How I Got A Million Views On YouTube
Due to popular demand, I reposed this from my Facebook update.
How I Got A Million Views On Youtube (And Soundcloud Also)
I’ve been getting a lot of DMs on this especially when I hit 500,000 views on my Facebook. My secret is out now. My friends and family I’m gonna answer individually, but I wanted to put this here also. This is not so much a marketing strategy, me spending 1000s of dollars on ads. This is my mindset. And this is very long, you don’t have to read this if you don’t want to but this is my journey to a million views on YouTube without spending a dime. (expect errors and typos in this haha). I spent a lil bit of time refreshing the page first, and posting it to my Instagram loves first. Ok, it’s real, and I can officially say I got a million views on Youtube. (2 other channels are hitting the million view finish line too!)
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#1. I see success differently and I’m into very different things.
I’m not a cliquish person. Because of this, people misunderstood me my whole life. I wasn’t willing to compromise who I am to fit in, so I was on the outer circles a lot. I got rejected a lot, underestimated, and some tried to bully and fight me throughout the years. When going for it, you have to get used to people not liking you, rejecting you, betraying you, not understanding you, treating you mean, and treating you like shit. Or being afraid to be friends with you, playing both sides of the fence because someone in their friend group don’t like you. Crazy middle school shit I know….
I do have friends, but I don’t trust easily. I crave my solitude and peace. Too many people our age care about what others think of them, and so they do things to fit in instead of being their true selves. I rather be by myself than be in an unsupportive group, only to be used at their convenience and thrown away when they have no need for you anymore. You gotta find your like-minded people and tribe. Sometimes this meant being by myself and isolating, instead of trying to be liked by people who hate you.
If you want to be a crayon maker, I’ll say go for it. I don’t have to know why you like crayons, nor do you have to explain why you like them. No one has to understand what you do or why you do it. At the end of the day, whether or not those people are comfortable with how you’re living your life doesn’t matter. What matters is whether you’re comfortable with it.
#2. What you see is what you get. If I f*** up, I’ll tell you. If something is not my lane, I will tell you.
When standing up for what I believe in and telling my story, I hold nothing back. Some of the things I’ve said on my Youtube channel and Medium blog offended some people. I have a fun and joke side. But when addressing serious things I’m just as straightforward. I’m making no apologies. If you can’t stand the heat, don’t come into my kitchen(s). Find a Medium blog or Youtube channel that’s more your speed. Some of the shit I say on there is blunt, but you know where I’m coming from. I just keep it for real, no matter what that looks like. Even if it means standing up for something by myself. I will not talk about you behind your back, check my blog or Youtube channel. And better still, I love to talk in person. So many people talk about others behind their back, gossip, and talk shit behind closed doors, but do you have the audacity to say what’s really on your mind to someone in person? And actually speak with the intention to listen not reply?
Youtube is hostile territory, and I reply to everything. You have to have thick skin out here. (People say hateful things on YouTube that you know they wouldn’t say in real life, I’m used to the good, bad and ugly at this point).
Don’t forget who you are before the world told you how to be…I got to be able to look at myself in the mirror.
#2a. Be prepared for people to leave your life (including people you care for).
My friends and family, love you on here, but I stopped DMing you ages ago because you’re not my target audience. Sad fact of life, most of the people you love are not going to support you/publicly support you unless there’s something in it for them. If you find one genuine person here and there, cool, keep them. One of the reasons why i didn’t post on here for a year or so at different periods is because I spent more time finding my lane, staying in it and finding an audience that loves my products/music/etc. Some of you on the surface may pretend you like something, but deep down you know you don’t.
Unfortunately, too many times your friends and family will support a famous celebrity they don’t know instead of supporting someone they do know trying to do something….because they can’t believe someone in the same place is trying to do something, and your success means that you might get big and leave them behind…Other times they genuinely don’t know how to help. (Look at the jealousy part too…that’s coming up). We usually want the people we care about to support/be into what we are into, but it doesn’t always pan out this way.
Creating Youtube videos, music, acting and what not falls outside the 9 to 5 structure, and unfortunately, people this includes people in your life won’t take it seriously until you have a lot of plays/views/what not. Or if until you grace the cover of Vogue. We are obsessed with going viral, celebrity and having tons of followers in our culture. You can carve your piece of the pie and have a smaller audience.
FUN FACT THO.
I don’t have a crazy amount of fans on my social media. (Now at some point if more followers/fame happens I’ll run with it). I’m not all that crazy about fame either.
But I’ve always believed in myself even though people didn’t.
