Client: Jeli-Space (a YouTube channel focused on Astrophotography and DIY)

Objective: The goal is to manage, grow, and optimize the Jeli-Space YouTube channel by producing high-quality, educational content on astrophotography. The key focus was to increase subscribers, engagement, and visibility through strategic content creation and YouTube-specific SEO optimization.

My Role:

I’m responsible for overseeing the full content creation process—from scripting and recording to editing and publishing. Additionally, I implemented SEO strategies to improve video discoverability and ensure growth in both viewership and engagement. I also create thumbnails and strategically refresh the designs when video interest decreases.

Design Process:

1. Content Planning and Scripting:

• Research: I research trending topics within the astrophotography niche, using tools like Google Trends, VidQ, and competitor analysis. Keeping the content relevant, timely, and catered to the channel’s target audience.

2. Recording and Video Production:

• Recording Setup: I use simple tools that are budget-friendly and deliver high-quality results. Creating an “Authentic” video that the target audience can relate to.

• Voiceover and Narration: For videos requiring voiceovers, I use generative AI, I also clean up the audio by removing background noise and adjusting levels to ensure the best audio quality.

3. Editing and Post-Production:

• Video Editing: I edit the raw footage, including cutting unnecessary sections, adding transitions, and ensuring smooth pacing.

• Thumbnails and Visual Design: I design custom thumbnails for each video using Adobe Photoshop. The Thumbnails feature bold titles and relevant imagery to increase click-through rates.

• Final Review: Before uploading, I reviewed the content for continuity and quality, making any necessary adjustments to enhance the final product.

4. SEO Optimization and Publishing:

• SEO Research: I perform keyword research using tools like VidIQ to identify high-ranking search terms related to the topic. I optimize each video’s title, description, and tags to ensure relevant ranking in search results.

• Engaging Descriptions: I craft engaging video descriptions that include relevant keywords, a brief summary of the video content, and links to additional resources (such as social media and website links). I also included calls-to-action (CTA) encouraging viewers to subscribe and engage with the content.

• Tags and Hashtags: Each video was tagged with relevant keywords to help boost discoverability in both search results and suggested videos. I also utilized hashtags in the description to tap into trending topics and categories on YouTube.

• End Screens and Cards: I added end screens and YouTube cards to keep viewers on the channel and promote other videos or playlists, which helped increase session watch time.

5. Engagement and Community Building:

• Comment Engagement: After publishing, I actively engaged with viewers in the comments section by responding to questions and feedback. This fosters a community around the channel, improving audience retention and growth.

• Analytics Monitoring: I used YouTube Studio’s analytics tools to track the performance of each video, focusing on metrics like watch time, retention rates, and click-through rates. I use these insights to modify our future content strategies in order to enhance engagement and growth.

Final Outcome:

Through consistent content creation, SEO optimization, and community engagement, the Jeli-Space channel experienced significant growth:

• Increased Subscribers: The channel grew its subscriber base by 35% over six months.

• Higher Engagement: Viewer engagement, including likes, shares, and comments, increased by 50% due to more relevant content and community interactions.

• Improved Discoverability: SEO optimization resulted in higher ranking for key search terms, with several videos appearing in the top 5 results for popular space exploration topics.

• Video Performance: Videos saw improved average watch times, leading to better algorithmic recommendations by YouTube.

Reflection:

Managing and growing the Jeli-Space YouTube channel reinforced the importance of a holistic approach to content creation, combining high production quality with strategic SEO practices. I learned how to balance educational content with engaging visuals and how to leverage YouTube’s algorithms to improve visibility. This project honed my ability to create compelling digital media while optimizing for user experience and platform-specific SEO requirements.