This video is really for people who've watched the channel before, but if you are new, welcome! I hope you find something to like here. To everyone who's been here before, thank you so much for this first year.
Congrats on the benchmark, amigo. You've already made it further than a lot of people who start this. Consistently Tubing is a drain and can take the fun out of it sometimes. I wish I could tell myself that it is okay to take breaks now and then.
Now I know where to go for advice on cigars! 😂 Walking out of the room while Dr. Fantasy is blabbing away? At least you’re not one of my students. They have to raise their hand and pretend they’re going to the bathroom. 😂 In all seriousness, I appreciate you helping with the watch time, and I often do the same for videos I play. Hooray for Malazan and the word “druthers”! Most of all, I’m so glad you’re part of this community, my friend! And long live the Quilluminati!
This is me using my best thumbnail face to tell you I love you brother, I love the channel and my wish for you is you do what makes you happy and brings you joy! I would totally be here a Rick Thunder reads nothing but Malazan.
I’m so grateful you’re here, my friend! As soon as I got to know you, I immediately felt like we were BookTube family. You’re off to an incredible start, and I hope you have many more great years here. ❤ (Thanks for watching my vidoes on mute if you’re trying to support while avoiding my thoughts) 😅
BookTube has given me something that money could never buy. A place where I truly belong. I've made friendships that are truly remarkable and I've found a true kindred spirit. The negatives could sound overwhelming, but the positives always outweigh them. I really love this video. Keep being you, Brian. You mean so much to us!
Hey, my first comment on a Booktube channel in legit forever. So, I've literally, without exaggeration, never looked at my analytics page other than to see the gender split because Bookborn asked. I'm not sure I'd even know how to decipher it but I do know I would hate it. I wish it would hide the crap on my front studio page. Grats on the milestone, Brian!!
I'm just happy you are watching! I think the people who don't pay attention to the analytics have much more fun :) I'm going to try to back off of it a bit. And Thank You! You are a huge BookTube inspiration, whether on your own videos or when you show up on that Jimmy dude's channel.
Between you, John and Mike. You three all are my main go to for something to watch every morning when I get home from work. I’ve been through a lot over the past year and a half and this corner of booktube has helped me immensely get through the day and push into the next one. Especially your “one for the road”, those little tidbits at the end of your videos are unique and I appreciate them.
I’m so glad that you are here, Brian! ❤ Love your enthusiasm, honesty, and warmth. You’ve got a great channel and I hope you’re proud of what you’ve built. I’m looking back on 5 years of Booktube in January and I can absolutely echo the relationships being the best part of what we do. The audience members, the Booktubers, even the lurkers! 💜
I've never agreed more about your first point - the other booktube creators on this platform have blown me away. They are all the nicest, loyalist, best people I've really met in any community. ON the other hand, I also identified sooo much with your growth stuff. The blend of me stubbornly only making content I really want to make, but also noticing which videos do really well and being bummed that only certain videos grow you....ugh. Excited to get to be a guest on For Whom the Bell Tolls :)
You 100% get it. You've seen first-hand all the good, bad, and ugly. And like me, you recognize it really is far more good (or neither of us would be here). I can't wait for you to come on the show. We are going to have a total blast!
I really appreciate your unapologetic honesty in this video Brian. Thank you for being so transparent about what buoys you and--at times-- deflates you. Whatever direction you take your channel, I know it will be great and I look forward to it.
Stay the course - this corner of RUclips is one that is a slow burn - you grow over time, so do what you enjoy and what you can sustain while still having a ball! I also 100% agree on clickbait thumbnails & titles. Now, doing one every once in a while - that’s fine as long as you deliver on what you’re teasing, but some folks do it constantly and I find it exhausting. 😂 I think my inability to understand the analytics is a blessing in disguise because I just ignore it and keep bopping along to my own beat. 😉 YES TO MORE LITRPG!!!!!! 🎉
I’m grateful for you Brian!! You have been a bright spot for me, and so many other this past year. A source of encouragement, fun, and over all positivity. Keep going! ❤
I'm also pretty skeptical about changing algorithm with audience. In general its probably a better way to look at it but in the end we really dont know every metric and way youtube is serving videos to viewers. They are constantly changing and testing things on a scale that would make most people head spin off. Excited to see what you do in the future!
Congrats on one year. One thing that I would like to see is you talking about books you like. I want to hear what you have to say about Memories of Ice. I get a bit of that on some live streams you have been on. I know videos like that tend to limit your audience and might hurt you in the algorithm. Maybe short live streams?
Thanks so much! As I think about potential mid-month "check in" videos for 2025, I think those might open up some video time to dig deeper into books that get only a couple minutes in my monthly recap, like Memories of Ice. (and House of Chains)
Honestly, you channel is one of the best ones I found this year (us agreeing on almost everything has nothing to do with that fact 😆😆). Keep up the great work 🔥
Congrats on the one year bookversary!! I don't think I have the words to explain how grateful I am for all the joy you have brought me with your content over the past year. Watching your channel has honestly become more beneficial to my mental health than any type of therapy ever could be haha ❤ Mad respect for how much time, effort, and passion you pour into your content, I love how seriously you take your channel while also maintaining such a chill and homely vibe 🥰 As you mentioned, I am one of those viewers who will be here watching and commenting no matter what, so whatever direction you take the channel, I am along for the ride so long as it makes your heart happy. This is only the start, Brian, and I can't wait to see what the future holds 🔥
What you said towards the end about “lurkers” is absolutely true. I myself am one of your lurker/silent followers. I don’t necessarily participate in the comments often, but I always tune in to your videos and give it a like. I felt it was important to share that and confirm your suspicions somewhat at least from my POV. Thanks for the content, and I’m a big fan of the “one of the road”. Those messages often hit home at times when I don’t know I need them 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
I appreciate you being here in whichever way is your favorite! Lurkers are by far the majority of the channel, so you are in good company. Thank you so much for letting me know you exist, and I'm glad the One For The Roads hit when they need to :)
Hey Brian, I've been subbed since early this year. I never really comment, but I watch every vid. I wanted to comment and say that I appreciate your sincerity both in this video, but also as a whole on your channel. I love the content. Keep it up. And congrats on the 1 year!
I really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on this Brian. You take a pretty balanced approach to everything, and I love that. I’m guilty of the goofy, hokey faces on my thumbnails. 😂😂
It HAS been an amazing year!! And, yes, OMG A 43 MUNUTE VIDEO!! Hahaha! I’d love to keep seeing both the serious, and the fun videos - it’s usually too hard to tell them apart anyway lol!
I have been what you would call a lurker but will do my best to make sure I comment more. I have been trying to make a conscious effort to engage more with the channels I watch! Been watching for about 5 months and don’t think I have missed a video! Big congratulations on the one year and my two cents for what it is worth is that I think you should do whatever you get the most enjoyment from. We will be here to watch whatever you decide to put out!
@ I just want to try and support the channel as best I can. I also forgot to mention, I have Sandman Slim coming in the mail, thanks to you. Definitely excited to give that one a try. I also want to start some LitRPG in 2025 - I really think this is something I will enjoy.
Great video Brian as a newbie it's great to hear your thoughts and opinions on this side of RUclips and the ups and downs. Definetly LitRPG sounds like a great growing community to do videos on so keep it up you might even get me reading some 😀
I enjoy your content. I’m very much in agreement with you about Malazan. I always seem to want to be reading it. I purposely leave space between each book but I’m always anxious to go back. Currently waiting to start Toll the Hounds.
I'm late watching this, Brian, but first, congratulations on such a well-deserved successful first year. I can't wait to return to the Tube consistently and become a more active community member again. While I always love it when you share the good, I'm glad you shared your struggles. Like you, almost every video I make takes 4-6 hours to create, including the editing, but I'm proud of the content once completed. Let's make 2025 another successful year of growth for you and I get my ass back in front of the camera. - Cheers
Hi Brian, i adore your channel, you are so yourself and honest and uplifting, i get behind on busy weeks but i never miss a video, follow the joy and fun and let Brian loose, cause your 43 mins rock
Congratulations on one year! I am definitely a lurker, since I am a rather quiet/shy person by nature. But I do enjoy your videos. My favorite are the new book tags that you create, they are always so creative and fun to watch.