Let’s be honest, if I would have told you a couple years ago that I would have reached this point, MOSTLY all of you would’ve said, Alesha, you’re full of shit. I noticed the eye rolls, the silent treatment throughout the years from a number of you when I said I was going with this. Be honest. If you end up liking my music/products and end up being apart of my tribe, I’d love to have you, but I’m not forcing anything (I still love ya either way). A handful of you are true blues and no matter what you’ve always stuck with me. Thank you loves.
To the creatives reading this, it shouldn’t have to take getting a million views like me for people to see your business/craft as legitimate. But that’s the kind of world we live in. If you are happy with your small tribe, your small wins, and just doing it, ignore people around you. The biggest thing is not letting people talk you out of your goals/dreams because they will try..Don’t let your ideas, creativity and talents go to the grave with you, go for it. Next time you go to a cemetery, think about all the ideas and potential that went down into the ground with them….
If you have 10 plays on your music, and I like it, I don’t mind collabing. Some of my favorite artists don’t even have 1000 streams on their music. Some people think that because a person has a million streams/views on their music if they collab with them that some of their fans will become fans of theirs too. Sometimes this works. But could you vibe with that person even if they didn’t have that? I personally don’t care about the amount of streams or followers or views someone has. IF I CANT & DON’T TRUST YOU IM KEEPING MY DISTANCE. Loyalty, trust and protecting my peace is most important to me.
DO NOT let your loved ones talk you out of your goals/dreams. Go for it and see what happens. I listened to well-intentioned advice throughout the years, ended up on a path that I’m not sure is no longer for me, and now I’m questioning everything. (And in questioning everything and rebelling, it led to a million views on Youtube and I’m already there on Medium, apparently people been reading so thank you! Claps/likes don’t always show how many people read my articles).
2b. I distanced myself from things, a religion, people and places that I cared about for a long time.
You have to be willing to be self aware and self reflective. What’s not working and how am I working into this dynamic? What am I doing to contribute to this dynamic?
My mistakes.
I stuck around situations trying to make it work for years. You know they tell us don’t give up, go back and try one more time, that sort of thing. I really did try. But one day I was like Alesha, wake the f*** up. I’m loyal and love to put my heart into it, but I’m also into reading the writing on the wall. I opened my eyes to see those situations for what it really is, not what I wish it could be or what I wanted them to be.
These people don’t care about you, and if you flatline on the operating table kicked off, b****, they wouldn’t show up for you. As a 20 something, I had to stop breaking my back for people who wouldn’t break a sweat for me. I had a self reflection moment: Idiot, they don’t want you or your friendship. It’s one sided and they don’t want your ass. Say buh bye so you can have and attract people in your life that genuinely care.
The solution? They didn’t bring me peace, love and positive energy so I stopped engaging with all of it.
I cared wayyy to much and they didn’t care. I noticed when I stripped my old identities, it made space for things, places, and people on my same wavelength. I noticed my NUMBERS shot up after doing that. One of my videos went from 0 to 9,000 views in 10 minutes (this is not a lot, but for a smaller YouTube channel, I was like whoa, and for this to keep happening over and over again over time adds up. My channel went up 300,000 views in one month, and that shit is crazy for a smaller channel.) It’s hard saying goodbye to things you’ve always known, but it’s necessary. Painful, but necessary.
I still got love, and hope you’re happy and cared for, but a number of you I love at a distance.
I’m lowkey, do not like gossip, drama, and very chill. If you tell me a secret, it’s not going anywhere. Too many times I’ve gotten burned, so safety and trust in friendships is extremely important to me. (People underestimate how much trauma can come from betrayal in friendships. And people, feeling safe in someone’s energy is heavily underrated and different level…..that feeling of peace, safety and protection is HEAVILY UNDERRATED.)
I also don’t put INDY on any of my artist pages. I’ll keep what I really want to say about that to myself, but as soon as I distanced myself from Indianapolis changed my environment, and mentally checked out, both my Soundcloud and Youtube shot up. I have a growing list of reasons why I’m going to continue to distance myself from Indy (and off record, there’s times when I’m in Indy and I majorly keep my distance by turning off my phone). So far, Medium, YouTube and Soundcloud are my top 3 platforms. My Spotify rose up to 238,563% at one point. Loves, for a long time, my Spotify was at zero! I don’t care about being recognized, and I don’t expect nor look for recognition from my hometown eith. Off the record, you can get a lot done if you dont care about who’s getting credit…
Another insider tip: Make more moves and less announcements. I will tell you after hitting a million views on Youtube, that’s buzzing for me. I don’t have to say a word. I don’t have to always post when I travel. If you focus on working, you will get what’s meant for you in your own way….success comes in different forms, sizes, shapes and times for everyone….
