Cracking YouTube’s Algorithm

Hey Founders,

I’ve been diving deep into YouTube’s algorithm and analyzing what’s working (and what’s flopping) on my own channel. If you’re growing a YouTube brand, podcast, or content business, this breakdown will help you hack the algorithm and scale faster.

Let’s get tactical.

🔥 What’s Working on YouTube?

✅ Clear Hooks & Big Topics Win

• “Why Speed Wins in Business” (416 views) → High curiosity, straight to the point.

• “Fighting Cancer: How I Kept My Business Alive” → Emotion + business resilience = engagement.

• “Masterminding with Competitors” (416 views) → The title makes you want to know the secret.

✅ Face-Forward, High-Energy Clips Perform Best

• Videos featuring people’s emotions, reactions, and dynamic settings get more views.

• Static AI-generated images (like the robot post) tend to underperform.

✅ Controversy & Thought-Provoking Content Works

• “He Sold Sex.com and AI.com” (14K views) → Massive curiosity hook.

• “AI + Inequality: A Recipe for Revolution?” → People love debating big topics.

• “YC Pulls Out of Africa” (40 views) → Interesting, but needs better execution.

🚨 What’s NOT Working (And What Needs Fixing)

❌ Weak Hooks in Some Titles

• “Weekly Campaigns: Maximize Sales with…” is too generic.

• Fix: “How I Scaled Sales to $100K/Month with a Podcast” → Specific + compelling.

❌ Low-Energy Clips = Low Engagement

• The best videos have dynamic speakers, strong cuts, and engaging visuals.

• Fix: More fast cuts, facial reactions, and overlay captions like Alex Hormozi.

❌ Thumbnails Need More Attention

• Random freeze frames hurt CTR.

• Fix: Bold, clear text + contrasting colors (think black, white, neon green/yellow).

📈 My Growth Strategy for 50K Subscribers & $5K/Month

🔥 Immediate Fixes for Shorts

✅ Double down on high-performing topics (speed, business hacks, extreme founder stories).
✅ Upgrade thumbnails → Clear bold text, high contrast, high curiosity.
✅ Improve titles/hooks (More intrigue, less generic business jargon).

📈 Long-Form Strategy

✅ More “Extreme” Founder Stories → People love crazy business wins/losses.
✅ More CEO Breakdowns & Trend Jumps → Elon Musk, Sam Altman, AI trends, longevity.
✅ Solo Deep Dives → High-energy insights on business, growth, and AI.

🚀 Next Steps:
I’m testing these changes over the next 10 Shorts and 5 Long-Form Videos. Expect more:
📌 Founder deep dives
📌 AI x Business trend breakdowns
📌 Tighter, high-energy clips

👉 What’s your biggest struggle with YouTube growth? Hit reply and let me know!

Let’s build.

Charles Cormier