcripts to your videos to improve keyword coverage.

👉 Learn How to Add Chapters in YouTube Videos

Leverage YouTube Shorts for Visibility

YouTube Shorts are a powerful way to get your content in front of a massive audience, fast. The algorithm heavily promotes Shorts, making it easier for creators to go viral. One case study revealed:

“By posting engaging Shorts under 50 seconds, I gained 53,000 subscribers in just three months. Two of my Shorts hit over a million views, and it snowballed from there.”

Shorts are particularly effective for introducing your content to new viewers who may then explore your long-form videos. They have been associated with increased channel visibility and subscriber growth in several case studies.

Tips for Creating Engaging Shorts:

• Keep Shorts under 50 seconds to maintain high retention rates.

• Focus on visually engaging, fast-paced content.

• Add a strong CTA at the end, like “Subscribe for more tips!”

• Use hashtags like #Shorts and trending tags to improve visibility.

• Repurpose highlights from your long-form videos for Shorts.

Average View Duration is one of the most critical metrics for growing your channel. Videos with a AVD Rate of over 60% consistently perform better, as they are more likely to be recommended by YouTube’s algorithm.

“I didn’t see real growth until I started focusing on retention. Once I hit 65% AVD, everything changed—views, subscribers, and even revenue.”

The line chart below compares retention rates, showing how successful videos maintain 60%+ retention, a key factor in how to grow YouTube subscribers.

When you have an average viewer duration of 60%+, your videos have a much better chance of getting recommended more by YouTube’s algorithm.

How to Increase Average Viewer Duration:

• Keep intros under 10 seconds and get straight to the point.

• Use storytelling techniques to hold attention throughout the video.

• Analyze drop-off points in YouTube Analytics to see where viewers lose interest.

Hint at Content Later in Videos

To keep viewers watching, tease valuable content that’s coming up later in the video. This tactic keeps people engaged and improves your Average View Duration (AVD).

One creator emphasized:

“Retention became my biggest strength once I started using open loops. I’d hint at a cool tip or reveal and make viewers stick around to see it.”

Pro Tip: Use phrases like:

• “In just a minute, I’ll share the trick that helped me double my subscribers.”

• “Later in the video, I’ll show you how to get 1,000 subscribers in less than a month!”

Leverage YouTube Playlists to Boost Watch Time

By grouping related videos together, you encourage viewers to stay on your channel longer, which helps with both watch time and retention metrics.

Why Playlists Work:
According to Simplilearn, “Playlists increase session duration by guiding viewers from one video to the next seamlessly.” This creates binge-worthy content loops that boost your chances of converting casual viewers into loyal subscribers.

A creator noted:

“After creating a playlist for my beginner tutorials, my channel’s watch time doubled in just a few weeks.”

At the same time, playlist also helps with Session Watch Time and Session Duration. These are other important key metrics YouTube cares about and you should too. Although they may sound the same they are different.

Session Duration:

• Refers to the total time a user spends on YouTube during a single visit (or session), from when they start watching the first video until they leave the platform completely.

• Includes all activities during that session, such as browsing, searching, and watching videos.

• It reflects the overall engagement of users on YouTube but isn’t tied exclusively to a specific creator's content.

Session Watch Time:

• Refers specifically to the amount of time a user spends watching videos during a session.

• Includes only the time spent actively watching videos, not time spent browsing or interacting with other features on the platform.

• Can be broken down further to show how much of the session is dedicated to your content versus videos from other creators.

For creators, session watch time is more directly tied to your content's performance because it tracks how much of a user's session is spent consuming your videos. However, YouTube values both metrics, as they reflect the platform’s ability to keep users engaged, which is key for its algorithms.

By keeping viewers on YouTube longer (either by recommending your own videos or others), you contribute to the platform's goal of maximizing session duration, which can positively impact your channel's visibility in recommendations.

Actionable Playlist Tips:

• Group related videos under specific themes, like “YouTube Growth Hacks” or “Editing Basics.”

• Promote playlists in your video descriptions and at the end of your videos.

• Encourage viewers to binge-watch by saying: “Check out the full playlist for more tips!”

Avoid Sharing with Disinterested Audiences

Sharing your videos with the wrong audience can hurt more than help. For example, posting your video in unrelated forums or sharing it with friends who aren’t interested in the topic can result in low retention rates.

“I learned the hard way that posting on Reddit with the wrong audience led to people clicking away after just a few seconds. It tanked my video’s retention rate.”

To maximize performance, only share your content where it’s relevant.

What to Do Instead:

• Focus on niche communities where your content aligns with audience interests.

• Avoid mass sharing to unfiltered groups.

• Target viewers who are more likely to engage, such as those already subscribed to similar channels.

