How to Find a YouTube Mentor
Don’t expect your first video to go viral because of your ~chill~ personality.
If you’re a small YouTuber, you need a mentor. I don’t care if you already “understand the algorithm” or “have a creative vision for your channel” because that’s impossible with the ever-changing space. The biggest mistake new creators make is letting their ego lead the way of their brand. Besides, there is no shame in collaboration off-camera. All successful YouTubers, from Alisha Marie to Philip DeFranco, brainstorm with their team.
But how do you find a more experienced YouTuber? And when you do, how do you ask them to be your mentor?
If you don’t live in LA, you might not easily spot a vlogger on the streets. You may feel more inclined to post on a YouTube-related Reddit or Twitter thread; however, many successful YouTubers are too busy to visit any of those online forums. They won’t come to you (unless they actually happen to stumble upon your videos and subscribe to your channel).
You most likely want to find a YouTuber with a medium-sized audience. Preferably someone who has had excellent engagement with their audience within the past 6 months. This tells you that the person is somewhat reachable — as in you may have better chances of getting his/her attention — and that they are aware of YouTube’s constant changes. Although in a perfect world this YouTuber would be in the same industry with the same audience demographic, your first mentor can be any creator you admire from a business perspective. (Like seriously, don’t be picky.)
Start by following them on YouTube and their social media. Like and comment on everything they post to make them familiar with your name. Use this time to learn about their personality and how they engage with their audience. You want to make sure you genuinely like your mentor, right? Wait several weeks before sending them a direct message.
When you do message them, make sure to be brief but professional. Yes to proper grammar and complete sentences! Add something personal that truly shows you enjoy their work. If not, your message will read like a template that you sent to others. Asking for long-term mentorship during your first interaction may be too big of a request. Try asking a few questions. When they answer, thank them, try to implement their advice, and follow up with them several weeks later. The YouTuber will be flattered that you cared to listen and take action, but also they will view you as someone serious about making content.
During all conversations with this YouTuber, do not imply that you want a shoutout, collab, or anything of the sort. I see many “clout chasing” spam comments on the internet that will never get a response. It’s an automatic no. Don’t be that person.
Lastly, you need to have videos. Like a bank checking your credit score before giving you a loan, any big YouTuber is going to review your channel before they respond to you. You have to be worth it. It’s not about having the best thumbnails or audio/visual quality, it’s about consistency. They want to see that you are stubborn, that you care about making content over achieving fame. The majority of YouTubers fizzle out. You need to show that you can and will upload weekly.
Plot twist! Excellent YouTube mentors don’t have to be YouTubers. They can be creative directors, graphic designers, and producers of media companies. You can find these professionals on LinkedIn, through networking events, in continuing education courses, etc.
Look at the YouTube channel Little Monster Media. They produce well-researched videos on the YouTube algorithm, but they aren’t a massive YouTube channel. You can’t discredit them for not popping off. You wouldn’t make a football coach physically play in the game, would you? The number of subscribers shouldn’t hold value.
But beware, many arrogant people claim to know what it takes to build a successful brand and YouTube channel. Their information derives from the preconceived notion that YouTube is easy. They are all talk. It’s up to you to decipher between the wise and the ignorant.
So, do I have a YouTube mentor? Yes! We stumbled upon each other by chance — a true blessing from the universe. But in the beginning, I took his advice for granted because I was confident that my videos and marketing strategy was great. The best! I’m awesome! But nothing was great about getting 25 views per video again and again. When I finally took his advice, I saw my channel grow within 4 weeks.
Another important thing to note is that YouTube takes an incredible toll on your mental health. Depression is extremely high in the digital space. Hate comments on a mass scale, an unforgiving algorithm, the pressure to perform on every social media platform… you need a mentor, a friend, someone in the YouTube space to be there for you.
Today, I am not the biggest YouTuber, but I’m way bigger than I was before. My analytics show that I’m a healthy channel. I am still trying to figure out my brand. I’ve almost repaired the damage I conflicted on my channel from years of non-algorithm-friendly videos. Nonetheless, I feel confident and wise even if I take baby steps.
Throughout my journey, I’ve tried to pay it forward and offer advice to newer channels. Most of the time, they reject my counsel. They believe that YouTube fame is fast, easy, and a linear process. But if that were the case, wouldn’t everyone, including me, be already famous? It doesn’t matter if you are cool amongst your friends. In this overly saturated, highly competitive, overtly petty, and rather lonely industry, don’t ever believe you can do this alone.
