A Creator’s Guide to YouTube: Part 2

Part two of the lesson plan for this messy, frustrating, impenetrable, yet somehow glorious work we call user-generated content. Yeah, the odds are stacked against you but if you’ve got the guts…

1. Just the Feelings Ma’am

Most viewers aren’t prowling YouTube’s feed troughs for “information”—they’re looking for entertainment. They want to laugh, cry, cringe—whatever. They’re looking for a feeling, not a lecture.

Your job? Bottle that feeling and serve it up. Because at the end of the day, Little Serotonin Hits are what keeps them hooked, not your encyclopedic brain.

2. Find Your Freaks

You’re not going to be everyone’s favorite channel. But you knew that.

Instead, be someone’s caffeine shot. Find the niche, the weirdo family that vibes with you. Talk about what you love and let your tribe find you.

3. Comments are Your Social Currency

You’re not a faceless content factory—right? Show them you’re human. Take five seconds to reply to a comment—"Thanks for watching!" or just a friendly "<3".

This tiny gesture spreads warmth and builds loyalty. Viewers love to feel they’re part of your world—open the door and let them in.

4. Stop Abusing Your Sleep Schedule: Use Templates

Templates save time. They’re a roadmap you’ve already drawn—don’t waste more hours fiddling with it. Nail it once, and run the next dozen videos through it.

5. Shut Up and Upload It

Perfectionism—yeah no. You’ll never be 100% happy and you’ll smother your workflow.

Have you seen some of the low-rent material killing it on YouTube? Do you think they agonized over their transitions?

Make something and put it up. Move on. Repeat. Creativity is a muscle, quality is a by-product.

Just get to work and start uploading. Make 100 videos and improve something every time.
—Mr Beast, via Think Media

6. Entertainment Happens When You’re Off-Script

Weird takes, hot mics, bad jokes—film it all. Sometimes it’s gold.

7. Lose the Deadweight

Note apps? Spreadsheets? GDocs? C’mon. Those aren’t designed for making episodes. You’re making your life harder.

ShowShaper is made for content creators—a purpose-built workspace that gets our chaos. Gear up with an actual episode builder and drag your half-baked ideas into the spotlight.

Pre-launch on now.

8. Everything Matters (But Nothing Is Mission-Critical)

Chill. One bad video won’t sink your channel. But ten small improvements could pay off big. Pay attention to the craft, but don’t lose sleep over the inevitable missteps.

9. Get to Know Your Algorithm

YouTube’s videos, shorts, and streams have their own algorithms. Each has its own quirks. Experiment, adapt, and figure out which one vibes with your content—and your crowd. You want to find your Cinderella and get her to notice you. Learn what she likes.

Or play your set to an empty auditorium.

10. Just End It

YouTube users have short attention spans. Don’t make them sit through a boring outro. If you have end screens promoting your other content—and you do, right?—make your point, pop them early, and end the video. Leave them wanting more.

11. Confidence is About Energy

When your on-camera flow feels second nature, confidence radiates. ShowShaper’s interactive Prompter is a hands-on presenter dashboard for following your episode script. It keeps you on point and engaged—and it’s controlled by you.

Stop winging it—nail your episodes. Get our pre-launch deal.

12. Fall in Love

Stop focusing on a result and embrace the process. Experiment with genres and formats and fall in love with the creative process—the brainstorming, writing, editing, shooting.

Because you might discover a creative formula that you truly love—when you least expected it.

Bon voyage.