5 Ways I Gained my First 500 Subscribers on YouTube
Discover the 5 strategies I used as a small channel to grow my YouTube from zero to 500 subscribers.
Starting a YouTube channel with zero subscribers can feel daunting. As someone who talks about the very niche topic of personal branding, I appreciate that it can feel impossible to grow on YouTube. However, with a careful strategy, subscriber by subscriber, you can build a small channel on YouTube.
I’m sharing what I learned works best for a YouTube strategy, not as a mega creator, but as someone who has so recently felt the struggle of those earlier milestones.
These aren’t just growth hacks; they’re intentional ways of thinking about your audience, your content and your positioning. If you’re just getting started, these are 5 strategies that will help you get discovered by people beyond your existing network.
For even more detail, check out my earlier blog on 50 Tiny Tips for YouTube Beginners.
1. Target a bigger TAM
When planning your videos, consider the Total Addressable Market. Think of this as all the people who could be interested in this topic. For example, for me, this would be all the people who are interested in personal branding for their professional brand, personal development or business.
2. Find the adjacent ideas
Simply targeting a big idea is likely going to be too competitive to easily get noticed, particularly as a new channel. So instead, attach a more targeted idea to a big TAM. For example, instead of simply talking about personal branding, I often talk about rebranding your personal brand - with rebranding, though more specific, being a popular idea in personal development, business and personal branding. This may help you capitalise on the potential of a bigger TAM with the potential of being noticed for your unique angle.
3. Target suggested videos
The YouTube algorithm is always trying to understand its audience. If it notices you’re interested in a certain topic, it will serve you more videos related to that topic. So while I’m not, by any stretch of the imagination, a notable creator in personal branding on YouTube, if someone watches more popular videos, it means I have a chance of being served for those interested in related ideas. For example, while bigger creators might target topics like How to Build Your Personal Brand, I might try How to Build Your Personal Brand as an Introvert or Personal Branding for Entrepreneurs.
4. Create a series
When an idea does better than others, pull on that thread. For example, if I notice that a video on rebranding your personal branding does well, then it might indicate that there is more of an appetite to dive deeper into this topic. So instead of just how to rebrand yourself, this might become:
Or instead of simply, How to Build your Personal Brand on LinkedIn, this becomes:
A series encourages people to binge on a topic that is timely or relevant to them. If someone lands on your channel and engages with more than one video, it’s one of the best ways to show YouTube that your content was relevant for them and they enjoyed your channel. The more time someone spends with you, the more likely they are to subscribe. Even if they don’t subscribe straight away, they might be more likely to get served your videos the next time they visit YouTube.
Consider ‘Pareto’s Law’ when strategising for your series. Assess the top 20% of the videos driving your strongest results.
5. Everything is a remix
Another way to pull on a thread without creating a series is to remix a popular idea with a new twist. For example, instead of discussing the popular idea of rewiring your mind, you might cover Rewire Your Mind With Pinterest. Or instead of simply covering how to glow up your LinkedIn profile, this might become How to Glow Up Your LinkedIn Profile (in minutes). These are popular topic concepts with a more original twist.
From zero to 500
Reaching your first 500 subscribers isn’t about going viral overnight; it’s about stacking small, intentional wins. Each video is a chance to reach a new audience, test a fresh idea or deepen your connection with the viewers already watching. What worked for me wasn’t flashy shortcuts, but consistently showing up with a strategy that balanced creativity with clarity.
If you’re in the early stages of your YouTube journey, I hope these five approaches give you a framework to not only grow faster but to grow with purpose. Keep experimenting, stay patient, and remember: momentum comes one subscriber at a time.
And if you want to dive even deeper, remember to check out my earlier blog on 50 Tiny Tips for YouTube Beginners - a practical companion to help you through those early milestones.
