Start a YouTube Channel Without any Regrets

You rigged up your iPhone, scored a decent mic on Amazon Prime day and now after weeks of procrastination … you’re finally ready to launch your new YouTube channel. You’ve put enough pressure on yourself already, so stop overthinking it. Maybe you’ve already searched the web or binged guru videos about how to crush it with your channel. 

But you’re still stuck, finger twitching over the record button. Waiting until next week. Stop that.

I’ve looked through r/NewTubers for a while and collected this list of the Top 5 Youtuber Regrets. R/NewTubers is quite a supportive community, so they not only shared their YouTube mistakes and regrets, but also shared how to avoid & overcome them.

But first, why is now a great time to start your YouTube channel? Obviously, sooner is better.

But YouTube frequently changes its algorithm and right now new channels are being bumped and given a good shot. After all, more creators makes for a more engaging platform and keeps viewers on the site.

Starting a YouTube channel is exciting, but many creators look back and realize they made common YouTube mistakes that slowed their growth. Here are the top 5 👇

1. “I waited until my videos were perfect”

Many new YouTube creators waste time and effort trying to match the production quality of big channels right away. One creator admitted they spent weeks tweaking edits instead of publishing and learning from feedback. It’s not unusual for newbie editors to spend so much time on a video that they actually start to hate it. 

Or simply convince themselves that it’s never going to be good enough to publish and trash the whole project. This is a spiral of doom, not a sustainable YouTube channel growth strategy!

The truth? YouTube’s algorithm rewards consistency over polish. Early videos from now-successful creators were far from perfect — they improved over time. Start with the skills you have, focus on high-value content ideas that you’re passionate about. Then let audience feedback plus your own editing experience push your production quality up. 

How to avoid the perfection trap:

1. Focus on improving one skill or element of your content per video. It may be the thumbnails, the hook, your tone in front of the camera. Make each upskill a brick in your road to success.

2. Set a release schedule and try your best to stick to it. Yeah, life happens but don’t let procrastination from perfectionism stop you from shipping. Be realistic though. If you don’t have time to publish 2 videos per week, don’t make that your schedule!

2. “I didn’t realize YouTube was a full-time job”

Growing a YouTube channel takes far more time than most beginners expect. Scripting, recording, editing, and optimizing videos can eat up hours — especially when comparing yourself to pro creators. It will take you weeks or months to get a smooth workflow established and probably years to become efficient at executing it. 

If you want to put all your effort into the creative and community sides of your channel instead of the editing, talk with us about our professional production service 🤝

The regret isn’t the effort itself, but rather from the expectation that this high initial time commitment will be quickly rewarded with views and channel growth. To avoid burnout, set realistic boundaries, batch-create content, and treat your first 10-20 videos as practice. 

3. “I begged my friends to subscribe. And it backfired”

Asking friends to subscribe or like your videos might seem helpful, but it often hurts your channel’s performance. YouTube’s algorithm prioritizes watch time. If your kind Aunt simply opens your video, leaves a thumbs up and bounces off after 10 seconds, that does nothing for your channel retention rate!

Instead of chasing vanity metrics, focus on building a real audience that digs your content. Organic growth might be slower, but it pays off long-term.

This doesn’t mean you don’t talk about your YouTube channel among your social network. This is your new passion project, you should be stoked to share it!

4. “I treated my passion like a chore”

Some creators regret not niching down early, while others wish they’d stayed consistent when the algorithm favored them. A common regret? Losing motivation after a strong start. 

One creator quit after their first video hit 800 views, not realizing it was a sign of potential. Balance ambition with enjoyment: pick a sustainable niche, trust the process, and remember that even successful YouTubers started small.

Does being in front of the camera stress you out? Here are a few ideas to overcome that:

1. Do a bunch of live streaming. This is the full-immersion treatment. The more time you spend sharing & interacting in real-time with your audience, the more you’ll realize that they’re just normal people like you and there’s nothing to fear.

2. Launch a faceless channel. This is the polar opposite approach — but if you like motion graphics or are savvy with AI tools, it could be your best bet.

3. Always be getting b-roll. Okay, you don’t have to walk around with a selfie stick 24/7, but having more b-roll than you need is always good. Make it a normal part of your life and you’ll get rid of that ‘ugh I have to record something’ feeling.

5. “I listened to everyone except my audience”

New creators often waste time following generic tips that don’t fit their niche. One spent months on complex animated videos that flopped because their audience preferred simpler quick sketch style animations. 

Others drained energy debating with critics in Discord instead of creating. And of course you can burn many many hours watching YouTubers teach you how to also be a great YouTuber. 

The fix? Research your niche, ignore negativity, and let data — not opinions — guide your strategy.

Find a balance between learning from other creators plus experimenting with ideas inspired by them and getting feedback from your own audience as it grows.

Bonus: Consistency Trumps Regret

The most universal regret? Not posting enough or starting their channel earlier. Whether due to perfectionism, fear, or distractions, many wish they’d stuck to a schedule. YouTube rewards persistence. Even if your early videos aren’t flawless, each one teaches you something. Set a realistic upload cadence, track your progress, and keep refining.

YouTube success is a marathon. By learning from these common YouTuber regrets — prioritizing progress over perfection, avoiding fake engagement, and staying consistent — you’ll build a channel that grows sustainably. And have fun doing it!