I always appreciate how transparent you are about your booktube journey, particularly the business side which I at least don't see as much talk about. Here's to the next chapter of BellTube! Looking forward to seeing where the ride takes us!
I want you to know that I truly appreciate your honesty. It not only helps your viewers (like myself), but it also helps authors know how to help you out too (also fits me). In the end though, as an author, a person who cares, or even just a person... My goal is to support great people like you (or John from Talking Story) and as I tell all the authors I know. I do not want to cross that finish line by myself, I am taking as many people with me as I can. You support people like me, so if there is anything I can do please let me know. Your videos are amazing and thank you for making them.
Hi Brian, I recognize your predicaments very much from conversations from one of my best friends who has a very similar way of looking at life. There seems to be a clear tension between your business instinct and need for performance on the one hand and your intrinsic creative drive for creativity and doing what you love. I can only say, what I always say to him. Nothing succeeds above par if you're not authentically loving what you're doing. So do keep that as a compass. I belief the reason people like Jimmy Nuts and Merphy Napier survive big changing around of their channels is because they built a community that connects to their authentic self over time. Anyway, love your channel, the shortform and the longform content. And as I've shown in my first paragraph, this video helped me in forming a stronger parasocial relationship 😂. Good luck with your deliberations!
Really enjoyed listening to your insights. I was a lurker on booktube for about 5 years or so before you and John at Talking Story helped motivate me to make a channel. I’ve always been an introverted person and was maybe a little nervous to comment. I’m very glad I started. I’ve made some connections since then that I’m super happy about and I just love having people to actually talk about books and writing with now. Thank you for being a motivation. You do also motivate to always try and keep getting better with what I put out, as well. Thank you and congrats on the one year!
I am a lurker for the most part, but I love your channel. I really enjoy One for the Road! That segment is unigue and I love it. This is your hobby so I feel you should make content that makes you happy. You should not have to cater to the masses. I think your doing a great job...I will be watching.
My # 1 choice is booktainment! I do want the monthly review of what you read of course! Belltube= Fun . I love the videos that have a theme, like your motley crew video.
Just keep going as you have been doing, following your intuition. The important thing is that you like what you do. Everything else is irrelevant. We love your channel and enjoy watching your videos. 🎉👍😃
This was my very first of many more belltube vids as this was both a very fun and informative video! Love your enthusiasm and can't wait to engorge myself on the rest of your vids 👊🏾😎
Brian: Says he won't make clickbait thumbnails. Also Brian: Constantly gives of thumbnails featuring his award winning smile. Congrats on 1 year! Great advice for those looking into getting into BookTube. At the very least I hope it gives you guys enough money to buy more books. I appreciate the variety, so while I may enjoy the fact based segments hosted by the one and only Rick Thunder, I understand that other people are less than fun than I am. So while you may need to exchange certain segments for others, I hope you keep the core of what makes BellTube and keep it enjoyable as possible for yourself.
Ha! Thanks, Chris! I'm not going to cater to one or the other group. It's more various ways of setting ourselves apart here on the channel from everything else and try to bring value in a fun way to a very crowded space.
Congrats on making a year Brian! I am super glad I found your channel - I may not be very vocal but you and I share a lot of tastes. I just re-read an early Xanth novel as a palate cleanser to Stormlight. You deserve to be in the 6-figure club and I hope you get there soon! I’ve never walked away from your videos wondering “why did I watch that?” KEEP IT UP!
Hi Brian! Thanks so much for sharing with us your thoughts and even what goes on behind the scenes! I really admire all of the effort and work you put into your videos. Sometimes I wish I could do the same but with lack of time and resources it would be hard to do. I joined booktube because I had no one in my real life to talk books with. So a lot of my videos end up being my passionately expressed spontaneous thoughts. I'm not one for analytics but I do love interacting with people in the comments and lives. As long as there's that engagement I'm satisfied. Looking forward to the next video!
Always watch to the end of the video. Because that’s what heroes do. Glad you mentioned keeping this as a hobby to start, because some people can become way too obsessed with trying to Jimmy rig the algorithm for max growth. It can make your content look fake AF Keep up the great work, Brian. You are the best of us
@ of course! And you’re not the only one who sees the LitRPG tidal wave coming. Every booktuber with a brain in their head outta have a Dungeon Crawler Carl video up before that tv show hits
@@AuthorJohnADouglas it's so huge. And like every other genre, there is excellent LitRPG and complete garbage (IMO) LitRPG. So I think I can be a helpful voice to highlight the better ones out there.
Great video, but of course I don't know what you talked about as I simply lowered volume and left the room... All kidding aside, really liked your thoughts on first year on booktube. Recently started my own channel and it's very recognizable. One thing I will never understand though, is booktubers who admit they want to read other things or in a different structure, but are worried the toll it will take on their channel. Like in your case with Malazan. I've read that series twice now and I cannot imagine reading it any other way than back to back. If I would read it spaced out over multiple months, I would forget so many details and intricacies. Of course, everyone is different so some people prefer the other way, and that's fine. But you specifically mentioned you want to read it back to back (or at least much closer scheduled to each other)... As you said, nobody is doing booktube to get rich, so why is it so much more important that you retain existing viewership / grow viewers, rather than read a potential favorite series the way you want? That's one of the reasons why my channel is so small after 5 months with only a handful of videos, because I prioritize my own reading over what I think others would want. I nearly always read my series back to back, because that's how I prefer it. And YT-algorithm be damned... 🙂 Anyway, I hope I don't come across as criticizing your way of doing things, just something I genuinely don't understand (which is probably my failing anyway).
good thoughts. my reason for not doing all malazan aren't about YT. It's trying to keep the current audience engaged as they aren't all into that one series. Also, I have other buddy reads planned in advance that I don't want to abandon plans on.
So this may be the first time I have commented on a video after watching Book tube for about 18+ months, subscribed to many channels. Congratulations on a year for your channel, I believe I subscribed pre 1k subs as much because I enjoyed the content as to help you get to 1k. Analytics question 1. I through RUclips on my second screen and do other things from playing games to pretend writing a book, does that lower analytics since I am not active on the screen. Analytics question 2. When I skip over 'Rick Thunder' (I'm a bit older than you and do not need to be reminded of that time in my life) does it cause a problem with analytics. If you make changes, I vote to keep 'One for the road' and 'Here's your fortune' Keep up the great videos! Hope everyone can find a hobby they enjoy.
Thank you so much for commenting! I'm glad you chose here to make your first one. I'm not certain that a video has to have screen activity for analytics. As far as skipping through segments, I would do whatever you want to do and not worry too much about any one particular video's analytics when skipping through. I usually time stamp all the things I put into the videos so people can do just that. Over time, I'm hoping people like the time stamps and keep coming back to the channel knowing they can skip over what's not their favorite parts.
Congrats on one year, and interesting take! In terms of what you're doing moving forward, I'd say mostly keep doing what you're doing (because that's what drew your current fan base) but also drill more into your top performing stuff. There's one channel I can think of that basically posts nothing but lists with the same small pool of books repackaged different ways that's exploded in the short time I subbed to them. Drilling in more on the LitRPG stuff for you will probably have a similar effect. Personally, like 3 months into making videos I bookmarked the Content and Comments tabs so I can go straight to them and ignore anything analytics related. I went into this knowing I'm really only interested in making the least watched category of videos on Booktube anyway and I don't need that kind of statistical negativity in my life 🤣
Happy Anniversary! My $0.02 on your "Bad" and "Ugly" sections: shoot videos that you are most passionate about making, and ignore the analytics. (This is from a channel that was very slow to grow but eventually found a loyal audience). People that like what you do will find you. Don't pander to the analytics-I've always felt in YT (and in real life) in playing the long game and not looking for the quick result works best. This honestly might be contrary to your channel goals, but I think you'll feel more positively about it. Feel free to ignore this too lol. But glad you're here in the community!
