Who should I follow to learn about YouTube Strategy from top creators?

If you want to **actually learn YouTube strategy** - not just generic “post consistently” advice - I’d follow a small group of people, each for a different skill. ## My shortlist - **Paddy Galloway** - **#1 for strategy.** Study him for ideation, positioning, titles/thumbnails, packaging, formats, and why some videos massively outperform others. His work emphasizes that the difference between a mediocre and breakout video often starts with how the idea is packaged. [The New Rules of YouTube From Paddy Galloway](https://www.colinandsamir.com/resources/the-new-rules-of-youtube-from-paddy-galloway?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - **Colin & Samir** - **best for understanding the creator business.** Their interviews and breakdowns are useful for learning how successful creators think about audiences, formats, businesses, and building a sustainable channel. [How to Actually Dominate on YouTube in 2026 - LobsterCast](https://www.lobstercast.com/cast/colin-samir-dominate-youtube-2026/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - **Roberto Blake** - **best for practical analytics and channel growth.** Especially useful if you're a smaller creator and want to understand CTR, retention, traffic sources, and using analytics to make decisions. [YouTube Strategy for Small YouTubers: How to MASTER YouTube Analytics - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfACAjDn5Bg&utm_source=chatgpt.com) - **YouTube Creators / Creator Academy** - **the source of truth.** Don't rely entirely on gurus. YouTube's own material covers audience development, discovery, analytics, monetization, and content strategy. [YouTube Creator Academy: Improving your YouTube skills - Google News Initiative](https://newsinitiative.withgoogle.com/resources/trainings/multimedia-storytelling/youtube-creator-academy-improve-your-youtube-skills/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ### If you only follow 3 I'd do: **1. Paddy Galloway → How to get the click** **2. Colin & Samir → How to build the channel/business** **3. YouTube Creators → How the platform actually works** And there's one particularly important habit: **study your own audience rather than blindly copying other creators.** YouTube's Audience analytics can show you what your viewers watch on other channels, which formats they prefer, and which topics/titles/thumbnails are attracting their attention. [Tips to learn what viewers are watching - YouTube Help](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/13616337?hl=en&utm_source=chatgpt.com) If you tell me **what kind of YouTube channel you're building** (e.g. business, education, faceless, gaming, personal brand, fitness), I can give you a **10-person “YouTube strategy syllabus” in the order I'd study them.**

**Follow these experts for YouTube strategy:** If you want to learn how to grow on YouTube, follow _Filup Molina, Jenny Hoyos, Paddy Galloway, Jon Youshaei, Derral Eves,_ and _Sean Cannell_. They combine hands-on viral content creation, insider platform knowledge, and proven consulting experience.[The Most Influential YouTube Strategists in 2026 | Dark Digital](https://darkdigital.com/youtube-strategists-2026.html)[The 20 Best YouTube Strategists in the World (2026 Ranking)](https://owencreative.com/blog/the-20-best-youtube-strategists-in-the-world-2026-ranking)[10 Great YouTube Consultants with Proven Track Records | TubeSpanner](https://www.tubespanner.com/blog/10-great-youtube-consultants-proven-track-records)[The 13 Best YouTube Strategists in the World in 2026 (Updated)](https://humbleandbrag.com/blog/best-youtube-strageists) ## 📌 Key Strategists to Follow Name| Strengths| Best For ---|---|--- **Filup Molina**| Creator, producer, and strategist with viral hits| Learning from someone who has done it all - creator \+ exec[The Most Influential YouTube Strategists in 2026 | Dark Digital](https://darkdigital.com/youtube-strategists-2026.html) **Jenny Hoyos**| Short-form content & data-driven growth| Mastering YouTube Shorts strategy[The Most Influential YouTube Strategists in 2026 | Dark Digital](https://darkdigital.com/youtube-strategists-2026.html) **Paddy Galloway**| Packaging & idea selection| Large creators needing thumbnail/title