Finding success with YouTube Shorts! - Hear from The One Shu

Hey creators, 

We love to cover the latest trends and tips in our Community Forum blog posts, and today we’re tackling one that’s relevant to all creators - growing your subscriber base! 

We recently caught up with The One Shu to chat about how she first experimented with YouTube Shorts, and discover her top tips and tricks that got her where she is today. By uploading daily to her Shorts series playlist, ‘Skits with Shu’, and ‘Sundays with Shu’, and using the community tab to connect with new and existing fans, she’s increased her subscribers from 3.5 thousand to 3.22 million, and boosted viewership to 3.7 billion in less than a year.

Shuang is a comedic content creator and TV actor (our Australian readers may have seen her in ‘The Family Law’ and ‘Ronny Chieng: International Student’). Shuang’s YouTube content is relatable and hilarious, bringing to light all the things that make us human, like dealing with roommate situations, which has played a part in driving her huge following. 

When the going gets tough - just keep posting! The more you post, the more your audience will get to know who you are and what you’re about. Every Short is a chance to tell a little more of your story, and engage a little more with your community - so keep creating those opportunities. 

Shuang’s pro tip: “You never know when a video will go viral so keep posting regardless of your views – it’s a numbers game! I make a lot of relatable content so the audience can either see themselves in my videos, or can laugh at my expense." 

If you’re a new Creator, finding your niche can be tricky. But exploring new trends and experimenting with different content types and genres is the best way to find something that’s uniquely you, and resonates with your audience. 

Shuang’s pro tip: “Try A LOT of different types of videos until you find your niche. And then stick to it. People subscribe because they are expecting THAT kind of content. My content strategy comes back to reading comments and seeing what my viewers respond to, or asking them in the community tab. And I also think ‘what would I want to see from my favourite YouTuber??'”

Post consistency is one of the best tools in your toolbox when it comes to boosting your subscriber numbers. As more people discover what you’re about, they’ll begin to look forward to your posts - so make sure you’re there for them!

Shuang’s pro tip: “Post consistently, and at the same time everyday based on the audience you want to reach. So if you want an International audience, post at a time they are all awake. I upload 7 times a week (usually once a day). I think it’s important for success, because the more videos you post, the more eyeballs watch your videos, so the faster you grow. DUH!”

“I’m experimenting with long form content on YouTube and trying to find my niche in that space.  There’s a new hotel series I’m creating for Shorts right now - let’s see if my fans like it!! There’s also an influencer cooking show which I’ll be releasing on my main channel. I also have a few movie projects coming up, which I’ll be filming over the next few months - so I’m looking to hire someone to help me maintain my online content, because I definitely want to keep my YouTube fans happy!” 

It’s time to create your own Shorts community and build your audience - so get started now. You can also comment with any questions you have in the forum below, or tell us what Creator Pro Tips you would like to hear next!