If you think tutorials are the only way to grow on YouTube, think again! In this post, we’re breaking down 10 ideas for YouTube videos you can make as a business owner or content creator that have nothing to do with traditional “how-to” videos. These ideas will help you attract new viewers, nurture your warm audience, and boost your visibility in YouTube search and recommendations.

1. Share a Hot Take on a Trending Topic

The first of my 10 ideas for YouTube videos is to share a hot take. A great way to stand out on YouTube is to share your opinion on a trending topic in your industry. What’s something that’s currently making waves? Do you have a strong perspective on it? Sharing your insights helps establish your credibility, positions you as a thought leader, and keeps your content relevant.

For example, I created a video called Why You Shouldn’t Start a Podcast – Start a YouTube Channel Instead, where I shared my take on why YouTube is a better platform for most business owners than podcasting.

2. Reaction Videos

Reacting to viral content, industry news, or controversial trends is an engaging way to create content that sparks discussion. Find a popular clip or a trending topic within your niche, and film a video reacting to it with your thoughts.

While I don’t do many reaction videos myself, they can be a great way to share insights in a fun, conversational way. This style of content works especially well in industries with frequent updates, like social media marketing, tech, and finance.

3. Unpopular Opinions

Similar to a hot take, an “unpopular opinion” video allows you to challenge common beliefs in your industry. Think about misconceptions or industry norms that you disagree with, and create a video explaining your perspective.

One example from my own channel is my video on Why Business Owners Can’t Afford to Ignore YouTube. It challenges the idea that YouTube is just for influencers and showcases how business owners can use the platform for growth.

4. Behind-the-Scenes of Your Business

Give your audience a behind-the-scenes look at your business! Show them how you do things differently from others in your niche, whether it’s your workflow, your creative process, or how you serve your clients.

This kind of content helps position you as the go-to expert in your industry and makes viewers more likely to want to work with you. When people see how you operate, they’ll start thinking, “Wow, I love their approach—I need to work with them!”

5. Customer Success Stories & Case Studies

Nothing builds trust like social proof. Share success stories from your customers or clients and walk through how they achieved a specific result using your product or service.

This could be a full interview with a client or a breakdown of a written testimonial. Either way, case study videos help highlight the value of your offers while inspiring potential customers.

6. Your Personal Business Journey

People love hearing about real-life experiences. Share a pivotal moment in your business—whether it was a major decision, a big failure, or an unexpected success—and what you learned from it.

For instance, I created a video on Why I Quit Instagram at 100,000 Followers where I explained why I shifted my focus away from the platform. These kinds of videos resonate because they’re relatable and help your audience feel connected to you.

7. Business Challenges & Experiments

Have you ever tried a new strategy or approach in your business? Share it in a video! Whether it’s testing a new content format, trying a different marketing method, or running an experiment, document the process and share the results.

A great example from my own channel is when I experimented with merging my YouTube channel and podcast into one format. I later followed up with a video explaining why I decided to separate them again.

8. Q&A Videos

Your audience has questions—so why not answer them in a video? Collect the most common questions you receive via email, DMs, or comments and dedicate a video to answering them.

This is a great way to engage with your audience while addressing common pain points. Plus, if people are asking these questions, chances are others are searching for the same answers on YouTube! Here’s an example from my channel – a reels Q&A!

9. Collaborations with Other Creators

Teaming up with another YouTuber can introduce you to a new audience while providing fresh perspectives on your content. You can either create separate videos for each other’s channels or collaborate on a single video.

Look for someone who shares a similar audience but covers a different aspect of your niche. For example, if you specialize in YouTube marketing and they specialize in email marketing, you could collaborate on a video about using both strategies together.

10. Answer the Most Popular Question You Get

If you’re constantly asked the same question, that’s a sign it deserves its own dedicated video. Not only does this provide value to your existing audience, but it also makes it easier for new viewers to find your content through search.

One example from my channel is my video on How I Record My Phone Screen for YouTube Videos. I kept getting asked about this, so I created a step-by-step tutorial to answer it once and for all.

Ready to Grow on YouTube?

If you’re serious about turning your YouTube views into subscribers and sales, I’d love to invite you to my free YouTube class! Inside, I’ll walk you through my exact strategy for using YouTube to market your business.

These 10 ideas for YouTube videos are just the beginning! If you’re looking for fresh content ideas that go beyond tutorials, start experimenting with some of these formats and see what works best for your audience.

What’s your favorite video idea from this list? Let me know in the comments!