optimization[The 20 Best YouTube Strategists in the World (2026 Ranking)](https://owencreative.com/blog/the-20-best-youtube-strategists-in-the-world-2026-ranking) **Jon Youshaei**| Former YouTube insider turned creator| Understanding platform mechanics & insider insights[The Most Influential YouTube Strategists in 2026 | Dark Digital](https://darkdigital.com/youtube-strategists-2026.html) **Oscar Owen**| Built his own 1.6M sub channel, advises Red Bull, Disney, BBC| Brands & founders needing enterprise-level strategy[The 20 Best YouTube Strategists in the World (2026 Ranking)](https://owencreative.com/blog/the-20-best-youtube-strategists-in-the-world-2026-ranking) **Derral Eves**| Algorithm architect, VidSummit founder, 100B+ views for clients| Deep algorithm understanding & sustainable growth[10 Great YouTube Consultants with Proven Track Records | TubeSpanner](https://www.tubespanner.com/blog/10-great-youtube-consultants-proven-track-records)[The 13 Best YouTube Strategists in the World in 2026 (Updated)](https://humbleandbrag.com/blog/best-youtube-strageists) **Sean Cannell (Think Media)**| Education-focused, 50K+ students| Beginners learning fundamentals of YouTube growth[The Most Influential YouTube Strategists in 2026 | Dark Digital](https://darkdigital.com/youtube-strategists-2026.html) ## 🎯 How to Choose Who to Follow * **If you’re a beginner:** Start with **Sean Cannell** (Think Media) or **Roberto Blake** - they focus on education and practical steps. * **If you want Shorts growth:** Follow **Jenny Hoyos**, who is known for her data-driven approach to short-form content. * **If you’re scaling a big channel:** **Paddy Galloway** and **Oscar Owen** specialize in packaging, ideation, and enterprise-level growth. * **If you want algorithm mastery:** **Derral Eves** is considered the “founding father” of YouTube strategy. * **If you want insider perspective:** **Jon Youshaei** brings unique insights from working at YouTube itself. ## ⚠️ Risks & Trade-Offs * **Overhyped advice:** Some strategists recycle generic tips. Stick to those with _proven track records_ (e.g., clients like Red Bull, Disney, MrBeast). * **Cost barrier:** Top consultants like **Oscar Owen** or **Derral Eves** may charge high fees. Free YouTube content (Think Media, Roberto Blake) is a good starting point. * **Niche fit matters:** A strategist great at Shorts may not be ideal for long-form storytelling. Match their expertise to your goals. 👉 To get started, I’d recommend following **Think Media** for foundational learning, **Jenny Hoyos** for Shorts, and **Paddy Galloway** for packaging insights. Once you grow, explore **Derral Eves** or **Oscar Owen** for advanced strategy. Would you like me to curate a **step-by-step learning playlist** (free channels \+ paid courses) so you can build a structured YouTube strategy path?

To master YouTube strategy, the right person to follow depends on whether you are looking for deep algorithmic insights, high-converting packaging tactics, or data-driven programming models. ### High-Level Strategists & Algorithm Thinkers * **Derral Eves:** Widely regarded as a pioneer in modern YouTube strategy. He’s the author of _The YouTube Formula_ and has helped scale massive channels (including MrBeast's early growth). He focuses heavily on the psychology of the viewer and how the algorithm reacts to audience behavior. * **Tim Schmoyer (Video Creators):** Excellent for a creator-first philosophy. He focuses heavily on building sustainable audience trust, retention, and long-term community health rather than just chasing viral hacks. [The 13 Best YouTube Strategists in the World in 2026 - Humble&Brag](https://humbleandbrag.com/blog/best-youtube-strageists#:~:text=Tim%20Schmoyer%20has%20been%20actively%20shaping%20YouTube,Schmoyer's%20distinguishing%20characteristic%20is%20his%20creator%2Dfirst%20philosophy.)