From My First Video to My 85th: The Evolution of My YouTube Journey

byJDenesovych

467 followers

1 week ago

Two years ago, I hit record for the first time. No fancy equipment, no elaborate setup—just me, an iPhone, and a product I wanted to talk about. That first video? Either a HepVo waterless trap SHORT video or a Camco heated water hose review. It was raw, unpolished, and faceless. I wasn’t even sure how people would react. But looking back, that simple video was the start of something bigger.

Today, with over 50 subscribers and more than 20,000 views, I can see how much my approach has evolved. The learning curve has been steep, but every video has been a stepping stone toward better content, smarter strategies, and bigger goals.

The Early Days: Live, Faceless, and Figuring Things Out

At the beginning, my goal was simple—just showcase what I was doing. No crazy editing, no voiceovers, just real-time product walkthroughs. I relied on Steve.AI to generate faceless videos, turning scripts and website URLs into animated content. Some of them worked… but most didn’t get the reception I expected.

That’s when I realized: YouTube isn’t just about putting content out there—it’s about making it engaging.

Midway Through: Finding My Voice (Literally and Figuratively)

Somewhere around Video #40-50, things started to change.
I started doing voiceovers—not the robotic, AI-generated type, but my own voice, edited in CapCut for better flow.

Then, I did something I swore I wouldn’t do: I started appearing on camera.

Not full-time, but enough to give my content more personality, more connection, more credibility. I also realized something important: It’s easier to edit and reconstruct a video later than trying to capture the perfect scene in real-time.

And with that, my content started performing better.

The SEO Shift: Getting Strategic with Views & Growth

I started using VidIQ and finally understood why some of my earlier videos weren’t taking off.

• SEO matters. Titles need to be searchable.
• Thumbnails matter. They grab attention before the video even starts.
• Timing matters. Covering trending topics right as they peak brings in organic views.

Applying basic SEO strategies meant that my videos started appearing in search results, not just sitting in YouTube’s forgotten archives.

The Biggest Hurdle? TIME.

I made a bold decision recently: expand to two more YouTube channels.

Now, instead of trying to push out 8 videos a month, I’ve got three channels to manage, meaning… I should be creating 24 videos a month to hit my growth goals.

Reality check: I can barely get 8 out across all 3 channels.

But, like with my four websites, I know that growth is still happening—just over a longer timeline. The key is consistency and balancing everything without burning out.

Small Wins, Big Motivations

Reaching 50 subscribers may not seem like a big deal to some, but for me? It’s proof that this works.

Having 20,000+ views means people are watching.

And now, with monetization as my #1 goal, I know that I need to keep pushing forward. More videos, more SEO, more value for viewers.

If I Could Give My Past Self Advice…

1. Be more comfortable with yourself.
2. Just publish content—don’t overthink it.
3. Watch this video by Roope Kiuttu (How to Get 100,000 Subscribers and Achieve Financial Freedom). It’s the same advice I give to others now.

The reality? No one starts as an expert. But you can’t improve what you never create.

Final Thoughts: Video #85 and Beyond

I’m still figuring it all out—and I’m okay with that.

YouTube is a marathon, not a sprint. Each upload is a step forward. Every experiment—whether it’s voiceovers, on-camera appearances, or new channels—teaches me something new.

The takeaway? If you’re thinking about starting YouTube, just start.

And if you’re already in it? Keep going. The next milestone is closer than you think.