I do everything on my own (for now. Also all my mixtape pages are being handed over to me as I write this…).
Some of you might think but Alesha, dont you need other people at some periods? Ahhh. You have a good point, but I’m sticking with what’s working. I also mention more in #6a, but loves the biggest thing is:
You are not going to get to the kingdom if you keep trying to get approval from the village.
(Hey y’all wanted to know my process, secrets, and thought process and this is it, and by me not caring about being recognized/getting credit/doing everything on my own it found me in its own way, by me not forcing anything).
Also, you got to live for yourself, and not other people. I’m on my own path and journey, despite what it looks like.
I also stopped completely recording in person, stopped taking most film projects, just stopped. Only time will tell if I trust Indy enough again to fully get in to it like I once was. If I trust you, I may take an acting gig here and there. (I keep being told that I should run for politics in the future due to some of my experiences in life, prolly not. I’m making enough noise as a private citizen. If I change my mind I prefer go to a state where no one knows me.)
#3. You got to get the jealousy shit under control (same thing with comparing)
Being jealous of someone else is not going to make life better for you.
I was taught this as a young kid: there’s gonna be someone that’s cuter, smarter, more talented, got something you don’t, yada.
If you are staying in your own lane, and focused on your gifts and talents, you are not worried about what someone else has that you don’t.
Let me put it this way, if I’m having surgery/chemo/treatments in the hospital puking my guts out, do I expect you to cancel your trips because of me? And stop your life? Nope, I want you to live your life fully. Enjoy that trip with your people (or by yourself, if you like traveling solo). Tomorrow isn’t promised. I have many friends that died before hitting 22 (mentioned this before in the Soundcloud). Book those trips, cherish your people. Ladies love your girls, and be their best cheerleaders and bridesmaids. Fellows, love your guys! Hug your people and tell them you love them as much as possible. (These past couple years and months a lot of people in my life passed away. Love ya angels. All the rebellious things I plan on doing may make ya roll in your graves, but I rather ask forgiveness than seek permission. Buckle up everyone.
Anywho.
I’m not going to treat you mean, because you are doing something I’m not. Or have something I don’t. Some people never learn this, but hating on someone else doesn’t serve you. The energy you spend being envious, green, of someone else you could be cultivating your gifts and talents. I pinned a post on my medium blog called 13 Reasons Why The Wealthy Avoid You, I talk about jealousy. Bullying or hating someone because someone has luxury this or that or you think has more than you is not right. (I’ll post the link in the comments somewhere if there’s enough interest lol)…
This takes a shift, but if you can learn to learn from the successful instead of hating them it’s a game changer.
It may appear someone has it going on more than you, but you have no clue what happens behind closed doors. You don’t have no clue what someone had to go through to get where they are, and you have no context. Because once someone reaches the top, their journey is rarely judged.
What’s meant for you will be yours, what’s mean for them is meant for them. Jealousy is not gonna stop anyone’s destiny. If you can learn how to be happier for someone else’s success, you will reap good karma.
A lot of you have known me for years. If one of my girls someone in my group is quote in quote prettier than me, gets more attention that me at the bars or ANYWHERE, I can be happy for them. I’m the type of girl that never based my self esteem off a guy’s attention anyways, (and I low key wish the guys would leave me alone seriously, but that’s a another story for another day. I’m not candy, a curiosity, a zebra, an exotic zoo animal. I’m a human being with feelings and fears just like you!)
Being ugly and in peace is top tier for me, and protecting my peace is #1. When I’m out with my girls, I’m out with them, not trying to pick up a guy. Some women really crave and thrive off of that attention, but I’m one of the ones that wishes it goes away. Solitude is bliss. Airplane mode on my phone is heavenly. My phone running out of battery isn’t always a bad thing.
(I’m pro women and love my girls, but some women got vicious and cruel throughout the years because a guy wasn’t looking at them. I’m like madam, validation, self esteem and being secure comes from within, if you want the attention go for it, I’m not caring for it and I’m not gonna fight you over that shit. Best wishes on your journey tho.)
