Content creation is fickle, but when you start, encountering low view numbers is a familiar hurdle.
We've been fed a narrative of explosive growth—a promise of overnight success and viral fame. Yet, for many of us, the reality couldn't be further from the truth. Instead, we find ourselves grappling with low view counts, struggling to gain traction in a sea of digital noise. It's a slow and arduous journey, one filled with uncertainty and self-doubt.
Picture this
As I am on this journey too and experience this myself, we will use my business Datrysiad Media as a source reference, some of our videos barely scratch the surface with a mere 300 views. What gives, you might wonder? Well, it's a multifaceted challenge—ranging from SEO adjustments to fine-tuning niche targeting.
Yet, truth be told, I don't lose sleep over it.
Why the zen-like calm in the face of low numbers?
It's all about perspective. I've witnessed firsthand how tunnel-visioning on a niche can lead to creative burnout faster than you can say "YouTube algorithm." Esteemed YouTubers echo this sentiment, grappling with the incessant pressure of chasing numbers and its toll on mental well-being. So, why persist in this endeavour? Think of it as akin to hitting the gym or sticking to a diet—effort yields results. Content creation follows suit, albeit with a crucial tweak in mindset towards those elusive view counts.
WATCH THE MAIN VIDEO
Finding Balance: Navigating the Narrow Niche
Let's delve deeper into the realm of niches. While they provide a sense of direction and focus, they can also feel confining, stifling even. It's akin to residing in a beautifully decorated room with no windows—it's comfortable, yet suffocating.
This leads us to question:
Q: Should we stray beyond the confines of our niche?
A: The Liberation in Exploration
In essence, lies in striking a delicate balance—a balance between specialisation and exploration.
Allowing oneself to explore beyond the boundaries of a narrow niche can be liberating. It opens doors to uncharted territories, beckoning with the promise of fresh ideas and renewed inspiration. Take my journey, for instance. While my niche revolves around video production, I've found solace—and purpose—in exploring adjacent realms. Whether it's dabbling in:
Blogs
Podcasts, talking to business about what they do
Tutorials and Demonstrations
Venturing into storytelling
Streaming Live
Each foray adds depth to my creative arsenal, enriching my content in ways I never thought possible. But with this, comes the cost of not working with the algorithm, so views which do not target a niche that the algorithm as learned from my content can hurt my views. This I am fine with, the freedom to not be tied down gives me mental reprieve, so I accept the trade off.
Now lets be clear, my niche is broad but I have an over archinggoal:
DATRYSIAD MEDIA GOAL
Educate business owners the value of content creation and the impact it can have on their brand
This is broad, I do not confine myself to a type of business, a specialised niche, because it is my belief that all businesses want growth and scale OTHERS may just want to grow their viewer base. This is not tied to one business type!
I just try to educate on what is possible and let the viewers /readers make the informed choice on how they act and how it applies to their business. I am not in the mindset of spoon feeding, there as to be some work on your part.
But this broadness does hurt my views, so we need to understand the landscape and be OK with it.
SETTING A BUSINESS EXAMPLE
So, let's look at this through a practical lens of business goals. As a video production owner, I know that I can manage 4-5 repeat customers a month before I need to hire additional staff to help deal with the growth the business will experience.
MILESTONE
So, let's keep that number 5. That’s our first milestone. 300 views don’t seem so bad, the goal here is to demonstrate my ability to deliver quality content that will serve as the inspiration for other business to use my services.
So, let's be smart!
Perhaps the number of views is fine.
But…
Is it being used on the right platforms for where my customer is?
I use LinkedIn. This is where my customers live, and it is here I want to provide value and demonstrate the quality and value that my business can provide. This video will then be split, I will use information from the blog, and I will create 15 LinkedIn posts and schedule them throughout the year to increase engagement and offer value. This has the potential impact of generating more views per post and I can also link it back to the YouTube video.
Consider another video I created, titled "From Hollywood to Your Home: Mastering Green Screens (For Business Success!)", This is using the same methodology, start with a blog, create a video, split the video, create 15 linked in posts and schedule. The split video is also spread across other platforms as well.
This campaign is ongoing as I am working towards evergreen content and not everything has been released, since it is on a release schedule.
Present Total: 2536 views
111 views - YouTube Video
5 views - Blog
894 views - LinkedIn split into 6 videos and 1 full video
154 views - Facebook
1322 views - TikTok split video into 6
50 views - Instagram split video into 6
The blog post garnered a paltry five views, with the YouTube video faring marginally better at 111 views. However, by disseminating the content across various platforms—LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram—the total number of views reached 2536. While this number may still seem relatively low, it's important to contextualize it within the broader scope of our mission.
MISSION: As a video production owner, our primary goal is to acquire around 5 repeat customers per month.
This point becomes even more poignant when considering the nature of digital engagement. Behind those numbers are real individuals, each with their own unique interests and needs. So, while we may not yet know who precisely constitutes those 2536 views, each one represents a potential connection, a prospective client waiting to be engaged.
While the number 2536 may seem modest at first glance, it's brimming with untapped potential.
Remember, it's crucial to recognise the alternative
Doing nothing equates to nothinG!
Zero opportunities for connection.
Zero opportunities for conversation.
Zero opportunities for engagement.
By taking proactive steps to disseminate our content across various platforms, we're essentially multiplying our presence, ensuring that even when we're physically absent, our digital footprint continues to work tirelessly on our behalf.
It's akin to having a clone
An extension of ourselves, advocating for our brand and values in the digital sphere. So, in essence, while we may not be able to physically clone ourselves, our content serves as a digital surrogate, amplifying our voice and maximising our potential impact.
Translate these insights into Practical business objectives
MISSION: As a video production owner, my goal is clear: I aim to acquire around 5 repeat customers every month.
While this may seem like a modest goal, it aligns with the scale and capacity of my business. Therefore, I don't feel undue stress about low view counts. It's essential to recognise that focusing on the right platforms is key. For instance, while my YouTube views may be low, the 894 views on LinkedIn hold significant value.
I physically could not clone myself enough times to have the 894 individual conversations with people that the LinkedIn views have garnered. Moreover, I've noticed that at networking events, people already express familiarity and appreciation for the work I'm doing.
This pre-established connection makes conversations more fruitful and increases the likelihood of converting views into valuable business opportunities. By strategically leveraging platforms where my target audience is present and where my work is already appreciated, I maximise the impact of my content and move closer to achieving my business goals.
WRAPPING UP
Let's acknowledge the personal journey we're all on in business and content creation. I understand the reluctance to take that first step, the nagging worry about low view numbers, and the overwhelming pressure of uncertainty, wondering if our content is truly resonating with our audience.
But amidst these challenges lies an opportunity for growth, learning, and ultimately, success.
By embracing authenticity, consistency, and strategic distribution, we not only amplify our digital presence but also nurture genuine connections with our audience. So, as fellow travellers on this road less travelled, let's remember that success is not defined by the number of views, but by the impact we make and the relationships we foster along the way.
Keep creating, keep persevering, and above all, keep believing in the transformative power of your voice.
ABOUT ME
My name is Byron Phillips and I run Datrysiad Media.
Datrysiad Media is a video production company based in Cardiff. We help businesses with their pain problems and communicate their stories.
We are a full-service video production that can handle every aspect of the video production process. Creating high-quality video content that meets your needs and exceeds your expectations.
