YouTube Secrets: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Your Following and Making Money as a Video Influencer

by Sean Cannell, Benji Travis

NEW EDITION--FULLY REVISED AND UPDATED with over 70 pages of new content and strategies! YouTube sensations and best selling authors Sean Cannell and Benji Travis take your YouTube channel from slow and dormant to accelerated and engaged, using premium and updated YouTube growth tips for creators, business owners, digital entrepreneurs, and influencers.
 
This is the ultimate gameplan to grow a following and make money with the power of video.
 
It's not enough to make a channel and upload random videos - hoping one goes viral. Sean and Benji break down the exact framework you need to take a leap of faith, convert your vision into a YouTube channel, and build a community that brings in the revenue.
 
Stop wasting your time trying to figure this out yourself and instead follow these proven steps. In this book you'll
The seven-ingredient recipe to building a successful YouTube channel
How to leverage and manage social media in your YouTube strategy to expedite your growth
The latest YouTube updates you need to know in order to skyrocket your videos
Foolproof video ideas to get you started on the right path to becoming a YouTuber
The tactics that Sean and Benji have used to create six-figure channels and go full-time with YouTube
 
The NEW expanded second edition also
Two full additional
"The Perfect Video Recipe" for making your videos go viral 
"New YouTube Features" highlighting YouTube shorts
The latest data and stats revealing opportunities in the creator economy 
 
There's not a single person who can't grow on YouTube. Sean and Benji are ready to show you how your dream can become a reality!
 
Copyright © 2018, 2022 Sean Cannell & Benji Travis

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Social Media, Entrepreneurship, Self Help, Technology, Audiobook

122 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 2, 2022

Reviews

[Lisa of Troy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this book does not go beyond the basics. It doesn't go into meaningful and actionable details. For example, there is a chapter on Social Media. We are told to spend 30 minutes googling best practices. I needed a book to tell me to Google something? Wouldn't it be nice to ask 2 people with expertise in the area about the best way to leverage social media? Oh yes, wouldn't it be nice to ask Sean? That's why we bought this book! Come on!

I have a template that I developed that I will share because honestly it is more useful than this book. You can feel free to shower me with money or at least click the like button on this review.

Find the top 5 creators in your space who you would consider successful and answer these questions:

YouTube
What is their content (For example, on Booktube, does the creator focus on individual books, wrap-ups, tips, etc)? How does the creator title their content? What do the thumbnails look like (picture of creator, text, etc)? How often do they post? When do they post? What are the tags being used? What are their descriptions? Do they have calls to action? Do they have 4K Videos? Do they have closed captioning? How do they make their social media links stand out? What social media platforms are they advertising? What channel tags do they have?

GoodReads
What groups do the creators belong to? How often do they post?

Twitter
Is the creator active? How often do they post? What types of posts (pictures, polls, questions, articles)? What hashtags are being used?

It also would have been SUPER helpful if this book had more niche specific advice for example gaming, beauty, booktube, cooking, etc. However, it fell short.

2025 Reading Schedule
Jan A Town Like Alice
Feb Birdsong
Mar Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Berniere
Apr War and Peace
May The Woman in White
Jun Atonement
Jul The Shadow of the Wind
Aug Jude the Obscure
Sep Ulysses
Oct Vanity Fair
Nov A Fine Balance
Dec Germinal

Connect With Me!
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[Amélie Boucher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been bingeing Sean and Benji's videos lately, and I don't feel like this book really brings anything new to the table. Everything they talk about in this book, you can find in one of their videos.

This is a good overview of how to get started as a YouTuber, but as someone who has been creating videos on the platform for over two years, none of this information was new to me. I feel like this book barely scratches the surface of how to actually grow your following on YouTube. I'd recommend watching their videos instead, which go much more in-depth!

[Aurélien Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am completely new to YouTube, a media I find as exciting as baffling. Burning Words Poetry, my channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdrt...) is yet another platform to give vent to my creativity and passion for poetry, a way to reach out to like-minded people, but, the amount of channels and YouTubers out there already crowding the space makes it very difficult to be seen, let alone be acknowledged from my little tiny niche no matter how isolated! YouTube... Where on Earth do I start!?

