My 90-Day YouTube Shorts Experiment: Trying to Build Brand Awareness for Free In 2023, I ran a small experiment to see if I could build brand awareness for my self defence business by posting two 15-second videos on YouTube Shorts for 90 days. No ads. No paid promotions.
Just organic reach. I shared the results of this experiment in a LinkedIn video at the time, but I never wrote a detailed blog post about it, until now. While the experiment was conducted in 2023, I think there are still some valuable lessons to share for anyone looking to get their brand in front of a wider audience even if YouTube's platform and algorithms have shifted over the years.
Here’s what I found after running the experiment for 90 days:
• 135,547 views
• Watch time: 473.5 hours
• Subscribers gained: 370
Seeing 135K views in 90 days definitely exceeded what I thought was possible, especially with no ad spend. The Highs So, what worked?
• The algorithm: YouTube Shorts seems to love consistency. Once I got into a regular posting rhythm, my videos started showing up on more feeds.
• Short-form content: 15-second videos are easy for people to watch, share, and engage with. Quick, digestible content works well when people are on the go.
• Keyword optimisation: Doing research into keywords and crafting the right titles really helped my videos find the right audience. It ensured they were visible to people actively searching for self defence tips.
• Timing: I did a lot of research into when to post my videos. I found Posting at 7 AM and 4 PM worked out better than I expected. These were peak times for my target audience men who were either heading to work or winding down after a long day on the building site, It felt like the perfect window to catch their attention.
• Self-defence content: People care a lot about safety. Offering quick, practical self defence advice definitely worked for me. It sparked engagement and made people more likely to share the content. The Lows Of course, not everything went perfectly.
• Consistency: I got to a slow start until I found what times, the thumbnails & titles my target market related too. Posting daily was key, but I noticed that if I skipped a day or posted late, my views dropped. The algorithm seems to like my regular content.
• The unpredictability of the algorithm: Some days my views spiked, and other days, they stagnated. It’s tough to predict exactly how things will go. What I Learned I went into this experiment with one clear goal: Can I build brand awareness for my self defence business for free ? . I wasn’t looking for viral fame or a huge pay check from the videos, I just wanted to see if I could get my brand in front of people, without spending a cent on ads. And yer I’m pretty happy with the outcome.
The most interesting part? After my 90-day test, I decided to take the videos down. I wanted to keep it contained to the experiment and didn’t want them hanging around indefinitely. But even after removing the videos, the results stuck with me—370 new subscribers and over 135K views is a lot of organic reach for zero ad spend.
Why Share This Now?
I initially shared the results on LinkedIn in 2023 in a video, but I never wrote a blog post about the experiment until now. So why am I sharing it now? Even though YouTube may have changed since 2023, the lessons I learned are still valuable for anyone trying to build brand awareness or reach an audience without paying for ads.
I still think there are key lessons to take away about consistency, targeting, timing , thumbnails and when it comes to YouTube content. Plus, this gives me the chance to reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and what I would do differently next time.
Would I do this again? Definitely. But next time, I’d focus more on experimenting with different types of content to see what else resonates. If you’re considering trying something similar for your business, or any other project keep in mind that things on YouTube may have changed since I ran this experiment in 2023.
The results could vary depending on shifts in the platform’s algorithm, trends, and other factors. Always take that into account when experimenting with your own strategies.
Disclaimer: This is not professional advice. The results of this experiment were based on my specific content and timing. Your experience may differ depending on your niche, audience, and other variables.
My results from Youtube Channel