Use YouTube Analytics to Refine Your Approach

YouTube Analytics is like your personal growth coach. It shows you exactly what’s working—and what’s not. For instance, videos with high retention (60%+) and CTR (6-8%) are more likely to get recommended by YouTube.

How to Leverage Analytics:

• Identify your top-performing videos and analyze why they succeeded (e.g., topic, pacing, or thumbnail).

• Track viewer drop-off points to understand where you lose engagement.

• Experiment with different formats, like tutorials or listicles, to see what resonates.

Sometimes, all you need to do is ask—but do it strategically. Incorporating clear CTAs in videos has been shown to enhance viewer engagement and subscription rates by 2-3%.

The table above showcases the best CTA placements to drive engagement and grow YouTube subscribers, including asking viewers to subscribe at the start, like midway, and check playlists at the end.

Strategic CTAs can increase YouTube subscribers by encouraging immediate actions from viewers.

Asking for subscriptions works best when paired with value. For example, a creator shared this approach:

“At the end of my video, I say, ‘Subscribe to stay updated on my new videos I publish each week, comment and hit the bell icon to get notified when I create new videos or when I go live.’ This alone helped boost my engagement and subscriber count.”

Use CTAs at natural pauses in your video, like before a major reveal or during your outro. Adding animations or on-screen graphics can make your request even more effective.

👉 18 Subscribe Button Animations for YouTube

Best Practices for CTAs:

• Place a subtle “Subscribe” watermark in the corner of your video.

• Use YouTube cards and end screens to link viewers to related content or encourage subscriptions.

• Add a verbal CTA midway through your video, such as, “Enjoying this? Hit that subscribe button so you don’t miss future tips!”

• Prompt viewers to subscribe and enable notifications during the video.

• Utilize on-screen graphics or annotations to reinforce the message.

Use CTAs with Incentives

Asking viewers to subscribe is a no-brainer, but adding a layer of engagement makes it far more effective. Many creators report success by pairing their CTAs with incentives like personal interaction. For example, one creator shared:

“I tell viewers to subscribe and comment, ‘I subscribed,’ along with a question in order to get a personal reply from me. This simple interaction boosted my engagement.”

CTAs with incentives not only encourage subscriptions but also drive comments, which further boosts video performance in the algorithm.

How to Apply This Strategy:

• Ask viewers to subscribe during high-engagement moments in your video.

• Pair the request with value, like “Subscribe for weekly tips on growing your channel!”

• Use comments as a way to interact: “Let me know you subscribed, and I’ll personally reply to your comment!”

Use End Screens and Cards Strategically

End screens and cards are powerful tools for keeping viewers engaged even after the video ends. These interactive elements can guide viewers to watch more of your content or encourage them to subscribe.

One creator shared:

“Adding a strong CTA on my end screen increased my subscriber count by 15% in just a month.”

End screens and info cards direct viewers to subscribe or watch more videos.

How to Use YouTube End Screens and Cards:

• Link to related videos or playlists in your end screen.

• Place cards at moments of high engagement to promote other videos.

• Use end screens to encourage subscriptions with a bold, clickable button.

• Add an end screen to every video with a “Subscribe” button and a video recommendation.

YouTube doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Embedding your videos on external platforms like blogs, forums, and social media can significantly boost traffic to your channel. Each new view is an opportunity to gain a subscriber. Cross-promotional strategies have been effective in expanding audience reach and increasing subscribers.

Effective promotion requires a multi-channel approach. Share your videos across social media, embed them in blog posts, and use targeted keywords to improve discoverability.

How to Promote YouTube Videos:

• Share your content on social media platforms.

• Add videos to relevant blog posts to complement your written content.

• Share your videos in niche forums where your target audience is active.

• Embed videos in newsletters to engage your email subscribers.

• Leverage end screens and cards to promote related videos.

• Use platforms like Medium to republish your blog posts with embedded videos.

• Partner with websites in your industry to feature your videos in their content.

• Collaborate with influencers to reach new audiences.

Join in on Trends and Challenges

Participating in trending topics or challenges can lead to rapid increases in views and subscribers. For example, creators like Bella Poarch have leveraged viral TikTok trends to create concise, impactful videos that serve instant gratification.

Use tools like Google Trends to identify popular topics. Create content around viral challenges or hot topics in your niche.

Collaborate with Other Creators

Partnering with someone in your niche exposes your channel to a new, relevant audience, often resulting in subscriber growth. Collaborations expose your content to a highly targeted audience, lends credibility to your channel and can lead to a significant increase in subscribers.

What to Try:

• Reach out to creators with similar audiences for guest appearances or co-created content.

• Cross-promote your collaboration on social media.