I didn't know the authors previous to finding this friendly little guide. I have since subscribed to their channel (Video Influencers). Here's a book I found, indeed, incredibly helpful so far. I got tips on how to engage viewers and be better at targeting and pitching my intended audience. I had, above all, a Revelation: YouTube is not only a social media, but, a search engine too (I warned you I was a complete newbie!). This book, then, provided me with a new insight; as well as a few tips to optimise my contents. I am grateful to have found it!

Now, yes, theirs is a full time job and career (and hard work it is, don't be naïve!) whereas I am just using the media to have fun for myself while educating people on a topic I love. I don't care about money, while they clearly do (whole chapters are dedicated to monetising your channel). Nevertheless, at my lower level and ambition I found this guide refreshing and inspiring. It's too early to say if implementing their tips will actually work in getting Burning Words Poetry new subscribers, but I will certainly have fun experimenting!

Oh! And, again, should you be interested, Burning Words Poetry is over here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdrt...
Just saying!^^ ;-)

[Luka Parac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome for Beginners and Intermediates seeking that push

I see a lot of angry comments saying that this book doesn't contain any real YouTube "Secrets". That is absolutely true if you've followed Sean and Benji before buying this book OR if you've already consumed a lot of similar content elsewhere.

However, it will give you:
1) that extra push if you're stuck or just can't start working on your YT channel whatever you do;
2) simple and effective action plan to use as a basic blueprint when starting a new YT channel;
3) an opportunity to reflect on real reasons behind your desire to start your journey on YT;
4) useful and really actionable Quick Start Guide that comes as a bonus after purchasing the book.

These guys are not fake, but the hype around this book was probably too big and it all led to many unrealistic expectations. There is no "magic trick" or some mystic, hidden "secret" that guarantees overnight success on YT.
It's like with everything else: consistency, drive, grind-grind-grind!

Good luck to everyone on their YT endeavors!

[Matt Hutson · Rating 3 out of 5]

YouTube Secrets by Sean Cannell and Benji Travis was a book I had wanted to read for some time. I'm glad I took the time to read it yet I'll tell you upfront, if you want to really learn how to make a successful YouTube channel, it's better to watch their YouTube channel, Video Influencers by the same authors of the book. But don't just watch it, observe and take notes on angles, lighting, and everything that goes into building a great channel.

One of the positives of reading the book is everything you need to know about building a strong YouTube channel is in one place. They make it easy to refer back to if you need to. If you know nothing about creating a YouTube channel this book has all the foundational suggestions.

To be honest though, as someone who has experimented with YouTube since the end of 2017, the best thing you can do if you haven't launched a channel yet and you want to is to just do it. Reading YouTube Secrets will only help you so much.

I can also tell you this; if I had had a chance to read this book while preparing to launch my channel, I would have been much better prepared and would probably have a stronger channel by now.

[Natasha Antonioni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boom! If you’re considering this book... get it!!

Incredible that there are so many disgruntled reviews. Really, you Tubers? I mean, really? These guys wrote this book while creating content on YT so yes, there is some of the same info on their channel but this is a workbook, style book for new talent. If you’re seasoned you may know this but for a newbie? Bam... just what you need. So psyched I found these two. You can tell their heart’s in all their share. They’re givers. Obviously. So if you’re new on the scene and ready to receive, read on!

[Gift Egwuenu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. As someone who is still new to YouTube I learned quite a lot from reading this.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking for some books to help me grow my youtube channel, nerd hockey, and I saw this book and I decided to try it out.
If you have any kind of a youtube channel, you should 100% get this book. It gives great advice on all topics of youtube, and I HIGHLY recommend it.

[Rubina G Gomes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for everyone who is thinking of starting a YouTube channel!🎉

[Shitiz Srivastava · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am recently into youtube and I want to become a youtuber frankly. Sometimes it appears to be very enjoyable and sometimes it is just too boring and hard work.

However, I started a food channel and it worked well but after some time, the growth was just ok and linear and I wanted to move fast.

Now youtube started in 2005 and since then there have been many algorithm changes and several new great features have been added to make your videos more interesting and catchier. I wanted to know what are the methods to first – grow subscribers and second – get more views.

To know more about youtube, I YouTubed it. Yes, ironic. I found Darrel Eves channels which have been previously recommended to me by many people. I finally decided to watch a few videos from it and the first video that I saw had an interview with a young guy named Sean Cannell who runs many channels among his most famous channel called Video influencers.

