Making a good YouTube video |

Making a good YouTube video; How the Dunning-Kruger Effect Controlled My YouTube Life – Until I Learned to Use It to my benefit

The Overconfidence Trap: Thinking I Knew It All

When I first ventured into YouTube, I was brimming with confidence. I’d read up on tips, watched a few tutorials, and thought I’d absorbed enough to make it big. My content, I believed, would take off instantly. But there was one crucial concept I didn’t account for: the Dunning-Kruger effect.

For anyone unfamiliar, the Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias where people with limited knowledge or experience tend to overestimate their ability. That was me. With just a surface-level understanding, I felt like a pro. My confidence was sky-high—but my views and engagement were rock-bottom.

The Reality Check: Seeing My Analytics

Despite low engagement, I kept pushing on, convinced that my success was right around the corner. I’d tell myself that each new video would be the one to take off. Finally, after months of this cycle, I took a serious look at my analytics. My numbers didn’t just disappoint me—they humbled me. This wake-up call made me realize the Dunning-Kruger effect had been running the show. I’d been overestimating my skills, and it was costing me both time and energy.

Becoming a Student Again: Learning What Actually Works

Facing this reality, I knew I had to change my approach. I went from seeing myself as an “expert” to seeing myself as a student. I started studying successful creators in my niche, dissecting what made their content resonate. I realized that producing quality videos isn’t just about confidence—it’s about understanding what viewers want and delivering that value consistently.

What’s more, I saw that good videos don’t just bring success on YouTube. They fuel all your other efforts. YouTube could be a powerhouse for everything I was working toward: affiliate marketing, blog traffic, and building an email list.

The Ripple Effect: How Good Videos Helped My Other Efforts

As I improved my video quality and refined my content, I started seeing results. People were watching longer, subscribing, and, most importantly, checking out my other work. My blog saw more traffic, my email list grew, and the affiliate offers I recommended were getting clicks. YouTube had become more than just a platform—it was a silent partner supporting everything I was building online.

Moving Forward: Embracing the Power of Humility and Growth

A video a day

I try and do at least one video a day sometimes more. It costs nothing and gets traffic. However my start was indeed rocky and I am still not at the pinnacle.

Conclusion

Looking back, my journey with the Dunning-Kruger effect taught me a valuable lesson: true growth begins when you’re willing to admit what you don’t know. Success on YouTube—and anywhere else, for that matter—comes from being a lifelong learner, staying curious, and always aiming to improve.

For anyone just starting, I’d say this: don’t let overconfidence fool you. Embrace learning, seek feedback, and focus on creating high-value content. Good videos are not just for show—they amplify everything else you’re working on. For me, YouTube isn’t just a platform anymore; it’s an invaluable piece of my larger vision.