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Comment by Rich Mbariket on August 27, 2012 at 3:35pm

Co-sign on grassroots efforts, Chad. It's hardwork like you mentioned. 

Comment by Chad Media on August 27, 2012 at 2:16pm

With Venus Spa in the early days I would contact anywhere from 50-100 a day, (many more on weekends.) The result was a steady influx of subscribers and many regular viewers. (2 million video views on Youtube to date.) When you have no money to advertise, grass roots is the only way. I prefer it anyway because you are right there in the trenches with your fans, the ones who will be there for you in the long term. 

If you are a series creator, (especially one with no "big names" or a major Youtuber or network backing you,) you signed up for long hours if you want strong views in your target audience.

Comment by Rich Mbariket on August 27, 2012 at 2:12pm

With that strategy how many viewers are you gonna contact individually to make an impact? Not minimizing your suggestion, just trying to make sense of it. I would rather take out paid advertising than troll other ppls comment feed for viewers. Just me. Time spent trolling comment feed should be spent making money to advertise.

Comment by Chad Media on August 27, 2012 at 2:03pm

I'm not talking about the big stars here. (Although I have been able to get permission to use stuff made by top Youtubers very easily when I needed to over the years.) I'm referring to people who watch content. Look into the comments on videos that are similar to what you do. Then reach out to the viewers of those shows saying, "hey, if you like _______, I think you'll really like ________ too!" This isn't collaborating, this is building a grass roots following for your own material. 

Comment by Rich Mbariket on August 27, 2012 at 2:00pm

@Chad: Top YouTubers are inaccessible. They're being repped by Hollywood agencies and only accessible to their fans. As creator, you just can't go to a YouTuber for creative collaborations without going through their management. Those days are over. Focus on making yourself valuable and others will seek you out for business partnerships. 

Comment by Chad Media on August 25, 2012 at 4:11pm

It's like a political campaign. You have to go to people individually in the Youtube community if you want to compete there. Make friends, invite people to your show and interact as much as possible. It's hard work but it will pay dividends.

Comment by Jarrod on August 25, 2012 at 11:34am

Marketing.

Comment by Ramsey Hill on August 24, 2012 at 3:42pm

Content - Content - Content! Be Original or tell your story in a unique way!

I know it's may seem like looking for a baseball in the mist of a snowstorm while hovering 1,000 feet in a helicopter, but we must seek out those things that are missing or not really being addressed and find a unique way of telling that story.

My example would be my series GHOST, I have not came across a lot of stories focusing on big business, the stock market, and politics in a web series format so that's the story's backdrop, the hook if you will - is that the main character's a ruthless hit man for hire who uses manipulation, blackmail, and intimidation instead of a gun.