Grow The Show Podcast - Episode 231 Summary: "Why Grow The Show is Back: The YouTube Algorithm Secret I Had to Learn the Hard Way"

Release Date: August 5, 2025

In Episode 231 of Grow The Show, host Kev Michael delves deep into the intricacies of the YouTube algorithm and shares his personal journey of rebranding his podcast to better understand audience growth dynamics. This episode is a treasure trove of insights for podcasters aiming to expand their reach through YouTube, emphasizing the importance of aligning content with the right audience.

1. Introduction: The YouTube Conundrum

Kev kicks off the episode by addressing a common frustration among podcasters: creating high-quality content that fails to garner views on YouTube.

[00:03] Kev Michael: "It's maddening. You wonder what gives. But get this. That killer video might not have failed because of bad content or even because of a bad title or thumbnail. It might fail because the right people never saw it."

He sets the stage by posing a critical question: Why do great YouTube episodes sometimes fall flat even with excellent packaging?

2. The Rebranding Experiment: From Grow The Show to Chief Audience Officer

Kev recounts his strategic decision to rebrand his podcast from Grow The Show to Chief Audience Officer in May of the same year.

• Purpose of Rebranding:
  • Expand Scope: Transition from solely podcast growth to broader audience and business growth topics.
  • Combat Burnout: After five years focused exclusively on podcasting, Kev sought to rejuvenate his passion by exploring related areas like email and social media marketing.

[02:45] Kev Michael: "So I was like, okay, cool, let me claim this term Chief Audience Officer."

• Unexpected Outcomes:
  • Despite personal excitement, the rebranding led to decreased engagement on YouTube.
  • The new content, though valuable, wasn't resonating with his existing subscriber base.

3. Decoding the YouTube Algorithm

Kev provides a comprehensive breakdown of how the YouTube algorithm prioritizes content distribution.

• Initial Distribution:
  • YouTube first showcases new videos to existing subscribers.
  • Engagement Metrics: Click-through rates and average view durations among these subscribers determine if the video gets broader exposure.

[09:15] Kev Michael: "YouTube shows that video to the people who have subscribed to your channel. They have opted into getting content from you on a regular basis."

• The Baselining Issue:
  • When content deviates from the established niche, the lack of engagement from subscribers signals YouTube to limit further visibility.
  • Consequently, even high-quality videos might languish unseen if they don't resonate with the core audience.

[11:30] Kev Michael: "Your video gets relegated to the basement and never shown again. So you don't grow and you don't reach new people."

4. Real-World Examples: Lessons from Mentors and Influencers

Kev illustrates his points with real-world scenarios, highlighting similar challenges faced by others in the content creation sphere.

• Mentor's Experience:
  • Ravi Abuvala, a mentor with over 100,000 YouTube subscribers, faced stagnation after shifting his content focus.
  • Despite his expertise, his high-level business content failed to gain traction on his established channel.

[13:50] Kev Michael: "He ran a test in the background where he published one of his previous high level business owner videos on a new fresh channel and it performed far better and reached the right people."

• Influencer's Crypto Pivot:
  • An established business influencer surged to popularity by diving into crypto content during its peak.
  • Post the crypto crash, attempts to revert to business growth topics resulted in negligible reach, demonstrating the algorithm's rigidity.

[16:00] Kev Michael: "The YouTube algorithm is not that smart. It is just, hey, this channel has X amount of subscribers. How does this video do with those subscribers?"

5. Strategic Takeaways: Understanding Your Audience

Kev emphasizes the critical importance of defining and consistently targeting your avatar—your ideal listener.

• Point A & Point B Framework:
  • Point A: The starting point or the current state of the audience.
  • Point B: The transformation or the benefit promised by the content.

[17:20] Kev Michael: "You need to be super clear behind what is the point A that your podcast reaches people at and what is the point B that your podcast is promising to them."

• Consistency is Key:
  • Maintaining a clear and consistent content focus ensures better alignment with subscriber expectations, enhancing engagement and algorithmic favorability.

6. Actionable Advice: Optimizing Your YouTube Strategy

Drawing from his experiences, Kev outlines actionable steps for podcasters seeking YouTube growth.

1. Define Your Avatar:

   • Clearly identify who your content is for and the transformation it offers.

2. Maintain Content Consistency:

   • Stick to topics that align with your defined avatar to ensure consistent engagement.

3. Consider Separate Channels:

   • If diversifying content significantly, it might be beneficial to create a new channel to cater to distinct audiences without alienating existing subscribers.

[18:30] Kev Michael: "If you're starting perfectly from scratch, great. Exclusively publish content that is for the same point A and that promises the same point B."

4. Audit Existing Content:
   • Assess which videos are performing well and understand the underlying reasons to replicate success.

7. Reverting Back: The Return of Grow The Show

Acknowledging the challenges faced during the rebranding, Kev announces his decision to revert to the original Grow The Show branding.

• Reasons for Reversion:
  • Subscriber Expectations: The majority of his audience remained interested in podcast growth.
  • Brand Confusion: The rebranding caused confusion, making it harder for listeners to find and recommend his content.

[19:50] Kev Michael: "I have no idea if or how often I'm going to be publishing content [as Chief Audience Officer], but anytime I have something to say or something to make that kind of falls outside of the realm of Grow the Show and podcast growth, I'm going to put it on the Chief Audience Officer feed."

• Future Plans:
  • Focus on Grow The Show: Continue delivering valuable podcast growth content.
  • Separate Channel for CAO: Test the Chief Audience Officer content on a new YouTube channel to better target a different audience segment.

8. Final Insights: Loving Your Craft

Kev concludes with a heartfelt reflection on his journey, emphasizing the importance of passion and adaptability.

[21:18] Kev Michael: "Super ironically, I had to take a step back from podcasting to fall back in love with it."

He underscores that taking strategic steps, even if they involve setbacks, can lead to renewed enthusiasm and better alignment with one's core mission.

9. Bonus Segment: Podcast Boutique Promotion

Before wrapping up, Kev highlights a valuable resource for podcasters:

• Podcast Boutique's "Record and Forget" Service:
  • Comprehensive Production Support: From audio and video editing to creating titles, thumbnails, descriptions, and show notes.
  • Enhanced Viewer Retention: They assist in scripting content and trimming episodes to boost engagement metrics crucial for YouTube growth.

[20:20] Kev Michael: "They help you script your content, cut the fluff out, shorten your episodes and increase viewer retention, which is the number one factor in YouTube growth right now."

Podcasters looking to streamline their production process and enhance their YouTube presence are encouraged to explore podcastboutique.com and mention Kev for personalized assistance.

Conclusion

Episode 231 of Grow The Show serves as both a cautionary tale and a strategic guide for podcasters navigating the complexities of YouTube's algorithm. Through his personal experiences and expert insights, Kev Michael provides a roadmap for aligning content with audience expectations, ensuring sustained growth and engagement on one of today's most pivotal platforms.