YouTube Strategist / Channel Growth Manager (Thumbnails, Titles, Retention)

YouTube Strategist / Channel Growth Manager (Thumbnails, Titles, Retention) Remote (U.S.-based preferred) | 1099 Contractor | 15–25 hrs/week | Long-term Comp: $6,000–$10,000/month + performance upside Individuals only — no agencies ________________________________________

Summary

We produce content focused on helping cancer patients and their families navigate one of the most difficult moments of their lives. These are not casual viewers. These are people actively searching for answers, guidance, and clarity. Our YouTube channel is: “SurvivingMesothelioma” The people watching our content are often facing serious illness. The way we package and present information has a real impact on real families. Growth tactics must support trust — not undermine it. We are looking for a YouTube Growth Strategist who understands how to turn meaningful content into views, engagement, and sustained channel growth — through better packaging, stronger retention, and a tight feedback loop. ________________________________________ Current State We currently have over 150 videos. Subscriber count, CTR, and retention data will be shared with qualified candidates during the interview process. We believe there is significant upside in: •Packaging (titles + thumbnails)

• Early retention (first 30–60 seconds)
• Alignment between content and viewer intent

________________________________________ What This Role Actually Is This is a content performance role. You are not here to edit videos or manage uploads in isolation — you are here to improve how content performs. Your job is to get the right people to click, watch, and keep watching. ________________________________________ What You’ll Own 1. Video Packaging (Most Important)

• Titles (clear, compelling, high-intent)
• Thumbnails (emotion + curiosity + clarity)
• Alignment between title, thumbnail, and opening hook

________________________________________ 2. Retention Optimization

• Analyze where viewers drop off
• Identify weak hooks, pacing issues, or mismatches
• Recommend specific improvements

________________________________________ 3. Performance Analysis

• CTR (click-through rate)
• Average view duration
• Audience retention curves
• Viewer behavior patterns

________________________________________ 4. Feedback Loop

• Explain what’s working and why
• Identify what’s not working and fix it
• Continuously improve content performance

________________________________________ 5. Publishing & QA

• Ensure videos are uploaded correctly
• Optimize descriptions, end screens, and structure
• Maintain consistency across uploads

________________________________________ 6. Creative Oversight

• Work with editor(s) to improve pacing and structure
• Ensure content delivers on the promise of the title/thumbnail

________________________________________ Who This Is For This role is for someone who:

• Understands that packaging (title + thumbnail) drives most performance
• Knows that retention determines whether YouTube distributes the video
• Thinks in terms of viewer psychology, not just keywords
• Can quickly diagnose why a video is underperforming
• Can clearly explain what to fix first and why

________________________________________ Bonus (Not Required)

• Experience in health, legal, or other high-intent search-driven audiences
• Experience working with sensitive or trust-critical topics

________________________________________ How We Measure Success

• Increase in click-through rate (CTR)
• Improved audience retention and watch time
• Growth in views and channel performance
• Clear, consistent improvement across uploads

________________________________________

Compensation

• $6,000–$10,000/month depending on experience and level of ownership
• Performance upside after validation period
• Long-term engagement for the right person

________________________________________ How to Apply (Video Required — Important) Before applying, please review our YouTube channel: Search: “SurvivingMesothelioma” on YouTube Generic responses will not be considered. ________________________________________ Submit a 3–5 minute Loom (or similar) video answering: 1. Why do you think this channel is underperforming? Be specific. ________________________________________ 2. If you could only fix ONE thing in the next 30 days to increase views, what would it be and why? ________________________________________ 3. What is your hypothesis for why retention is low in the first 30 seconds? ________________________________________ Include your video link directly in your Upwork proposal. ________________________________________ Important If your instinct is to focus primarily on tags, keywords, or backend setup before packaging and retention — this is not the role. We are not looking for someone to “manage” YouTube. We are looking for someone who can diagnose problems clearly, prioritize correctly, and improve performance consistently. Apply tot his job Apply To this Job