Grats on 1 year!! 🎉 👋 Lurker here--I don't comment on videos often because I usually watch on my TV, or my kids are being loud and I can't focus on one. 🤣 In regards to growth, I think in general the more epic fantasy side of booktube never seems to grow quickly, and I think that's largely just because it's a smaller niche, and because so many people put out longer video content about it, it becomes highly competitive for people's time. I find I don't general subscribe to new booktubers often, unless some of my regular creators start putting out less content, because otherwise I just won't have time for it all (even watching at 2x speed like i often do!) I think you've actually grown quite quickly, compared to other channels, and I appreciate it's something that you really enjoy trying to foster, but I do always think the best content is the content people are passionate about making, not necessarily what is the most popular... There always seems to be a disconnect between quality and viewer numbers, though. I've seen so many channels my son has gotten hooked on, with millions of subs, that are just absolute garbage. 😅 Obviously subjective, but... It's wild out there. So i just want to promote you doing what makes you happy--though if you are really enjoying litRPG, go for it!! As for click-off rate--I am absolutely terrible for this, so while I'm sure it isn't something a lot of people want to hear, I do appreciate tou bringing it up. I often times will start something, realize it isnt quite what I'm in the mood for, and will click off... I mostly blame reel-style content for killing my attention span, but again it's also because my feed is so packed I have decision issues. I generally come back to videos eventually, but I'll try to keep that in mind to not start something unless Im more committed, and like you said, leave things on in the background even if I'm not watching, because i actually do love doing that while I'm cleaning and such... I can't stand not having background noise! Sorry for the wall of text, but I do want to reiterate my congratulations--sticking with any kind of hobby like this is SO worth celebrating, and I know you've brought joy to many peoples' lives and have added a really vibrant new voice to this space that I think we needed. I hope you keep find it fulfilling and fun, and keep building a community you love around you!!
Hey Brian congrats on one year! Thanks for a super unfiltered video on this! I have a couple booktube newbie questions for you if you don’t mind. First, what do you recommend doing about negative comments? I’ve had a couple people post some nasty stuff (not just disagreement haha) and I’ve wondered what you advise about that? When do you personally have no problem deleting something or blocking someone? Next how important do you feel it is to upload on the same days? I try to do a video Mondays or Tuesdays but I don’t know which is better and sometimes alternate. Thoughts? You talked about clickbait titles. What do you think makes something clickbait vs eye catching? Is that purely subjective? And last of all, do you deal with frustration if more substantial videos get overlooked and the eye catchy ones (say top ten lists) get all the attention? Is there a way to change that or is it just how it is? Sorry for all the questions but you’re unironically one of the biggest booktube successes I’ve seen and I’d love your feedback!!
I'm no expert, but I'll take a crack at your questions. 1) negative comments... ignore. if they continue from the same person, remove them from your channel. there are tutorials within YT how to do this. 2) upload days.. take a look at your "Audience" analytics and see when most of your viewers are on RUclips. Figure a 6 hour window and post when it looks like you have the most attention available. Whichever day you initially pick, if possible, stay consistent so your viewers know what day you usually post and they look for it. For me, 99% of the time I post on Fridays because that's when the viewers have become accustomed to me posting. 3) clickbait is the promise of something grand and it's just another video. eye-catching is great. The image on the thumbnail should match the tone of the title. I personally like "My Top 10" rather than "Top 10" because it's really my opinion. Clickbait is also, for me, things like "You Won't Believe What I Found Out when (fill in the blank). We are talking about books. There's nothing earth-shattering that someone is going to shit themselves over # 8... 4) generally speaking, and this has been a common conversation I've had with many prominent booktubers, the videos we put the most time and heart into generally underperform compared to what the viewers out there are looking for. They like curated book lists. They like us taking the work of book selection out of their lives, if they find they align with what we like personally. Hope that helps, just off the top of my head.
This was such an interesting video to watch. I agree with you regarding the algorithm. Some of my videos get thousands and some only a handful of views and I can't pinpoint the reason why. I've got to the point now where if it happens it happens. I have to keep reminding myself that it is a hobby and fun and not to take it so seriously as in 'oh that video didn't do well that means I'm no good' kinda thing.
Hey Brian, I just wanted to share how much I appreciate your videos. They create such a cozy atmosphere, and I can really feel your genuine love for books. You have a professional vibe that reminds me of some of the classic booktubers. I still remember the first video I watched, which was about LitRPG, and I subscribed immediately because of how well you convey your thoughts and feelings about literature. Keep doing what you do! by the way, I'm currently making my way through Memories of Ice,and I'm on a quest to catch up with you! 😂
Thank you so much for your kind words! Yes, catch me on Malazan! You'll have a little bit of a jump since book 5 (for me) isn't 'til Feb. I'm really appreciative of you watching!
Great video! I appreciate your insights and candidness. For me personally, I enjoy the spectrum of the types of videos you do. I like that you have fun and lean into being entertaining. But you also have a lot of valuable insights, recommendations, etc. from which I likewise receive value. At the end of the day, I hope you do what brings you the most joy and happiness. From a long-term lurker who is trying to be a little more interactive. 😄
I thought this was very interesting! I promise to leave your LitRPG videos running for my dogs while I do chores to increase your runtime! 😉 I vote more Urban Fantasy!!
I'm with you Brian. If there is a spoiler video or something I'm just not interested in, I'll still put a video on when I go to bed at night to give full video "watch" and also not skipping the ads ;)
8-10% a month growth is high growth (the stock market grows at 8-10% *a year* for perspective). That is fully doubling every 7-9 months. So in 4 years that is 16-30x the channel size. So 3K to 100K is about 4-5 years at that rate. FWIW this is the first of your videos that I've seen despite watching numerous videos from several of the booktubers you reference and despite being about your age as well.
Thanks for the math! It's usually closer to 6% but the compounding effect still applies. Just impatient when I see it around me hitting more. In any case, welcome to the channel! I hope you find a bunch of videos you like here!
First off I guess I’m a lurker 😂 I’ve been subscribed to your channel for at least 6 months and don’t comment much. I really enjoy your channel and agree with a ton of stuff you are saying about channel growth. I’ve been doing BookTube for 3 months now and have nearly 200 subscribers but growing is so weird. I might put a video out and get 0 subs and then put one out “Top 10” and get 5 or 6. It seems to me yt pushes very specific videos and that’s it. Not a fan of that.
Thank you for supporting the channel! I think at the 3 month mark you are still finding your specific audience. Keep making videos that appeal to you and see what happens. I’m lucky to have you here!
Hi Brian, enjoyed the video. Some channels that I watch ask people to leave a certain emoji (different one every video) people who don't want to comment are happy to do that
@@BrianBell7I’d have to 2nd that comment. I’ve been on booktube for years and years (took more time than I had wanted to off so I feel like I’m starting over now :/ ) anyway I usually try to leave an emoji of some sort if I don’t have anything to add. Belltube is a very interesting channel and I’m glad you’re here!
From watching other RUclipsrs talk about the system, it's my understanding that livestreams tend to harm your ability to hit the algorithm. They tend to have a low percentage listen time, just because they're really long. If I were you and interested in channel growth, I'd probably start a "For Whom the Bell Tolls" subchannel for the full show and publish 10-ish minute highlight clips on this channel. The sub-channel would get some subscriber growth from the clips here, but would likely always be small. But then your main channel would probably rank higher in "engagement" and be more likely to get recommended from other videos. This would allow you to continue that long-form content (which I value and hope you don't stop) without causing problems here. FWIW.
10% growth a month is actually fairly good in such a competitive market right? Eventually that curve becomes steeper. As for making more videos, if you chased subscribers by churning out 4 a week you would burn out both mentally and with fresh, interesting content as have many booktubers. Follow your instincts and keep enjoying this pleasant niche you’ve created.
I think the instincts part is really the best way to go. Especially the longer of time spent here, one gets a feel of what motivates them to create / upload. It's never 10% month over month all the time. That's a best case scenario. It's usually closer to 6%
Funny you talked about clickbait and you put (might lose subs) in your title. Watched all the way through and I hope all that are interested in the inner workings of booktube did the same.
