BIG Ideas with Aprilynne Alter

Aprilynne Alter has built her channel around one thing: understanding why we click and why we watch. From her first viral NFT video to hitting 100K subscribers and speaking at VidCon, her journey shows the power of persistence, systems, and self-belief. In this BIG Ideas piece, she shares the lessons, challenges, and insights that have shaped her growth as a professional creator.

Aprilynne Alter’s Creator Journey

Q: Tell us about your channel! What niche are you in, and what type of videos do you make?

A: I normally describe it as I make deep dive YouTube strategy breakdowns. I get to nerd out very hard on YouTube and just spend all of my time kind of studying different mechanisms for why we click and why we watch. Less so editing tips and more so how does music and sound design affect the way in which we pay attention? What do we click on? Why do we click? Why don’t we click? What are we drawn to? And then just learning as much as I can about that and applying it to YouTube if I can.

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Q: Let’s start at the beginning. Why did you first start creating YouTube videos? What inspired you to hit publish for the first time?

A: The channel I have now is actually my second YouTube channel. I started my first one in July of 2021, and at the time I really wasn’t much of a YouTube consumer. To me, YouTube was either where you went to look up how to change a tire, or you were Emma Chamberlain, or you were MrBeast. Those felt like the three types of YouTubers. I was also working on a startup then, but I thought, instead of putting all my eggs in one basket, why not diversify a bit? A friend sent me a podcast featuring Ali Abdaal, and it was the first time I realized you could teach on YouTube in a way that actually transformed people’s lives. I’ve never been much of an entertainer, I’ve always been more of an educator at heart. So when I saw what Ali was doing with his channel, I thought, “That sounds awesome. What if I tried that?” And that’s what got me started.

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Q: If you achieved everything you’ve ever wanted with your channel, what would that look like?

A: The crazy thing is I was reflecting on this recently and I realized—I already did it. This year has been outrageous in terms of external achievements, beyond anything I imagined. Last year I made maybe $50,000 total. This year the business is bringing in over a quarter million. I launched Creator Crew, hired a full-time team member and another part-time, and I hit 100K subscribers with the play button on the way. I spoke at VidCon, and a brand is even putting my face on a billboard in Times Square. As I made a new vision board, I realized everything I wanted, I’ve done. Now it’s more about doing it sustainably—taking weekends off, having time to go to Disney World, making life fun again. For the first time I actually feel successful, and the next step is building systems so I can keep that success going without burning out.

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Q: Help us fill in the blank: “The best ideas come when I’m______”

A: I think probably it’s just when I’m in flow, which sounds like a cop-out answer, but that’s what it is. For me, being in flow means both internal noise and external noise are low or gone. External noise is deadlines, calls, or distractions in life. Internal noise is the voice saying I’m not good enough, no one will like this, or I’ll never make it. When both of those are quiet, that’s when I can reach flow—and that’s when the best ideas come.

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Q: How has Spotter Studio helped your channel? What do you love most about it? Have you had any Hit Videos?

A: Spotter Studio has changed a lot over the last year since I started using it. My favorite feature has been the thumbnail concept generator because it gives me extra inspiration when I’m thinking through different compositions or trying to visualize something more conceptual. Even if I don’t use the exact thumbnail, it helps me think about lighting, color, and other elements I might not have considered. I haven’t had a Spotter Studio variation win an A/B test yet, but I’m a big believer in always having multiple thumbnail options for every video. Having extra variations to experiment with is really valuable because you never know which one will hit.

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Aprilynne Alter’s BIG Ideas

1) Q: What book, resource or creator expert have you recommended most to other creators, and why?

A: I made a two-and-a-half hour long video where I interviewed different YouTube experts across a bunch of areas and compiled it all into one giant master resource. I think it’s a really great onboarding ramp into the world of YouTube and something I point people too often. Other than that, I love Clouse. He’s had some incredible interviews on his Creator Science podcast—his episodes with Paddy Galloway are so useful, and the one with Jenny Hoyos on short form content was amazing. I’ve gone back to those for my own research when making videos.

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2) Q: What $100-or-less creator tool or purchase has made a surprising impact on your channel? 

A: I’d say Figma. Hardly anyone in the YouTube space seems to use it because it’s marketed as a web design tool, not a creator tool. But I love it. I make all of my static assets for motion graphics in Figma, and it’s given me a lot of flexibility. It’s honestly leveled up my production quality in ways I don’t think I could have done with other tools.

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3) Q: What’s a video flop that taught you an important lesson on your creator journey? 

