100% true. Devastating impact on organic growth. Not only that when you contact tech support not a single person can support the youtube promotions. 3 months I was back and forth between KZread and Google ads support - both sides claiming the other one takes care of it! Completely disorganized.

@CarlBroadbent

16 күн бұрын

Sorry to hear you had the same poor results as me

Thanks for this helpful video Carl. I'm sorry to hear about both your YT channels, but I'm definitely still here watching if that helps!

This promotion has absolutely killed my channel! Before I started using it, I would get organic traffic, comments and genuine interest. Now my channel is dead, I hope it recovers soon, the only thing that's being pushed is my KZread shorts, I never ran any promotions on my shorts. Hopefully my shorts will help get my channel out of this rut... Do not use the promotion feature!

@CarlBroadbent

2 ай бұрын

Sorry to hear that

@hazel_eyed_rose

2 ай бұрын

@@CarlBroadbent It's ok, I'm not giving up on my channel. I have faith that it will recover, in time 🙏

@rainscratch

Ай бұрын

Same here - got a whole lot of 'views on the promoted videos' and '6k new subscribers' 98% from India which I did NOT select as a territory for the promotion. After spending over $600 on the feature the entire channel tanked, with no new organic views or subs and only a few videos getting any views at all (those that were already organically healthy). New uploads lucky to get 50 views in 3 months, and that's mainly from friends I send email updates to.

@CarlBroadbent

Ай бұрын

@@rainscratch that’s so bad. Sorry to hear that

@liveandgrow

Ай бұрын

@@rainscratchexactly the same here. I fear my channel is now totally dead.

Thank you so much for your insight and for sharing your real results. I hope they start allowing us to select our audiences with this in studio promotion option.

Wow, this couldnt have been better timing. I was just exploring the promote feature and thinking of trying it...I think I'll hold off for a bit until I can dig deeper. Thanks for sharing, Carl.

@CarlBroadbent

6 ай бұрын

Stay well clear

@theodoreramwell

6 ай бұрын

I had the same issue with my channel - stay well away from Promotions!

Your videos are showing on my KZread homepage 💪🏼

@CarlBroadbent

6 ай бұрын

👌👏👏👏👏👏

I have heard the same. Paid promotions gives a spike in subscribers but those subsribers may not be even interested in the niche or returning viewers. Plus any watch time doesn't go towards monetization either for those wanting to reach their goals for that. I did watch a video where someone said they had the watch hours but not enough subscribers for monetization so he used the promotion to get monetized for the 1000 subscribers needed but that is about the only good thing I have seen someone using that for. Plus another thing I have heard some complain about is that some of the subscribers and views from the promotion ads were bots and KZread ended up punishing their channel for it and even demonetizing them. But how can anyone control who views their channel from ads. That is KZread that has control over that.

@CarlBroadbent

6 ай бұрын

On the travel channel it did recently get monetized and they used and were happy with the subscribers from the paid promotion so it helped with that. But the videos still get little traction and views

@juliadawn33

6 ай бұрын

@@CarlBroadbent I couldn't remember the term used so I had to look it up. Regarding those that said they were restricted or demonetized they called it the invalid traffic bug. I remember watching a lot of creators talking about it. But a lot did outright say they did not pay for fake traffic from outside sources. The only thing they did differently was pay for promotional ads. And because KZread does have a problem with bots some of that traffic could have been fake traffic and subscribers which creators can't control and would set off a red flag with KZread. It's a big problem on KZread right now I think and has been for awhile. Also KZread is revealing very little about the issue and even how to fix it and ad companies have also been complaining about bots clicking on their ads as well.

@rainscratch

Ай бұрын

I'd replace 'Some' were bots to ALL were.

@Quay775

Ай бұрын

@@rainscratchbro you channel sucks

When you bought that traffic, Google also used it to test how the people react to your videos. If they react well, they keep the traffic as organic, if not, you are screwed. Google always does these tests, you receive a bump in traffic just for testing purposes.

@Nextcreator999

5 ай бұрын

I dont understand why people subscribed when they wont watch the videos. Is it YT is forcing them to subscribe? what's going on under the hood.

@rainscratch

Ай бұрын

The promise was that by buying a promote feature the system would target your niche audience. I doubt very much that happens, and there is no mechanism for you to elect what sort of audience you are appealing to. Just a whole lot of random bot views that only last the minimum 30 seconds or so, then click off - telling the algorithm that your content sucks thus it won't get promoted organically. My entire channel tanked after paying for this service.

