From 20K to 40K in 1 year—you can do it too
Growing a YouTube channel is not easy. It took me 9 years to reach 20,000 subscribers on my channel, Make Weird Music. Nine years of grinding, experimenting, burning out, and coming back. And then, in just one year, I doubled that—hitting 40K subscribers, gaining 1.9M views, and making thousands in revenue.
So, what changed? Strategy.
And that’s exactly what we do here at Edify Content—help businesses, creators, and brands use content strategically to drive real growth. Here’s how I did it and how you can apply the same principles to grow your audience, whether you’re on YouTube, LinkedIn, or any other platform.
1. Leverage “Anchor Content” to Get Clicks
For years, I made videos on niche topics that I found interesting. But when I started focusing on topics my audience already cared about, things changed fast.
My biggest growth spike came when I landed an interview with Steve Vai about his King Crimson tribute project, BEAT. That video alone got over 370K views and brought in 1.3K new subscribers—all because I tapped into a high-interest topic at the right time.
✅ What this means for you: Create content your audience is already searching for. Find the big names, trends, and conversations that matter and position yourself within them.
2. I Made a Simple, Authentic Video—and It Went Viral
In May, I hit record on a whim and made a simple playlist of weird music. No script. No production. Just me, talking and reacting to music I love. Within a week, it hit 50K views. By the end of the month, it was at 100K. That one video alone brought in 4.4K new subscribers.
✅ What this means for you: Not every piece of content needs to be polished or planned to perfection. Sometimes, authenticity beats production value.
3. I Treated My Channel Like a Business, Not a Hobby
For years, I uploaded videos when I felt like it. That changed in 2024. I started applying real content strategy, planning topics in advance, optimizing thumbnails and titles, and analyzing what worked.
I also followed advice from experts like Roberto Blake, Paddy Galloway, and Derral Eves—and one stat from Roberto completely changed my mindset.
88% of YouTube videos never reach 1,000 views.
Once I realized that, I stopped being discouraged by numbers and started focusing on consistent, strategic growth.
✅ What this means for you: Growth isn’t luck—it’s a process. If you treat your content like a business, you’ll start seeing real results.
The Results?
Since early 2023, I’ve:
Gained 19.4K new subscribers
Reached 1.9M views
Generated 146.6K watch hours
Made over $8K in revenue
This wasn’t by accident. It was by applying real marketing strategy to my content—the same approach I use at Edify Content to help brands grow.
Ready to See Real Growth? Let’s Talk.
If you’re looking to grow your YouTube channel, LinkedIn presence, or any content platform, I can help. Whether it’s strategy, positioning, or content execution, the right approach makes all the difference.
📩 Let’s chat.
What’s been your biggest challenge in growing an audience? I’d love to help. 🚀