I appreciate you watching. I don't think (might lose subs) is clickbait. It's the truth. That said, I wondered if people might think so, and asked some friends before I even titled it and they suggested it is not.
I prefer the less Rick Thunder and more book stuff idea. I rarely comment, but just wanted to provide feedback, for what it's worth (which may not be much lol). I appreciate your energy, but the additional skits is a bit much. God bless!
Oh, just read what you want to read, talk about what you're reading, and let the chips fall as they will. Really, what have you got to lose, if you're in it for the long run? You'll find your audience. Eventually. Good luck in any event.
Your complaints are almost exactly parallel to the complaints authors have. You want to stay true to yourself, but you also want to address the market.
would you just give me superpowers already and then I won't have to do anything?! Except saving the galaxy, etc. but c'mon. Who better than Rick Thunder to take on kaiju anyway?
Brian, after subscribing to your channel for a year it's time to finally come clean.....I never watch your videos, I'm just here for the fortune at the end. J/K, I think your content is second to nobody and I hope your sub count eventually starts reflecting it. I can't speak for others, but it wouldn't bother me at all if you dipped your toe into some clickbait once in a while just to get the algorithm on your side. Obviously don't start putting hot women in the thumbnails just to get clicks (although maybe...).
I think that I have been getting what you are trying to do, and I have pressed you when I have seen some patterns. Because I used to see you always concerned with asking your audience "what do you want to see?" in posts, I have to admit I have crossed/brushed against the line on your platform, just because I wanted to see what you were made of and I respect you so much. You are very smart in ways that I am, and I connect with how your mind works. (comments are not the best on RUclips because they are always public, like long-winded less popular Twitter) Exactly Brian... 13:55. through to 18:00 and beyond. Does not suprise me. Community buiding Live streams, exactly... Harvesting Clicks and likes and subs at the same time favors bot-subs(alledgedly) I know your intros are funny. Brian. 21:30 There is something going on with the algorythm that sorts long-form/short form content. You probably on your channel have a higher amount of subscribers who do RUclips PRemium than others. RUclips likes it when people watch stuff for a long time and don't need advertisements...Just maybe have seen a pattern in what platforms they put in front of me, A RUclips Premuim guy. RUclips has done scarier things with their algo with me showing content than showing me an advertisement for dog food after talking to my pet. enough said. I'll watch the last 15 minutes later (hey...does that get shown in the anylitics? When I bail and come back to this same spot later nd watch it all?) I can't completely complain about RUclips. They have not gotten so bad as to censor literature yet, which is my only saving grace. Good luck to you Brian in the future, beware of RUclips's social experiments with their content creators. (That's a conspiracy theory not-a-joke joke) Satire! Ok, I lied, I watched the rest of it all at once. I guess, despite the social media prodding, I am still a little bit GenX. Here is my advice, keep it light and fun while you also discuss important things, and you can do no wrong in gathering an honest audience.
Brian this is a brilliant video. I found all your insights so interesting. Thank you for the shout out of course :) but when you said one thing I had to stop and do a double take. FIFTEEN BUCKS OER THOUSAND VIEWS?!? Brian… I get 3 if I’m lucky 🥲 (I range from 2.5 to 3.15$) that’s insane what. Obviously not in this for the money that just shook me to my core haha Here’s to season 2 of BellTube!
@@valliyarnl it's also possible that demographics play into it. I believe advertisers can select what age group they want to target, so if you happen to have younger viewers as a whole, it might be a cheaper ad buy than for people who are older and might have more money. Not sure, but when I advertise on Amazon, I run into that from the other side.
@@BrianBell7 yeah that's probably a factor but then again my main demographic is 35yr old men from the US haha. not too sure. might also just be that YT is figuring out what my channel actually is because compared to many other creators I dont have as big of a catalogue. Oh well!
This video is really for people who've watched the channel before, but if you are new, welcome! I hope you find something to like here. To everyone who's been here before, thank you so much for this first year.
Congrats on the benchmark, amigo. You've already made it further than a lot of people who start this. Consistently Tubing is a drain and can take the fun out of it sometimes. I wish I could tell myself that it is okay to take breaks now and then.
That will be in Year 6 for you! Just kidding. I appreciate your friendship tremendously! Even if you like hot weather.
Now I know where to go for advice on cigars! 😂 Walking out of the room while Dr. Fantasy is blabbing away? At least you’re not one of my students. They have to raise their hand and pretend they’re going to the bathroom. 😂 In all seriousness, I appreciate you helping with the watch time, and I often do the same for videos I play. Hooray for Malazan and the word “druthers”! Most of all, I’m so glad you’re part of this community, my friend! And long live the Quilluminati!
YES! In all fairness, I usually tell the screen when you are on that I will be right back. :) Super glad you are my friend, Philip!
"Druthers" - rebracketing for the win!
This is me using my best thumbnail face to tell you I love you brother, I love the channel and my wish for you is you do what makes you happy and brings you joy! I would totally be here a Rick Thunder reads nothing but Malazan.
YES! You are the greatest, brother! Always the highest level of support possible in every way.
I’m so grateful you’re here, my friend! As soon as I got to know you, I immediately felt like we were BookTube family. You’re off to an incredible start, and I hope you have many more great years here. ❤ (Thanks for watching my vidoes on mute if you’re trying to support while avoiding my thoughts) 😅
Who can ever want to avoid Johanna’s thoughts?!?! You are fam!
BookTube has given me something that money could never buy. A place where I truly belong. I've made friendships that are truly remarkable and I've found a true kindred spirit. The negatives could sound overwhelming, but the positives always outweigh them.
I really love this video. Keep being you, Brian. You mean so much to us!
Thanks, Slay! You are a HUGE part of this channel!
Hey, my first comment on a Booktube channel in legit forever. So, I've literally, without exaggeration, never looked at my analytics page other than to see the gender split because Bookborn asked. I'm not sure I'd even know how to decipher it but I do know I would hate it. I wish it would hide the crap on my front studio page.
Grats on the milestone, Brian!!
I'm just happy you are watching! I think the people who don't pay attention to the analytics have much more fun :) I'm going to try to back off of it a bit. And Thank You! You are a huge BookTube inspiration, whether on your own videos or when you show up on that Jimmy dude's channel.
Not me being the one to make you look at analytics, how on brand for me, and also I'm sorry 😂
@@Bookborn hahahahahahaha
Between you, John and Mike. You three all are my main go to for something to watch every morning when I get home from work.
I’ve been through a lot over the past year and a half and this corner of booktube has helped me immensely get through the day and push into the next one. Especially your “one for the road”, those little tidbits at the end of your videos are unique and I appreciate them.
I am so glad you've found a home here and get some good value from the One For The Roads. It makes me really happy when people find them useful.
I’m so glad that you are here, Brian! ❤ Love your enthusiasm, honesty, and warmth. You’ve got a great channel and I hope you’re proud of what you’ve built.
I’m looking back on 5 years of Booktube in January and I can absolutely echo the relationships being the best part of what we do. The audience members, the Booktubers, even the lurkers! 💜
Thanks, Tori. You are the bestest!
I've never agreed more about your first point - the other booktube creators on this platform have blown me away. They are all the nicest, loyalist, best people I've really met in any community. ON the other hand, I also identified sooo much with your growth stuff. The blend of me stubbornly only making content I really want to make, but also noticing which videos do really well and being bummed that only certain videos grow you....ugh. Excited to get to be a guest on For Whom the Bell Tolls :)
You 100% get it. You've seen first-hand all the good, bad, and ugly. And like me, you recognize it really is far more good (or neither of us would be here). I can't wait for you to come on the show. We are going to have a total blast!
I really appreciate your unapologetic honesty in this video Brian. Thank you for being so transparent about what buoys you and--at times-- deflates you. Whatever direction you take your channel, I know it will be great and I look forward to it.
I very much appreciate our friendship, Dark-O!
Stay the course - this corner of RUclips is one that is a slow burn - you grow over time, so do what you enjoy and what you can sustain while still having a ball!