I’ve watched too many people throughout the years do mean and spiteful things. Or go out their way to cut and destroy someone because they are jealous of them; and the people that they are jealous of very well may have things/qualities/etc they don’t. If you don’t pay attention to anything else I’m saying in this long post, get the envy and jealousy shit under control. It’s something I learned back in 3rd grade and has served me well my whole life. Address whatever insecurities, setbacks you are experiencing in the right way, don’t take them out on another human being. In the end, you end up harming yourself, and that’s energy you can use to cultivate your own talents instead. Here’s an idea to start: Instead of being jealous, ask what you can learn from this person? Again this takes a major mindset shift, and you gotta dig deep under the surface and do the work. (Like why is this person’s successes make me feel like this? What do I feel like I’m lacking in? What can I do about it instead of being angry/resentful of another person? How can I take charge in my own life?) Everyone has gifts and talents, but you have to find them.
Don’t compare your chapter 1 to someone else’s Chapter 300. And remember, life isn’t a competition. If you tend to your own backyard, you are not worried about someone else’s. And finally, you better watch out for the people that bounces back from everything that was meant to destroy them. No amount of jealousy is going to stop someone from what they’re destined to do.
Also.
Can you be happy for someone who’s grass is greener than yours? Genuinely? This is reaping good karma and the universe will give you the vibes that you send out.
#4. Indiana Hoosier Boy (Go Slow) is one of my grown and sexy songs. If you are coming in on the Just Want To Chill end (STILL haha lordy)
) and you listen to my Dismissive Avoidant and Fearful Avoidant projects (even Time To Explore Sex, Sexy Cosplay, Super Saiyan Transform 4 Me), you will hear a drastic difference. I have PG goofy foodie music, but…
It’s a new era for me and my music.
I can write grown and sexy music all day. But remember what I said before. Being ugly and in peace is top tier for me, and protecting my peace is #1. Just because I can put falsetto on a song and make it sound nice, doesn’t mean I want to put up with harassment from guys and what not. I’m a person with feelings just like you. I’m the girl who posts food videos and wears glasses to protect my eyes from blue light and headaches. I do not feel good sometimes more nowadays, so it’s more irritating right now.
Right now I’m in a period of my life where I’m keeping my distance for a number of reasons. And guys sending me 25 messages in a row when I post a story is ridiculous. The 2 am messenger phone calls because you saw me online? That shit is going to stop. I don’t consider my self famous and not by any stretch of the imagination, I just found my lil tribe. I’m not no overnight success either. If you see my following(s) on my social media drop this is why. I don’t care about numbers, status or celebrity that much anyways. (Even if I had some level of fame, just not into anyone sending me 100 messages in a row. Take it elsewhere. Off the record, unless it’s an medical emergency. If anyone calls/texts me more than 5 times in a row, I will not respond. That shit is crazy and I won’t tolerate it. Once or twice is and waiting for that person to respond when they are ready? Ok. 10 times in a row is simply not ok.)
I’m into giving people their space and self care.
To the random guys, sending you love at a distance. (We need love in this world right now). Tough love. But Yall are going to leave me alone, and if I have to enforce that, it’s not going to be pretty. I consider myself to be a nice and patient person, but I have my breaking points. If you noticed, I haven’t liked a number of your posts in a while. This also my way of saying I love you enough to give you space, and I just want the same love and space I show in return.
I have a lot of guy friends (and my girls of course) that’s known me for over 10 years and you already know what happens blood brothers and sisters….lol. Just watch the magic of the numbers on my social media drop. 1, 2, 3, abracadabra kazoo.
Good luck in life and love fellas, but I’m not the one. As a friend and online friend only, I hope you find her. She’s out there but I’m not it.
What in the hell does #4 has to do with anything? You have to know yourself. I’m not saying air all your dirty laundry, but know what you like and what you are into when no one is around.
For Example: I’m not marriage material, not because I’m mean or being too harsh on myself, I’m painfully self aware and bluntly honest. I’m not going to do things for the status quo. Im not gonna front appearances, what you see is what you get. It helps to be honest with yourself and self aware so you know what resonates with your audience. They (your audience) come to you because they see some of themselves in you. Not every video is gonna take off, but you have a better chance of having successful videos and engagement if you give your audience what they like. If you reply and engage with them enough, they will tell you what they want.
(P.S..It’s bad enough that a church recognizes me as a reverend. It really is, damn. If you just knew what I really think about organized religion right now.
Not gonna be your baby momma/mother to your kids because I reached a million views on YouTube. Y’all silly and no thank you. Nope.
