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Finding Your Next Video Ideas

The best video ideas come from understanding what's already working - then making it your own. Here's how to use Subscribr to never run out of ideas.

The "Yoink and Twist" Approach

Great creators don't reinvent the wheel - they take proven concepts and add their unique spin. This isn't copying; it's the same approach every successful creator uses:

  1. Find what's working for others in your niche
  2. Analyze why it worked
  3. Adapt the concept for your audience and voice
  4. Improve on the original in some way

Hunting for Outliers

Outlier videos are your best source of proven ideas. Here's how to find them:

Step 1: Identify Competitors

Use Intel to find 5-10 channels in your niche with similar subscriber counts or slightly larger.

Step 2: Look for Outliers

For each channel, check their outlier videos - videos that got 2x or more their typical views. These represent topics or formats that really resonated.

Step 3: Find Patterns

Look across multiple channels. If the same topic appears as an outlier for several creators, that's a strong signal it's a proven topic.

Step 4: Make It Yours

Take the core concept and ask:

  • How would I approach this topic differently?
  • What unique angle can I bring?
  • What did they miss that I could cover?
  • How would my audience want this presented?

Using Chat for Ideation

The Subscribr chat is powerful for brainstorming. Here are some prompts to try:

  • "Show me outliers from @competitor in the last 6 months"
  • "What topics are trending in [your niche] right now?"
  • "Analyze why this video performed so well: [video URL]"
  • "Give me 10 video ideas based on what's working for channels like mine"
  • "What gaps exist in [competitor's] content that I could fill?"

Paste YouTube Links

You can paste any YouTube video or channel URL directly into the chat. Subscribr will automatically analyze it and pull relevant data.

Filtering for Long-Form vs Shorts

Different formats work differently. When researching:

  • Filter Intel results by content type
  • Look at outliers specifically in the format you're creating
  • Consider if a short-form success could be expanded to long-form (or vice versa)

Remixing Existing Content

Sometimes the best ideas come from remixing successful videos. There are several ways to remix content in Subscribr:

Remix a Video via Chat

In the chat, use the "Remix a video" prompt or type something like "Help me remix this video: [URL]". This lets you:

  • Take a successful video's structure and apply it to a different topic
  • Cover the same topic with your voice and perspective
  • Create an updated version with new information

Use the Other Template

When remixing videos, we recommend using the Other template so the structure isn't constrained to a specific format.

Clone as Template

You can also create a template by cloning one or more existing videos. This captures the structure and pacing you want to replicate, then lets you apply it to new topics.

Remix a Channel

When creating a new channel, choose "Remix Channel" to build a channel inspired by an existing creator, taking their best elements and making them your own.

Validating Your Ideas

Before investing time in a video, validate your idea with Intel data. Learn more about validating video ideas and channel concepts.

Building an Idea Pipeline

Don't wait until you need an idea to start looking. Build a continuous flow of ideas by:

  1. Weekly research - Spend 30 minutes each week browsing Intel
  2. Bookmark interesting finds - Save videos and channels that inspire you
  3. Keep an idea list - Write down every idea, even rough ones
  4. Revisit regularly - Old ideas often become relevant as trends shift

Learn more about building an idea pipeline.

Next Steps

Ready to develop your ideas further?