What YouTube Paid Me for 1,000,000 Views (Strategy Included)

▶︎

How I Accidentally Got Over 1 Million YouTube Views and Made $11,000+ (Without Promoting or Posting for 3 Years)

When I uploaded a random weekend project video on my YouTube channel, I never expected it to blow up. I didn’t promote it, didn’t follow SEO best practices, and didn’t even post consistently. Yet, here I am, sharing a case study on how this video reached over a million views and brought in around $11,000+ in revenue. This post will break down what I believe contributed to this success and how you might be able to apply these insights to your own content.

My Background

Hello! I’m Katherine Forbes. I’m a website designer and educator primarily focused on the music industry, and I’m here to share what I’ve learned about growing online and helping you grow too. After seeing my unexpected YouTube success, I analyzed the strategies that seemed to work. I’ll be walking through these nine factors that I believe made all the difference.

The Accidental Success Story

Initially, my channel focused on music business content and Squarespace web design tips. However, one weekend, I decided to paint my kitchen floor tiles just for fun. I edited a video about it and uploaded it, thinking it was a “silly” one-off. I even shared it on my personal social media for friends and family. Little did I know that this video would take off, eventually bringing in 1,000 subscribers, leading to channel monetization.

After that, I filmed a second, similar video to see if I could replicate the results. It also went viral, confirming that there were factors at play beyond just luck. Here’s what I discovered after three years of studying SEO, YouTube strategy, and analytics to reverse-engineer this success.

9 Reasons My Video Went Viral (and How to Apply These Insights)

1. SEO Basics

Even though I didn’t fully optimize the video, I did have an informative title, description, and tags that made it easy for YouTube’s algorithm to understand what my video was about. Using basic SEO practices like relevant titles and tags helps platforms categorize your content and serve it up to the right viewers.

2. Search Intent

Search intent (or user intent) is the goal behind what people type into search engines. While I didn’t plan it, my video aligned perfectly with users searching for information on floor paint. It showed the process, reviewed the product, and demonstrated results—all things someone searching “how to paint floors” would want to see. This allowed Google and YouTube to prioritize my video because it met users' needs.

3. Low Keyword Competition

Since I was one of the first to make a video on this specific floor paint product, I faced minimal competition. This helped my video stand out in search results. If you’re thinking of creating a video, consider researching keywords with lower competition or new products that few people are talking about.

4. Viewer Retention

Because my video showed a transformation—from cleaning and painting to revealing the final look—it kept viewers engaged. This boosted viewer retention, a key factor in YouTube’s algorithm. When viewers stick around to watch most (or all) of your video, YouTube recognizes this and is more likely to recommend your content to others.

5. Longevity of Content

The topic of “floor paint” has staying power. People will continue searching for advice on painting floors as long as the product exists. Longevity gives content a better chance of performing well over time, unlike trend-driven videos that may quickly lose relevance.

6. A Non-Salesy Approach

I wasn’t trying to sell anything—just sharing my genuine experience. In today’s online landscape, where content can feel saturated with sales pitches, an honest, low-pressure approach can go a long way. Even if you’re promoting something, try focusing on value and authenticity rather than overtly selling.

7. Timing

Timing and low competition went hand-in-hand. I posted this video early in the product’s lifecycle, so it faced less competition and had a better chance of standing out. While it’s difficult to predict what will go viral, consider making content on new products or emerging trends for a similar effect.

8. The Power of the Platform (YouTube)

YouTube is the world’s second-largest search engine (after Google). If I’d only posted my video on Facebook or Instagram, it would likely have faded out quickly. By leveraging YouTube’s long-term, searchable format, I allowed my video to live on and be discoverable to new viewers over time.

9. Keyword Recognition by YouTube

After my first floor-painting video took off, YouTube started associating my channel with that keyword, making subsequent similar videos more likely to be recommended. Once a channel or video gains traction in a particular niche, it’s easier for similar content to gain momentum.

Using Analytics to Guide Your Content Strategy

If you’re creating content, whether on YouTube or a website, I highly recommend diving into analytics. YouTube Studio offers insights on viewer retention, click-through rates, and the keywords associated with your channel. Similarly, Google Analytics (or any website platform analytics) can reveal what content draws people in and the search terms they use. These insights are invaluable for understanding what works and deciding where to focus your efforts.

Key Takeaways

So, what’s the moral of this accidental success story? Here are my main takeaways:

• Prioritize SEO basics and use clear titles, descriptions, and tags.

• Focus on user intent rather than just keywords to provide value to your audience.

• Aim for topics with low competition and long-lasting relevance.

• Be mindful of viewer retention and think of ways to keep your audience engaged.

• Avoid an overly salesy approach; authenticity goes a long way.

• Consider timing and be aware of new or emerging topics.

• Use platforms that allow content to be searchable over time.

• Pay attention to analytics to understand what resonates with your audience.

My story is a reminder that sometimes unexpected things can happen when you focus on creating helpful, engaging content. While I’m pivoting away from floor paint content, I hope you’ll stick around as I share more tips on growing online. And hey—if you want to see the floor five years later, I’ll give you a sneak peek!