Fellas take it elsewhere. That’s something I’m not down for. I don’t care about what you think I look like. I’m not into my own hype, and take it with a grain of salt. I’ll celebrate a million views definitely, but I’m more protective of my peace, mental health, emotional health and energy, and none of you gonna get access to me saying shit like that…
Andddd remember folks. I’m the same girl that’s your cousin or you met in school (or I may not remember where we met, but hey I blame the Tequila for that baha). I take a shit like everyone else and I make mistakes. Lets breathe and chill out about the millions of views (my dms is a scary place right now geezer whis)
). With the right audience and strategies anyone on this Facebook can do the same thing, and you gotta keep that shit in its proper perspective. I have a tendency to be down to earth, and I have too many YouTubers peeps that are on an arrogant path (that’s their decision), and you need people around you to check you when necessary. I keep a level head, and I’m asking you to do the same. Chill loves.
Speaking of this
#5. Not every video or music video is gonna go viral or get tons of views. I’m not overly pushy my music or product(s) on every video I post.
I do post links, but my audience can go to my music/products if they want to. For many of my videos, it’s literally me having a conversation in the comment section. Not pushing anything. As creators, we want people to buy our things/music/products/engage but we don’t take the time to get to know them.
I posted the food in the hospital for one post (I’m a sucker for their hashbrowns and eggs, yummy.) . In another, I posted this California vegan pizza bowl I was eating. This has nothing to do with my music or selling something. No one wants that cheesy salesman’s/woman’s vibe. Sometimes you just want to relax and watch a video without someone trying to sell you something. My audience knows I’m posting my food videos because I’m a goofball and I’m a giver, no ulterior motives. And I find when I give, give, give, give, and then give a little more, they are more open to a video about a sale video/music video, because they know I plan on giving away way more free content (i.e. food or something else). If your intentions are in the right place, it will work out one way or the other. I take a lot of risks when it comes to YouTube and other areas of my life (like fitness, nature, finances, etc). With YouTube especially I took the risks and it worked out. (Currently getting my other channels the same way…stay tuned for that.
)
I like making people laugh despite what’s happening in my life, so the squirrel communication specialist convos will continue and of course the food vids…bahaha. My other dream gigs are eating donuts Krispy Kreme donuts, Urban Coal House Pizza, Frisch’s Big Boy, and……wait for it…hugging toilet seats and telling them they are appreciated.(hey everyone can’t be an engineer, surgeon, have fancy titles so thank you for going along with my jokes..appreciate you for liking my accomplishment of talking with squirrels).
#6. People lie on me, believe the shit if you want. People lie on me when I ask/asked for help. Some people lie/lied when I wanted friendships and safety through hard times at different periods throughout my entire my life. So I tell you what…
If you want to believe the lies and gossip, go ahead. I’m to the point in my existence where if a person thinks that 1+1 is 5, go ahead with your bad self. What other people say and think about me is none of my business.
And I get constant reminders of why it’s safer to face difficult and cruel seasons alone. (If you don’t hear from me sometimes, dont take it personally. I sometimes don’t reveal how I feel because I dont want to get called a slacker, moocher or made fun of. I dont want to make the situations worst or stomach additional pain. Being the only child it’s super easy for me to turn the world off. I’ll go into nature where there is no wifi or cell phone reception in an heartbeat.)
#6a. Anddd bc I dont ask for help (usually) because I dont want to bother or burden or get lied on. (I know that can be bad in certain scenarios, but go along with my story so I can get my point across. And being lied on will happen anyways, and I can’t worry about it).
But it forced me to problem solve on my own by learning how to mix and master my own songs to release songs quicker. I gotta create content a year in advance bc I’m not sure how I’ll feel at different periods (and with being out for 6 to 8 weeks or 4 to 6 months at different phrases of my life, that’s a long time to keep your audience waiting…sometimes that gets tricky to navigate but I’ll figure it out one way or the other.) In this case, the problem was that I wasn’t getting views on my channels, so I found my own solutions (and still finding other solutions that work). It boils down to making my own connections and my own way.
#7. I’m going to stop here (I’m missing a lot but this is long enough). I have some other theories on why this happened….and I’m riding the wave. Everyone’s path to success is different, and this is mine.
If you supported me up close and afar from the beginning, thank you loveees. If you getting to know me, welcome aboard and I hope you stick around for foodie shenangians. This is long, so if you made it to the end of this you a trooper. Thanks for the million views on my channel(s), that’s absolutely crazy to me.
Go BCHS Trojans & Go Hoosiers!
Love ya and be safe out here.
I do not miss Purdue, the Catholic Church, or most of the things I used to be associated with anymore because I had to detach for my well being. For years I cared, you gonna see what it’s like now I don’t. The distance I give when I don’t care is cold. I literally don’t care about anything associated with them anymore.
It’s 2022 at the time of this writing, but by the time you read it, it will be 2023. I had to write a ton of content ahead of time to stay consistent despite what’s happening. 🔥🙌
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