Build a YouTube Strategy That Fits You (Not the Internet’s Whiplash Advice)

If YouTube advice has you dizzy—“Post daily Shorts!”, “No, long-form storytelling!”, “Go live!”, “Stop retention editing!”—you’re not alone. The truth? There’s no one-size-fits-all YouTube strategy. I’m Erika Vieira, a YouTube channel producer who’s helped 2,000+ creators across niches and seasons of life. The channels that win aren’t copying trends; they’re aligned to the creator’s lifestyle, niche, and monetization.

Ladies, class is in session.

The Real Problem With YouTube Advice

Advice videos are made by people with different goals, audiences, and business models. What grows a commentary channel won’t necessarily grow a beauty tutorial channel or a coaching business. When you follow tips that don’t fit your reality, you stall out in “small-channel hell,” burn out, or both.

I did a whole video on this (worth a watch!), but here’s the distilled framework I use with clients so you can build a profitable, sustainable, uniquely yours strategy.

1) Lifestyle: Design for Your Real Capacity

Be radically honest about your time.

• 5–7 hours/week? Focus on one high-leverage video that truly serves the viewer. No throwaways.

• 15–20+ hours/week? You can test formats, try two uploads/week, or add Shorts to accelerate discovery.

• Seasons matter. School schedules, launches, holidays—adjust output without abandoning your channel.

SEO angle: YouTube consistency is not “more at any cost.” It’s the right cadence you can sustain.

2) Niche & Content Type: Match Strategy to Audience Behavior

A how-to channel does not grow like true crime. Beauty, lifestyle, education, shopping, gaming—each niche has norms for video length, editing style, and publishing cadence. Some audiences love polished retention edits; others prefer casual, chatty commentary. Know the players in your niche, study formats that perform, and borrow intentionally.

Tip: Spend time as a viewer in your niche. Track what you binge, the hooks that keep you, and the packaging (titles/thumbnails) you click.

3) Monetization Plan: Let Money Strategy Guide Content Choices

Views aren’t the only KPI. Your money path shapes your content:

• Brand deals & affiliates: Topic selection and timing (sales seasons) matter more than raw view count.

• Courses/services/coaching: Prioritize trust-building how-to content that turns views into leads.

• AdSense-first creators: Lean into scalable formats and watch-time structures that maximize RPM.

I call it the YouTube Monetization Diamond: AdSense, brand deals, your own products/services, and affiliates. Choose your corners now—even if you won’t monetize immediately—and let that guide topics, CTAs, and upload rhythm.

Quick Self-Audit (do this today)

• Capacity: What can I truly commit to weekly for the next 90 days?

• Niche fit: How does content typically perform here (length, pacing, polish)?

• Money map: Which revenue streams am I optimizing for first?

• Support: Am I solo or can I batch, hire, or simplify to protect consistency?

• Relevance check: Which advice am I following that doesn’t apply to my niche, life, or goals?

Bottom Line

YouTube success lives at the intersection of authentic alignment + personalized strategy + smart monetization. Some of my clients scale with two videos a week; others crush it with one meticulously crafted upload. Both work—when they fit the creator.

If you’re tired of conflicting advice, build the plan that matches your life, your niche, and your money goals. That’s how you get unstuck and grow for the long haul.

FREE RESOURCES

• • Register for my FREE Masterclass

• • Download my FREE 32 Page Video Ideas E-Book!

YOUTUBE COURSES AND COACHING

• • CLICK HERE to get the Audience Attraction System Mini Course

• • YOUTUBE BOOTCAMP FOR WOMEN: Are you looking for support, coaching, community and proven systems that will help you achieve your YouTube goals? Join a unique, comprehensive YouTube growth bootcamp that will help you 10x your growth on YouTube and bring you the financial and creative freedom you want. Add your name to the YouTube Bootcamp waitlist so you are notified when space becomes available!

• • 1:1 YOUTUBE COACHING: Are you wanting to go full time on YouTube within 3 months or are already full time and are wanting to invest in 1:1 coaching for your YouTube channel for rapid growth? Click here to apply!

• • STRATEGIC CHANNEL MANAGEMENT: Are you a business looking for strategic channel management? Please email my team at support@erikavieira.net with Strategic Channel Management in the subject.

TRUSTED YOUTUBE TOOLS

• • Poppy AI: my new favorite AI tool for YouTube creators! Click here to get Poppy and use code ErikaV for $25 off plus theres a 30 day money back guarantee!

• • TubeBuddy: Click here to get TubeBuddy and use the code ErikasBuddy to get 20% off

• • Kajabi: All-in-one course creation platform I use and LOVE! Click here to get Kajabi.

RECOMMENDED YOUTUBE/PODCASTING EQUIPMENT:

• • Click here for my Amazon storefront to see my favorite products for YouTube creators

*Links include affiliate links

**Erika Vieira is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to www.amazon.com.

***Disclaimers: all opinions are my own, sponsors are acknowledged. Links in the description are typically affiliate links that let you help support the podcast at no extra cost.