How I Got 1 Million Views on a Video in Just One Week
Last week, something amazing happened. One of my YouTube Shorts hit 1 million views in just under a week. It only took me two minutes to record, and it was a spontaneous, funny moment that I couldn’t resist sharing. Here’s how it all came together and what I learned from it.
The Video: A 10-Second Clip of Pure Fun
The video itself was super simple—just 10 seconds long. It was filmed at a school event where parents were racing against each other, and in the midst of the chaos, there was a grandpa outrunning all the dads. It was hilarious and unexpected. The race was full of the usual fun and competitiveness you’d expect, but the granddad stole the show with his speed and energy. It was clean, funny content that anyone could enjoy, and I knew right away that it was a moment worth sharing.
The Title and Hashtags: Keep It Simple
I didn’t overthink the title—I just called it “Parents Race Prank.” It was straightforward and got the point across. As for hashtags, I used regular ones that come up when you search for funny or trending hashtags on YouTube, like #funny, #parentsrace, and #prank. Sometimes, simple really works best.
The Result: 1 Million Views and 100 New Subscribers
In just one week, the video blew up and hit 1 million views. As a new channel that’s not even two months old, this was a huge boost. I also gained 100 new subscribers from this one video alone. Plus, I got the chance to promote my new book by linking it in my bio.
What I Learned
While hitting 1 million views felt like a massive win, I quickly learned there’s a long way to go before monetizing my channel. To qualify for the YouTube Partner Program, you need at least 1,000 subscribers, 4,000 watch hours, and consistent engagement. From what I’ve read, once you’re eligible, every 10,000 views can earn you anywhere between $10 to $20. So while I’m still far from that, this video gave me a great starting point.
The Formula for Success
What worked for me this time around was:
Capturing the Moment: I was in the right place at the right time, and I recorded something that was genuinely funny.
A Simple Title: The title was easy to understand and matched the content perfectly.
Using Relevant Hashtags: I didn’t get too fancy here—just used trending, funny hashtags that people were already searching for.
Sharing Content That Resonates: The video was something everyone could enjoy, whether they were parents or just enjoyed lighthearted content.
What’s Next?
Going forward, I plan to stick to this formula for future videos. I’ll keep it simple, find funny, relatable moments to capture, and make sure I’m using the right tags and titles. With enough consistency, I’m hoping to keep growing the channel, hitting that 3 million view mark, and eventually monetizing my content.
It’s exciting to think that something as quick and spontaneous as a 10-second video can lead to so much growth. Now, it’s all about staying consistent and having fun with it.