Dave Jeltema

73,600 subscribers

⏱ 👁 495,298 views

How to Survive Being a Small YouTube Channel (The Truth About Growth)

Video Overview & Insights

Work With Me: https://bcp.boundlesscreator.com/

“

Thanks to all of you who are leaving a comment and liking the video! I've been feeling discouraged lately so I felt the need to say this for myself and I knew others would need to hear it as well. Hang in there, it's only a matter of time 🌱

— @davejeltema3

▶️ CREATOR TOOLS & RESOURCES:

• Boundless Insight (Free Chrome Extension): https://bcp.boundlesscreator.com/insight

“

❤thanks for posting this experience. I literally just started posting videos yesterday ❤

— @neftalimalave2328

• Newsletter (+All my systems for making content): https://boundlesscreator.kit.com/newsletter

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“

I just started taking my channel seriously and im just doing it for the passion. The money will come later just have to stay consistent

— @LitCypher

• Creator Email Platform (Kit): https://partners.kit.com/zbb6nwywoy8w?utm_campaign=poweredby&utm_content=form

Struggling to grow on YouTube while watching others succeed can be disheartening, but the invisible growth phase is crucial for your content creation journey. In this video, I reveal why most creators quit before seeing results and share proven strategies for content marketing that will help you achieve YouTube monetization without burning out. Discover how to get more views less time by understanding the algorithm's patterns and learn essential content creation for beginners techniques that established channels already master. Stop comparing your day one to someone else's year three and implement these practical survival tactics to grow your YouTube channel even when it seems nothing is working.

“

Thank you for your encouragement! I finally decided to create my own YouTube channel @cosmiccoherence444 🎉

— @cosmiccoherence444

▶️ CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction

“

Just started days ago! Thanks!

— @imjetravelss

00:25 The Tree Analogy

01:30 Videos That Took Time to Find Success

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Just started a channel it's been up a week, I know there are big time creators but I also know they started where all of us are never give up, you all will get there

— @Thehollowsignal-j2s

02:14 How YouTube Actually Works

03:13 What it Really Means to be "Consistent"

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I'm still a small creator, but I refuse to give up. Every video I upload is one step closer to my goal. I know growth takes time, and I'm willing to keep showing up. One day, all this hard work will be worth it.

— @tinyjoygiggle

03:57 4 Practical Strategies to Survive

04:53 Your Audience is Waiting

“

Am a small creator and I post about quiting lust

— @uncleMOG-m1m

More User Perspectives

Me finding this video just now 😅

@LowPolyGamer24

So much truth in what you said! Thanks for the reminder! I think the most fun I’ve had on my journey was creating my “stage”

@RagingHamsterGaming

Needed to hear this! Thanx man!

@Wizardwidatrigga

Small fry here. Recently I decided to stay focused on adult beverage reviews because of the algorithm switch. One of my shorts from my latest review video hit over 1k views. It was a nice surprise because I really didn't expect it to hit that high.

@jonesinforfun

Who else gets frustrated when one video blows up and the next 5 flop 😭😭😭

@itz_abdulfatai

Hello guys! I create new fantasy football stadiums and then render them into a video.

Before making my first steps into youtube, a lot of friends told me that what i was doing was weird and i felt awkward.

It was only when i started to upload, that some people really liked my videos and i got a lot of good comments as well.

So this was a great and proud moment for me because i saw that there are people that eventually will like my content.

So don't stop and keep it up guys, Cheers 🎉

@nikotsio

Thanks

@ourmutts

I am into year 2 and made a hundred mistakes, even some this week. I will keep going, and I hope you all do too.

@1BritsPOV

I’m proud of my editing on my videos and the cooking videos

@jonfine4152

Small creator please subscribe 🙏🙏🙏 let's grow

@suzzimango123

Just now seeing this video as I made my first video yesterday. Excited to see where this takes me at the age of 37.

@RellReloaded4k

Thanks for this valuable advice. You also need to identify viral videos in your niche and analyze why they work. I use an AI agent to automate this process.

@AIAutomationLab-z3h

Am into wwe shorts

@wwehighlightsx-m3w

This video really helps me, I almost wanted to quit. I spent hours and hours editing, finding content and thinking how to make it blew up. But life is tough. No matter how hard I tried, what I received still 0 views. I started blaming my-self, feel frustrated until I watch this video. Thanks for the advice I will keep promise myself to not give up. I will come back oneday and let you know when I success. One again thank you❤

@HumanOS-x

Thanks so much mate
I’m having a crack at a YouTube channel
Your information is priceless

@jamesdwyer6971

exactly im from pakistan and started work on internationall niche my first short hits 30 k views in 22 hours 5k views from usa 3 k from uk and other difreent countries now it stops but my other shorts just stucks on 2k 3k while having high retention and std and avd

@Nott_W4ARRIOR

Thank you for putting this video out. I just stumbled across it and found you. Great advice, informative and spoken with a positive vibe! ⚡🥂

@Balancestudios222

Started the channel yesterday! Will try not to be discouraged by the 200 views. :)
Loved the tip regarding not focusing on views and likes

@FakeRockClimber

😢😢😢 thanks man I needed to hear this 🥺

@CourtExposed123

🌱🌱

@TweetysjazzLounge

Small YouTubers let's gather here in 2026😢😂🎉

@DavidChukwuka-d4r

Thanks for this valuable advice

@Burgundynick

Apes strong together, let's unite brothers and sisters❤🔥

@reallynotafrog

Nice video! Blob here! Handmade no AI stop motion , please help me grow ! ❤😊

@Blobs_World

I'm not gonna quit until i upload 1k vids

@Radyssey

and this is my sign❤❤❤

@FaithforgeTV-p1d

This is good advice, especially as sometimes i make a vid i feel people will love and its just on only a few views for a long time, oddly the ones i don't expect usually get more views or blow up a bit more with a couple hundred

@AshTheOutlaw

Well, I am just getting started and I believe it's gonna be fine

@yourstorypathenglish

I’m an extremely small channel that’s still pretty new to YouTube. This was exactly what I needed to hear - I’m filming old retro gameplay as well as Minecraft and I’m an older gamer dad, so I feel like I’m not as energetic as a lot of the younger creators that are super popular right now. Still, I’m really proud of every video I’ve released as it’s helping me get over my fear of presenting and helping me push past my self image issues. Thanks for sharing!

@xpwhiletheysleep

Interesting

@ColdWarCommand-k5l

thanks a lot! great video and such motivating for small youtubers who are just starting❤

@ballerextremni7289

Hello sir aapane bahut achcha samjhaya

@AliHasan-p1h3j

I am a small chanel too and that's why i support mainly other small chanels.🤗

@FFS8tto-scFFS8G

just gonna start i guess!

@antthebuilderanthony

I am feeling extremely demotivated recently but this hit hard, thanks for the pick me up man

@Notorious.Rufus.92

He'll me guys please 😢

@HvKbex

I needed to hear this today 😊Thank you 🙏

@DansluniversdeNoemie

Thanks for the info....I'm falling in love with the process 🤞🏽

@SpecialKandMore

❤❤❤❤❤

@zajanmohd

I’ve seen small channels grow exponentially in months… I believe my content is good, but somehow just not growing much 😢. What could I be doing wrong?

@unspokendiariesstudio

Thank you for the reminder!! It can be difficult when you’re getting started!

@YouTube.Analytics.Simplified

small channel here... yeah its been a year... slow and steady

@Jasandmain