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Oct 27, 2023
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5
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How Did MrBeast Start? An Inspiring Guide for Creators

Decoding MrBeast's YouTube Success: The Journey, Strategies, and Lessons for Aspiring Creators
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MrBeast’s net worth is estimated at a whopping $550 million. Otherwise known as Jimmy Donaldson, MrBeast is a YouTube phenomenon with over 375 million subscribers. He is known for his outrageous stunts, philanthropic efforts, and unique content style that have gained him immense success and recognition. 

We'll explore MrBeast's inspiring journey as a YouTube creator, look at his early beginnings, the strategies that propelled his channel to success - and find out what we can learn from his impressive career trajectory.

Who is MrBeast?

Jimmy Donaldson created his online persona as MrBeast in 2012, when he launched his YouTube channel. MrBeast initially struggled to create a following, posting uninspired gaming videos with haphazard thumbnails and titles. However, MrBeast learned quickly and pivoted his channel for the better, focusing on topics like estimating YouTubers' earnings from Adsense, which introduced his first viral format.

After gaining a modest following from his "Counting to 100,000" video, MrBeast's channel exploded with the #TeamTrees campaign. The campaign's goal was to raise $20 million to plant 20 million trees by 2020, and ended with MrBeast gaining over $22 million in donations and planting over 23 million trees within a year. This successful campaign solidified MrBeast's philanthropic efforts and popularity across his massive audience.

He is also known for videos where he can be seen giving away large sums of money, helping 1,000 blind people see for the first time, and putting on elaborate stunts like a real life Squid Game.

Apart from his philanthropic ventures, MrBeast has expanded his brand by venturing into entrepreneurship. He launched a merch store called Shop MrBeast, an online delivery-only restaurant called MrBeast Burger, and even co-founded a gamer snack brand called Feastables. MrBeast can be considered one of the most influential creators globally, with a worldwide audience, the most-watched YouTube channel in 2021, and the 2023 Streamy Creator of the Year. In November of 2022, MrBeast also became the most subscribed to individual YouTuber, surpassing the YouTuber/Twitch streamer Pewdiepie, who had held the title for almost a decade.

How Did MrBeast Start His Career?

MrBeast's YouTube career began humbly, uploading low-quality content with no specific focus. His early videos were mostly related to gaming, and he never paid much attention to his thumbnails or video titles. MrBeast would soon realize that consistency, experimentation, and audience targeting were crucial elements when creating a successful YouTube channel.

He started uploading videos about different YouTubers, expecting bigger views and more engagement. He then found that creating a community around his content was essential for a successful YouTube channel. He began targeting a younger audience's interests, and this change in direction proved beneficial with his views gradually increasing. MrBeast's channel truly gained attention with a viral video he posted in 2017 where he counted to 100,000. The video's concept was completely novel, which helped propel MrBeast's YouTube channel to new heights.

How Did MrBeast Grow His Channel?

  1. Staying Consistent: Consistency is crucial for content creators. MrBeast ensures he is releasing videos regularly, making his channel a “must-watch” for his audience. This keeps him in the forefront of their minds and has helped raise awareness of the channel, boosting views and subscriber numbers.
  2. Engaging with the Audience: MrBeast's unique content style invites his audience to participate, such as with the #TeamTrees campaign. He keeps his audience engaged by asking questions and inviting them to participate in challenges. This strategy fosters a sense of community and keeps the audience returning for more content.
  3. Collaboration with Other Creators: Collaborating with other creators and partnering with brands can increase a creator's reach and attract new audiences to their channels. His #TeamTrees and #TeamSeas campaigns, for example, were a collaboration with fellow Youtuber Mark Rober. MrBeast's collaborations bring new viewers to his channel, enhance the authenticity of his content, and keep his audience entertained.
  4. Taking Risks: MrBeast's content is both unconventional and exciting. His willingness to take risks by featuring outrageous stunts and grand acts of philanthropy boost views on his channel. It makes his audience feel involved in his challenges and also shows his willingness to take risks that could have negative personal outcomes, indicating his trust and commitment to his audience.
  5. Following Trends: MrBeast's content focuses on current events and trends, ensuring that his audience is kept up-to-date. By responding to trending topics and events, he demonstrates that he is aware of what is happening online, keeping his channel relevant and more entertaining. He also makes sure to stick to what the algorithm loves. He's used this skill after realizing how powerful it was once he had his first viral video.
  6. Diversifying: From the different types of videos he creates to his external charity efforts, merch offerings, and food ventures, MrBeast knows that one of the secrets to success is diversification. Content is one side of this, but promotions and merchandising are another; creating your own custom merch on an easy to use ecommerce site like Fourthwall is a great way to put your brand on high quality products that your fans can then purchase, use, and wear, helping promote you around the globe!
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MrBeast's success story is an excellent example of how a content creator can go from uploading random videos to achieving massive success by using the right techniques and platforms. One of those beneficial platforms could be Fourthwall - your all-in-one solution for content creators looking to launch their own websites, design and sell products, and offer memberships to supporters and fans!

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By joining Fourthwall and using the simple strategies outlined above, creators can diversify, elevate their brand, expand their reach, and create a lasting impact on their audience! Whether you want to launch your own website, sell physical products and digital goods in your own shop, launch your own mobile phone app, or link to all of your streaming sites and socials, Fourthwall can make all of this and more happen, with creator-friendly tools and templates and great customer service. And you can get started for free - try Fourthwall today!

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