I also 100% agree on clickbait thumbnails & titles. Now, doing one every once in a while - that’s fine as long as you deliver on what you’re teasing, but some folks do it constantly and I find it exhausting. 😂
I think my inability to understand the analytics is a blessing in disguise because I just ignore it and keep bopping along to my own beat. 😉
YES TO MORE LITRPG!!!!!! 🎉
I love that we are proudly waving the LitRPG banners! Thank you, Lezlie! Samantha wouldn't care about the analytics either.
I’m grateful for you Brian!! You have been a bright spot for me, and so many other this past year. A source of encouragement, fun, and over all positivity. Keep going! ❤
Well I learned how to have fun with it from MADISON! :) Thank you!
I'm also pretty skeptical about changing algorithm with audience. In general its probably a better way to look at it but in the end we really dont know every metric and way youtube is serving videos to viewers. They are constantly changing and testing things on a scale that would make most people head spin off. Excited to see what you do in the future!
Thanks, Tom! I know you as a professional in that industry have an understanding of how truly vast it is.
Congrats on one year. One thing that I would like to see is you talking about books you like. I want to hear what you have to say about Memories of Ice. I get a bit of that on some live streams you have been on. I know videos like that tend to limit your audience and might hurt you in the algorithm. Maybe short live streams?
Thanks so much! As I think about potential mid-month "check in" videos for 2025, I think those might open up some video time to dig deeper into books that get only a couple minutes in my monthly recap, like Memories of Ice. (and House of Chains)
Honestly, you channel is one of the best ones I found this year (us agreeing on almost everything has nothing to do with that fact 😆😆). Keep up the great work 🔥
Thank you! We agree on everything because we are right! :)
Congrats on the one year bookversary!! I don't think I have the words to explain how grateful I am for all the joy you have brought me with your content over the past year. Watching your channel has honestly become more beneficial to my mental health than any type of therapy ever could be haha ❤
Mad respect for how much time, effort, and passion you pour into your content, I love how seriously you take your channel while also maintaining such a chill and homely vibe 🥰
As you mentioned, I am one of those viewers who will be here watching and commenting no matter what, so whatever direction you take the channel, I am along for the ride so long as it makes your heart happy. This is only the start, Brian, and I can't wait to see what the future holds 🔥
Thank you, Esmay. BellTube would not be the same without you. You are vital here.
@@BrianBell7 The same goes for you, you are a pillar of this community!!
@@BrianBell7Esmay IS vital here. 💯
What you said towards the end about “lurkers” is absolutely true. I myself am one of your lurker/silent followers.
I don’t necessarily participate in the comments often, but I always tune in to your videos and give it a like. I felt it was important to share that and confirm your suspicions somewhat at least from my POV.
Thanks for the content, and I’m a big fan of the “one of the road”. Those messages often hit home at times when I don’t know I need them 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
I appreciate you being here in whichever way is your favorite! Lurkers are by far the majority of the channel, so you are in good company. Thank you so much for letting me know you exist, and I'm glad the One For The Roads hit when they need to :)
Woohoo! One year of Brian! Here’s to many more. I’m so glad you’re here, mate. It’s been an absolute pleasure getting to know you.
You are the best of us, my friend! The feeling is mutual!
Hey Brian, I've been subbed since early this year. I never really comment, but I watch every vid. I wanted to comment and say that I appreciate your sincerity both in this video, but also as a whole on your channel. I love the content. Keep it up. And congrats on the 1 year!
Thanks so much! Really appreciate you being part of our channel!
I really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on this Brian. You take a pretty balanced approach to everything, and I love that. I’m guilty of the goofy, hokey faces on my thumbnails. 😂😂
It HAS been an amazing year!! And, yes, OMG A 43 MUNUTE VIDEO!! Hahaha! I’d love to keep seeing both the serious, and the fun videos - it’s usually too hard to tell them apart anyway lol!
I am a little tricky in mixing the two together :) Or devious! Thank you, as always, Elaine!
I have been what you would call a lurker but will do my best to make sure I comment more. I have been trying to make a conscious effort to engage more with the channels I watch! Been watching for about 5 months and don’t think I have missed a video!
Big congratulations on the one year and my two cents for what it is worth is that I think you should do whatever you get the most enjoyment from. We will be here to watch whatever you decide to put out!
Thank you so much! Honestly, if you feel like commenting, great! If you love lurking, also great! Just being here is 100% enough.
@ I just want to try and support the channel as best I can.
I also forgot to mention, I have Sandman Slim coming in the mail, thanks to you. Definitely excited to give that one a try. I also want to start some LitRPG in 2025 - I really think this is something I will enjoy.
@@Broon88 Keep me posted what you think of Sandman Slim! And yeah 100% on LitRPG!
Bit late to watch this, but a big congrats on the 1 year mark Brian!
Keep doing what you do, I'm all for the awesome vibes and fun times 😊
Thanks! I really do appreciate you watching, whenever it is!!
Great video Brian as a newbie it's great to hear your thoughts and opinions on this side of RUclips and the ups and downs. Definetly LitRPG sounds like a great growing community to do videos on so keep it up you might even get me reading some 😀
ha! i love that!
I enjoy your content. I’m very much in agreement with you about Malazan. I always seem to want to be reading it. I purposely leave space between each book but I’m always anxious to go back. Currently waiting to start Toll the Hounds.
Right?! It's so addicting. I'm glad I'm not alone in this!!
I'm late watching this, Brian, but first, congratulations on such a well-deserved successful first year. I can't wait to return to the Tube consistently and become a more active community member again. While I always love it when you share the good, I'm glad you shared your struggles. Like you, almost every video I make takes 4-6 hours to create, including the editing, but I'm proud of the content once completed. Let's make 2025 another successful year of growth for you and I get my ass back in front of the camera. - Cheers
Thanks so much, Chris. I appreciate our friendship greatly. And yes, I really do look forward to seeing you more regularly on the tubes!
Hi Brian, i adore your channel, you are so yourself and honest and uplifting, i get behind on busy weeks but i never miss a video, follow the joy and fun and let Brian loose, cause your 43 mins rock
You are so welcome! Thank you!
Congratulations on one year! I am definitely a lurker, since I am a rather quiet/shy person by nature. But I do enjoy your videos. My favorite are the new book tags that you create, they are always so creative and fun to watch.
Thank you so much for the compliment and I really appreciate you being part of our channel!
I always appreciate how transparent you are about your booktube journey, particularly the business side which I at least don't see as much talk about.
Here's to the next chapter of BellTube! Looking forward to seeing where the ride takes us!
Once again, Groofay, thank you for your constant support. You've been here since the start!
I want you to know that I truly appreciate your honesty. It not only helps your viewers (like myself), but it also helps authors know how to help you out too (also fits me). In the end though, as an author, a person who cares, or even just a person... My goal is to support great people like you (or John from Talking Story) and as I tell all the authors I know. I do not want to cross that finish line by myself, I am taking as many people with me as I can. You support people like me, so if there is anything I can do please let me know. Your videos are amazing and thank you for making them.
Thank you so much! That is super kind of you to say.
Hi Brian, I recognize your predicaments very much from conversations from one of my best friends who has a very similar way of looking at life. There seems to be a clear tension between your business instinct and need for performance on the one hand and your intrinsic creative drive for creativity and doing what you love. I can only say, what I always say to him. Nothing succeeds above par if you're not authentically loving what you're doing. So do keep that as a compass.
I belief the reason people like Jimmy Nuts and Merphy Napier survive big changing around of their channels is because they built a community that connects to their authentic self over time.
Anyway, love your channel, the shortform and the longform content. And as I've shown in my first paragraph, this video helped me in forming a stronger parasocial relationship 😂. Good luck with your deliberations!
Thank you! I do appreciate your thoughts on it!
Really enjoyed listening to your insights. I was a lurker on booktube for about 5 years or so before you and John at Talking Story helped motivate me to make a channel. I’ve always been an introverted person and was maybe a little nervous to comment. I’m very glad I started. I’ve made some connections since then that I’m super happy about and I just love having people to actually talk about books and writing with now. Thank you for being a motivation. You do also motivate to always try and keep getting better with what I put out, as well. Thank you and congrats on the one year!
