Preface

Having uploaded hundreds of videos and researched numerous content niches on YouTube,

I’ve discovered several inherent patterns—rules that YouTube’s official channels don’t explicitly state, yet are common knowledge among creators. Let me summarize them briefly:

YouTube favors videos featuring human faces—both in the thumbnail and within the video content itself. (Videos displaying exaggerated facial expressions tend to receive even stronger recommendations, though this style can also be off-putting to viewers.)

YouTube prefers content filmed in physical, real-world environments; it tends to disfavor screen recordings and AI-generated virtual visuals. (This is why so many tutorial creators place a small video feed of their own face in the bottom-left corner: partly to mitigate copyright issues and prevent content theft/re-uploads, but also because YouTube’s algorithm prioritizes videos that feature human faces and tangible objects.)

Food-related content on YouTube generates its own organic traffic. (Even if the volume isn’t massive, it guarantees a baseline level of viewership, as the appeal of food transcends national borders.)

YouTube favors topics related to AI. This is because AI companies act as deep-pocketed “sugar daddies,” pouring massive amounts of money into advertising—a trend that has effectively turned AI tokens into a mainstream phenomenon.

Data Analysis

Over the past two days, I recorded and uploaded several videos specifically focused on building blog websites using Astro.

On one hand, the audience for topics like Astro and personal blogging is inherently niche and small. On the other hand—as mentioned earlier—YouTube tends not to heavily promote content consisting solely of screen recordings or virtual visuals.

Therefore, my advice to anyone recording tutorials or sharing their screen is this: if you want to boost your view counts and increase your chances of being recommended by the algorithm, make sure to include a video feed of your own face in the bottom-left corner.

If you still prefer not to show your face, then film actual physical objects rather than relying on screen recordings.

For instance, if I originally intended to share content about servers or networking gear, I should film my home lab setup and routers directly, rather than simply recording my computer screen.

ESP32

I’ve decided to start experimenting with the ESP32 microcontroller.

One objective is to add visual and auditory enhancements—such as indicator lights, display screens, and sound alerts—to my home lab servers, thereby providing better visual feedback and monitoring aids.

Another objective is to use it for various smart home projects, as well as building small robotic vehicles, drones, and other gadgets.

In the future, these skills and projects could prove useful for DIY car infotainment systems during road trips, or for implementing smart farming solutions when visiting my hometown in the countryside.

Most importantly, while sharing content about open-source software and hardware doesn’t typically garner much algorithmic promotion on YouTube, ESP32 projects might generate a bit more traction. This is because they fall under the “maker” or DIY category—whether it involves lighting up LEDs or building motion sensors—and the results can be captured through actual, physical video footage.

Of course, the ESP32 also serves as a natural extension of my home lab workstation, allowing me to bridge the gap between my virtual network environment and the physical world around me.