The formula for outstanding YouTube videos and money from MrBeast
It’s Tuesday 5am in the morning. My wife and children are all asleep upstairs I am downstairs. I just had a great cup of coffee, the house a quiet and I feel grateful and happy.
I am writing you a short letter I hope you find it useful.
His full name is Jimmy Donaldson, popularly known as MrBeast. He’s the biggest YouTube creator on the planet, with a staggering 319 million subscribers. If you know anything about YouTube, you’ll understand why he’s both incredibly rich and influential. Recently, MrBeast wrote a memo to his team titled "How to Succeed in MrBeast Productions". This memo was leaked—and perhaps intentionally—because it’s now everywhere on the Internet.
I managed to get my hands on it, printed it for £6 because it was just that good, and read it twice. It’s a 36-page document packed with insights. Here are some key lessons I’ve extracted from it, saving you the time of combing through it yourself. And guess what? I’ve already applied some of these principles, and my Instagram following has grown by over 40%. Let’s get into it.
Lesson 1: Clarity of Goal
In the memo, MrBeast said, "Your goal here is to make the best YouTube videos possible." Notice, he didn’t say the best Hollywood or Nollywood videos, but the best YouTube videos. Everything else stems from that goal. As a CEO, your job is to constantly repeat your vision to your team. Why are you all here? Why are you doing this? Remember, repetition is persuasion.
What’s your core goal driving your decisions? Stay tuned because this clarity could transform how you operate.
Lesson 2: Results Over Hours
"We will be judged by the results we produce, not the hours we put in," MrBeast emphasized. It’s not about clocking in endless hours but about delivering outcomes. Warren Buffett once said people are judged by their results, not how many hours they work for investors. It’s the same in sales: you’re not judged by how many calls you make but by the revenue you bring in.
I’ll tell you more about how to sharpen your focus on that in a moment.
Lesson 3: The Power of Focus
MrBeast mentioned he spent 20,000 to 30,000 hours studying YouTube virality. Let that sink in. How many people do you know who have dedicated 30,000 hours to mastering a single platform? or anything for that matter. Most of us struggle to focus for an hour. MrBeast didn’t split his time between Instagram or Twitter—he focused solely on YouTube.
Lesson 4: The Key Metrics
When it comes to creating content, MrBeast said to focus on three main metrics: click-through rate (CTR), average view duration (AVD), and average view percentage (AVP). For example, if 1,000 people see your video on their timeline and 100 click on it, that’s a 10% CTR.
What are your key metrics for success? Knowing this could change how you approach your content strategy. We’ll dive deeper into making your content irresistible.
Lesson 5: Take Copywriting Seriously
One of the examples he shared was comparing two headlines: "I spent 50 hours in my front yard" versus "I spent 50 hours inside ketchup." Which one would you click on? The second, right? It piques curiosity. Strong copywriting captures attention and holds it in a world full of distractions.
What’s the one headline that could grab your audience's attention right now? Stay tuned—I’ll help you craft it.
Lesson 6: The Critical First Minute
The first minute of your video is make-or-break. MrBeast emphasized that grabbing attention in the first few seconds is key, whether through verbal or visual hooks. He now preplans the first words he’ll say rather than improvising.
Lesson 7: Do What Others Won’t
MrBeast believes in doing things no one else can do. In any field, the hardest tasks are often the least attempted—and that’s where you gain a competitive edge. He’s famous for taking on wild challenges, like spending 10 days in the woods or uprooting a house.
What will you do to set yourself apart in your field?
Lesson 8: Stack the Odds in Your Favor
Increase your chances of winning by stacking the odds in your favor. While we can’t control everything, we can raise the likelihood of success. I recently ran a five-day sales challenge where 205 people paid to attend. I was aiming for 500, but I’m grateful for the outcome.
How can you stack the odds in your favor today? There’s more to come.
Lesson 9: Know Your Priors
MrBeast highlighted the importance of knowing what you need before starting a project. If you need a Lamborghini, a toolbox, and water for a shoot, make sure everything is ready.
What are your non-negotiables for success? Let’s dig deeper into how to get everything in place before you start.
Lesson 10: Use Coaches and Consultants
"Consultants are cheat codes," MrBeast said. If you’re not using a coach or consultant, you’re leaving money on the table.
Need a sales coach? I offer coaching sessions for Book a sales increase session
Lesson 11: Set High Standards
MrBeast has zero issues throwing out multi-million dollar videos if they don’t meet his standards. If a video doesn’t meet the quality expected by him or his audience.
Lesson 12: Immerse Yourself
Lastly, immerse yourself. MrBeast’s memo emphasized watching vast amounts of YouTube videos to learn. In sales, the same applies—listen to sales calls, read books, and absorb content to pick up key distinctions.
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