A: The very first brand deal I did with Spotter was a package of three videos, and the first one flopped really badly. I had worked so hard on it and was proud of it, but it just didn’t land. Looking back, I think I started the video slower than I should have, and I’d do it differently now. The lesson I took away wasn’t about strategy, though. It was about business. You should always try to bundle brand deals. Don’t just do one video, do two or three, because you can never guarantee the success of a single upload. If I had only done that one video, I don’t think the relationship would have continued. But because it was a package, the partnership has lasted and it’s been great.

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4) Q: If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it, that would get a message out to millions of Pro Creators, what would it say and why? 

A: It would say, “This is your sign to keep creating.” Because there were so many points in my own YouTube journey where I felt demoralized and thought nothing was working. Sometimes you just need that reminder to keep going, keep making the next video, and trust that things will turn around. 

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5) Q: Along the journey, could you tell me about your more memorable video project you've brought to life, and how you came up with the idea?

A: Oh man, I would say I have a few really memorable videos. The first was back on my very first channel when I made a video about creating an NFT collection during the height of that hype in 2021. I just casually made it, but it went viral and that was my first experience with a video blowing up. It taught me what that feels like and what can actually come from it. The second big one was my most viewed video of all time, “How to Make a Killer YouTube Intro to Blow Up Your Channel.” That video monetized my current channel and took me from about 900 subscribers to well over 10,000 in a month. It really validated what I had believed for so long—that I did have the ability to make good videos people would value. Up until then, it was all internal motivation, telling myself, “I think I can, I think I can.” That video was the moment where other people saw it too, and it gave me the confidence to keep going.

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6) Q: If you could bring to life any video idea with any brand what would it be and why?

A: There’s one I’ve been thinking about for a while that I really want to make happen, and that’s a video with Epidemic Sound. They’re the only creator tool I started using from day one and still use four years later. I’d love to do a super deep dive into music and sound design in YouTube videos. It’s such an important part of storytelling, but most people either skip over it or just say, “Yeah, it’s important.” No one really talks about how to do it—like when to use a riser, how long to let a music track play, or how sound shapes emotion without being overbearing. I’m not a musical person at all, so I’d have a lot to learn, but that’s why I’d be so excited to make it. Epidemic Sound would be the perfect partner.

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7) Q: What’s the BEST advice you'd give to a smart, serious creator who just turned Professional?

A: I’d say really nail your video recipe. For me, that recipe has five ingredients. First is audience—who you’re serving, what they’re curious about, what they’re struggling with. Second is value—what your audience actually gets from your videos, whether it’s learning something, being entertained, or feeling inspired. Third is format—how you deliver that value, like tutorials, breakdowns, vlogs, or challenges. Fourth is vibe—how people feel when they watch your videos, because most of the time they’ll forget the details but remember the feeling. And fifth is differentiator—why someone should watch your version of a video when there are a hundred others out there. That could be your personality, a unique skill set, or access to something others don’t have. When you figure out your recipe and stay in that lane, that’s when momentum really starts to build.

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8) Q: What's the biggest challenge you’re facing in your creative journey right now? How can the Spotter Studio Community help support? 

A: I think my biggest challenge right now is systems. I have a lot going on and I also have great resources, but it’s about figuring out how to apply them in the best way so everything runs efficiently and effectively. The goal is to be able to step back a little without sacrificing quality. That balance is hard—especially with both content and a bigger offer running alongside it. I’m still trying to figure out how to divide resources and my own energy between both without anything suffering.

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9) Q: What idea are you most excited to create next? 

A: The video I’m working on right now is called “The Exact 90-Day System to Follow to Blow Up Your Channel.” I’m really excited about it because I’ve personally followed this system twice in my own YouTube journey. The first time it got me monetized and past 10K subscribers, and the second time it helped me break through a plateau and accelerate to over 100K. I can’t wait to lay it all out so other creators can use the exact same system to speed up their growth.

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10) Q: If you had a million dollars to make your dream video, what would it be? 

A: I think it would be really cool to do something like The Voice, but for YouTube. Imagine a team of YouTube strategists, and creators come pitch their channels. Each strategist drafts their own team, then trains and mentors them over a set period of time to see who can grow the most. It would be fun, educational, and inspiring. In the dream version, we’d all have a year to work with our teams, track growth from start to finish, and then crown a winner. I think it would be such a cool project. Paddy Galloway, you down?

Final Note

Aprilynne’s story proves that success on YouTube is not just about views. It is about clarity, consistency, and believing in your own vision even when no one else does. Her advice to creators is simple: define your recipe, keep creating, and trust that momentum will follow. For anyone in the trenches of their creator journey, her reminder is clear: this is your sign to keep going. If any of her ideas resonated with you, you can follow her creator journey on her YouTube channel here.

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