VidSummit was an eye-opener for growing on YouTube and understanding your viewers!

This was my first-ever VidSummit, and Andrew's first one in Texas, but what we thought would just be about the vibes turned into one of the most valuable learning experiences we've had as creators.

From how top creators use YouTube's newest analytical tools to the biggest mistakes small creators make, we took notes.

A BIG THANK YOU to OpusClip for inviting us to VidSummit and sponsoring this newsletter!

Here are the lessons from VidSummit that changed how we see YouTube. 👇

Shorts are here to stay, whether you like it or not. So clip YOURSELF first before SOMEONE ELSE does!

It's been a few years since YouTube released Shorts, and we know that there are still a big percentage of creators who don't like it.

We understand if you don't, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't use it. Because, for sure, someone will use it and put you into their Shorts.

At the Clip or Die panel with Jon Youshaei and Zach Justice, they talk about the importance of clipping yourself before others can clip you.

Let's say your video goes viral and get a million views. Someone might fine a segment very funny or interesting and they'll turn that into a Short.

Next thing you know, their clip gets 7 million views. And now you're hoping that the people watching their clip will be invested enough to search up the full video.

Compare that to if you've clipped it yourself and have the Shorts in your channel where you can easily direct people.

An interesting point that Zach Justice brought up was that Shorts can be an entry point for new viewers.

Imagine you're the viewer.

If you see a channel you've never seen before and you don't know who this creator is, why should you put your time into their 20, 30, or even 60 minute long videos?

However, if they have Shorts, you can invest a few seconds in and see if you like them or not.

Those few seconds of Shorts can lead to viewers watching hours of your content.

Not sure where to start when it comes to Shorts? Consider using OpusClip!

All you need to do is drop your video or link into OpusClip. It'll find the highlights of your videos, then clip it and provide captions. Once you get these clips, you can edit and fine-tune them to your liking.

Disclaimer: The link above is an affiliate link.

Storytelling builds community

This might seem obvious, but sometimes, it takes a third-party to make you realize the obvious. Your perspective is not the same as someone else's.

Here's what we've heard at the event from a creator named Darcy's Business...

Darcy creates tutorial videos on how to create your LLC and many other topics relating to small business creators. However, these videos can only get her so far on the journey she wants to be on.

If they don't know you, what reason do they have to stay on the channel? Their issues has been sated, but you have yet pique their interest.

So how can you do that? You add your story into your video.

Not everything has to be a big story. Sometimes, a simple story or a personal connection is all you need.

You got a dog or a cat? Mention their name in your video.

You talked to someone who makes a really good point about a topic you're working on? Incorporate it into your video.

Minute personal information like this allows viewers to connect to you. It'll keep your audience invested.

Like a restaurant, you can come there for the good food, but the friendly and personable staff can make it memorable.

Fun fact: Darcy's channel is actually what we used to start our business!

Content is relational, not transactional.

YouTube's new updates are redefining how creators grow sustainably and not just virally.

Their new analytics tool "Audience by watch behavior" breaks viewers into three categories:

• New viewers
• Casual viewers (1 - 5 months per year)
• Regular viewers (6+ months per year)

Instead of chasing reach, you can now see which type of viewer you're growing and tailor your content accordingly.

If your "regular viewers" percentage grows, then that means you're building a loyal audience.

Then there is YouTube's expansion of multi-language track, which allows you to use AI auto-dubbing to reach more viewers. Not only that, YouTube's also working on multi-language thumbnails.

In the keynote with Juston Smith, he talks about the channels he and Derral Eves work with. These are some of the strategies creators using with these new analytics.

Channels like Dr. Sten Ekberg saw 40% of views come from non-English viewers after dubbing.

Matt's Off-Road Recovery realized 40% of their regular viewers preferred "build" content so they launched a new channel just for that.

Pat Flynn and Dan Norton (Deep Pocket Monster) turned their viewer insights into real-world events with 6,000+ atendees.

BTOD TV generated $12M in sales without ever linking a website.

The big lesson here is that content is relational, not transactional.

If all you're here to do is to sell something to the audience, then you're not building a relationship. People don't want to buy from someone who only cares about getting their money.

Creators who are winning aren't chasing views. They're building experiences.

