Secrets of Success in Vlogging: A Guide from MrBeast

A guide for new team members of the popular YouTube creator MrBeast has been shared online. It contains practical tips and secrets for successful video promotion on the platform.

We dive into the 36-page document, analyze the information, and learn from one of the most renowned influencers in the world.

Who is MrBeast, and why should we pay attention to his recommendations?

Recreating "Squid Game" in real life, spending 50 hours in a maximum-security prison for the sake of an experiment, giving away $1,000,000 to random passersby? It may sound impossible, but for Jimmy Donaldson, it's just another set of video scenarios.

MrBeast (real name: James Stephen Donaldson) is an American YouTuber who is considered a pioneer in the genre of entertainment content. He rose to fame through his videos featuring extreme challenges, charity events, and large cash giveaways. His content stands out for its unique combination of innovative ideas, creativity, ambition, and a deep understanding of how algorithms work.

MrBeast started his first YouTube channel back in 2012, initially focusing on playing popular video games, but his first truly viral video came only in 2017. In that video, Jimmy spent over 40 hours on camera completing a simple challenge—counting to 100,000.

Over the years, as his YouTube blog developed, the main content categories became challenges, experiments, charity work, and cash giveaways.

"How to Succeed in MrBeast Production": A 36-page Guide for the YouTuber’s New Employees

This past week, a PDF file with instructions on achieving success in MrBeast's production has been circulating on social media. As the team has grown, it became increasingly difficult for the YouTuber to interact with each employee individually. That’s why a concise handbook was created, outlining key advice and tools—everything needed for a quick dive into the job.

"We've been through a lot, and chances are, most of the problems you'll face, we've already solved. That’s why I genuinely believe that if you read and understand what’s laid out here, you'll be far better prepared for success," reads the brief foreword.

The file is comprehensive, aimed at editors, creators, marketers, and everyone involved in video production.

Helpful Tips and Tools from the File

Below are key excerpts from the document "HOW TO SUCCEED IN MRBEAST PRODUCTION."  You can dive deeper into the full information in the original source.

Don’t adhere to TV and traditional media standards. YouTube is a platform driven by trends but also celebrates each creator’s uniqueness. MrBeast rejects the "Hollywood" format, citing its lack of flexibility and inefficiency. "We’ve made countless videos and invested hundreds of thousands of hours into building our processes. I know they’re not perfect, but we have our reasons for doing things the way we do, and they’re probably pretty good."

Three key metrics to focus on. CTR (Click Through Rate), AVD (Average View Duration), and AVP (Average View Percentage).

CTR is the ratio of people who see a video’s thumbnail in their feed to those who click on it. "If you’re in production or creative, you might wonder why the title and thumbnail matter to you. It’s all about setting expectations. The title and thumbnail of the video you’re creating set viewer expectations."

AVD is the measure of how long viewers watch a video. YouTube provides detailed graphs showing exactly when viewers drop off. MrBeast highlights the importance of the first minute, the transition from 1 to 3 minutes ("hype to action"), and from 3 to 6 minutes ("the most exciting and engaging content telling the story"). The latter part, after 6 minutes, is when the viewer is immersed in the story, allowing for more extended explanations and leading the video toward its conclusion (without signaling the end too early).

AVP, or average view percentage, is less important for MrBeast, as the decision on video length is personal. The key is to capture viewers' attention for as long as possible, increasing retention.

The “Wow Factor” in videos. Even when the three metrics above are met, a video may still fall short. This is where the subjective and less obvious “Wow Factor” comes in—unique moments that make a video stand out, evoke emotions, and create lasting impressions. "An example of the 'Wow Factor' would be our 100 Days in a Circle video. We offered someone $500,000 if they could live in a circle on a field for 100 days, and instead of starting with their house inside the circle, we brought them in on a crane within 30 seconds of the video. Why? Because who else on YouTube does that, haha."

The perfect video length. MrBeast’s videos typically range from 18 to 25 minutes, which he finds is the optimal length to maintain viewer engagement without losing their interest. He also actively creates Shorts. "Short-form content has solidified its place and will only continue to grow in popularity."

Film everything. Production is about teamwork. The entire team should understand the concept, script, and their responsibilities. For example, if a team member scouts a location while others are working on different tasks, it’s easy to form a mental image of how the shoot will go. However, weeks later, when the video goes into production and questions arise about the location, critical details may be forgotten. The best solution is to film everything, capturing all essential details on video.

Creativity saves money. A simple but important principle. Videos are often made with a set budget, and going over is undesirable. "Many people working here have probably thought, ‘If Jimmy wants us to stay within budget, why does he keep asking for expensive things,’ or ‘I know Jimmy won’t like this, so I need to spend more money.’ Creativity and finding solutions is what saves valuable resources."

Ad integrations as content. Advertisements are often read in a way that feels scripted. But integrating brand deals differently can maintain retention and even boost conversions. The MrBeast file shows viewer behavior graphs before and after changing advertising strategies in videos.

A backup filming day. "One of the simplest yet overlooked aspects is having a backup day. When you're spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on shooting and renting equipment, make sure you can extend the shoot if something goes wrong."

Consultant interactions. "This is literally like using cheat codes in real life. Need to make the world's biggest cake? Start by calling the person who made the previous record holder. They’ve already done countless tests and can save you weeks of work. I truly want to get this point across because I’m a huge advocate of consultants. Since I’ve spent nearly a decade hyper-focused on YouTube, I can show a new creator how to go from 100 subscribers to 10,000 in a month. On their own, it would take them years. Consultants are a godsend, please use them. For every task you face, always, always, always ask yourself first if there’s a consultant who can help you."

Useful article on a similar topic:

• Tips to Make Your Video Trending on YouTube.