How To Actually Start a YouTube Channel (PewDiePie Advice)

In this blog post, we look into PewDiePie's timeless advice...

• Why expensive equipment isn’t the solution

• How standing out matters more than gaming the algorithm

• What personality means in building an audience

• Why YouTube success is a marathon, not a sprint

• How to protect yourself from bad deals and fake allies

Start With What You Have: Equipment Doesn’t Make the Channel

Most YouTubers get stuck here. They invest in high-end mics, cameras, and lights before they’ve even uploaded a video. PewDiePie calls this out directly: don’t fall into the trap.

He started with a broken mic on a pair of Razer headphones and that worked fine. The truth? It takes practice to make good videos. No gear will give you an audience if you don’t have content worth watching.

Find Your Difference: Why Doing What Everyone Else Does Fails

PewDiePie’s early Call of Duty videos didn’t take off even though he thought they were better than what big creators were making. That’s the key insight: copying what's popular won't get you noticed.

It wasn’t until he started doing horror Let’s Plays (a totally new genre at the time) that things worked out for him. Audiences want new angles, fresh voices, something they haven’t seen a thousand times. Stand out, or stay stuck!

Stop Chasing the Algorithm: Channel Longevity Comes from Connection

Yes, the YouTube algorithm can push your video to millions. But if people don’t care about you, they won’t stick around. PewDiePie argues that personality and not trends is what builds a loyal following.

You’re not just a content machine. You’re a person talking to another person through a screen. If people like you, they’ll come back. If you’re just chasing trends or trying to manipulate the system, you’ll burn out and disappear fast.

YouTube is 24/7: Treat It Like a Job or Burn Out Trying

PewDiePie shares the honest truth: YouTube is not a 9-to-5. It’s always on your mind: stats, comments, reactions. That’s why having boundaries and systems is crucial.

Separate work from life. Get an office if you can. Set your own expectations and respect them. If you treat YouTube casually, your results will be casual too.

Market Yourself But Do It Respectfully

Getting your first 100 subscribers is the hardest part. PewDiePie admits he used to send private messages to commenters on similar channels (embarrassing, but it worked).

But he also warns against spamming comment sections or begging for shoutouts. Even a shoutout from him didn’t guarantee lasting success for others it only helped if their content deserved it.

If you're going to market yourself, do it with humility and value.

Watch Out for Toxic People

The YouTube world is full of manipulators and fake friends. PewDiePie emphasizes: cut out toxic people quickly. He also warns against signing with networks too early. They often take a large cut of your revenue and give nothing in return especially if you’re a small YouTuber. These deals are rarely worth it anymore.

Instead:

• Get a lawyer before signing anything

• Get an accountant as soon as you’re earning

• Own your content and protect your future

Do It For the Right Reasons

The final and most important advice? Do YouTube because you love it and not because you want money or fame.

If you don’t enjoy making videos, you’ll quit the moment it gets hard. But if you make content you genuinely care about, others will care too.

That’s how you win, not overnight, but over time.

PewDiePie's Checklist

If you’re serious about YouTube, here’s PewDiePie’s no-BS checklist:

• Start with what you’ve got

• Stand out instead of fitting in

• Focus on personality, not hacks

• Treat YouTube like the real job it is

• Avoid toxic people and shady contracts

• Market yourself without being annoying

• And most importantly, enjoy the process

You won’t just grow faster but you will also stay longer. Play it for the long game with passion, and you might just succeed!