I'm so happy you started your channel. Each episode is getting better! Thank you for the constant support!
@ thank you Brian! It helps to hear you believe they’re getting better too!
I am a lurker for the most part, but I love your channel. I really enjoy One for the Road! That segment is unigue and I love it. This is your hobby so I feel you should make content that makes you happy. You should not have to cater to the masses. I think your doing a great job...I will be watching.
Thanks much! I’m glad you are finding value here.
Congrats Brian on 1 yr, I enjoyed this introspective look at your channel.
Awesome, thank you!
My # 1 choice is booktainment! I do want the monthly review of what you read of course! Belltube= Fun . I love the videos that have a theme, like your motley crew video.
Thanks, Heidi! I had a feeling you'd go for more of the fun stuff :) !
Just keep going as you have been doing, following your intuition. The important thing is that you like what you do. Everything else is irrelevant. We love your channel and enjoy watching your videos.
🎉👍😃
Thank you, I will Stjepan.
This was my very first of many more belltube vids as this was both a very fun and informative video! Love your enthusiasm and can't wait to engorge myself on the rest of your vids 👊🏾😎
Thank you! Welcome to our community!
Brian: Says he won't make clickbait thumbnails.
Also Brian: Constantly gives of thumbnails featuring his award winning smile.
Congrats on 1 year! Great advice for those looking into getting into BookTube. At the very least I hope it gives you guys enough money to buy more books.
I appreciate the variety, so while I may enjoy the fact based segments hosted by the one and only Rick Thunder, I understand that other people are less than fun than I am. So while you may need to exchange certain segments for others, I hope you keep the core of what makes BellTube and keep it enjoyable as possible for yourself.
Ha! Thanks, Chris! I'm not going to cater to one or the other group. It's more various ways of setting ourselves apart here on the channel from everything else and try to bring value in a fun way to a very crowded space.
Congrats on making a year Brian! I am super glad I found your channel - I may not be very vocal but you and I share a lot of tastes. I just re-read an early Xanth novel as a palate cleanser to Stormlight. You deserve to be in the 6-figure club and I hope you get there soon! I’ve never walked away from your videos wondering “why did I watch that?” KEEP IT UP!
That is amazing for you to say! Thank you so much. One of these days, I'll have to return to Xanth.
Congrats on your one year Brian, love what you’re doing 🎉
Excellent, thank you!
Hi Brian! Thanks so much for sharing with us your thoughts and even what goes on behind the scenes! I really admire all of the effort and work you put into your videos. Sometimes I wish I could do the same but with lack of time and resources it would be hard to do. I joined booktube because I had no one in my real life to talk books with. So a lot of my videos end up being my passionately expressed spontaneous thoughts. I'm not one for analytics but I do love interacting with people in the comments and lives. As long as there's that engagement I'm satisfied. Looking forward to the next video!
Thanks so much, Marianne! I can't wait to read the book you sent me! (hopefully early this coming year!)
Always watch to the end of the video. Because that’s what heroes do.
Glad you mentioned keeping this as a hobby to start, because some people can become way too obsessed with trying to Jimmy rig the algorithm for max growth. It can make your content look fake AF
Keep up the great work, Brian. You are the best of us
Coming from the Orc-Master, this is high praise! Thank you, John. You are an IRL hero.
@ of course! And you’re not the only one who sees the LitRPG tidal wave coming. Every booktuber with a brain in their head outta have a Dungeon Crawler Carl video up before that tv show hits
@@AuthorJohnADouglas it's so huge. And like every other genre, there is excellent LitRPG and complete garbage (IMO) LitRPG. So I think I can be a helpful voice to highlight the better ones out there.
@ indies can be the same but as the Macho Man once said “THE CREAM RISES TO THE TOP, OH YEAH!”
Great video, but of course I don't know what you talked about as I simply lowered volume and left the room...
All kidding aside, really liked your thoughts on first year on booktube. Recently started my own channel and it's very recognizable. One thing I will never understand though, is booktubers who admit they want to read other things or in a different structure, but are worried the toll it will take on their channel. Like in your case with Malazan. I've read that series twice now and I cannot imagine reading it any other way than back to back. If I would read it spaced out over multiple months, I would forget so many details and intricacies. Of course, everyone is different so some people prefer the other way, and that's fine. But you specifically mentioned you want to read it back to back (or at least much closer scheduled to each other)... As you said, nobody is doing booktube to get rich, so why is it so much more important that you retain existing viewership / grow viewers, rather than read a potential favorite series the way you want?
That's one of the reasons why my channel is so small after 5 months with only a handful of videos, because I prioritize my own reading over what I think others would want. I nearly always read my series back to back, because that's how I prefer it. And YT-algorithm be damned... 🙂
Anyway, I hope I don't come across as criticizing your way of doing things, just something I genuinely don't understand (which is probably my failing anyway).
good thoughts. my reason for not doing all malazan aren't about YT. It's trying to keep the current audience engaged as they aren't all into that one series. Also, I have other buddy reads planned in advance that I don't want to abandon plans on.
So this may be the first time I have commented on a video after watching Book tube for about 18+ months, subscribed to many channels.
Congratulations on a year for your channel, I believe I subscribed pre 1k subs as much because I enjoyed the content as to help you get to 1k.
Analytics question 1. I through RUclips on my second screen and do other things from playing games to pretend writing a book, does that lower analytics since I am not active on the screen.
Analytics question 2. When I skip over 'Rick Thunder' (I'm a bit older than you and do not need to be reminded of that time in my life) does it cause a problem with analytics.
If you make changes, I vote to keep 'One for the road' and 'Here's your fortune'
Keep up the great videos! Hope everyone can find a hobby they enjoy.
Thank you so much for commenting! I'm glad you chose here to make your first one. I'm not certain that a video has to have screen activity for analytics. As far as skipping through segments, I would do whatever you want to do and not worry too much about any one particular video's analytics when skipping through. I usually time stamp all the things I put into the videos so people can do just that. Over time, I'm hoping people like the time stamps and keep coming back to the channel knowing they can skip over what's not their favorite parts.
Love the channel and the livestreams are an absolute blast. Great job and can't wait to see what the future brings!
You rock Bryce! I’m even letting your non-hatred for The Magicians pass this time! Seriously tho, thanks for all your inspiration!
Congrats on one year, and interesting take! In terms of what you're doing moving forward, I'd say mostly keep doing what you're doing (because that's what drew your current fan base) but also drill more into your top performing stuff. There's one channel I can think of that basically posts nothing but lists with the same small pool of books repackaged different ways that's exploded in the short time I subbed to them. Drilling in more on the LitRPG stuff for you will probably have a similar effect.
Personally, like 3 months into making videos I bookmarked the Content and Comments tabs so I can go straight to them and ignore anything analytics related. I went into this knowing I'm really only interested in making the least watched category of videos on Booktube anyway and I don't need that kind of statistical negativity in my life 🤣
The numbers can be tough to look at, but it's kind of my nature :) Thank you so much for always checking the channel out!
Thanks! I'm a lurker! Do what makes you happy. I'll be here to watch.
Wow! Thank you so much. I don't think anyone has ever done that before here! I'm lucky to have you as part of our community. Lurk away!!
@BrianBell7 you are quite welcome !
Congratulations Brian 🎉, thanks for all of the hard work and time you put into this channel.
Thanks, Ron! You've been here the whole way! I really appreciate you so much!
Happy Anniversary! My $0.02 on your "Bad" and "Ugly" sections: shoot videos that you are most passionate about making, and ignore the analytics. (This is from a channel that was very slow to grow but eventually found a loyal audience). People that like what you do will find you. Don't pander to the analytics-I've always felt in YT (and in real life) in playing the long game and not looking for the quick result works best. This honestly might be contrary to your channel goals, but I think you'll feel more positively about it.
Feel free to ignore this too lol. But glad you're here in the community!
Thanks, Josh! I believe you 100%. It's about time-in long enough to find the audience that likes you.
