The Minimalist YouTube Strategy Nobody is Talking About
6 min read
There’s a new trend emerging of simple, minimalist YouTube videos that are absolutely crushing it right now.
And if you’re trying to grow a brand or business online right now, I’d recommend taking advantage of it.
I know I usually talk a lot about short form content.
And it’s important too, because short form is really good for reaching lots of people.
But here’s the thing.
Growing a business online isn’t just about getting in front of a lot of people.
It’s also about reaching the right people.
And building enough trust that those people feel comfortable buying from you.
This is where long form content excels. Like:
- Podcasts
- YouTube videos*
- Newsletters
- Blogs
These platforms are FAR better at building your brand and moving people to buy.
So a good social media strategy uses both short and long form:
Short form for reach → Long form for trust and conversion
I’ve been doing this for years. And it just works.
But there’s a reason I put a * next to YouTube, because it has a MAJOR advantage over all other platforms.
So in this letter I’ll show you what that is and how to use it.
Why YouTube is the GOAT platform
It’s simple. There’s not another platform that combines reach, trust, and longevity the way YouTube does.
Here’s what makes YouTube stand out:
Built-In Reach Engine
Long form platforms aren’t typically good for reach.
If you post a podcast, newsletter, or blog every week, and do nothing to promote it, it won’t grow.
That’s why you have to use social media content to get people to these platforms.
But YouTube is different. It has a powerful suggestion algorithm.
Post a valuable video once a week, and it’s almost guaranteed you’ll grow exponentially over time.
You don’t have to use other platforms to send traffic to YouTube. It’s built in.
Long Shelf Life
Content on TikTok or Instagram typically disappears in a day or two.
On YouTube, a video can start with 10 views and end up with 100,000 a year later.
Your work keeps working for you, way after you publish it.
Views Actually Mean Something
On TikTok, a “view” is just an impression (they scrolled past your video)
On Instagram, they have to watch for about 3 seconds.
But on YouTube, a view is typically at minimum 30 seconds of intentional watch time.
All views are not created equal.
A single YouTube view is often worth 10–100 views on TikTok.
Because it represents longer watch time, higher intent, and far more focus from the viewer.
Even if you get less views on YouTube, they’re worth a LOT more in the real world.
Wildly different viewer intent
On TikTok and Instagram, people are just mindlessly scrolling for dopamine hits.
Their intent is to be entertained.
On YouTube, people actually intentionally click into videos, usually expecting to spend more time watching them.
More people go to YouTube to learn.
It’s a completely different level of attention.
Why you should make boring YouTube videos
There’s a new trend on YouTube of simple, minimalist videos.
Not the hyper-edited, Mr. Beast style.
Not the dopamine-chasing, jump-cut-heavy stuff.
Just you on camera, teaching your stuff. Speaking clearly. Sharing what you know.
These videos work because they attract people who want to learn, not just be entertained.
Dopamine videos only attract dopamine addicts. Boring videos repel them.
You might get fewer views at first, but those views are worth a lot more.
(and when it starts to grow, you really start cooking)
The key is to get better at speaking and teaching, not just editing.
Make your videos engaging by sharing interesting ideas in an interesting way.
Not by slicing it up a million ways and spamming emojis everywhere.
When you do it right, your business will grow faster, not slower.
How to make simple videos that crush it
These videos take less than an hour to make, and are super effective.
Here’s my process:
- Start with a transcript or a newsletter
- I’ll take a transcript of a coaching call, or a newsletter I’ve already written.
- I use Whisper to turn it into a YouTube outline.
- (Alternatively you can just come up with a topic and write an outline if you don’t already have one)
- Put it on a teleprompter or your phone
- I just put the outline on a teleprompter and start teaching it for 10–20 min.
- I record with Ecamm Live (Mac), Riverside, or OBS (PC).
- You can also just record it selfie-style on a phone. I’ve seen these take off.
- Good quality audio is more important than video, so use a mic.
- Edit with AI tools
- Keep the thumbnail simple
- I usually use a screen grab from the video and put some basic text on it
- You’ll attract people looking for simple videos
- Flashy thumbnails that lead to simple videos will kill watch time
- Write a simple title
- Use lowercase, sentence-style titles
- Not → “How To Make Simple YouTube Videos And 10X Your Brand”
- Instead → “I tried making boring videos for 30 days, it actually worked”
- Optimize your description
- YouTube only shows the first 3 lines of your video description
- Put your lead magnets, products, or funnels right at the top.
- Always direct people to the description for next steps.
That’s it.
Your long term growth strategy
One simple, valuable video per week is enough to grow over time.
You don’t need to chase viral moments. Or make silly, hyper-edited videos.
You just need to show up, teach what you know, and let YouTube do the work.
If you’re tired of the grind of short form content, try this.
Simple videos. Consistent value. Long term growth.
That’s the strategy.
I’ve helped hundreds of entrepreneurs grow their brand and business online with simple systems like this.
If you want to work with me, go here.
See you next week.
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