What My Best Friend Does

Today, I'm joined by Jamie Whiffen, a master YouTube strategist who's worked with some of the world's leading creators including Ali Abdaal, Gordon Ramsay, Simon Squibb, and Brian Johnson, helping them generate hundreds of millions of views. In this episode, Jamie breaks down the real strategies behind YouTube growth, the metrics that actually matter, and the common mistakes both small and established creators make. From his early days making Minecraft videos at age 11 to becoming one of the most sought-after YouTube strategists in the world, Jamie shares the unfiltered truth about building a career in content creation. What You'll Learn: Why click-through rate doesn't matter (and what metrics you should focus on instead) The PVSS Hook Framework that's helped creators dramatically improve their first 30-second retention How to increase impressions and actually get YouTube to push your content Why subscribers are overrated and what returning viewers really mean for your growth The biggest mistakes small creators make (and how to avoid them) How to monetise your content without relying on AdSense or brand deals The truth about working with top creators like Ali Abdaal and what Jamie learned from being thrown in the deep end Why niching down is essential (even if you want to eventually cover everything) How to get on the radar of leading creators and land opportunities in the industry Jamie also shares his honest regrets about going to university, the sacrifices he made in his 20s that eventually paid off, and why speed and execution beat overthinking every single time. Whether you're just starting your content creation journey or you're an established creator looking to break through a plateau, this episode is packed with actionable strategies you can implement immediately. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:18 Jamie's Early YouTube Journey: From Magic Tutorials to Minecraft 00:05:46 University Regrets and Career Decisions 00:11:01 First Jobs: Little Studios and Learning the YouTube Business 00:13:49 Fanbytes, Short Form Content, and Choosing Career Opportunities 00:18:27 Working with Ali Abdaal: Speed, Execution, and Key Lessons 00:21:11 How to Get on the Radar of Top Creators 00:24:18 Biggest Mistakes Small Creators Make 00:26:14 Niching Down and Building Your Audience Avatar 00:37:43 The Podcaster Problem: Authority vs Being the Background Character 00:44:57 Understanding YouTube Metrics: Click-Through Rate, Impressions, and What Actually Matters 00:55:58 The PVSS Hook Framework for YouTube Videos 01:01:49 Monetisation Strategy: Email Lists Over Social Media Followers 01:06:19 Short Form vs Long Form: Where to Focus Your Energy 01:06:04 AdSense, Sponsorships, and Building Your Own Products 01:10:38 Career Advice: Sacrifice, Persistence, and Taking Outsized Risk