Don't tell ANYONE about your YouTube channel!

Why You Shouldn’t Tell Anyone About Your New YouTube Channel

Author

Ark
May 15, 2025

Starting a YouTube channel is exciting, but it can also be daunting. You’ve uploaded a few videos, but the views and subscribers aren’t rolling in yet. You’re probably checking your YouTube Analytics constantly, wondering how to get the ball rolling. It’s tempting to share your channel with friends and family or post a link on social media to boost your numbers. But here’s why you should resist that urge.

The Temptation to Share

When you’re new to YouTube, it’s natural to want to share your content with people you know. You might think, “I’ll send a link to my friends or family, or post it on Facebook to get some views.” Maybe you’re hesitant because creating videos feels out of the ordinary, especially if you’re from a generation like Gen X, where making videos of yourself wasn’t part of growing up. Unlike today’s Gen Z, who seem born with phones in their hands, this can feel new and even a bit embarrassing. But even if you’re eager to share, hold off.

I’ve been there. When I started my channel, I told my kids and nephew about it. They became my first three subscribers—yay! I probably got a few views from them too. But looking back, that wasn’t the best move.

Why Sharing with Friends and Family Can Hurt Your Channel

The problem isn’t that your friends or family might tease you for making videos. The real issue is how YouTube’s algorithm works. When you send links to your videos or channel to people you know—whether through email, Facebook, or anywhere else—you’re sending traffic to your channel that YouTube didn’t find on its own. This can skew the data YouTube uses to understand your audience, slowing your channel’s growth.

YouTube’s Algorithm Needs the Right Data

YouTube’s algorithm is designed to figure out who your ideal audience is. It uses data like

  • lick-through rate (CTR): How often people click your video’s thumbnail and title when it’s shown to them.

  • Retention rate: How long people watch your video.

  • Keywords: Found in your title, description, tags, and even the spoken content of your video (yes, YouTube can transcribe your videos to identify keywords).

When YouTube shows your video to viewers it thinks are interested, it tracks how they engage. If they click and watch for a long time, YouTube knows it’s found the right audience and will show your video to more similar viewers. But if you send your video to friends and family, they may click out of curiosity or obligation, not because they’re genuinely interested in your content. They might watch only a few seconds before moving on.

The chances that your friends and family are the exact audience your videos are meant for are slim. Even if some of them share your passion for your niche, their views and subscriptions can feel like “fake” engagement because they’re not the organic audience YouTube is trying to find. This mismatched data confuses the algorithm, making it harder for YouTube to identify and target your true audience.

Skewed Data Slows Growth

When you drive traffic to your channel through external links, YouTube sees views that didn’t come from its own recommendations or search results. This can mess with its understanding of your video’s performance. For example, if your video gets a lot of views from a Facebook post, but those viewers don’t watch for long or engage further, YouTube might think your content isn’t resonating. This can lower your video’s chances of being recommended to the right people, stunting your channel’s growth.

Let YouTube Do Its Job

YouTube’s algorithm is incredibly good at finding your ideal audience—better than you are. It’s in YouTube’s best interest to match your videos with viewers who will click, watch for a long time, and stay on the platform. The algorithm uses your video’s title, description, tags, and content to figure out who should see it. By focusing on creating high-quality videos with clear keywords, compelling thumbnails, and engaging content, you give YouTube the tools it needs to do its job.

Instead of trying to jumpstart your channel with artificial traffic, focus on:on

  • Making better videos: Create content that people want to watch for longer. The more you make, the better you’ll get.

  • Crafting clickable thumbnails: A thumbnail that grabs attention increases your click-through rate.

  • Optimizing titles and descriptions: Use keywords that reflect your video’s topic and appeal to your target audience.

  • Using tags effectively: Tags help YouTube understand your video’s context.

These elements are the real keys to growth. As you improve, YouTube will notice and start showing your videos to the right people.

When Can You Share Your Channel?

Once your channel has gained traction—say, hundreds or thousands of subscribers—there’s less harm in letting the odd person know what you’re doing. But even then, don’t rely on friends and family to grow your channel. Organic growth through YouTube’s algorithm is far more effective.

Final Thoughts

Starting a YouTube channel is a journey, and it’s normal to want quick results. But sharing your channel with friends, family, or social media followers can do more harm than good. Let YouTube’s algorithm work its magic by focusing on creating great content, optimizing your videos, and being patient. The views and subscribers will come from the right audience—the one YouTube finds for you.

Thanks for joining me on this chilly walk by the ocean in Nova Scotia. Keep creating, and don’t give up. Your audience is out there, and YouTube will help you find them.

#Innovation #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #DigitalMarketing #Technology #Career #Networking #Business #Motivation #FutureOfWork

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