He talked about his journey and how he made his channel and failed several times, learned, researched and interacted with other YouTubers to know more about youtube and finally decided to write a book about this experience, the link of which obviously was in the description.

I immediately downloaded the book as the person seem to be well researched and well versed in everything that youtube is.

I was not wrong.

I completed the book in two weeks. It is a short book but I didn’t want to read it like a fiction story. After every suggestion, name or trick he told me, I googled it further to enhance my knowledge about youtube. This book is recommended by me to everyone who wants to be a youtube because this book is super fun to read and gives data about a lot of YouTubers who started their channel and how they started the channel. There are numerous suggestions about do’s and don’t do’s in the book which is of tremendous help because I was doing most of don’t do’s and wondering why the results were not coming. Youtube is the statistics business. There are things which will be obvious to you on a superficial level but they work on an entirely different level when you get inside it.
However, just like any creative field, no amount of technical knowledge will help you if your content is not good and you have not worked on your content. Youtube videos, even vlogs work like films where the youtubers divide the videos into three sections – a proper beginning which is first act, conflict, which is second act and resolution which is the third act. Third act an also be called the call to action because that is what most youtubers do. They give something to the audience to do.
The game is the same. There is a performer and there is an audience and whoever entertains the audience best wins the game. The problem is again the age-old problem. No one exactly knows what the audience wants.

This book, however, will help you tremendously if you are a starter or have started a channel and not getting many views. It will help you for sure. Highly recommended.

[Jade Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

With just over 2000 subscribers on my youtube channel, Boho Bookworm , I am most certainly not a popular youtuber by any means. You have to take books like this with a pinch of salt... yes it offers great and practical advice... but I already knew the tips and tricks it recommends throughout the book. If you're a brand new person to creating youtube videos this could be a very beneficial book for you to read but as someone who has been doing youtube for a few years I do know the things I need to implement into my marketing and creations in order to grow.. unfortunately my problem as is highlighted in the book, is consistency. I always have great intentions of making content and engaging with everyone and for a while I go on such a good streak but then life gets busy and I fall off track. It's harder than it seems to be consistent and become 'trustworthy' to people who would want to follow along your youtube journey.
So I'm giving this book a solid 4 stars. It has great things in it that I already know so for me personally it was more validation more than anything else... now I just have to kick my butt into gear and actually DO IT. Haha.

[Mellissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome stuff! Definite companion to other influencer books out there like Influencer!

[Patrick Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

We shall see

Going to give this a go based off the information in this book. Good information for a first timer I hope

[Jon Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful for starting out 👍🏻👌🏻😉

[Jon Molnar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Starting Point for YouTube!

Write a book or do something with video? That is the question.

The book addresses how to get started with video on YouTube and provides a pretty full discussion on what it takes to be successful. In fact, there is not a lot of difference in the amount of effort to produce a successful book or be successful on YouTube.

However, there is a key difference between the two formats: demographics. The demographics for video are impressive and are getting more so as each year goes by. Be mindful, that does not make the job easier. As the business expands so will the competition. This book will remind you from beginning to end that making successful videos takes a lot of work, but the expanding market will make it worthwhile.

While I have tinkered with video as a hobby, this was the first time that I considered it as a potential business venue. This book provided a great starting point to understanding what it will take to be successful in the video world of YouTube. The authors have provided a lot of material to consider. Plus, they have provided links for additional resources outside of their book.

This book is definitely written for those beginning down the YouTube road to success. I fall into that category and was quite pleased with the book's content and, as such, highly recommend this book to those considering entering the YouTube world of influencers.

For those more seasoned YouTubers, who knows it may even offer a few tidbits for you as well.

[Deanna Martinez-Bey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with valuable information!

[Roy Murry · Rating 5 out of 5]

YOUTUBE SECRETS

Sean Cannell & Benji Travis

To get around YouTube.com, this guide into a world is full of tidbits that will help a newbie YouTuber start in the right direction. I am a newbie, at 72 years old today, and learned a great deal.

The directions I received help me find ideas I will use in the future. I did not need their pep talk because I was already motivated and produced forty-three videos. Also, I love the concept of those videos - helping people decide on purchasing a book by giving them a proper book review.

