Why Interviewing Others on YouTube Is the Fastest Way to Grow Your Channel
If you're looking for a YouTube strategy that builds your audience, creates compelling content, and strengthens your network all at once, there's one approach that stands above the rest: interviewing other people. In this fifth installment of an eight-part series on impactful communication across social media, content creator Wade Patterson makes a powerful case for why interviews are the secret weapon most YouTubers overlook — and how they can transform your channel's growth trajectory.
A Quick Recap: Lessons from Other Platforms
Before diving into YouTube strategy, it's worth revisiting the key insights from earlier in this series, as each platform offers its own unique way to make an impact:
- Facebook: Leverage the platform's built-in features — like birthday notifications — to discover information online and then do something meaningful with it offline.
- LinkedIn: An underrated platform where you can leave recommendations, publish articles, and experiment with ephemeral content like stories.
- Instagram: Make a personal impact through direct messages that include video or audio, and experiment with Reels to expand your reach.
- Twitter: In a space where everyone is talking and few are listening, the simple act of reading, engaging with, and responding to other people's thoughts sets you apart.
Each of these strategies shares a common thread: focusing on other people rather than yourself. The YouTube strategy Patterson recommends takes that principle even further.
The Power of Interview-Based Content
Patterson speaks from experience. In addition to his personal channel, he runs a YouTube channel called Show Me The Crypto, which covers blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. The entire content model for that channel is built on one thing: interviews. Every single episode features a conversation with someone working on a blockchain project or someone with deep expertise in the space.
The results have been striking. Despite both channels launching at the same time, the interview-based channel has experienced significantly faster growth and stronger engagement across all its social media networks. The reason? The pillar content features other people who have already built audiences and established credibility.
Two Audiences Are Better Than One
When you interview someone on YouTube, you unlock two powerful benefits simultaneously:
- You tap into their knowledge and expertise, which elevates the quality and depth of your content far beyond what you could produce alone.
- You tap into their audience, which exposes your channel to an entirely new group of potential subscribers and followers.
Here's the math that makes this strategy so compelling. When an interview guest shares your video on their social media channels — and they almost always will if you produce quality content — their established audience of thousands suddenly has a direct link to your channel. You may start with 50 or 100 followers, but if the best coffee shop in town or a well-known industry expert shares your video, you're instantly reaching a far larger audience. Other people become advocates for your content, and that kind of organic promotion is invaluable.
You Don't Need a Niche Industry — Start Local
One of the most accessible versions of this strategy doesn't require you to be embedded in a particular industry at all. Patterson highlights a brilliant approach he's seen people use: interviewing local business owners in their community.
Think about the businesses in the place you live. Each one has a story — how it was founded, the challenges the owner overcame, and how it grew into what it is today. By asking thoughtful questions and capturing those stories on video, you're creating rich local content that serves multiple purposes:
- It's valuable for people who live in the area and want to discover new businesses.
- It's useful for anyone planning to visit the community.
- It gives business owners a platform to share their story, which means they have every reason to promote your video to their audience.
This creates a virtuous cycle where quality content attracts new viewers, who then discover your channel and stick around for more.
Even Experts Benefit from Bringing in Other Voices
You might be thinking, "But I'm already the expert in my space — why would I need to interview anyone?" Patterson addresses this directly. Even if you are the go-to authority on your topic, interviews introduce a fresh voice, a new perspective, and a welcome change of pace for your audience. Viewers appreciate variety, and hearing two people engage in a meaningful conversation is inherently more dynamic than a single person delivering advice to a camera.
Patterson acknowledges this honestly when comparing his two channels. His personal channel, where he speaks directly to the audience, has grown more slowly than his interview-based channel — despite offering high-quality advice. The difference isn't content quality; it's content structure and built-in distribution.
Conclusion: Let Other People Amplify Your Message
The core lesson here is beautifully simple: when you feature other people, you create content that is richer, more engaging, and far more shareable than anything you could produce on your own. Interviews give your guests a reason to promote your work, introduce your channel to new audiences, and position you as someone who facilitates great conversations rather than just broadcasting opinions. Whether you're interviewing industry experts, local business owners, or fascinating people in your community, the strategy remains the same — shine the spotlight on others, and the light will inevitably reflect back on you. If you've been struggling to grow your YouTube channel, this might be the one shift that changes everything.