Are you planning of starting a YouTube channel? Or have you started one already? Then you need to read this. Read this article so you do not end up like many other YouTubers before you. There are many mistakes that many YouTubers end up making. These mistakes end up hurting their YouTube career. Hence why we have made this article about Common Mistakes That Most YouTubers Make to help you. To help you avoid them so that you can have an easier career than them.
So here are some of the most common mistakes that you need to avoid in your YouTube career.
Mistake #1. Inconsistent Upload Schedule.
One of the biggest mistakes that most YouTubers make is not uploading regularly. You know that upload when they feel like. They forget that they are dealing with a program that depends on consistency. The YouTube algorithm responds better if your upload schedule is consistent. Hence you need to make sure that you upload your YouTube videos regularly.
Mistake #2. Focusing on Quantity Over Quality.
Many YouTubers believe that they need to post as many videos as possible even if the quality is bad. They believe that its a game of numbers. Hence they just scramble together a quick video and post. Well, you are wrong. If you do that, you need to stop. Quality is key. Quality over quantity. You need to make the best quality videos you can. Its better to make just a few videos of the best quality over hundreds of videos with bad quality.
Mistake #3. Ignoring a Niche.
Another serious mistake that most YouTubers make is ignoring niche. You know trying to please everyone. Whereby they end up spreading themselves too thin. You cannot make a video for everyone. You know make a video for sports fans, for research, for video gaming, for travel, for everyone. Its not possible. You will have to choose a certain niche and stick with it. Focus on a specific niche. Maybe if you want another niche you can create another channel for that.
Mistake #4. Not Researching Trends & Keywords.
Research when it comes to YouTube content creation is key. You need to research to know which keywords are trending so you can ride the wave. Thus, you cannot be spending days making videos for topics that are old or that no one is interested. You need also to know what keywords are bringing in a lot of views and focus on them.
Mistake #5. Clickbait Titles & Thumbnails.
Misleading your audience with clickbaits will lead to distrust and high bounce rates. For those who do not know what is bounce rates, bounce rate is the number of people who click your video but don’t watch it. They just click, check for a few seconds then leave. This makes YouTube determine that your video is not likable by the people clicking it. Hence it will not suggest it anymore. Avoid clickbaits that deceive viewers.
Mistake #6. Poor Audio Quality.
Many YouTubers focus on great video(visual) quality but forget the audio quality. So you find that the quality is excellent but the audio is bad. This turns away the potential viewers. Nobody wants to spend their time watching a video where they cant hear anything. They will just click onto the next video and leave. Hence focus on good quality too.
Mistake #7. Long Intros.
Viewers loose interest very quickly if the video takes too long in introduction. Most viewers want the video to get to the point quickly and not dwell so much in intros. Hence do not try to lengthen your video by making excessively long intros. Make a short and precise intro, then jump straight to the point.
Mistake #8. Over-Editing or Under-Editing.
When i was a young kid, my mother taught me that too much of anything dangerous. Even if its good, too much of anything is dangerous. In this case, even over-editing is bad. Just do it right. Do not over do it. Do not over edit your videos. For example, too many effects will be distracting to the viewers. On the other hand, under-editing is also not good. Keyword, do it right. Do not under do it either. For example under-editing will make the videos dull.
Mistake #9. Ignoring Mobile Viewers.
Most people these days watch YouTube from mobile devices. Hence make your video mobile-first. How do you do that? Make things like texts and visuals visible on smaller devices and smaller screens. So if you need to write anything in your video for your audience to read, make the font big. Maybe for example you make tutorials, make sure that the people using mobile phones can be able to see the fonts.
Mistake #10. Not Using Captions/Subtitles.
Another mistake that many YouTubers do is to assume that everyone speaks their language. Or they assume that only their language speakers will see the video. They forget that there are people who do not speak their language who will see this video. Also, there are other people who do not hear who will see this video. Provide them with subtitles so that they can read along and understand.
Mistake #11. Weak Titles & Descriptions.
I have seen a video on YouTube without any title but only a date. You know, date as title. This is poor titling of your video. Write a title that carries sense and meaning. Let the people understand what your video is all about even before they click it. A good title can even make your video compete better on YouTube.
Bonus points – A list of more mistakes that YouTubers make.
- Not Using Tags & Hashtags Effectively. Ignoring metadata that helps videos get recommended.
- Ignoring Video Thumbnails. A bland or irrelevant thumbnail can make people skip your video.
- Not Encouraging Watch Time & Engagement. Low audience retention tells YouTube your video isn’t worth recommending.
- Ignoring Playlists & End Screens. These help keep viewers watching more of your content.
- Not Interacting with Viewers. Ignoring comments and not responding to feedback makes the channel feel impersonal.
- Not Encouraging Subscriptions & Likes. Simple calls to action can increase engagement.
- Ignoring Collaborations. Working with other creators can help expand your audience.
- Not Promoting on Other Platforms. Failing to share videos on Instagram, Twitter or TikTok limits exposure.
Ignoring Analytics. Not checking what works and what doesn’t can lead to repeating mistakes. - Monetizing Too Early. Putting too many ads on a small channel can annoy viewers.
- Not Diversifying Income Streams. Relying only on YouTube ads instead of exploring sponsorships and merch. In addition to that you can try memberships.
- Ignoring Copyright Rules. Using copyrighted music or clips can lead to demonetization or strikes.
- Not Having a Call to Action for Business Opportunities. Missing chances to work with brands because contact details aren’t available.
- Burnout & Giving Up Too Soon. Success takes time, but many quit too early due to slow growth.
