YouTube Creators Hub Podcast Summary
Episode: "Nobody Cared Until I Did This” - Kieren Westwood on YouTube Growth
Host: Dusty Porter
Release Date: August 8, 2025

Introduction to Kieren Westwood

In this engaging episode of the YouTube Creators Hub podcast, host Dusty Porter welcomes Kieren Westwood, a seasoned writer, editor, and YouTube content creator. Kieren brings a wealth of experience with nearly 40,000 subscribers and over 170 videos on his channel, Kieren Westwood Writing. His content, which ranges from fiction writing to educational material, has been recognized and utilized in classrooms worldwide.

Origin Story of the Channel

Kieren shares the heartfelt journey behind his YouTube channel. Initially an introverted writer feeling isolated after years of solitary writing, he sought interaction with fellow writers. The pandemic provided the perfect backdrop for him to venture into YouTube, aiming to create a vlog to showcase his writing process and connect with a broader audience. However, he swiftly pivoted to creating educational content, focusing on sharing effective writing strategies that could assist others.

Kieren Westwood [04:15]: "I'm quite introverted, so this kind of thing was way out of my comfort zone to start with. But I quickly settled into it after a while and something that I really love doing now."

Overcoming Initial Barriers and Imposter Syndrome

Kieren candidly discusses the unexpected challenges he faced when starting his channel. Despite having scripts and equipment ready, he struggled with a "physical barrier" that prevented him from speaking. This internal struggle was a significant hurdle that he managed to overcome through repetition and perseverance.

Kieren Westwood [06:19]: "It was a mixture of exposure, first of all, just doing it more and just getting past that and manually overriding it."

He addresses the pervasive issue of imposter syndrome, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and framing his advice as personal experiences rather than prescriptive solutions. This approach helped him build trust with his audience without positioning himself as an unattainable expert.

Defining and Narrowing Down the Niche

Initially aiming to showcase his writing journey, Kieren realized the necessity of providing value beyond personal storytelling. He shifted towards offering practical writing advice, focusing on helping writers enjoy the craft and write with purpose. This intentional narrowing of his niche differentiated his channel from others that often emphasize publication success or financial gains.

Kieren Westwood [09:48]: "I'm saying if you want to write and enjoy what you're writing and get to a place where your voice as a writer feels authentic and you enjoy your writing. This is the channel for you."

Growth Strategies: SEO and Thumbnails

Kieren delves into his strategies for optimizing video reach through SEO and thoughtful thumbnail design. While he admits that his thumbnails may not be the most effective, he prioritizes clarity and authenticity over sensationalism. His titles and thumbnails are crafted to clearly convey the video’s subject without misleading the audience.

Kieren Westwood [16:32]: "For me, the biggest thing and the thing I always bear in mind when I'm trying to create a thumbnail is clarity is above all else."

He acknowledges the challenge of standing out in a crowded space and emphasizes the importance of evoking curiosity within split seconds to improve click-through rates.

Content Planning and Creation Process

Kieren outlines his methodical approach to content creation, heavily relying on planning tools like Milanote. His process involves brainstorming, drafting, revising, and rehearsing scripts to ensure clarity and coherence in his videos. He balances structured scripting with spontaneous ad-libbing to maintain a natural delivery.

Kieren Westwood [18:33]: "I will make a brief sort of brain dump there. I have a few lines about what the heart of the video is going to be all about and then anything else that I can think of immediately at the time."

Managing Burnout and Maintaining Consistency

Addressing a common concern among creators, Kieren shares his strategies for preventing burnout. He emphasizes the importance of a sustainable upload schedule, limiting his content to two videos a month to ensure quality and personal well-being. By focusing solely on YouTube and avoiding other social media platforms, he maintains a manageable workload.

Kieren Westwood [21:11]: "I'm not on any other social media. I don't post to Instagram or TikTok or anything really, because when I found I tried to incorporate that, I was just straight burnout immediately."

His structured daily routine, where YouTube serves as a rewarding creative outlet after completing other commitments, further aids in maintaining balance.

Monetization Strategies

Kieren discusses the various revenue streams his channel supports. Primarily, he earns through AdSense, brand deals, and his editing services. His YouTube presence significantly drives traffic to his editing business, allowing him to build trust with clients through his free content.

Kieren Westwood [26:19]: "A lot of my customers come to me from YouTube and they'll drop me a note to say, I love the videos and the videos are really helpful."

Despite having multiple income avenues, Kieren maintains a cautious approach, selectively accepting brand deals to ensure alignment with his values and audience trust.

Tools and Resources

To stay organized and efficient, Kieren relies on Milanote, which helps him manage tasks, plan content, and keep track of deadlines. This tool is instrumental in preventing burnout by ensuring he always has a backlog of ideas and structured plans.

Kieren Westwood [28:47]: "I definitely lean on Milanote quite a lot. I have the homepage on my Milanote account is a list of seven or eight to-do lists with dates and alerts on them."

Goals and Future Plans

Kieren aspires to achieve significant milestones, including reaching the 100k subscriber mark and fully transitioning to content creation as his primary occupation. The recent layoff from his part-time job has accelerated his commitment to YouTube, positioning it as his main source of income.

Kieren Westwood [29:33]: "The main one was going full time with being as a writer and editor and a YouTube creator, as it happens. That's been thrust upon me at this point."

Advice to Aspiring Creators

Concluding the episode, Kieren imparts invaluable advice to those embarking on their content creation journey. He underscores the importance of authenticity, encouraging creators to be genuine and build trust with their audience by sharing both strengths and vulnerabilities.

Kieren Westwood [30:31]: "Be real, be authentic. Because you have to build, or I've found that you have to build a foundation of authenticity."

He warns against the pitfalls of "fake it till you make it," advocating for a transparent and honest approach to content creation to foster long-term audience relationships.

Conclusion

Kieren Westwood's candid discussion offers a comprehensive look into the realities of growing a YouTube channel, balancing creative pursuits with personal well-being, and building authentic connections with an audience. His journey serves as an inspiring blueprint for aspiring creators seeking to navigate the complexities of online video creation.

Notable Quotes:

• Kieren Westwood [04:15]: "I'm quite introverted, so this kind of thing was way out of my comfort zone to start with. But I quickly settled into it after a while and something that I really love doing now."

• Kieren Westwood [06:19]: "It was a mixture of exposure, first of all, just doing it more and just getting past that and manually overriding it."

• Kieren Westwood [09:48]: "I'm saying if you want to write and enjoy what you're writing and get to a place where your voice as a writer feels authentic and you enjoy your writing. This is the channel for you."

• Kieren Westwood [16:32]: "For me, the biggest thing and the thing I always bear in mind when I'm trying to create a thumbnail is clarity is above all else."

• Kieren Westwood [21:11]: "I'm not on any other social media. I don't post to Instagram or TikTok or anything really, because when I found I tried to incorporate that, I was just straight burnout immediately."

• Kieren Westwood [26:19]: "A lot of my customers come to me from YouTube and they'll drop me a note to say, I love the videos and the videos are really helpful."

• Kieren Westwood [28:47]: "I definitely lean on Milanote quite a lot. I have the homepage on my Milanote account is a list of seven or eight to-do lists with dates and alerts on them."

• Kieren Westwood [30:31]: "Be real, be authentic. Because you have to build, or I've found that you have to build a foundation of authenticity."

For more insights and expert guidance on elevating your YouTube channel, subscribe to the YouTube Creators Hub podcast and stay tuned for future episodes.