Here’s a question – how long does it take to get 1 million subscribers on YouTube? The answer, well, depends entirely on your approach. Worldwide, YouTube has a collective audience of around 2.6 billion users. Incredibly, around 25% of the planet’s entire population uses YouTube at least once a month.
To build a successful YouTube channel is to pave the way for big things. Find your way into the YouTube partner program, and your ad revenues alone could be huge. But what about those who reach that elusive 1 million subscribers milestone? If you manage to pull in more than a million subscribers, how much do you stand to earn?
Estimates vary, but some studies suggest that the average YouTuber with 1 million subscribers pockets around $60,000 a year. That’s $60k income, simply for doing what you love. All is well and good, but pulling together such a huge audience isn’t easy. There are no quick overnight fixes, and nor can the hard work be avoided.
But given the fact that you could soon be earning significant sums of money, it’s a small price to pay. Plus, evidence suggests that if 1 million subscribers are your goal, it’s perfectly possible in just two years.
11 Strategies to Get 1 Million Subscribers on YouTube
Strategies to motivate subscribers to join your channel are in no short supply. There are (literally) thousands of things you can do to encourage newcomers to sign up. Though, as is the case with most things, some of the strategies are more effective than others.
For the most part, taking things back to basics holds the key to making big things happen. Based on the journeys of some of the world’s most successful YouTubers, this is how to get yourself on track towards your 1 million subscribers in 2 years:
1. Find Your Niche and Stick with it
First up, you need to find a niche that works for you and stick with it. The ‘for you’ aspect here warrants emphasizing, as the niche you choose needs to be something you are genuinely passionate about. You cannot expect to grow your subscriber count to a decent size by playing around with niches of no real interest to you.
Think about what it is you do best, and then set your sights on finding the right target audience for it. Avoid the temptation to do things the other way around, or you’ll be targeting a niche outside your interests. One in which you will never succeed, irrespective of how hard you try.
2. Break Your Million Subscriber Goal into Smaller Goals
It’s going to be some time before you get anywhere near 1 million subscribers. In the meantime, it’s essential to set yourself smaller and more immediately achievable goals. Each of which you must celebrate and make a big deal of as a show of appreciation to your subscribers.
For example, you could start by getting your first 1000 subscribers on YouTube. From there, aim to reach 10,000 subscribers, 20,000 subscribers, and so on. Make a huge deal of your 100,000 and 500,000 subscribers’ milestones, taking every opportunity to thank your subscribers for sticking with you.
3. Create a Channel that Helps Viewers Succeed
The most successful YouTube channels are those that serve a purpose. This may sound obvious but has a tendency to go overlooked. If you want to grow your audience as quickly as possible, think about what you can offer that can genuinely benefit your target audience.
Entertainment and everyday amusement are the first things that come to mind. But what about educational content and tutorials? Can you show your viewers how to do something that will help them succeed? If you can provide them with something nobody else can, you’ll soon be on your way to a million YouTube subscribers.
4. Use Interesting Video Titles and Thumbnails
Taking things back to basics in a big way, don’t underestimate the importance of your video titles and thumbnails. These are what will determine whether anyone checks you out or skips past you. However, this doesn’t mean you can get away with resorting to clickbait.
Your video titles need to make it impossible for people to resist clicking through to your videos. Likewise, your thumbnails need to be attractive, intriguing, and in all instances, 100% relevant to the content in question. Eye-catching thumbnails and engaging titles really can give your channel a major boost.
5. Add End Screens to Your Videos
End Screens provide the opportunity to present your viewers with non-avoidable CTAs. In this case, why not finish every video with an End Screen that asks them to subscribe? Best of all, End Screens can feature clickable links, so you can make it super easy for them to check out your channel (and the rest of your content).
It’s been proven time and time again that the strategic use of End Screens can help increase a channel’s subscriber count. The simple fact of the matter is that the easier you make it for them to subscribe, the more likely they are to do so.
