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:
- Find what's working for others in your niche
- Analyze why it worked
- Adapt the concept for your audience and voice
- 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:
- Weekly research - Spend 30 minutes each week browsing Intel
- Bookmark interesting finds - Save videos and channels that inspire you
- Keep an idea list - Write down every idea, even rough ones
- 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?