Although I’m not a real social media user, I’ve had similar issues. I’ve posted on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok under different themes and names, yet all my posts received exactly 0 views.
On one of my YouTube channels, I uploaded around 15 videos over three months. They received between 100-200 or 350-450 views. However, in the last 10 days, my views have dropped to 0.
I believe something called "CTR" has negatively impacted my channel in this regard.
Yet, on a different account where I only watch videos, I uploaded a short video of a goal celebration from a football match I recorded on TV. It was an exciting and important match in my country, and the video unexpectedly got around 1,000 views. Interestingly, I had uploaded some gaming videos on the same account two years ago, and they still have 0 views.
I’ve been researching and thinking about this issue for a while. My conclusion is that social media algorithms seem to understand the content itself. It feels like they instinctively know what will capture people's attention without relying on SEO, packaging, or other tactics.
For instance, I recently created a new Instagram account and posted some of my amazing 3D artwork, but nothing got any views. (Previously, I tried something similar, and while the views were low, there was still some engagement, which then shaped future interactions.)
Later, on a TikTok account, I shared some Night Lovell songs with car clips. It used to be trendy, but I assume TikTok no longer shows this type of content because it's outdated.
On another YouTube channel, I uploaded instrumental covers, rap beats, and rap songs (some paired with car clips). Yet, over time, the numbers kept dropping.
Currently, I have two pieces of content that gained unexpected traction, but one stood out in particular. It gained attention because I paired a goal celebration from a televised football match with a profane fan chant I voiced myself. This chant received over 2,000 views and gradually spread as people added it to their playlists, gaining me a decent number of listeners. People still listen to it daily.
While I was feeling down about my music not gaining any traction, I thought, “Why not try the songs I couldn’t create good covers of before because I wasn’t skilled enough?” Surprisingly, these are my most-listened tracks without any effort or promotion. Of course, they were well-known TV series soundtracks.
So, my friend, I’ve realized that creating content that aligns with the general public’s interests—something that excites both you and a large audience—is crucial. When it comes to more refined tastes or niche topics, I’ve utterly failed on social media.
This is just my experience, but it might be helpful.
Six or seven years ago, gaining likes and followers on social media was easier. People were more hesitant to post photos, videos, or content back then. Now, there’s a massive increase in influencers, and people are much more comfortable, especially post-pandemic. They act like they’re hanging out with high school friends. Perhaps technological advancements and social media algorithms have also played a role.
Another approach could be to draw traffic from external sources. For example, I believe gaming videos are no longer appealing unless someone is already known for competitive gaming. If they have a reputation, it’s easier for them to get views. Or, maybe someone has genuinely funny, engaging conversations with friends, making their content interesting.
I also think it would have been easier to spread my music if I were in high school now. It would’ve seemed cool, and I would’ve had a large network of peers to connect with. Back then, though, I didn’t have the chance to develop my skills, which made me insecure.
Nowadays, many people have learned and thought about creating content on social media. Interest is harder to capture because of this, and the algorithms seem to understand people better. Creating content on social media now feels like being a vendor in a medieval marketplace, shouting among thousands of others.
However, if your intention is to promote, explain, and help audiences experience a niche field, and your content will be entirely related to your profession, then I can recommend this book:
Александр Борисов - Захват внимания. Как стать известным в своей нише и влиять на миллионы
(I haven't tried it myself, but I think it could be a useful book.)