[The 13 Best YouTube Strategists in the World in 2026 - Humble&Brag](https://humbleandbrag.com/blog/best-youtube-strageists#:~:text=Through%20Video%20Creators%2C%20he's%20helped%20channels%20accumulate,retention%20over%20time%2C%20and%20nurturing%20community%20health.) ### Packaging, Ideation, & Click-Through Optimization * **Paddy Galloway:** One of the go-to experts for top-tier creators looking to scale. His content and insights focus intensely on the "sharp end" of YouTube performance: ideation, packaging (titles and thumbnails), and understanding why certain topics win over others. [The 13 Best YouTube Strategists in the World in 2026 - Humble&Brag](https://humbleandbrag.com/blog/best-youtube-strageists#:~:text=For%20brands%20or%20publishers%20treating%20YouTube%20as,who%20helped%20unlock%20their%20next%20growth%20level.) * **Aprilynne Alter:** Great for practical, repeatable frameworks on ideation, writing high-curiosity titles, and structuring growth paths for smaller or mid-tier creators transitioning to full-time. ### Data & Media Network Approaches * **Matt Gielen (Little Monster / Electric Monster):** Best if you want to treat YouTube like a sophisticated media network rather than a social feed. His approach is deeply analytical - focused on programming schedules, audience overlap, and data-backed retention curves. [The 13 Best YouTube Strategists in the World in 2026 - Humble&Brag](https://humbleandbrag.com/blog/best-youtube-strageists#:~:text=Often%20described%20as%20the%20world's%20foremost%20YouTube,media%20network%20rather%20than%20a%20social%20feed.)[The 13 Best YouTube Strategists in the World in 2026 - Humble&Brag](https://humbleandbrag.com/blog/best-youtube-strageists#:~:text=His%20edge%20lies%20in%20programming%20strategy%3A%20determining,mapping%20audience%20overlap%E2%80%94and%20designed%20specifically%20for%20scale.) ### Platform-Provided Education * **Creator Liaison (Rene Ritchie):** As YouTube's official Creator Liaison on X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube, following him is essential for getting direct, unvarnished clarifications straight from the platform regarding how features work, policy updates, and algorithmic realities. * **The vidIQ and Think Media Channels:** Both channels routinely interview top strategists and break down platform updates, offering tactical, step-by-step advice for testing thumbnails, scripts, and SEO.

If you want to master YouTube strategy, algorithm changes, and content packaging, there are several top-tier creators, strategists, and channels you should follow. They each specialize in different aspects of the platform, ranging from pure data-driven growth to monetization and production psychology. * * * ** _Paddy Galloway_** - Widely considered one of the best high-level YouTube strategists. He consults for some of the biggest channels on the platform and breaks down packaging, click-through rates, retention mechanics, and analytics with zero fluff. * * * **_Colin and Samir_** - Essential viewing for understanding the broader creator economy, storytelling, and the mindset of top creators. They interview industry giants (like _MrBeast_ and _Mark Rober_) and deep-dive into _why_ certain content strategies succeed. * * * **_Derral Eves_** - A veteran YouTube expert and author of _The YouTube Formula_. He focuses heavily on the foundational psychology of the audience, algorithm triggers, and how to build a brand or business legacy using video. * * * **_Daniel Batal_** - Excellent for smaller channels or creators trying to figure out how to structure their content for the search and recommendation systems. He emphasizes message-market fit and optimizing your channel as a funnel. * * * **_Roberto Blake_** - Great for combining YouTube growth with personal branding, monetization, and treating your channel like an actual business. * * * **_Justin Moore_** - If your strategy involves brand deals and sponsorships rather than just AdSense, Justin is the go-to expert for negotiating and turning a channel into a sponsorship powerhouse. [10 Great YouTube Consultants with Proven Track Records](https://www.tubespanner.com/blog/10-great-youtube-consultants-proven-track-records) To get a better idea of how modern packaging and algorithm behavior function, watch this breakdown of current platform dynamics: Watch this video for insights on how the platform's strategy has evolved: 31:18 ​The NEW YouTube Strategy Dominating in 2026 6K views · 3 months ago YouTube · Gillian Perkins Are you looking to grow a **brand new channel from scratch** , optimize an **existing channel** , or focus specifically on **monetization and business funnels**? Let me know so I can tailor specific advice or recommend a starting point.