I'm a big YT guy. Don't really watch TV any more, and have 2500 ish channels I subscribe to, across multiple hobbies and types.
I was already subscribed to you. The problem with RC and YouTube is that it's a very niche channel that has limited appeal outside of our hobby... unless you're a Kevin Talbot or RC Sparks you just need to let the subs build up - KT has been doing it for years as has Medic, and both of them do more than just showing the cars running - some like that, some don't.. I guess the answer is try to find the compromise between the two, to keep both parties happy.
I like the running videos, but I have to be in the right mood for it. I'm probably more likely to watch more videos if they are a combination - I.E. trying different settings, trying different products or trying to fix a problem, then showing a running video after...
They say consistency is the key as well - which it looks like you have. If you're not already, try to get a schedule where you can upload at a certain date/time and then stick to it - but have a buffer of a few videos in the bank where you can upload one if you're away/sick/just can't be bothered. If you have a weeks worth (or more) of videos that you can upload, it should lessen the pressure to make content which might seem forced if you feel like you're under the hammer to get content out.
Try to engage the viewers - encourage comments, ask if there's anything they want to see. It's cheesy, but don't make a big deal of it - and remember that comments & interactions are currently the way the YT algorithm promotes content rather than sub count. If you don't want to do a voice over, add some text at the start and at the end might work. I would also encourage you to have a 3-5 second opening and closing rather than just go right into the footage and then cut right from it. Nothing fancy or loud, but perhaps a logo for your channel.
See if there are any other creators in your area that you can meet up with and collaborate - if you each get a cross subscription of 10% of each other's channel that's a good quick uptick in sub count. Some of the bigger channels will also shout you out if you shoot them a message... I've found a lot of good creators from other much larger channels.
Hope that helps. Keep it up
I primarily watch YT, and my interest in various channels changes depending on content and my mood.
I’ve heard Harley Designs and SBG both say running videos don’t do well for them. For me personally I enjoy running videos, but usually only when it’s a relatively stock rig that I’m interested in buying, or that I own and am looking for motivation on, or when it’s a custom rig that I’ve also watched videos of the build.
I also find that I prefer running videos on the shorter side… maybe 3-5 minutes long.
I'll echo that my running videos have done awful. The problem is, those are my favorite videos to do. One thing that I've done is to integrate them into the specific product video, similar to what SBG, Harley, RC Driver and others do, but lately, at least with my Dukes of Hazzard videos, I've also decided to publish those separately.
There are others out there who have successful RC channels that are mostly running-based videos, but those tend to be rare, and the ones that I can think of are exceptionally well done (Matteo's RC Movies, etc), which is why I suspect they've been so popular.
The other thing that I discovered early on is that you and your personality have more to do with the success of your channel than pretty much anything else. As soon as I turned the camera around and put myself into the videos, my views and subscriber count went way up. I'm not particularly good looking nor all that charming, so I didn't really think that this move would make a difference, but it did. Doing that also forced me to put more effort into my speaking, my delivery, and my overall mannerisms, which probably had a lot to do with the additional success. It also made me conscious about my surroundings, and that evolved into having a dedicated set, proper lighting, etc. Pretty soon I'll be adding a 2nd camera for a 2nd angle so I can have more going on visually to keep viewers engaged.
If your plan is to stick exclusively to running videos, then study other successful youtubers that are as similar to what you're trying to accomplish as you can find, and try to watch enough of their videos to understand why YOU are entertained by them. Chances are, there will be some sort of storyline and not just random running. The video will have a clear beginning, middle, a climax of some sort, and a resolution. The video itself is probably well shot, with very interesting camera angles, stable footage, music that's well integrated, interesting location, etc. Lots of variables to consider. None of them need to be copied, but you need to understand what makes those videos enjoyable and incorporate those elements into yours.
Lastly, and what I think is the hardest, is to make sure that your video gets put in front of potential viewers, and that it looks appealing enough to make them click on it. This is where running videos tend to fall short, so again, study those who have success and see what they're doing differently than you. Is their thumbnail just a screen capture, or is it a well shot photo that manages to actually represent the video? Is there text that is there to entice or hook the viewer? Is the title similarly something designed to entice the potential viewer? Sad but true, but if you want people to watch, you need to play the clickbait game. That doesn't mean you need to put a bikini model in your thumbnail, it can still accurately represent your video, but it's got to capitalize on selling some of the sizzle that your video has to offer.
But lastly, really decide why you're doing it. Is it for the views, and the hopes of monetizing your videos, or is it because it's fun to do and you just want to be able to show it off? If it's the latter, don't worry about any of this crap, and just do what you enjoy. If people watch it, great. If not, it was still fun to do it. That's the approach that I'm taking with my running videos now, and it's liberating. My last running video was by far my most popular, but after the first 2 days of great view numbers, it still fell flat and isn't going anywhere, but that's OK. I had a blast making it with my kids, and when I go back and re-watch it, I'm proud if it. Mission accomplished, regardless of what the views say.