I tried this garbage also. I have a new channel all about bedtime stories for adults to help them sleep. My subscriber count went up, but my viewing hours towards getting monetized "didn't count." I should have read the fine print. And I was also getting people who were not my target audience; they simply came, subscribed, and went away. What an absolute waste of money KZread's promo is. Live and learn I suppose. Good luck with your channel. Cheers.

@CarlBroadbent

2 ай бұрын

Sorry to hear that. Hope my video warns people in future

@rainscratch

Ай бұрын

I've heard most of the new subs and views are bots out of India. They only view the required 30 secs to register a view and then click off. This tells the algorithm that your viewers don't like your content and your channel rating plummets - thus no new recommendations.

Wow, that's tough. Thanks for your testimony.

@CarlBroadbent

2 ай бұрын

You’re welcome. Hope it helped

Great video mate. It seems that KZread is trying to force an economy like a heroine dealer. You'll get to the point where you don't get your fix (ie any views) until you pay to push the content. You may recall that I mentioned before Christmas that your channel hadn't been showing in my feed for quite some time. I actually thought you'd stopped making content because you had other projects like the AG events. I think it's now clear what's been going on

@CarlBroadbent

6 ай бұрын

100% hence why I’m taking my audience to a private platform and working with people 121 were I know they will see my content and get the help and answers they need

I think most of the drop off could be equated to dying interest in the niche blog racket

@RyanMcLeanau

6 ай бұрын

I’d agree with this. Niche sites dropped massively since the HCU

@TortoiseCashFlow

6 ай бұрын

Yes many shifted to KZread I believe.

@MallorcaUnderTheSun

6 ай бұрын

HCU is punishing spammy sites with rubbish no-valuable factory-produced content.. .I don't think this is a bad thing tbh.

@TortoiseCashFlow

6 ай бұрын

@@MallorcaUnderTheSun It's also targeting original content that's well researched and comes from personal experience. Maybe they attempted to go after spammy content, but they ended up hurting everyone. I can't even find any good results on Google anymore, it's very hard. I find myself typing in my question followed by "reddit" because everything else is garbage.

@CarlBroadbent

5 ай бұрын

What about then personal websites that people have put their heart and sole into for years that got destroyed ? How is that a good thing. The spammy sites are thriving right now. Google just got it wrong and is urgently trying to fix it. But they can’t keep up with advancements in AI and Parasite site

Don't understand how YT creates this tool to help and then it winds up hurting channels in the end. My subscribers shot up and is continuing to grow but I feel like I'm being scammed in someway not to mention that most of my subs are coming from Bangladesh and Pakistan when I don't believe that my content, which covers a variety of topics mostly Independent Music and Paranormal, would interest those places. Sucks cause I just want to make good content and get monetized like most on KZread but, do it in a legit, respectful way. Thanks for the information Carl!

@CarlBroadbent

5 ай бұрын

Yeah it’s a shame it just doesn’t share your content with the right people. As long as it hasn’t done any long term harm then at least you might be nearer to getting monetized. Good luck

@C73Eternal

5 ай бұрын

@@CarlBroadbent Thank You very much Carl, we'll see what happens but the tool "they" created should help not hurt. Good luck to you and your endeavors brotha!!!

@SECRETPURPOSE

Ай бұрын

Everybody watches American content though. You'd be surprised. I'm out in Malaysia now in the middle of a bunch of Malaysians who speak Malaysian. What's on their smartphone screens? Americans talking About all sorts of "random" niche stuff

Thanks for the heads up .

@CarlBroadbent

2 ай бұрын

Welcome

Man, hearing that your budget busted without your permission is....nuts. Especially by almost 3x. As far as the traffic loss, since it was a travel channel, any thoughts if the time of year had anything to do with it? Granted, that's a leap to consider since your traffic was crushed to almost nothing, but maybe could be a small part of the issue? Great video.

@CarlBroadbent

6 ай бұрын

I agree the seasonality has something to do with it but I’ve heard travel sites has a gradual drop. I lost 90% of traffic in one week after HCU. It is slowly grow again but as you say that’s probably travel shoppers starting to look for holidays. The growth is only 3-4%compared to a 90% lost

KZread promotion is worst. They are killing channels which are paying them, irony !!

Ive been using this promotion and it is a compleat JOKE, It has messed my channel up! You are just basically gambling your money, NEVER AGAIN! Stay clear from that, Don't make the same mistake that I have done!

@CarlBroadbent

2 ай бұрын

I agree

Its time people grow there channel organically.. Its slow but better than the paid version where KZread blows it up in your face later

@CarlBroadbent

3 ай бұрын

Organic is always best

It certainly doesn't look good for the promotions feature. I am sorry that you have gone through that on 2 channels. Heartbreaking after all the work.

