Increasing views for a regional YouTube channel in one month. The "Obiektyv Novyny" case study

About the project

Obiektyv Novyny is a Kharkiv-based media group with its own YouTube channel, covering regional news ranging from frontline reports to utility issues and local chronicles.

The channel existed before our collaboration, with an established audience and editorial process, but its growth potential was clearly not being realized. The team filmed and published videos without a clear system: content was sometimes released chaotically, branding was inconsistent, and analytics were not being translated into actionable decisions.

From the start, it was clear that the channel needed more than just minor tweaks; it required a full-fledged YouTube system, from technical health to content logic. Therefore, our team at Tyshchuk Digital HUB, already experienced in working with media channels, began implementing these changes.

The objectives

Within such a short period, we were tasked with the following:

• Increase channel impressions by at least 5%
  
• Increase channel views by at least 30%
  
• Increase the number of unique channel viewers by at least 15%
  
• Select formats and identify a list of topics that will serve as the foundation for further growth in views
  

Important! The news niche is currently stagnating, so this was no easy task. We used the previous 38-day period as a benchmark, during which the channel generated 3.1 million impressions, 900,000 views, and reached 290,000 unique viewers.

How we did it

Phase one. Determining the priority format

Our first step was to determine which format would provide the fastest and most significant growth in views. We chose Shorts—a deliberate strategic decision rather than just "doing everything at once." This is why the new content schedule featured three times as many Shorts as long-form videos: 28 short videos per week compared to 8–9 horizontal ones.

We also analyzed our long-form videos to see which duration generated the most views on this channel. The results showed that the optimal length is 5 minutes on average. Since increasing monetization revenue was not the goal at this stage, we consciously advised against lengthening videos just to boost watch time, as this would have harmed retention and organic reach.

Phase two. Technical foundation and design system

Before launching the new system, we "cleaned up" the channel: we removed problematic content from drafts and limited monetization, enabled monetization where it had been disabled without cause, and organized playlists with SEO-optimized titles and descriptions. An unoptimized archive was dragging the channel down in recommendation algorithms, and this needed to be fixed before active work began.

In parallel, we prepared a unified graphics package. We provided recommendations on fonts and layout so the client's team could handle design independently after our collaboration ended. We also provided editing guidelines—covering lighting, sound, and the use of lower-quality archival footage—all of which directly impact retention.

Phase three. New content schedule and daily SEO process

Next, we launched a new content schedule with clear time slots so the audience could get used to the channel's rhythm and the team would have a better understanding of what to prepare and when.

We participated in the preparation and publication of content daily: approving titles and writing descriptions and tags for every video. We effectively implemented a clear SEO optimization system and regularly conducted A/B testing on designs to identify a core list of triggers and a success formula that works specifically for this channel and its audience.

Phase four. Content is King! Analytics is Queen!

This phase is a priority in our team's work with every client. This case was no exception: we held weekly online meetings with the editorial team to analyze metrics, review top-performing and underperforming videos, and adjust our strategy in real time.

This allowed us to identify topics that are already working on the channel and should be scaled further. At the same time, we analyzed competitor topics to create a list of ideas for future testing on the channel.

Results and achievements

Over 38 days, we achieved our primary goal: channel views grew by 31%—from 900,000 to 1.2 million—and impressions increased from 3.1 million to 3.3 million.

The channel's monthly audience grew by 16% to 288,000 unique viewers—an increase of nearly 40,000 new people compared to the previous period. The number of new subscribers grew by 12%, totaling +758.

The chosen priority format fully justified itself: Shorts generated 44% more views with an average retention of 75%. Individual videos showed exceptional results, with retention rates of 116%, 80%, and 78% respectively. Long-form videos also stabilized at an average retention of 40%, which is a strong indicator for the news niche.

All key metrics are trending in the right direction. The foundation is set: our technical infrastructure, content system, and audience insights are ready for further scaling.

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