Grats on 1 year!! 🎉 👋 Lurker here--I don't comment on videos often because I usually watch on my TV, or my kids are being loud and I can't focus on one. 🤣 In regards to growth, I think in general the more epic fantasy side of booktube never seems to grow quickly, and I think that's largely just because it's a smaller niche, and because so many people put out longer video content about it, it becomes highly competitive for people's time. I find I don't general subscribe to new booktubers often, unless some of my regular creators start putting out less content, because otherwise I just won't have time for it all (even watching at 2x speed like i often do!) I think you've actually grown quite quickly, compared to other channels, and I appreciate it's something that you really enjoy trying to foster, but I do always think the best content is the content people are passionate about making, not necessarily what is the most popular... There always seems to be a disconnect between quality and viewer numbers, though. I've seen so many channels my son has gotten hooked on, with millions of subs, that are just absolute garbage. 😅 Obviously subjective, but... It's wild out there. So i just want to promote you doing what makes you happy--though if you are really enjoying litRPG, go for it!!
As for click-off rate--I am absolutely terrible for this, so while I'm sure it isn't something a lot of people want to hear, I do appreciate tou bringing it up. I often times will start something, realize it isnt quite what I'm in the mood for, and will click off... I mostly blame reel-style content for killing my attention span, but again it's also because my feed is so packed I have decision issues. I generally come back to videos eventually, but I'll try to keep that in mind to not start something unless Im more committed, and like you said, leave things on in the background even if I'm not watching, because i actually do love doing that while I'm cleaning and such... I can't stand not having background noise!
Sorry for the wall of text, but I do want to reiterate my congratulations--sticking with any kind of hobby like this is SO worth celebrating, and I know you've brought joy to many peoples' lives and have added a really vibrant new voice to this space that I think we needed. I hope you keep find it fulfilling and fun, and keep building a community you love around you!!
Thank you so much! Don't apologize for a wall of text! As a lurker, you've saved up TONS of text points to write for days :)
Hey Brian congrats on one year! Thanks for a super unfiltered video on this!
I have a couple booktube newbie questions for you if you don’t mind.
First, what do you recommend doing about negative comments? I’ve had a couple people post some nasty stuff (not just disagreement haha) and I’ve wondered what you advise about that? When do you personally have no problem deleting something or blocking someone?
Next how important do you feel it is to upload on the same days? I try to do a video Mondays or Tuesdays but I don’t know which is better and sometimes alternate. Thoughts?
You talked about clickbait titles. What do you think makes something clickbait vs eye catching? Is that purely subjective?
And last of all, do you deal with frustration if more substantial videos get overlooked and the eye catchy ones (say top ten lists) get all the attention? Is there a way to change that or is it just how it is?
Sorry for all the questions but you’re unironically one of the biggest booktube successes I’ve seen and I’d love your feedback!!
I'm no expert, but I'll take a crack at your questions. 1) negative comments... ignore. if they continue from the same person, remove them from your channel. there are tutorials within YT how to do this. 2) upload days.. take a look at your "Audience" analytics and see when most of your viewers are on RUclips. Figure a 6 hour window and post when it looks like you have the most attention available. Whichever day you initially pick, if possible, stay consistent so your viewers know what day you usually post and they look for it. For me, 99% of the time I post on Fridays because that's when the viewers have become accustomed to me posting. 3) clickbait is the promise of something grand and it's just another video. eye-catching is great. The image on the thumbnail should match the tone of the title. I personally like "My Top 10" rather than "Top 10" because it's really my opinion. Clickbait is also, for me, things like "You Won't Believe What I Found Out when (fill in the blank). We are talking about books. There's nothing earth-shattering that someone is going to shit themselves over # 8... 4) generally speaking, and this has been a common conversation I've had with many prominent booktubers, the videos we put the most time and heart into generally underperform compared to what the viewers out there are looking for. They like curated book lists. They like us taking the work of book selection out of their lives, if they find they align with what we like personally. Hope that helps, just off the top of my head.
@ that does help! I appreciate the advice greatly!!
Congrats on 1 year! Looking forward to Season 2 :)
woo hoo! season two!
This was such an interesting video to watch. I agree with you regarding the algorithm. Some of my videos get thousands and some only a handful of views and I can't pinpoint the reason why. I've got to the point now where if it happens it happens. I have to keep reminding myself that it is a hobby and fun and not to take it so seriously as in 'oh that video didn't do well that means I'm no good' kinda thing.
It's true. It's just hard sometimes when we crave a real understanding of it. Thank you!
Hey Brian, I just wanted to share how much I appreciate your videos. They create such a cozy atmosphere, and I can really feel your genuine love for books. You have a professional vibe that reminds me of some of the classic booktubers. I still remember the first video I watched, which was about LitRPG, and I subscribed immediately because of how well you convey your thoughts and feelings about literature. Keep doing what you do! by the way, I'm currently making my way through Memories of Ice,and I'm on a quest to catch up with you! 😂
Thank you so much for your kind words! Yes, catch me on Malazan! You'll have a little bit of a jump since book 5 (for me) isn't 'til Feb. I'm really appreciative of you watching!
So interesting to see you behind the curtain of BookTube, thanks for making this!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Lurker here. 😁 I love the channel as it is, but I'll still be around no matter which of the three ways you decide to go with it.
I love a good lurk! Thank you so much :)
Great video! I appreciate your insights and candidness. For me personally, I enjoy the spectrum of the types of videos you do. I like that you have fun and lean into being entertaining. But you also have a lot of valuable insights, recommendations, etc. from which I likewise receive value. At the end of the day, I hope you do what brings you the most joy and happiness. From a long-term lurker who is trying to be a little more interactive. 😄
I'm really happy you enjoy the channel. Especially that you are a lurker mostly, it means a lot to receive this feedback!
I thought this was very interesting! I promise to leave your LitRPG videos running for my dogs while I do chores to increase your runtime! 😉 I vote more Urban Fantasy!!
I meant viewing time!
I have an urban fantasy video coming soon!!
"druthers".
Gold star for unusual word choice ⭐
Love ya face ❤
backatcha! ❤️
I'm with you Brian. If there is a spoiler video or something I'm just not interested in, I'll still put a video on when I go to bed at night to give full video "watch" and also not skipping the ads ;)
You are a good man!
I like your style, dude. I would say, go for quality and personal enjoyment over the algohythm.
I had a feeling you might say so, Jereon!!
8-10% a month growth is high growth (the stock market grows at 8-10% *a year* for perspective). That is fully doubling every 7-9 months. So in 4 years that is 16-30x the channel size. So 3K to 100K is about 4-5 years at that rate.
FWIW this is the first of your videos that I've seen despite watching numerous videos from several of the booktubers you reference and despite being about your age as well.
Thanks for the math! It's usually closer to 6% but the compounding effect still applies. Just impatient when I see it around me hitting more. In any case, welcome to the channel! I hope you find a bunch of videos you like here!
I’ve been a professional internet lurker for the past twenty years and only recently started crawling out of my cave. Congrats on the 1 year!
I appreciate your professionalism! :) Thank you so much!
Huge congrats on one year! ❤🎉
Thank you so much, Nicole!
From your MN brethren just wanna say I appreciate the channel Brian!
SKOL!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Great video!
Thank you!
I would love to see more live streams! I'm huge a fan of them!
I love it when you are in the chat, Shaad! Your regular support means a lot!
@BrianBell7 hanks! I appreciate all the hard work and preparation you do!
lol I’m reading midnight tides in December
Congrats on one year! 🎉
Thank you!!
First off I guess I’m a lurker 😂 I’ve been subscribed to your channel for at least 6 months and don’t comment much. I really enjoy your channel and agree with a ton of stuff you are saying about channel growth. I’ve been doing BookTube for 3 months now and have nearly 200 subscribers but growing is so weird. I might put a video out and get 0 subs and then put one out “Top 10” and get 5 or 6. It seems to me yt pushes very specific videos and that’s it. Not a fan of that.
Thank you for supporting the channel! I think at the 3 month mark you are still finding your specific audience. Keep making videos that appeal to you and see what happens. I’m lucky to have you here!