@CarlBroadbent

6 ай бұрын

Thanks Christine ❤️

im debating using the Promotion tab for my channel... i saw your video organically if that helps.... not sure if i should after watching this video.....i know they had updated it so you can target your audience now

@CarlBroadbent

6 ай бұрын

That sounds better. But it’s risky after seeing my results

Wait, did the promo help with monetization or were you monetized before you started using it? And I see you reflecting back to how much money each video has made. Does it mean that the promotion has brought back some of the money you spent? Sorry about the traffic dying down

@CarlBroadbent

3 ай бұрын

It’s helped. I didn’t have 1000 subs

@tha_westguy

3 ай бұрын

I appreciate your response

I have always been scared of promoting videos as people say once you stop putting money into it your channel goes down hill. I do also think people are a lot less interested in doing blogs right now and that is causing traffic to drop. Mainly because of Google not so helpful update. I know my traffic has tanked for all of those videos...and websites.

@CarlBroadbent

6 ай бұрын

Yeah organic growth is best. There’s never a short cut

do you think that they deliberately control your channel growth so you will be force to promote again and again?

@CarlBroadbent

3 ай бұрын

Possibly yes

@JungGung

3 ай бұрын

@@CarlBroadbent thanks...then i will not use their promotion...lucky that i saw your video...im planning to promote...but now...

My brother had the exact same experience!!!! Sounds like a YT scam to take money

Curious if your channel has recovered in views somewhat, 4 months later.

@CarlBroadbent

5 ай бұрын

Not really. About the same.

@therealmindset4success

3 ай бұрын

I am having the same problem also it so heart breaking

If the promote feature worked as it is said to work, I and I'm sure most channels would continue paying to promote new videos. Since I got screwed and my entire channel tanked after paying hundreds of $$$ - I realized it was not genuine views and subs. Therefore I won't be paying again. Besides they started asking me for ID to continue after I got ripped.

@CarlBroadbent

27 күн бұрын

Yeah it's not good.

@rainscratch

26 күн бұрын

@@CarlBroadbent I know lots of creators are moving to alternate platforms, can't be worse than what's happened to YT for creators without millions of subs.

Excellent thumbnail, i had to click it!

@CarlBroadbent

Ай бұрын

Thanks

Same, although I promoted a video rather than the whole channel. It killed the video because the ads were being shown to the wrong audience for 20 mins a day in the middle of the night. Now the CTR is so low along with the watch time it doesn't get suggested at all now the promotion is over. I might try deleting and re-uploading it.

@CarlBroadbent

2 ай бұрын

That would be a good test. Let me know how you get on please

@adriansmith31

2 ай бұрын

@CarlBroadbent The subject of the video was put onto several websites linking back to the video so I'm getting views off that. But it shows that promoting it was a waste of money as all the hits I get now are from the websites I've embedded the video on. I will do a follow-up video instead.

From what I've heard and seen, each source of traffic has its own algorithm, so one shouldn't affect the other. I did seem like the views were dropping before you did the promotion on the videos, so it's probably a coincidence. I've seen other videos where people used this tool and it didn't affect there channel or videos natural views.

@CarlBroadbent

6 ай бұрын

I’m also going off the feedback from people who tried it after my first video. I got a lot of people saying they wasn’t happy.

I think this will be a good tool once it's not in beta and once it's possible to target the locations / niche etc... =)

If you need to pay for views on KZread then you are not making content that people want to see. Money down the drain in my opinion Carl. I don’t think the promotions tab wrecked your channel but the quality of the content you’re putting out. That comment is meant in the best faith as this is sooo hard. And there is no easy fix to do that. Just my opinion. No big creator pays for their content to be seen. KZread isn’t luck it’s knowing your audience, serving your audience and bringing value.

@CarlBroadbent

6 ай бұрын

I appreciate your comments. I think sometime the content is good but people on KZread expect a certain type of content and thumbnail. A good thumbnail costs $50 I cannot afford that when a video( even a good performing one ) only makes that in 6-7 months. Plus $50 for a good editor. So $100 to make your videos into something that can trend.

