How I Grew My YouTube Channel Using 7 Free Platforms

One of Our Subscribers Shares Their Experience Using Free Platforms to Promote a YouTube Channel

Recently, one of our subscribers, Ethan, sent us an insightful article about his personal experiment with using seven free platforms to grow his YouTube channel. Ethan runs a small channel about self-development and productivity tips and decided to test how effective these websites are in attracting views and subscribers without spending a dime. Here’s his story in his own words.

How I Used Free Platforms to Grow My YouTube Channel: My Results and Lessons

Hi everyone, my name is Ethan, and I run a small YouTube channel focused on productivity and self-improvement. I’ve always been curious about whether it’s possible to grow a channel using free resources, so when I came across a video outlining seven free platforms for promotion, I decided to give it a try. My channel started with about 2,000 subscribers and 5,000 monthly views. After a month of experimenting, here’s what I learned.

1. Gab

I started with Gab, a platform similar to Facebook but with smaller niche communities. I joined groups related to productivity and shared posts with practical tips and links to my videos. I avoided spamming and tried to provide real value to group members.

Results: My posts received about 300 views total, and I noticed a few comments from engaged users. While it didn’t drive massive traffic, it was a good way to connect with a targeted audience.

2. Imgur

Next, I turned to Imgur, a platform for sharing memes and interesting content. I created a couple of visually appealing posts related to self-development and added links to my videos. One of my posts, a motivational image, even made it to the front page of a small category.

Results: Imgur brought me about 800 views and 50 clicks to my channel. The key here was to make content that resonates with the platform’s audience.

3. TikTok

TikTok was a platform I was hesitant to use at first, but I knew its potential for virality. I created five short clips highlighting quick productivity tips, with a link to my YouTube channel in my profile bio. One of my videos, focused on planning your week effectively, gained over 10,000 views.

Results: TikTok proved to be the most effective, driving about 1,500 views and 120 new subscribers to my channel.

4. Medium

On Medium, I wrote a simple article titled “5 Morning Habits for Success.” In the article, I offered practical advice and included a link to a related video on my channel. Medium’s audience is already interested in reading about self-improvement, which worked in my favor.

Results: The article garnered 200 views and brought in 30 clicks to my video. While the numbers aren’t huge, Medium has potential for long-term traffic as articles continue to rank on Google.

5. Threads (Meta)

Threads, a relatively new platform from Meta, was another part of my experiment. I wrote short, tweet-like posts sharing quick productivity hacks and included links to my videos at the end.

Results: Threads brought in about 100 views and 10 subscribers. While it didn’t have a massive impact, it’s a platform I’ll keep an eye on as it grows.

6. Pinterest

For Pinterest, I created visually appealing pins using Canva, focusing on topics like “Daily Productivity Tips.” Each pin linked directly to a relevant video. Pinterest’s audience loves practical and inspiring content, making it a good fit for my niche.

Results: My pins received 1,000 impressions and 80 clicks to my videos. Pinterest was the second most effective platform after TikTok.

7. Reddit

Finally, I tried Reddit. I participated in discussions on subreddits like r/Productivity, offering genuine advice and only sharing links to my videos when they were relevant to the conversation.

Results: My comments generated 400 views and 15 clicks. Reddit users are highly critical of self-promotion, so being authentic and helpful is key.

Final Results

Here’s what I achieved after one month of using these platforms:

• Total new views: +3,000 (a 60% increase)
• New subscribers: +200
• Top platforms: TikTok and Pinterest

My Key Takeaways

1. TikTok is King for Free Traffic: Short, engaging clips can reach a wide audience quickly. Pair that with a strong call-to-action, and you’re golden.
2. Pinterest Offers Steady Growth: If you have a visually appealing niche, Pinterest can bring consistent traffic over time.
3. Content Matters: No matter the platform, providing genuine value to the audience is the most important factor. Spamming links simply doesn’t work.
4. Be Patient: Some platforms, like Medium, may take longer to show results but have long-term potential for driving traffic.

If you’re just starting out, I highly recommend trying these platforms. They might not make your channel go viral overnight, but they’re a great way to grow organically and reach a broader audience without spending any money.