• Create videos that showcase both creators’ strengths, like a shared Q&A or a challenge.

Ideas for Collaboration:

• Co-host tutorials or how-to videos relevant to both audiences.

• Create challenge videos that showcase your expertise.

• Cross-promote each other’s channels in descriptions, titles, and social media.

• Host live Q&A sessions to engage both audiences in real time.

• Produce a series of videos that allow ongoing collaboration.

Host Giveaways to Encourage Subscriptions

Hosting a giveaway is away to drive engagement and encourage subscriptions (case studies). For example, you could offer exclusive content, a free resource, or a prize in exchange for subscribing and engaging with your channel. 

How to Run a Successful Giveaway:

• Announce the giveaway in your video with clear instructions on how to enter.

• Require actions like subscribing, commenting, or sharing to qualify.

• Use tools like random comment pickers to select winners.

• Promote the giveaway on your social media platforms for maximum reach.

• Follow through by delivering the promised prize to maintain trust.

Growing your YouTube subscribers doesn’t happen overnight, but with the right strategies, it’s absolutely achievable. Here’s a quick recap of what we covered:

• Optimize your titles and thumbnails to increase CTR.

• Engage viewers with compelling CTAs and interactive elements.

• Focus on retention metrics by structuring videos strategically and using open loops.

• Leverage playlists, YouTube Shorts, and collaborations to expand your reach.

• Experiment and analyze results to refine your approach over time.

Remember, the journey to 1,000 or even 1 million subscribers starts with consistent effort and a willingness to adapt. Apply these tips, track your progress, and don’t be afraid to try new things.

Now it’s your turn—start implementing these strategies today and watch your channel grow! 🚀

What’s the best video length for subscriber growth?
Videos between 7–15 minutes tend to perform well as they balance depth and viewer retention. Read More

Are paid ads effective for gaining subscribers?
While they can boost visibility, organic strategies like SEO and collaboration build a more engaged audience. Read More

Should I share my videos on all social media platforms?
Focus on platforms where your target audience is active and interested in your content to maximize engagement and avoid low retention. Learn More

How to Grow YouTube Subscribers
Engage by replying to comments and asking for feedback. Focus on content that addresses audience needs. Read More

How to Get More Views and Subscribers on YouTube
Optimize thumbnails and titles to improve CTR. Use Shorts to introduce your channel to new viewers. Read More

How often should I post videos for growth?
Consistency matters more than frequency. Posting once or twice weekly is effective if you maintain quality. Read More

What type of content attracts the most subscribers on YouTube?
Content that is engaging, informative, and tailored to your target audience tends to attract more subscribers. Focusing on niche topics, providing value, and maintaining high quality. Read More

How can I improve my YouTube channel's visibility to gain more subscribers?
Enhance your channel's visibility by optimizing video titles, descriptions, and tags with relevant keywords. Additionally, create eye-catching thumbnails and promote your videos across social media platforms to reach a broader audience. Read More

Is it beneficial to collaborate with other YouTubers to increase subscribers?
Collaborating with other YouTubers can expose your channel to a wider audience, potentially leading to increased subscribers. Partnering with creators in your niche allows for shared audiences and mutual growth. Read More

What role do video thumbnails play in attracting YouTube subscribers?
Thumbnails serve as the first impression of your video and can significantly impact click-through rates. Designing compelling, high-quality thumbnails that accurately represent your content can attract more viewers and convert them into subscribers.
Read More

Helpful YouTube Articles:

1. How to Make a YouTube Video: Learn the step-by-step process of creating a high-quality YouTube video.

2. YouTube Equipment: Discover the best tools and gear to improve your video production.

3. How to Edit YouTube Videos: Master editing techniques to make your videos polished and professional.

4. How to Upload a Video to YouTube: Get detailed instructions on uploading and optimizing your videos.

YouTube Video Assets:

1. YouTube Subscribe Buttons: Boost engagement with professionally designed subscribe buttons.

2. YouTube Overlays: Enhance your video quality with customizable overlays.

3. Video Templates: Save time with pre-designed templates for various video styles.

4. Free Video Templates: Access a collection of free templates to elevate your videos.

Thanks for Reading

At Motion Arts Media, we help video editors and creators with ready-to-use motion graphics assets and templates. With over 1,000 customers and 17,000+ downloads, we’re all about empowering your creative flow. Check out our freebies and premium video templates or connect with us on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or LinkedIn.

About The Author

Jeremy Sampson is a motion designer and founder of Motion Arts Media with over a decade of experience working in Premiere Pro and After Effects. He’s worked with brands like Apple, Amazon, and Nike, but also has passion towards creating motion designs and assets for other creators through Motion Arts Media—where he shares his styles and work with the community.