6. Add a Subscribe Button to Your Videos
Why wait until the end of a video to ask them to subscribe? If there’s a point in the clip where you know they’ll be hooked, why not insert a subscribe button? Cards and watermarks work a little like End Screens but can be inserted at any point in a video.
This can be great for leveraging the most engaging parts of your videos, helping you get more subscribers on board. Think about which part of the video they’re likely to enjoy most, and insert your clickable CTAs accordingly.
7. Make Engaging Videos to Retain Viewers
Here’s the thing – building an audience of 1 million subscribers isn’t only about getting new subscribers on board. It’s also about doing everything you can to retain your existing viewers. Often overlooked, but a real make-or-break factor.
Think about it – why bother to build an active audience of engaged followers, only to then focus all your efforts on new subscribers? Whatever it takes, you need to provide your existing subscribers with a steady stream of consistently outstanding content. Otherwise, you could find yourself losing subscribers faster than you can gain them.
8. Make Videos on Trending Topics
First things first – trending topics should only be leveraged if they are of genuine relevance and value to your target audience. Committing yourself to current trends full-time and without thought is a recipe for disaster. That is unless you want to attract subscribers with no interest in what you normally do.
But if there’s an emerging trend you know your viewers will be interested in, go for it. Just be sure to get on board with it at the earliest possible stage before it becomes yesterday’s news. And remember – there’s nothing to stop you from putting your own signature twist on any trend that comes along.
9. Publish Videos Consistently
As already touched upon, people need a steady stream of quality content to stay interested in a channel. They also need to know when to expect something new, so they know when to tune in. In short, it is impossible to craft a successful YouTube channel by posting randomly and sporadically.
If looking to get more followers on board (and retain them), you need to come up with a viable publishing schedule. You need to post during your audience’s most active hours, and you need to avoid long spells of silence at all costs. Publish regularly and consistently while at all times making every effort to interact and engage with your audience.
10. Use Live Streams to Hook New Subscribers
There’s something uniquely engaging about a Livestream on YouTube. Streaming lives a much more personal and intimate experience. It enables you to showcase your personality and also gives your audience the opportunity to interact with you in real time.
Live streaming on a regular basis can bring a lot of credibility and appeal to a YouTube channel. It can also be a great way to celebrate milestones on your way to reaching 1 million subscribers. Live streams can be intimidating at first but soon become second nature – once you get into the swing of things.
11. Buy Real YouTube Subscribers for an Initial Boost
Last up, the quickest and easiest way to build a bigger audience is to buy YouTube subscribers. At Media Mister, we exclusively provide 100% authentic YouTube subscribers of the highest quality. All the subscribers are from real people with active accounts – no fakes and no spam.
For total peace of mind, we even cover every sale with a full refund guarantee and an extensive retention warranty. Whether looking to make money on YouTube or simply boost your online presence, we can make it happen at an unbeatable price. Buy YouTube subscribers from Media Mister today, or contact our customer support team anytime to learn more.
How Long Does it take to Get 1 Million Subscribers?
The truth is, there’s no simple answer to this question. All successful YouTubers reached their 1 million subscribers milestones at different times. Some skyrocketed to fame and fortune practically overnight, while others had to grind away at their channels for years.
On average, five years is a realistic timeframe for most social media users to gain 1 million followers. But by tailoring your approach and focusing on what matters most, this could easily be reduced to 2 years or less. And, of course, buying a bunch of subscribers to steer you in the right direction could speed up the process significantly.
Conclusion
Some say the numbers aren’t everything, but they’re wrong. On platforms like YouTube, it’s all about the numbers. Your subscriber count will single-handedly determine how your channel is perceived by others. It’s the primary measure of your credibility, your authority, and your appeal.
Importantly, the number of subscribers you gain will have a major influence on how much money you can make on YouTube. Once again, there are no real shortcuts to getting your first 1 million subscribers on board. Even so, the effort involved in making it happen is a small price to pay, considering what you stand to get back in return.
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