@MallorcaUnderTheSun

6 ай бұрын

I don't agree. I don't spend a penny on my channel in terms of production. If you can use Canva, you can do the thumbnails based on the title yourself. The key is the content first, and knowing your audience. The thumbnail and the title should be created even before the video. If the content is of value to your audience it will be shown to them. YT is going against the Beastification of content. You don't need singing and dancing - you just need quality content and consistency...but this takes time and in my opinion at least. My main point is you can't buy success whether through views or buying every bit of the process. Look at studio set up, look at lighting - there are small changes that can be made but I don't think you need to spend all that money. @@CarlBroadbent

@CarlBroadbent

6 ай бұрын

@@MallorcaUnderTheSun is like to learn from yours what’s your channel ? I have to outsource editing and thumbnails as I have multiple businesses. Me beast doesn’t do his own thumbnails 😂 but I’ve. It got £10k to buy them like he spends on them. Send me your channel I’ll take a look. Thanks for the feedback

@cyubahiroclement191

3 ай бұрын

@@MallorcaUnderTheSun KZread channel is like a game of chance bro ! If algorithm push your content don’t think that your the best because so many channels dead because of no impressions…

Ever notice when your views dropped off that you were not posting ?

@CarlBroadbent

2 ай бұрын

Yes. It’s a hamster treadmill. You have to keep posting

It looks like the channels had already off died before. I personally had stopped watching all your videos around the same time if that means anything.

@CarlBroadbent

6 ай бұрын

Was that due to my content or HCU ?

@anonmon6236

5 ай бұрын

By all I meant every. I still caught the odd one here and there. Always appreciated your experimentation and openness with the results@@CarlBroadbent

Worthless and a waste of time and money if you aren't able to set up a custom demographics for your promo! Seems like every other cheap 3rd Party service who shows your videos to bots or to others in an view exchange... plus it can hurt in the long run, having to deal with lower view time when your channel gets promoted to the wrong people. Just another cash grab from YT. If it actually would work like other ad formats where you can niche down your audience I wouldve considered spending but not for that.

@CarlBroadbent

6 ай бұрын

I think you can not set the country but still not the niche

I cant find this feature

@CarlBroadbent

4 ай бұрын

Analytics, content , it should be there

Somebody needs to contact KZread ASAP! Cause I'm using the promotion right now

You seem to be reading the stuff all wrong: 1. subscribers from videos and subscribers from promotions are counted seperately 2. the 69% from google search means 69% of the 5.5% from external sources are from there, youtube promotions actually doesn't count into that 3. I think you set the 50$ capaign to a "per day" budget for 3 days which would makes sense then why it spent 150$, otherwise you would get a refund automatically if you were overcharged Please next time, before posting, actually try reading the graphs and looking back at what you did and not just giving promotions the fault. The service is bad but most likely not the reason for your channels performance.

@Prof.Albusdumbledore

6 ай бұрын

No he had it right. KZread said give things time and everything will add up correctly. But for a while things will look off

@CarlBroadbent

6 ай бұрын

I set the budget correctly. But some of the other stuff you mentioned might be right. Why do you think the last screenshot happened. Ie the video doing okay. Then great whilst paying for ads the totally does when I stopped. Also several people have told me after paying for the promotions their channels all seems to slow down i growth. Have you tested it ? What was your results like ?

@MoreThanJustAHorrorStory

6 ай бұрын

@@Prof.Albusdumbledore nah, i think subs and stuff are seperate bc they also won't coutntowards monetization

@MoreThanJustAHorrorStory

6 ай бұрын

@@CarlBroadbent yeah it tested it as well. I tried targeted ones as well and I also tried normal google ads in comparison. The problem isn't the promotion in and of it selfe, it's who it targets. If you had set your target location to usa, it would cost more per view but it's much higher quality and watch time. still not great but keep in mind that ads are not as great for that. the real problem is, that you can't target them. i tried targeting mine to my specific audience with google ads and it works way better since it's actually reaching my audience and not just people who are happy to click subscribe. i guess promotions gets you a great value per watcha nd sub but the quality is bad bc of that. but selecting the country makes it a lot better. As I said, tried it my selfe to give my channel a boost. hasn't impacted the overall channel and the videos idk. you should try real google ads if you want to reacha wuality audience. watch time isn't great there either but better, its about 2min for one of my videos for example vs the up to a max of a minute with promotions. Also from what I have heared from videos on youtube, it only stops promoting for a bit so sometimes the video do pick up views and recommendations afterwards again, can't comment on that yet Sorry if there are grammer mistakes, I'm not a native english speaker and can't be bothered to look over it again right now haha. sorry also if my first comment seemed a bit harsh, was just upset at you reading some of the graphs a bit wrong haha, my bad.

@CarlBroadbent

6 ай бұрын

@@MoreThanJustAHorrorStory when I tried the promo it was in beta and you could not target countries or audiences. You just chose a video. Set a budget and off it went. That’s why I think it over spent as well as it was in beta. If you watch my first video on it you’ll see the menu button says beta somewhere. Thanks for all your input.