Being a kids’ content creator is a challenge in itself. To get on the YouTube Kids app, where all your target audience is, you need to jump through loops and hoops. But how do you attract attention? How do you hold it? How do you grow? Well, let us show you an example.
The Pre-917% Era
The Melobies is a kids’ content YouTube channel with fun and energetic nursery rhymes for the youngest. They already had a loyal following, but they wanted to grow even faster. We looked at their channel and saw their potential. The videos were awesome, they attracted views, CTR, watch time, but they weren’t at their full power just yet.
In March, the creators joined AIR Media-Tech, looking for expert guidance on how to:
- Get on YouTube Kids.
- Attract more viewers.
- Increase retention on each upload.
- Expand revenue opportunities.
From day one, our mission was to unlock the channel’s hidden growth potential.
Step 1: Channel Audit
Of course, we needed to analyze the channel first, so a full-scale audit was in order. We looked through the video content, branding, titles, metadata, playlists, and overall engagement.
And we discovered several areas that could use some tweaks to deliver wins:
- Thumbnails: Many were colorful and on-brand, but lacked clear focal points or facial expressions that drive clicks in kids’ content.
- Video Structure: Compilation videos were not always organized in a way that maximized watch time, which led to early drop-off.
- Metadata: Titles and descriptions didn’t consistently include high-performing keywords.
- Livestreams: Streaming potential was definitely there.
- Playlists: Playlists were not being used effectively to guide viewers from one video to the next.
- Community Tab: Posting was infrequent, missing an opportunity to keep the audience hooked between uploads.
Of course, you need to remember that every channel is unique, and the approach to their audit will be different, so if you want to know how to improve your channel organization - just reach out to us and we’ll gladly help you.
Step 2: Changes Implemented
So, after sharing the audit results with the creators, we also suggested some small tweaks that could improve their overall channel growth.
1. Getting on YouTube Kids
First things first - getting on YouTube Kids. The app is where all the target audience is. It sounds simple in theory, but it’s a lot harder when you don’t have someone guiding and helping through the process.
We made sure The Melobies were listed on YouTube Kids App, which opened the doors to a lot more potential viewers.
2. Thumbnails
Our creative team suggested small changes to how the thumbnails are made. More expressive characters, high contrast colors for instant recognition and simplified layouts so it reads easier on mobile.
As it stands now, low contrast on thumbnails tends to blend the elements together and it’s a bit confusing to look at. Too many mixed colors can distract the viewer from the main point. And too many details can make it harder for kids to focus on what’s important.
3. Metadata Optimization
What comes after thumbnails? Another thing that is fairly easy to see - metadata. We helped with the video titles, descriptions, and tags optimization. What we did? We used search analysis tools to match trending kids’ keywords.
It sounds like a small change, but it’s a tricky one to get right.
4. Livestreams
We have helped the channel organize 24/7 streams, compiling their best videos into a continuous stream of content. Why? Streaming is favored by YouTube algorithm, so a continuous stream attracts attention and makes the channel so much more noticeable in the Recommended page.
5. Playlists
To make it more pleasant for the viewer’s experience, we have helped compile the videos according to theme to encourage viewers to watch multiple videos in one sitting. It’s a small tweak, but it drives traffic.
6. Community Engagement
Among the other tweaks, we have helped them work with the Community Tab and organize the posts. Organization is a very important part of optimization and it makes the viewers’ experience so much smoother.
The Payoff
It didn’t take long for results to show up. At first it was subtle, but then the climb up became more and more noticeable.
Average watch time and CTR grew along with the sub count. The shift was especially clear on a few most popular videos they had.
Their most popular video quickly reached 3.5 million views, which tripled the channel’s typical performance. The revenue climb followed soon.
The Melobies’ journey proves that a few tweaks here and there can go a long way. With the right strategy, optimization, and expert support, the channel’s performance grew significantly and the trend continues going upwards.
AIR Media-Tech provided the creators with the tools, insights, and hands-on guidance needed to make these improvements, which lead to big results in the competitive kids’ content space.
