Starting a YouTube channel in 2025 can feel like shouting into the void—until someone actually hears you. I launched my own gaming channel, Meatballs Dungeon, with zero subscribers, zero videos, and no editing experience. Seven days later, I had 547 views, 4 subscribers, and a whole lot of unexpected lessons.
If you’re thinking about starting your own channel, or you’ve just uploaded your first video and are wondering if you’re doing it “right,” this guide is for you. I’ll walk you through everything I learned—what worked, what went wrong, and how you can start strong even with basic gear and no following.
🎯 1. Set Real Expectations (And Celebrate the Small Stuff)
Let’s be honest: I thought I might get 20 views if I was lucky. But after uploading 9 videos and 11 shorts, my total view count hit 547.
First-week stats:
- 547 total views
- 4 subscribers
- 9 long-form videos
- 11 shorts
- 5 likes
- 0 comments (yet!)
- 1 dislike
💬 “Only 7 views on my first video—but one of them was from my son, who told me it was funny. That meant everything.”
Your first week isn’t about blowing up. It’s about showing up—and learning fast.
My Analytics Report at the time of this article
🎧 2. Audio Will Haunt You (Fix It First)
I used OBS to record and Shotcut to edit—both free, both great. But my Blue Yeti mic had other plans. Twice, I recorded for nearly an hour… only to realize my mic was muted.
Audio lessons:
- Do a test recording before every session
- Check your game vs. mic balance—mine was brutal early on
- Don’t trust default settings, especially on new gear
And shorts? Editing for vertical formats when your main footage is horizontal adds a whole new level of pain.
🔁 3. Not Everything Is One-Take Magic
Some of my videos were recorded straight through. Others? I had to:
- Edit out long pauses
- Patch up awkward sections
- Rerecord the whole thing (thanks again, muted mic)
You don’t need perfection. You need progress. The only way to learn is to upload.
📈 4. Shorts Get Views, Videos Build Loyalty
Want views quickly? Post shorts. Want people to stick around? Give them full videos.
My best short:
- A Creepy Voice Called to Me… I Asked for Candy
- Nearly 490 views in a few days
- Took seconds to record—but taught me the power of quick content
Best full video:
- Stellar Blade Demo Pt. 1
- Slower growth, but real watch time and interest
- Helped shape the tone of the channel
Pro Tip: Use shorts to bring people in. Let your full videos give them a reason to subscribe.
🧠 5. You Learn By Uploading, Not Just Watching
I’ve been watching YouTube for years. Thought I understood it. But creating? Whole different game.
Here’s what I learned this week:
- Thumbnails matter more than you think
- Your voice sounds weird to you—get over it
- Recording while gaming is harder than it looks
- Being funny accidentally is better than trying too hard
My favorite “oops” moment? In this video, I couldn’t pronounce the boss’s name and ended up calling it the bukake monster. My brain glitched. Viewers laughed. That’s content.
🕹️ 6. My Gear and Setup (You Don’t Need Fancy Stuff)
Here’s what I used:
- PC: 4-year-old gaming rig
- Mic: Blue Yeti
- Recording: OBS Studio
- Editing: Shotcut (free, no watermark)
That’s it. No Elgato cards. No multi-cam. Just enthusiasm, trial, and error.
💬 “You don’t need the best gear to start—just the guts to hit upload.”
📆 7. What I’m Doing Next
This week, I played what I felt like. A little RPG, a little horror, a lot of yelling.
Next week?
- More horror (I love jump scares)
- More chaos
- More weird commentary I don’t plan
I want to evolve the format over time, maybe get feedback, maybe get silly. But right now? I’m just having fun in the dungeon.
❤️ Why I’m Really Doing This
My son loves YouTubers. When he saw my first video and said, “Daddy, this is very funny,” I nearly cried. That one view meant more than 500 combined.
I’ve always believed that if you love what you’re doing, people will love watching you do it. That’s what I’m building.
📌 Final Advice to New YouTubers
If you’re just getting started—or just thinking about it—here’s what I’d tell you:
- Start now, not later
- Don’t overthink your niche—just play what excites you
- Learn by doing, not planning
- Mic test before every session (trust me)
- Post shorts, but don’t forget full content
- Laugh at your mistakes—they’re gold
- Don’t chase numbers—chase fun
You won’t regret starting. You might regret waiting.
👾 Want to See the Chaos for Yourself?
Check out my first-week uploads on Meatballs Dungeon and join the madness:
🎬 Stellar Blade Demo Pt. 1
😱 Bukake Monster Moment
👻 Creepy Voice Candy Short
😂 My First-Ever Upload
📆 I’ll be back with a 1-month update. Who knows what I’ll break (or learn) next?
Thanks for reading—and if you’re thinking of starting a channel, do it. Just don’t forget to turn your mic on.
