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 Script Outlines

Script outlines, if done right, can save you 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

Stop using tools and workflows that eat up all your time. When creators were asked what tools they use for planning their content, their answers were all the same: it's a mess. A patchwork of different business apps and platforms that makes planning chaotic and difficult to manage.

“There’s no such thing as a purpose-built creator workstation.” Well... that’s not 100% true.

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.

The best way to get there? Practice—and a hands-on script viewer for following your talking points on camera. Trouble is, that doesn’t exist.

So we’re making one ourselves. A live script viewer for on-air reference. Tap, scroll, zoom—ready to shoot.

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.

>> Read part 1: The Fine Art of Making Content Without Looking Like a Clown