DERRAL EVES is a leading YouTube strategist, entrepreneur, speaker, coach, author, and executive producer. He is the founder of VidSummit, a premier conference for creators and industry leaders, and the author of The YouTube Formula. As co-founder and executive producer of The Chosen, he helped shape the audience and distribution strategy behind its global success. Derral has generated billions of views and advised top creators, brands, and media companies on audience growth, content strategy, and data-driven decision-making, turning attention into lasting impact.

A Word from the Author xi
Foreword by MrBeast xv
Introduction 1

Part I The Platform 9
1 Try, Fail, Analyze, Adjust: A YouTube History Lesson 11
2 The YouTube Ecosystem 17
3 The YouTube AI: A Deep Learning Machine 25
4 The Algorithm Breakdown 29

Part II The Possibility 41
5 Why Most YouTube Channels Fail to Succeed 43
6 Make Money Partnering with YouTube 59
7 The Real Opportunity of YouTube: Build Something Bigger 75
8 YouTube as Your Growth Engine 91
9 The Real Power of Influence: Making a Difference 113

Part III The YouTube Formula 121
10 The Data-Driven, Human-Centered Formula 123
11 Identify Your Audience: Viewer, Fan, Community 137
12 Recon and Research Before You Record 155
13 Winning the Click: The Power of Title and Thumbnail 161
14 The Repeatable Pattern of Powerful Content 187
15 The Format That Fits: Building the Right Content Strategy for Your Channel 205
16 The Content Strategy Behind Real, Consistent Growth 217
17 Podcasting for Discovery, Trust, and Growth 225
18 YouTube Shorts: The Fastest Way to Get Found on YouTube 237
19 Optimizing, Launching, and Promoting Your Video 249
20 YouTube Analytics: Understanding Human Feedback 259
21 Keeping the Viewer: The Science of Retention 271
22 Small Tweaks, Big Peaks 287
23 The Growth Loop: The Path to YouTube Success 301

Appendix: Free YouTube Formula Bonus Companion Course 309
About the Author 311
Acknowledgments 313
Notes 315
Index 317