Has this ever happened to you? You see an amazing video on YouTube that is getting a zillion views and you think, I should just do that! It works for them, it should work for me, right? Right?? Actually…. no. That’s now how it works. Imitating successful channels on YouTube can be tempting, but this approach can actually hinder your growth and be morally wrong.

Copying isn’t always a form of flattery. It can be actually be considered theft. But, the real danger is that it prevents you from unlocking your true potential, and worse, potentially lead you to burnout. So instead, we are going to teach you how steal ideas the RIGHT way.

Creator Spotlight

But first, I want to introduce you to Ivana Chapman. She has had an online fitness coaching business for 9 years and was just using ​her YouTube channel ​as a way to sell her courses. She always knew her target audience, but then one of her videos exploded and brought with it a lot of growth. Unfortunately, it was the wrong audience. This became a distraction for her, at first, as she began chasing that audience. But she quickly realized this was not the clientele that she wanted to work with. After listening to our podcast, she began shifting her focus back to the right target audience and meeting their needs. She is now having a lot more fun with her channel and getting more clients as well.

The Moral Dilemma

Mark Twain once said, “There is no such thing as an original idea.” Ecclesiastes 1:9b says, “There is nothing new under the sun.” However, the Bible also says, “Thou shalt not steal” Soo…… ??? Is it ok to copy another creator’s video? Is there a moral difference between stealing the whole script and stealing the idea?

This really is a growing problem that we are seeing on YouTube today. So many people are focusing too much on trying to replicate someone else’s style, videos, personality, thumbnails and design that they are missing out on growth and personally fulfillment as well. I understand the pressure. You see the growth of others and you want it for yourself. But you will never see the growth if you are not being yourself.

Monkey See, Monkey Do

Finding inspiration in others is great. We say all the time, the best musicians listen to the most music and the best creators watch the most YouTube. But there is a fine line between inspiration and imitation. Copying an entire video script is never going to be ok. But, there are ways of being inspired by another creators’ idea and making it your own. If you see an idea that you like, think, “How can I make this my own? What can I do to put my own spin on it? How can I make it more like me?” Then, give credit to where it’s due! You can say, that you saw this idea from Mr. Beast, but you’re going to do it like this instead and see what happens. People will love that!

If you are mimicking others, your channel will be boring. Your viewers are just seeing the same ideas and the same personality of bigger creators. You are just doing it done less well. Don’t try so hard to compete for success that you are losing your originality.

Think of the penny challenge. When Ryan Trahan started that it was a huge success because it was such a cool concept. But then everyone and their brother tried it and the idea became so overdone. So many of these creators ripped off his exact thumbnails, making viewers just scroll right past them all because it just became white noise.

A lot of people also copied Ryan Trahan’s Quietest Room Thumbnail:

Does that mean you can never wear an orange jumpsuit in your thumbnail? Can you not have stark contrasts in your thumbnail? Where is the line? We would say analyze the thumbnail that you like and see what draws you in. In this case, we would say the contrast in this thumbnail is amazing. The lack of busyness with the clear picture and the few words is fantastic. We also love the intrigue that is builds. Without seeing the title, we want to know what is happening here! Where is he and what is causing that anguish on his face?? These are the things you need to replicate in your thumbnail. – Not getting an ​orange jumpsuit shipped to your house.​

Authenticity

The important thing is to be authentic. The biggest creators out there aren’t trying to mimic anyone. They are just 100% themselves. Think of ​Peter McKinnon​, ​Casey Neistat​, ​Mr. Beast​, and ​Emma Chamberlin​. They are just doing their own thing and people love them for it.

Unfortunately, we often see the opposite. When we do one-on-one consultations, we get to know a creator through their channel. But then, so many times when they show up for the consultation, they are a total different person! We understand that being in front of the camera can be daunting. But relax and let people see the real you!

If you struggle with this, think about primal branding. What are the things that are true for you alone that you can work in. What are your creeds, rituals, and sacred words? Integrate those things into your content as much as possible. And if you’re still awkward in front of the camera, really focus in on your target audience. What is their name? What do they do? What do they want and need from your channel? Talk directly to them. Having a clear focus of who that person is and imagine them on the other side of the camera. This will help take you out of presenter mode and into a more conversational and authentic tone.

Credibility

When you watch a a creator copy another, it’s really hard to build trust. Being “youtubey” and super polished, feels fake. Viewers like the raw, natural person. If people tell you that you are different on YouTube, then that is a fail. If you don’t step into your true self and try to be someone else, you are going to lose views. Vulnerability draws people in. Originally is intriguing for your viewer.

Also, you will find that being yourself is going to be more life-giving to you as well. You are no longer trying to put on a mask or read a script. You’re just being yourself! When you drop something on camera and then laugh at yourself about it, your viewer is going to relate to that. Those are the parts that will build trust because you are letting your viewer see the real you, not just the polished, shiny on-camera version.

Copying the Right Way

Austin Kleon wrote a book called ​Steal like an Artist​. In this book, he talks about how to learn from others and imitate them in a way that is fully you, but with the elements that you have learned. Take a skill and copy it to a T just to learn it. But when you go to actually hit record, make it your own. Use it to create your own thing. Whether it’s editing skills or the technique someone uses to present their hook, you are adding the skills you learn from others to your tool belt.

Another tip would be to steal from many instead of steal from one. Look at a lot of YouTubers and how they are all doing a certain thing. Take your favorite pieces from all of them and combine it into a way that is truly you. Be a student while you watch YouTube. Pay attention to what you love and let it inspire you in your own content, while still being authentic to yourself.

For creators that have been on the platform a long time, try to copy yourself! What idea did you have 5 years ago that you can put a new spin on? How can you do it better today?

But to do all of this accurately, you need to know who you are. Define what you are really passionate about. Write down why you’re doing your channel in the first place and ​why you are presenting the information in the way that you are doing it. ​The more you focus on who you are and what makes you feel alive, the more you will be your most authentic self.

So, embrace inspiration and put your own twist on things. This is a great way to create genuine content that will attract a loyal following. By focusing on your passions, being persistent, and competing with yourself, you can find success and make a positive impact on the platform. Authenticity is the key to standing out and making a difference.

Power Tip

YouTube is adding a feature for shorts. The scrubber! You can now move around and go back or forth within shorts content. This is perfect for when your favorite creators flash a list super fast or when you just need to see that one part over and don’t want to wait through the entire short to play again.

Keep Changing Lives!

Tim Schmoyer

​YouTube ​. ​Instagram ​. ​Facebook ​. ​Twitter ​. ​Linked in​