One of the biggest mistakes new content creators make isn’t just inconsistent posting—it’s setting an ideal schedule without allowing room for life to happen. A lot of us start off with the best intentions. We plan to post once a week, or maybe even twice a week, because we know that consistency is key on YouTube. But what most creators don’t account for is that life is unpredictable. A busy workweek, family emergencies, creative burnout, or even just getting sick can derail even the best-laid plans. That’s why I strongly believe that every channel—especially new channels and those struggling with consistency—should consider adopting what I call the 1+1 Strategy of Building a Content Bank. 1️⃣ WHAT IS THE 1+1 STRATEGY? It’s a simple but powerful way to create content without constantly feeling behind. At its most basic, you start by taking your original upload schedule and cutting it in half. ➤ If you plan to post once a week, start by posting every two weeks instead. ➤ If you plan to post twice a week, start by posting once a week instead. The point of this is to over-deliver and under-promise. But here’s the key—you still push yourself to create content at your original planned pace. How It Works in Practice: Let’s say your plan is to post two videos per week. Instead of telling your audience that’s your schedule, you announce that your plan is to post once a week while still creating two videos a week behind the scenes. ➤ Week 1: You create two videos, release the first one and schedule the second one for Week 2. ➤ Week 2: You create two more videos, scheduling them for Weeks 3 and 4. ➤ Week 3: You create two more videos, scheduling them for Weeks 5 and 6. ➤ Week 4: You create two more videos, scheduling them for Weeks 7 and 8. By the end of just four weeks, you’re already a full month ahead. You now have a "bank" of scheduled videos, allowing you to stay consistent even when life happens. 2️⃣ WHY USE THE 1+1 STRATEGY? 🔹 It Builds Consistency Without Overwhelming You: Many creators burn out early because they set a schedule they wish they could keep, rather than one they realistically can keep. By starting at half-speed, you allow yourself to build the habit of creating without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

I just put up a Short I actually filmed months ago but I never used my drive in to my Philly Skyline video about City Hall talking about it for 40 seconds from I-95 in the car. The long form video has 58 current views on Historic City Hall with Willam Penn’s statue atop. I released the Short as a fun history “Where is it?” It actually appears for a few seconds. 1 comment so far which is nice for a Short

For many of you in this community, you know me as "The Home Work Dad"—a guy with a new (and really small) YouTube channel, and a guy who posts long-winded, detail-oriented answers to welcome, encourage, and inform others. Although I have shared some of my story in a previous post, if you’ll permit me a few moments of personal reflection, I am going to repeat a small part of it here. You see what many of you may not realize is that the idea for my channel was born way back in 2020—though it would take years before it became a reality. That year, my life took an unexpected turn. I got really sick with COVID 🤒, and when the world shut down, so did the business I had built and run since 1996. My wife and I had to declare bankruptcy 💸, and as I lay flat on my back for weeks, struggling to breathe, it felt like the life was literally being drained from within me. And with that, the depression I had battled for years came back with a vengeance. Recovery took months. During that time, there wasn’t much I could do—but I could watch YouTube. And so, I did. Hours and hours of YouTube. It became an obsession 🎥, a way to feel like I was still moving forward in some small way, even when I could do little else. By the time 2021 rolled around, I had an idea. Despite everything, my wife and I still had what truly mattered—our home 🏡, our faith ✝️, and our two fantastic children ❤️. We had overcome so much together, and we knew we could get through anything. That’s when we decided to count our blessings and to give back. So we choose to found Alderpen Media, INC. in May of 2021, with the intent to run it as a For-Profit Ministry / Business with a clear mission: "To equip purpose-driven parents with the resources they need to thrive at working or running a business from home while minimizing the chaos, enjoying the fun times, and keeping up with the responsibilities of parenthood." It was a great idea. A purpose-driven idea. Little did we know, though, that it would take until January of 2024 for me to finally post my first video. And even then, after posting that video, it wasn’t until November that I was able to start posting consistently, with just four more videos uploaded between November and December of 2024.

I realized something the hard way recently. When I started posting on YouTube, I put almost all my energy into the content itself (scripting, filming, editing) and treated everything else as an afterthought. If the video was good, I assumed people would click. They didn’t. It took me a while to accept that YouTube doesn’t reward effort… it rewards clarity. If the title and visual don’t clearly communicate value in the first second, the video never really gets a chance. That mistake slowed my progress, but it also changed how I approach every upload now. I’m more intentional about how the video is presented before it ever goes live, not just what’s inside it. Still learning. Still adjusting. But that shift alone made me look at YouTube very differently.

💎Consistency beats perfection – Upload regularly, even if your videos aren’t perfect. Momentum matters more than polish. 💎Hook viewers in the first 10 seconds – Start with a bold statement, question, or promise to keep them watching. 💎Thumbnails are key – Bright colors, readable fonts, and faces can double your click-through rate. 💎Leverage your experience – Your life and career knowledge is your superpower. Share stories, lessons, or tips. 💎Batch filming saves time – Record multiple videos in one session to stay consistent even during busy weeks. 💎Engage your audience – Reply to comments, ask questions, and show appreciation; it boosts community and growth. 💎Focus on niche over trends – Build authority in your niche instead of chasing every trend. 💎Use analytics to guide you – Look at watch time, CTR, and retention to optimize your content. 💎Repurpose content – Turn videos into shorts, social posts, or blogs to expand reach with less effort. 💎Learn from others – Share your challenges and solutions here; the community is a goldmine for tips and inspiration. 💎Pick your battles & get help when needed You don’t have to do everything yourself, especially tasks you’re not familiar with. Trying to handle it all can slow your growth or lead to burnout. Sometimes the smartest move is to focus on what you do best and let experts or freelancers handle the rest—editing, thumbnails, SEO, or technical tasks. This way, you can stay productive, learn faster, and grow your channel more efficiently. Remember: even top creators rely on help—they didn’t do it all alone. Let's stay positive and have a productive weekend💥💥💥