I used this method a couple of times with mixed results and I’ll tell you why. But let me also tell you why this method is a great way to gain traction on YouTube with a new channel or grow your existing channel faster.

In addition, I’ll share with you why I think this method isn’t for everyone and why it’s not used everywhere.

The tactic

As a new YouTuber, you struggle with the following things:

1. Getting views
2. Getting followers
3. Meeting the monetization entry criteria of 4000 watch hours and 1000 followers
4. time management — little to no pay in the beginning for a lot of work

To make these 4 things easier, let’s talk about the imitation method. That’s not a real term, I just made it up. But it’s a pretty fitting one.

How does it work?

Before I’ll tell you, let me just say I won’t be going over the YouTube basics here. I’m going to assume that you already have a channel, know your niche (or a couple of niches), have a filming and editing routine, and so on.

Now, to the trick. Follow these steps:

1. Find a successful YouTuber with a similar niche to yours. Preferably one that you like anyway.
2. Subscribe to that channel and hit the notification bell to get notified when they publish a new video.
3. Analyze that video.
4. Now, the important part: Within 24 hours (preferably less) create a similar video about the same topic with matching keywords, tags, and title.

Done.

Why would you want to do this?

First question you might ask: Isn’t this stealing and isn’t everybody already doing this on YouTube?

No to both.

It’s not stealing because obviously you should make that content your own and no, this particular method isn’t used throughout YouTube already.

Let me tell you why!

The key factor

YouTube’s algorithm is comprehensive and smart. Hacking the system is difficult. This trick isn’t a hack for the algorithm.

Instead, by using this method, you’re trying to get into the suggested video section next to the video of that YouTuber you have subscribed to in step 2, or into the home feed of people who have watched the video you “recreated”.

See, consumers on YouTube tend do binge-watch certain topics and types of videos. Once they’ve finished one video, they’re looking for the next similar one to compare the two and get different opinions or takes on the topic at hand.

Let’s get real

Let me give you an example with a fictional new YouTube channel.

Imagine I’m in the process of creating a tech channel for reviewing products and apps on Apple devices.

I know this is a completely saturated niche on YouTube. Still, new channels are popping up in that exact niche every day. And many become successful.

What sets this method apart is the timeframe which is both the major upside of this trick and its biggest downside.

Let’s keep going with our example and assume my fav YouTuber just released a video about Apple Fitness+.

I then create a video about Fitness+ with my take on it, some different tips and tricks, and upload in with a similar title, matching tags, and relevant keywords throughout the description.

Now the chances are higher to get my latest video featured with the other video or suggested for viewers that already watched the other video.

Moreover, YouTube’s algorithm favors relevant, new content. That’s why the timing is critical. The sooner, the better. 24 hours or less.

Does it work?

I’ve tried this method with one of my faceless YouTube channel and it did increase views. I tried it with my second faceless channel and it didn’t work.

The difference: the niches.

One was perfect for this method, the other not so much. I’m happy it worked for one channel.

More importantly though, I’ve noticed that many successful YouTubers and the ones that have recently become successful are actually using this method.

In the tech niche, for example, I see the imitation method all the time. Right after a famous YouTuber comes out with a video, there are a plethora of channels who release very similar videos in terms of titles, tags, descriptions, even thumbnails, and give similar arguments mixed in with a couple of new ideas and examples.

Another niche, I’ve seen this in recently is men’s fashion. There are a few extremely successful men’s fashion YouTubers like Alex Costa, One Dapper Street, Teaching Men’s Fashion. And there are upcoming channels like Courtney Ryan.

With Courtney, I realized that she (in the beginning before her channel really took off) seemed to release videos on the same day and with a similar title to the ones by Alex Costa.

That worked, I got her videos suggested next to the one’s from Alex. Exactly what we want to establish here.

The downsides

So, this method has a lot of upsides. It’s not guaranteed to work, of course, because as a new channel without followers and content, the algorithm won’t put you at the top of suggestions. But this method increases the chances.

There are a few downsides with this imitation method, of course:

1. The time: It’s not easy to quickly create and release a video.
2. You might be tempted to “copy” too much from the video you want to be suggested with.
3. The more people use this within any given niche, the harder the competition and therefore the chance to get suggested.

Therefore, this method is best suited for niches that don’t do this a lot. And a niche that doesn’t require too much time to get a video done.

The bottom line

Still in 2022, YouTube is a lucrative platform for new content creators. You can establish and grow a new channel and eventually make money from Adsense ads and other sources like affiliate marketing, sponsored content, or digital products.

It has, however, become more difficult to meet the entry requirements for the Partner Program and to gain views and followers, in general, due to the sheer amount of YouTubers.

Don’t let this hold you back though. There are more consumers as well. And they want to consume more.

The important thing is to create good content and to know how, where, and also WHEN to publish this content. That’s the beauty of the imitation method. Try it and see if it does something to your views.