Growth Tips from Retention Expert, Trump's Plan for the TikTok Ban + More

From 0 to 1M Followers in 7 Months

I analyzed @pov_husband’s social media strategy to figure out what helped them grow from 0 to 1M followers in just 7 months. Here’s what I found:

Posting Frequency:

• Daniel posted his first video mid-April 2024. Since then, he’s made 276 posts total, or around 1/day, occasionally 2/day.

What can we learn from this? Consistency matters.

Style of Content:

• Daniel’s first 9 videos had no voiceover—just the sounds of him cooking. In video 10, he used text to voice in TikTok and it crossed 10k views.

• The first video that really took off (over 1M views) incorporated a bit of humor—his wife placing an order for the meal she wanted via a ticket machine. It made people think it was a restaurant only to realize he was simply cooking for his wife.

• The ticket machine became a visual hook that kept people excited to see what she ordered next.

• His other popular series involved him cooking fancy meals at home for his wife, serving it like they’re in a restaurant.

• After a while, he started incorporating content showing more of their relationship and life behind the scenes. (example)

What can we learn from this? Relatability has gone a long way for Daniel and Eunice. Your content doesn’t need to be fancy, professionally edited, and curated to connect with people.

What Viewers Love:

• Viewers consistently commend Daniel for how wholesome, loving, realistic, and relatable he is.

• People love that as a couple, Daniel and Eunice aren’t trying to be perfect. They’ve shared the highs and lows of growing their channel, owning a restaurant, and having a newborn.

What can we learn from this? Vulnerability goes a long way. People are wired for connection. If you’re willing to show the good and bad days, your audience will likely feel more connected to you.

Advice from Mario Joos, The Retention Strategist for Some of The World’s Best YouTubers

Last week we brought Mario Joos into Creator Studio. It was one of the most value-packed conversations we’ve had in there so far.

Mario is an expert on growing YouTube channels. He also serves as the Retention Director for some of your favorite creators.

Mario’s recommendations all go back to one piece of advice: take an analytical approach.

Here are a few examples he shared with us on the call:

Trends and Formats

Capitalize on emerging trends and formats before they become oversaturated.

Side Note: Google Trends, TikTok Creator Search Insights, and Pinterest Trends are great places to monitor what’s trending in search.

Don’t Just Chase Viral Ideas

Understand human psychology and the specific factors that drive curiosity and interest. For example, concepts like novelty, uncertainty, and knowledge gaps.

Explore Other Languages

Consider dubbing your content into different languages. In Marios’ experience, this has significantly boosted viewership for several creators.

Analyze Patterns and What Resonates

If your content is story-driven or character-based, analyze the patterns and character traits that resonate best with your audience. For example, evoking sympathy, showcasing positive attributes, or highlighting unusual elements.

Don’t just rely on your intuition. Get in there and analyze.

➡️ Want to chat directly with experts like this? Come join us in Creator Studio—our private Discord community (it’s free!).

License Your Content to Train AI Models

Creators are concerned about the use of their content in training AI models. Troveo is providing a solution.

Troveo allows creators to license their content to AI companies to train models. Here’s how it works:

• You create a Troveo account.

• Upload your content (must be 1080p resolution or higher, vertical or horizontal, posted or raw/b-roll footage).

• Troveo markets your content to AI companies for licensing.

• You earn revenue.

How much can you earn? According to Troveo, creators can “make over $1M by sharing 3,000 hours of private or unreleased footage (b-roll, raw, etc).”

Troveo is still new, so there’s not a ton of information to back that statement up. However, if you’re interested in licensing your content and possibly earning some passive income, it’s worth checking out.

Quick Links

🤔 Roblox launches TikTok competitor.

🔗 YouTube releases hyperlinked comments.

🇺🇸 How the new Administration impacts the looming TikTok ban.

⛓️‍💥 Creators can now send brands video linking requests.

👀 Why your sponsored posts might not perform as well on Instagram.

See ya next week,

Karat