The Three Audiences Every YouTube Video Should Serve

The Three Audiences Every YouTube Video Should Serve

When creators talk about growth on YouTube, the conversation often centers on getting more views. But focusing solely on the algorithm or hoping a video goes viral can miss a more fundamental strategy: making pieces that serve more than one type of viewer.

According to YouTube strategist Paddy Galloway, the best videos consistently speak to three key audiences. This approach, which he calls “CCN fit,” is a framework for designing videos that perform at scale while still building long-term audience trust. The three audiences are your core, casual, and new viewers.

Let’s explore how each one works and how creators can serve them effectively.

Core Audience

Your core audience is made up of returning viewers who are already invested in your content. They know your format, understand your tone, and are most likely to recognize the nuances in your videos. This group values consistency and depth. They’re not just watching for entertainment; they’ve chosen to follow your channel for a reason. In Paddy’s word’s: “The core audience is somebody who watches most of your videos. They’re bought into your channel, they’re probably subscribed, they know your format, and they kind of understand your world.

To serve your core, creators often lean into repeatable formats, familiar storytelling beats, or callbacks to previous videos. It’s about continuing a relationship. With Studio you can Brainstorm off of one of your past Outlier videos or a video that has a high percentage of viewership coming from subscribers.

Casual Audience

Casual viewers may have seen one or two of your videos before, but they haven’t fully bought in yet. They’re open to your content, but need a clear reason to stay.

To connect with this audience, your video needs a strong hook and clear narrative structure. As Galloway emphasizes, it's not just about getting a click. You need to reward curiosity with pacing, clarity, and thoughtful storytelling. The goal is to create enough interest that these viewers return next time. With Studio you can use Storybeats to develop the story and ensure your video has a strong hook, rising action, payoff and other beats to make the piece compelling.

New Audience

New viewers are discovering you for the first time. They’re not searching for your channel or expecting to see your content, so your video needs to stand out immediately.

These viewers are drawn to clarity, novelty, and curiosity. Formats that work well here include comparisons, extreme conditions, before-and-afters, or ideas with clear stakes. One of Galloway’s clients, for example, saw a huge jump in views just by reframing a video idea as a time-based comparison. Instead of “I photographed the Milky Way,” it became “Photographing the Milky Way in 10 minutes, 1 hour, and 24 hours.” Same core topic, much wider reach.

In Studio, look for Outliers across all of YouTube and look for patterns and trends of how these video are going about their packaging to better understand why this video may be resonating with a brand new audience

Why All Three Matter

Many creators unknowingly focus too much on just one group. They try to please loyal fans, or chase new views, or experiment to win over fringe followers. But long-term success often comes from finding the balance.

When a video is built with all three audiences in mind, it becomes more versatile. It can hook new people, nurture repeat viewers, and give subscribers something familiar to engage with. This multiplies your reach without sacrificing your foundation.

Instead of reinventing your format or chasing trends, it may be more effective to spend extra time refining your idea, title, and thumbnail. As Galloway notes, even a small change in packaging can lead to dramatically different outcomes.

Final Note

Every video project is an opportunity to build momentum. When you ideate your next project, ask:

• Will this idea connect with people who already follow me?
• Does it provide enough structure and clarity for casual viewers?
• Is there a reason someone new to my channel would want to click?
  
  

Designing with these three audiences will sharpen your strategy and help you hit bigger.

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