This is a big moment for me. YES!
Some milestones remind you how far you’ve come. But some teach you what it took to keep moving when progress was uncertain.
I am celebrating 3,000 subscribers of my YouTube channel, Akpan Unwana.
Though it’s not a huge number compared to other big channels, but it’s worth it. This is significant to me. Behind those 3,000 subscribers are the struggles I can’t explain. But I’m happy today that people have now found my content useful enough to watch, return to, or subscribe. That’s a good thing to celebrate. It’s a reflection of the journey that started in 2022.
How My YouTube Journey Started in 2022
I was still a student at the university of Uyo. The idea of launching my own YouTube channel in 2022 was to share what I learned, experiences I had, and ideas I could share with people who might benefit from them.
Surprisingly, my first channel was not about graphic design. I had to learn how YouTube works the hard way. I started with reaction videos, to gospel channel.
But it seemed I was struggling in all. Then I told myself that I must get through this.
I told myself I must do something different if I must succeed in this content creation.
Here comes a big reflection on my core skill: GRAPHIC DESIGN.
And I started creating contents around it.
My first YouTube video. It was terrible 😔
Like many beginner creators, I had to learn how to create valuable content, the kind of content that is useful, solves problem and answer specific questions that viewers are searching for. It was there that I realized that creating content requires more than having something useful to say. It is about helping people solve problems.
Not All Your videos will Have Views
Sometimes, I will do my best while creating a video. But surprisingly it has less views than expected.
That thought me a lesson, and I realized that people don’t watch because of video quality or how fluent you are with grammar. People watch because the video gives them the answer they could not get elsewhere.
Not every video will perform as expected. Some content may receive encouraging attention, while other videos may attract very little engagement. This is what I faced when I just started.
But I kept going.
This journey has been a lesson for me. It teaches me that it takes a long time to create something worthwhile. The results may not be immediate, but each experience gives you an opportunity to learn and improve.
The Courage Not to Give Up
One lesson I continue to appreciate is the courage to keep going, even when the outcome is not encouraging.
You will be encouraged to create more videos if your previous videos you uploaded gain more views and subscribers. But what if the reverse is the case? Should you give-up? NO! Don’t stop. Keep pushing. At such moments, it reminds you why you started. And giving-up is not an option.
For me, this milestone is not just about reaching a subscriber count. It is also a reminder that the work I began in 2022 has continued to create opportunities to share, learn and connect with people.
I am still learning. I still have room to improve. And there is much more I hope to create.
5 Things I’d Do If I Were Growing a YouTube Channel All Over Again
I want the milestone to be something useful for anyone out there who’s working towards their own success as a content creator.
1. Just Start
Start even if you don’t have everything. The need to have the best camera, an ideal studio or advanced editing is not necessary to publish your first video.
Use what you know, and what tools you have, at the beginning. Make sure your content is clear, helpful and useful then work on them as you go.
A perfect moment may never arrive if you wait for it.
2. Create Your Channel Around a Real Business
When creating a YouTube channel or a blog, create it around a real business. Don’t just create a channel just because you want to be a content creator.
For me, I know that my channel will act as a platform to promote and grow my design and printing business, while sharing my knowledge to others who want to venture into the same business.
This implies that YouTube content creation is not an end in itself, but a vehicle for promoting and growing your business. Therefore, before starting a channel think of a business.
3. Create Videos that Address Real-world Problems
People often search YouTube because they want to learn something, solve a problem or understand a topic.
Before creating a video, ask yourself: What will someone gain from watching this?
A clear tutorial, an honest explanation or a practical demonstration can give viewers a strong reason to watch. The more specific the problem you address, the easier it may be for the right audience to recognize your video’s value.
4. Make Your Titles and Thumbnails Clear
Your video may contain excellent information, but viewers must first understand what it offers.
Write titles that accurately communicate the benefit of watching. Design thumbnails that are easy to read, visually clear and relevant to the video.
Avoid promising results your content cannot deliver. Building trust with viewers is more valuable than attracting clicks through misleading claims.
5. Learn from Every Video
Do not judge your progress by subscriber numbers alone.
In YouTube Studio check your impressions, click-through rate, audience retention and comments. These metrics can assist you in determining if people are discovering your videos, choosing to watch them and staying engaged.
Look for patterns. Which topics attract the right audience? At what points do viewers tend to leave? What questions keep appearing in the comments?
Use these observations to make improvements to your next video.
Bonus: Be Consistent, but Make Consistency Sustainable
It’s better to have a realistic publishing schedule than something you can’t keep up!
Pick a frequency suitable to your time and obligations. You could be publishing weekly, fortnightly or any other schedule that is manageable.
Consistency gives you opportunities to practise, learn and build a relationship with your audience. However, it should work alongside quality, not replace it.
What Reaching 3,000 Subscribers Means to Me
Reaching 3,000 subscribers is a meaningful point in my journey, but I see it as a milestone rather than a finish line.
Thank You for Being Part of the Journey
I would like to thank all those who have watched my videos, subscribed to my channel, shared my videos or encouraged me in any way. I have this success because of you.
I also appreciate the lessons that come from creating and publishing content. Every step has reinforced the importance of patience, learning and having the courage to continue.
If you have been following Akpan Unwana on YouTube since we started it in 2022, you are welcome on the journey.
If you are new here, you are welcome. I invite you to explore the channel, watch the videos that interest you and subscribe if the content is useful to you.
If you have been working towards your own channel,I hope this milestone reminds you that you do not have to have everything figured out before you start.
Start with what you have. Learn as you go. Improve where you can. And when progress takes longer than expected, remember why you started.
Congratulations to 3,000 subscribers and the journey so far, and the work still ahead of us!
