MrBeast is the most renowned and influential YouTube creator with over 302 million subscribers. Many are baffled by his meteoric rise to fame and the immense earnings that accompany it. Let’s delve into the secrets behind his success and learn from the strategies of this prominent YouTuber.
A quick introduction
Here are 5 key facts about MrBeast:
- The creator, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, started his YouTube channel in 2012 at the age of 13. His early videos included game reviews and commentary on video games.
- He gained fame through his unique and large-scale videos. One of his first viral hits was «Counting to 100,000» which took about 40 hours to complete and was streamed live.
- MrBeast is known for his generous philanthropic projects. He gives away large sums of money in his videos, often helping people in difficult situations and organizing large-scale charitable events.
- In 2019, he launched the #TeamTrees campaign with fellow YouTuber Mark Rober, aiming to plant 20 million trees. The campaign raised over $20 million and attracted the attention of many celebrities and companies.
- In 2020, he launched MrBeast Burger, a virtual restaurant chain that operates through food delivery platforms. In 2022, he also launched a chocolate bar brand called Feastables.
5 lessons from MrBeast
From these 5 facts, we can derive 5 key lessons to apply to our own strategies:
Consistency is key
MrBeast has been regularly posting videos for years. This consistency has made him a reliable presence for his followers, who eagerly anticipate his new content. Try to establish a consistent upload schedule that your audience can rely on whether it’s weekly or bi-weekly, and stick to it.
Moreover, you need to understand that success on YouTube takes time. Stay persistent, even if the growth seems slow initially.
Creativity is crucial
Social media are constantly evolving, making it hard to predict what will go viral. Embrace bold and unique ideas, and don’t be afraid to experiment and stand out. MrBeast understands that his audience loves watching extraordinary situations and huge prizes, so he continues creating videos with incredible challenges where participants can win large sums of money or valuable prizes. Additionally, he creates large-scale reality shows where participants compete in various challenges, often involving elaborate sets and complex scenarios.
Build a loyal audience
You don’t need to give away money or houses to attract people. Small giveaways also can engage your audience or you can incorporate charitable acts or support causes you care about. This can resonate deeply with your audience and enhance your channel’s image.
Another way is to focus on content that resonates with your audience and that you are knowledgeable about. Helping your audience with life hacks, unique advice, or exclusive knowledge can build loyalty.
Collaborations boost visibility
Every influencer you collaborate with brings their own audience. However, it’s important to consider the relevance of the influencer’s niche to your own. For example, collaborating with a burger review creator on a healthy eating channel may not attract many new subscribers.
Diversify income streams
The ever-changing world teaches us not to put all our eggs in one basket and to develop new directions as opportunities arise. This doesn’t mean every YouTuber needs to start a business, but it does mean expanding beyond a single platform and adapting to multiple social media. Use platforms like Instagram or X (ex-Twitter) to interact with your audience and keep them updated about your content. Utilize Shorts and cross-post them into Reels or TikTok to attract more followers.
You can also experiment with different types of content: vlogs, tutorials, and live streams to see what works best. Another way is to look into other revenue streams such as merchandise, memberships, sponsored content, or affiliate marketing.
By following these easy lessons, you can better navigate the dynamic world of digital content. We’ve already covered most of the topics here. But let’s dig deeper and try to potentially replicate some of MrBeast’s success.
Unraveling the success
MrBeast continues to be one of the most creative and influential creators on YouTube thanks to his unique approach to content creation and audience engagement. Here are three not-so-obvious tips:
High-quality content
MrBeast once mentioned that he reinvests most of his income into trying new concepts. This is why his videos stand out: they are grand and different.
How can you implement this without copying? As your channel grows, reinvest in better equipment, editing software, and props to improve the production quality of your videos. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new ideas and formats. Think outside the box and bring fresh, original concepts to your content.
Data-driven decisions
MrBeast uses analytics to understand what works and what doesn’t, optimizing his content accordingly. When YouTube introduced A/B testing for thumbnails, MrBeast tested how different thumbnails affected his video reach. He reportedly spent $10,000 just on designing and testing thumbnails because, as he said, «A thumbnail can be the difference between 50 million views and 200 million views».
How to apply it to your channel? First of all, try A\B testing, it seems to be a very powerful tool:)
Also regularly check your channel’s analytics to see which videos perform best and understand your audience’s preferences. And then use this data to adjust your content strategy, focusing on what resonates most with your viewers.
Positive and authentic persona
MrBeast maintains a positive, authentic persona that makes him relatable and likable to his audience. As for you, try to show your true self in your videos. Authenticity helps build a stronger connection with your audience. Respond to comments on your videos to create a sense of community and show that you value your viewers.
Try to keep a positive and upbeat tone in your content, as this can make your channel more enjoyable to watch.
Wealth speculations
MrBeast’s generosity certainly raises questions, and sooner or later, suspicions start to creep in. While some find answers in YouTube ad revenue, collaborations, and business ventures, others build various speculations and theories about how MrBeast has earned such a significant amount of money.
Some speculate about the initial funding sources for his extravagant videos, questioning whether he had external investors or support from other entities early on. There are theories about how strategic planning and growth hacking techniques might have been employed to rapidly scale his channel. Some believe MrBeast might have undisclosed business ventures or investments that contribute significantly to his income.
One way or another, MrBeast’s financial success is attributed to a combination of smart content creation, strategic business ventures, effective use of social media, and an understanding of viral marketing and audience engagement.
Conclusion
As we can see, MrBeast uses quite straightforward and understandable strategies for his promotion: engaging with his audience and understanding their interests, utilizing analytics, collaborating with others, and building a personal brand. Yes, he has been doing this for several years, but we all started somewhere. If you scroll down to the very bottom of MrBeast’s page, you’ll see how he was also finding his way, getting better, and never giving up. If he could do it, why can’t you?
We hope this material will help you achieve success in much less than 12 years!