Has it really been a year?? Congratulations!
(Hard agree, “druthers” is a very underrated word.)
Right?! Thank you so much!
I say stay the course!!!
I have watched 20+ of your videos and i love them,but this is me comenting for the first time.I guess i am a lurker :)
Welcome to the convo! Feel free to comment anytime or simply chill lurking! It's all good here!
Very good and intgeresting video. Thank you for your honest words.
Thanks! I'm glad you found value with it!
Really great and honest video.
Thanks, Johan! Much appreciated!
Hi Brian, enjoyed the video. Some channels that I watch ask people to leave a certain emoji (different one every video) people who don't want to comment are happy to do that
That's an excellent suggestion! Thank you!
@@BrianBell7I’d have to 2nd that comment. I’ve been on booktube for years and years (took more time than I had wanted to off so I feel like I’m starting over now :/ ) anyway I usually try to leave an emoji of some sort if I don’t have anything to add. Belltube is a very interesting channel and I’m glad you’re here!
@@BrandysBooks61316 Very kind of you to say, Brandy! Thank you!
From watching other RUclipsrs talk about the system, it's my understanding that livestreams tend to harm your ability to hit the algorithm. They tend to have a low percentage listen time, just because they're really long.
If I were you and interested in channel growth, I'd probably start a "For Whom the Bell Tolls" subchannel for the full show and publish 10-ish minute highlight clips on this channel. The sub-channel would get some subscriber growth from the clips here, but would likely always be small. But then your main channel would probably rank higher in "engagement" and be more likely to get recommended from other videos.
This would allow you to continue that long-form content (which I value and hope you don't stop) without causing problems here.
FWIW.
That's really interest insight, Doug. I'll consider it. It's not a bad idea at all.
I’m 4 years into this almost…I see growth of 140 new subs a month. It’s incredibly frustrating I have posted over 1,000 videos.
you get it.
I wish my schedule was less weird since I really love the live chats 🤓
Hopefully we will align on one soon!
@BrianBell7 I loved the one year ❤️ 💖 🤪
Now, what happens if I pause a video and I come back after dinner? Does RUclips still think I've abandoned the video?
I don't think so. Also, what's for dinner?
❤
I wanna send you a copy of Fleabag for Christmas 🎄❤
🎉🎉 YAY LITRPG!!!🎉🎉
Yeah!!
10% growth a month is actually fairly good in such a competitive market right? Eventually that curve becomes steeper.
As for making more videos, if you chased subscribers by churning out 4 a week you would burn out both mentally and with fresh, interesting content as have many booktubers.
Follow your instincts and keep enjoying this pleasant niche you’ve created.
I think the instincts part is really the best way to go. Especially the longer of time spent here, one gets a feel of what motivates them to create / upload. It's never 10% month over month all the time. That's a best case scenario. It's usually closer to 6%
Thanks!
Thank you so much!!
@BrianBell7 😘
Funny you talked about clickbait and you put (might lose subs) in your title.
Watched all the way through and I hope all that are interested in the inner workings of booktube did the same.
I appreciate you watching. I don't think (might lose subs) is clickbait. It's the truth. That said, I wondered if people might think so, and asked some friends before I even titled it and they suggested it is not.
I learned today I’m considered a lurker 👀. And that’s a fact 😂
ha! I love it!
I'm not even sure what a thumbnail is other than the one on my thumb 🤭
lol, it's the image used for whatever the video is.
@BrianBell7 hmm. So that hideous pause of me that youtube decides is a good look? I'm onna smash that thumb!
RUclips def seems like a juggling act. I hope you never fall into feeling a slave to the process and are successful in avoiding burnout.
me too. thank you!
I prefer the less Rick Thunder and more book stuff idea. I rarely comment, but just wanted to provide feedback, for what it's worth (which may not be much lol). I appreciate your energy, but the additional skits is a bit much. God bless!
Fair enough!
Oh, just read what you want to read, talk about what you're reading, and let the chips fall as they will. Really, what have you got to lose, if you're in it for the long run? You'll find your audience. Eventually. Good luck in any event.
That is true wisdom there. Chasing after a moving target isn't what this is all about. I like your outlook.
I do zero research and super minimal editing
Not all heroes wear capes.
Your complaints are almost exactly parallel to the complaints authors have. You want to stay true to yourself, but you also want to address the market.
would you just give me superpowers already and then I won't have to do anything?! Except saving the galaxy, etc. but c'mon. Who better than Rick Thunder to take on kaiju anyway?
@@BrianBell7 Book 7!
lol thumbnail face
I love how you comment in real time. I do the same on Allen's channel.
Well I don’t have your phone number. Much sad
easily remedied Mr. Wizard. I thought you had it all in your wizard tomes.
Brian, after subscribing to your channel for a year it's time to finally come clean.....I never watch your videos, I'm just here for the fortune at the end. J/K, I think your content is second to nobody and I hope your sub count eventually starts reflecting it. I can't speak for others, but it wouldn't bother me at all if you dipped your toe into some clickbait once in a while just to get the algorithm on your side. Obviously don't start putting hot women in the thumbnails just to get clicks (although maybe...).
YES! Finally. Some Thatcher-truth!! Bahaha. You're the best. I mean, I wouldn't make a thumbnail like that.... but Rick....
@@BrianBell7 You can't be blamed if Rick breaks into the editing room and bars the door.
@@TF-lk6co You have no idea how difficult it is to get through a door jammed by cans of Reddi-Wip.
I think that I have been getting what you are trying to do, and I have pressed you when I have seen some patterns. Because I used to see you always concerned with asking your audience "what do you want to see?" in posts, I have to admit I have crossed/brushed against the line on your platform, just because I wanted to see what you were made of and I respect you so much. You are very smart in ways that I am, and I connect with how your mind works. (comments are not the best on RUclips because they are always public, like long-winded less popular Twitter)
Exactly Brian... 13:55. through to 18:00 and beyond. Does not suprise me.
Community buiding Live streams, exactly... Harvesting Clicks and likes and subs at the same time favors bot-subs(alledgedly)
I know your intros are funny. Brian. 21:30 There is something going on with the algorythm that sorts long-form/short form content. You probably on your channel have a higher amount of subscribers who do RUclips PRemium than others. RUclips likes it when people watch stuff for a long time and don't need advertisements...Just maybe have seen a pattern in what platforms they put in front of me, A RUclips Premuim guy.
RUclips has done scarier things with their algo with me showing content than showing me an advertisement for dog food after talking to my pet. enough said. I'll watch the last 15 minutes later (hey...does that get shown in the anylitics? When I bail and come back to this same spot later nd watch it all?)
I can't completely complain about RUclips. They have not gotten so bad as to censor literature yet, which is my only saving grace.
Good luck to you Brian in the future, beware of RUclips's social experiments with their content creators. (That's a conspiracy theory not-a-joke joke)
Satire!
Ok, I lied, I watched the rest of it all at once. I guess, despite the social media prodding, I am still a little bit GenX.
Here is my advice, keep it light and fun while you also discuss important things, and you can do no wrong in gathering an honest audience.
Brian this is a brilliant video. I found all your insights so interesting. Thank you for the shout out of course :) but when you said one thing I had to stop and do a double take. FIFTEEN BUCKS OER THOUSAND VIEWS?!?
Brian… I get 3 if I’m lucky 🥲 (I range from 2.5 to 3.15$) that’s insane what. Obviously not in this for the money that just shook me to my core haha
Here’s to season 2 of BellTube!
WERA! You are amazing. AdSense pays out different per country. Cheers to season 2 and to your continued achievements!
@@BrianBell7 changing my location to US asap
@@valliyarnl it's also possible that demographics play into it. I believe advertisers can select what age group they want to target, so if you happen to have younger viewers as a whole, it might be a cheaper ad buy than for people who are older and might have more money. Not sure, but when I advertise on Amazon, I run into that from the other side.
@@BrianBell7 yeah that's probably a factor but then again my main demographic is 35yr old men from the US haha. not too sure. might also just be that YT is figuring out what my channel actually is because compared to many other creators I dont have as big of a catalogue. Oh well!