Even the most popular YouTubers started with zero views and zero subscribers. Just like your favorite vlogger, you can grow a successful channel of your own from the ground up.

Here’s how to build an audience from scratch.

Focus on gaining followers on another platform.

Many newly popular YouTubers got their start on other platforms, such as Vine, TikTok, or Instagram. While building your YouTube channel, you should focus on growing your presence on another platform as well.

Create content within a very specific niche.

The more specific you can get with your content niche, the better. YouTube is so oversaturated with content that viewers are constantly on the lookout for something new and different. Play up what makes your lifestyle unique.

Continue delivering quality content on a regular basis.

For the majority of creators, building an audience is about consistency. As long as you deliver quality content on a regular basis, people will keep watching. As you add more videos, you’ll attract more subscribers as well.

Engage with your viewers as much as possible.

An audience is like a garden. No matter how big it is, if you don’t take care of it, it won’t be very fruitful. That’s why engaging with your viewers is so important. The more you interact with them, the stronger the community around your channel will become. Then, you’ll have a firm foundation to build the rest of your YouTube career.

To engage with your viewers, you can reply to their comments, tweets, etc. You can also repost fan art, shout out active fans in videos, or create videos that require their participation. Building an audience begins with offering them something different. Then, continue delivering quality content consistently and engage with your audience as much as possible.