The Three (OK, Four) Types of YouTubers

YouTubers generally fit into one of four types: Dabblers, Hustlers, Grinders, and Masters.

Each has their own day-to-day reality of creating content and managing a channel—and their own experience of success. There’s no magic recipe for success—every creator has a different story and a different journey.

But they all share one trademark: they hustle.

So who are these creators? What, really, is the difference between a YouTube hobbyist and a pro—and everything in between?

The Dabblers

• create for fun
• use mostly free tools
• upload intermittently
• may have a niche (but likely not an angle)
• no real focus on analytics or audience retention
• no strategy for growth or content optimization

Nobody starts a YouTube channel with a fat video bank and a boatload of subscribers. Most just jump in with an idea and a phone camera. If you’re lucky, you had some scratch for a decent mic, maybe even a camera.

But mostly you just had an idea.

So you stick your toe in the water and make a few vids. Maybe you get some likes or a nice comment, so you make a few more.

But yeah, it’s work.

And for many, that’s where the journey ends. (That was fun…I guess.)

If you’re an enterprising type, maybe you came with a plan. But you're a pragmatist, not a dreamer (liar—you want a million subs like the rest of us 😉). So you make a few more vids. Maybe I’ll tweak this, change that.

OK, so maybe you have some skills too. A lot of us do—or, if we don’t, we learn them.

Hey woah—I got 50 subscribers!

The Hustlers

• create to validate
• still use mostly free tools
• start a schedule and upload more regularly
• explore their niche and learn from others in it
• experiment with style and format, and develop a voice
• study their analytics and audience, and learn the algorithm
• get more intentional with their content

Those 50 subscribers are like a caffeine shot. Oh, you have 250 now? Cool.

You wonder what they liked.

This is where things get interesting—maybe you’ve tapped into something? A topic, a delivery style, an audience who just digs your vibe? You won’t know until you make more videos.

Or maybe it’s a freak accident—why would anyone watch your channel?

So you test your theory: you get a little more serious about your content, more careful with idea selection, more focused on the product.

1,000 subs! Woohoo!

Should I be scripting this? I need better B-roll. My audio does actually suck.

You work on your process and get into a routine. You make more videos—a lot more videos. No time for anything else now—you’re spending it on planning and research and editing and refining.

You’re hustling.

Holy shit, this is a lot of work.

3,000 subs. Huh.

The Grinders

• create to grow
• use a mix of free and sometimes paid tools and services
• plan videos ahead and develop a regular upload schedule
• explore niche-adjacent themes to attract a wider audience
• refine their voice and channel format
• have a greater understanding of analytics, audience, and competition
• get the algorithm’s attention with consistent performance and relevant content
• develop content that drives CTR (click-through rate), watch time, engagement, and new subscriptions

You’ve been doing this awhile now. Maybe you have 8,000 subs. Maybe 80,000.

A few of your vids did really well and you see a big bump each time. Likes go up and your comments come alive.

The algo notices and starts pushing your vids to more viewers. Nice.

Because that hustle got you a foothold, got you eyeballs. Now grinding out great content could get you a real seat at the table.

So you keep your head down and make every upload count. You live and breathe your analytics, plundering every last morsel of useful intel.

You know the patterns now, what works, what doesn’t. You can see the finished vid 10 steps ahead—how the idea makes the script that makes the video.

Clickable, watchable, binge-worthy. More clicks, more likes, more subs. The comments are alive with your self-created community of fans.

Viewers can’t ignore you. Neither can the algorithm.

For as long as your content’s good…

The Masters

• create to optimize monetization
• often use mostly paid tools and services
• maintain a detailed content development plan and release schedule
• aim to dominate their niche with must-see content and repeatable formats
• explore every content angle and format
• apply their voice as an identifying part of their content
• use metrics and analytics to direct their content choices
• leverage the algorithm to maximize visibility and reach
• prioritize content quality and performance in all aspects
• cement their status as something viewers want to be part of (not just content to watch)

Success stories come in every color—there’s no single formula. But the biggest predictors?

1. A strong work ethic
2. Producing consistently high-performing content
3. Being organized and intentional with every video
4. Constantly improving production and delivery
5. Understanding how to attract and engage viewers

Most successful YouTubers didn’t half-ass their way to a million subs.