Threads, not X.

This is the first time we've heard so many people talk about Threads.

Whether they're on Threads or whatever post is on Threads. There were barely any mention of the site formerly known as Twitter.

Consider VidSummit is where all serious creators come to talk shop... and what they're talking about is Threads... this potentially could be a sign that Threads is the new social media you need to keep an eye on.

In fact, for the first time ever last month, Threads surpassed X in daily users by 0.1. Threads led by 130.2 million while X had 130.1 million daily users.

Another reason why creators are more interested in Threads is because YouTube has moved on to that platform. No longer are they replying to people on X. Or at least, not as much.

Got any questions for YouTube? Your best bet is now on Threads.

Our VidCon pitch didn't work at VidSummit... so we adapted.

Our pitch from VidCon was that we run a community on Discord and a membership that helps creators grow. That worked in VidCon.

But when we say the same pitch to the people in VidSummit, they'd nod and ask, "What else?"

Luckily, this was only on day 0 and day 1 of VidSummit. It gave us time to adapt to this new audience.

We began talking about our website, focused in more on our partnership page, and our newsletter. We offered a month free of our membership, which people really responded to.

Surprisingly (to us), everyone at VidSummit loved our website. It made us realize how important having a great looking website is to others.

It even amazed the people at Fourthwall, who we used to create our website.

Then there was our newsletter (the one you're reading right now!), which brands were buzzing around like bees to honey. We would've never thought it was that eye-catching until now.

It takes about 7 times for people to notice.

Imagine this:

You're scrolling through Instagram and you see an ad for OpusClip. Maybe it interests you a little, maybe it doesn't. Whatever's the case, you continue scrolling.

Later on in the day, you're on Reddit and you see OpusClip again. Well, now you have OpusClip on your mind because you remember seeing it on Instagram.

The next day, you're watching YouTube from your favorite creator and they mention OpusClip. You think to yourself, "Hey, I've heard about this."

Now your brain is aware of this brand as you see OpusClip again on Threads.

"Okay," you think to yourself, "let's go and see what this OpusClip is all about."

This is what I mean when I write that it takes about 7 times for people to notice.

It's easy to leave all your eggs in one basket, especially if you're someone who doesn't like social media. But just because you don't like something doesn't mean you shouldn't use it to your advantage.

When you upload your video on YouTube, create clips of it and post it as a Short, a TikTok video, an Instagram Reels, a LinkedIn video, and wherever else you can!

The more platforms people can find you, the better.

Things that brought us joy.

We've never laughed so much like VidSummit. It all started with the area we were living in.

Would you believe me if I told you that we were staying on Bangor Court by Coker Street? Or that our rental car's license plate said Trixie 666?

This alone entertained us for the entire event.

But the next took the absolute cake. What if I told you a man had a whole VidSummit speech about sour cream?

In case you didn't notice the Sora watermark, this is an AI-generated video. So it's best if you don't believe me on this one.

Ivan from OpusClip was testing out the new Sora 2 and, without realizing, had spiraled down the topic of sour cream.

​Every single video that he's made with Sora 2. Sour cream.​

And boy did he delivered. This is the highlight of our VidSummit.

Again, a big thank you to the OpusClip team! It was the first time we met the newer team members and the brand partners. They were all amazing people.

Words from Andrew Kan

This was my 7th VidSummit and I think what I have learned is the value of community and partnership. Whether it's with your friends, brand sponsors, or just meeting people.

YouTube can feel like a single player game.

It isn't. But when you're creating, often times it's alone in your room.

We would hear people say "I only have 60K subs, or only get 1 million views a month." They weren't trying to brag, or boast, they just genuinely didn't know the impact.

This is something Ike and I felt for people mentioning this newsletter as their favorite thing we do, or through the power of livestreams being how people know me (instead of TubeBuddy).

The truth is you just never know who is watching, and that those numbers are REAL people.

As we as a team look at VidSummit tickets next year, one thing's for sure: Go to the events the people you want to learn and grow from go to.

For us that's VidSummit and VidCon!

We want to thank our incredibly community for always supporting us, Stanley Orchard for really working hard this trip and helping creators, and of course YOU who is reading this.