Hey @Jean Gregory Wright - To add a bit to what @Mike Bayer was saying - there is a book that I have read, and the audiobook version I have also listened to, that is called "The YouTube Formula" by Derral Eves. He is a YouTube strategist that, according to SUCCESS.com, has created 34 YouTube channels that have each got more than a million subscribers (https://www.success.com/cracking-the-youtube-code-with-derral-eves). I wave watched several videos by him or interviews with him and his view is that we need to trust the algorithm to find the right audience and that when a channel starts putting videos on social media sites what often happens is friends and family members, who often are not the target audience for the content in the video, end up clicking on the link to see what it is but then click away when the content is not something they are really interested in and this type of "short clicks" makes the algorithm think the video is not good to suggest. The only real exception to this is if you have a private group, like a Skool community, where everyone in the group is within a given "target audience" and likely to want to watch the videos all the way through.

Hey @Alexa Saarenoja - I love your "100% unfiltered, authentic service" - for me I have a mantra...."If I continue to do what I have always done then I will continue to get what I have always gotten....so it's time to make a change because I am starting over and will hit 10,000 subscribers and be monetized in 2026!" - Happy New Year to you and your family!

@Steffani Gentry - Thanks for sharing it! I watched it and thought the content was great. It was very thought provoking! I also read the comment in the video comments section, that I think is from @I am Everyone, and I can see how that microphone could be distracting to some viewers. I am not sure about your setup but sometimes having it just above your head but out of frame works well. I know that is what I have done in videos in the past and it worked well and when I return to creating content that is what I will be doing.

@Steffani Gentry - All in all it comes down to choosing the best setup you can with what you have to work with. It might be that your setup is the best it can be for you....and there is nothing wrong with that....it just might mean that some people might get distracted by the placement....which I suspect you already know. I do know that there a ton of options out there to aid in mounting cameras, lighting, or in this case a michrophone....but of course each comes with trade offs. Good luck finding what works best for you! Looking forward to watching your progress!

@Lassen Azul Good Thanks!

@Lassen Azul - I am not sure if you realize it or not...but your comments in the group are presenting as though you have an agenda that is not related to growing YouTube channels. Please be aware that the administrators will not tollerate any self-promotion and many have been banned from the group for doing so.

Hey @Mike Karabell - Thanks for posting this! It is a great reminder!

@Mike Karabell - Your Welcome!