This book includes biographic material that explains their reasoning one should use a concept. These concepts should help reach one's goals as a Youtuber if they use them.

Many of the concepts in this book will help a newbie. However, I recommend watching Sean and Benji's videos to expand on them.

Not a complete understanding of YouTube success, the ideas within are the basis to start vlogging. And one must start somewhere.

The writing is easy to read and follow. but not for seasoned YouTubers. The authors' ideas are not difficult to understand, but just the beginning.

[Peter Deschenes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend for someone new or struggling!

I bought this book at the recommendation of Sean and Benji when watching one of the videos from Video Influencers. There is a lot and I do mean a lot, of great information on this book. It is relevant information for someone who is starting out to someone who is stuck or struggling.

I have this 5 stars not only because of the information but also the resources and the ways they present on the different ways to make your YouTube channel your own and ways to stand out.

It's not a long read, but have a notebook ready or highlight as you read. There is that much information. What they present in this book will have you thinking about what you have this far and how you can improve or from the very basics, get you started.

I highly recommend this book and it is well worth the money if you are wanting to get started on YouTube!

[Jan McIntyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an easy read and so informative.

I love this book it is so easy to read and so informative. If you are considering starting a YouTube channel I highly recommend this book. If you already have a YouTube channel but you are discouraged or in a slump, I highly recommend this book. It has already helped me improve my channel. Thank you so much Sean and Benji for writing this book. I love it!

[Alexis Chateau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good reinforcement

I wasn't expecting to learn anything new with a book this short and I didn't. However, it did help to reinforce what worked and what didn't and provided information on formulating a plan. If you don't already work in PR and marketing, then maybe some of these ideas may seem more novel to you. Great read nonetheless. I love that they took the time to edit this properly.

[Ilias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite nice and interesting book. Made me think outside of the box on how to develop and the opportunities that there are in this platform. Being making workout videos (YT:Your Workout) for a while almost 1 year, but I was just doing what I thought people wanted, instead of focusing on what people actually do want to see. I have to reevaluate some things. Nice insights and ideas. It's small, nice and informative.

[Aloe Belascuain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt more ready than before!!!

I love how Sean and Benji put together the 7 C’s, the success stories, and tactics, in a very detailed way. I felt like it’s an overall course that I feel highly motivated to put every single step into practice. I recommend reading this if you are not sure how to start your YT channel, how to keep up and how to stay inspired, motivated and driven. Thank you so much, Sean and Benji!!! Amazing work and purpose in life!!! 💫

[Mark Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth every cent

Wow great book written by two genuine guys. I was so impressed with the quality of the content. There was zero fluff and sage advise on how to become successful on YouTube. Definitely work every cent. The crazy thing is, it was not till I got to the end of the book that I realised I watch your content on YouTube. Thanks again.

[PATRICIA A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helped me with my YouTube channel

I started a YouTube channel, but don’t really have any followers or likes yet. I’ve read this book and now I’m going to apply the tips I’ve learned here. I’m also going to go to the links that they suggested on their website to learn more. This book is just another tool to help me with my YouTube channel.

[Walter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for aspiring YouTubers. The authors are super knowledgeable on the topic and very generous. They don't keep anything to themselves. The seven-part framework (Courage, Clarity, Content, Community, Cash, and Consistency) is simple, effective, and timeless.

[Joey Madia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for anyone launching or new to YouTube. It has already made a difference in my number of views and the success of my channel. There are lots of practical tips, interview excerpts with the most successful YouTubers.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really helpful for a newbie

I wanted to know how to start well on YouTube, and after watching a lot of ThinkMedia videos, I trusted them enough to purchased the book. I’ll be referring back to it often.

[Sanket Paudel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although the strategies written in the book are things the readers already have a general idea about, the authors have cherrypicked the most essential things to keep in mind when starting one's YouTube journey. A concise, must read book for anyone embarking on the YouTube journey.

[Daniel Cassani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting relevant and informative and outstanding

Good to know marketing book really informative great scope really exciting and interesting I like it a lot awesome awesome

[Joveline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book!

Great tips for YouTube. Extremely inspiring! I feel like I am ready to launch my channel. Thanks so much guys!