This YouTuber used 'terrible' videos to go viral

YouTube is full of high-production videos.

Crisp editing. Flashy thumbnails. Studio-quality sound.

And if you're just starting out, it's easy to think:

"How am I supposed to compete with that?"

But what if I told you a creator 5x’d his subscribers… by making terrible videos?

You probably wouldn't believe me, right?

But it's true.

In this email I'm going to show you:

• The YouTuber who went viral with "bad" content

• Why he's actually a genius

• What you can learn from him

Let's do this.

Who is this 'terrible' creator?

His name is Charlie Morgan.

Let’s talk numbers.

At the start of 2022, Charlie had just 1,000 subscribers.

By the end of 2023? He had 39,000.

A solid two years of growth.

But then something wild happened.

In just two months, his channel skyrocketed from 39,000 to 100,000 subscribers.

So what changed?

His videos.

But not in the way you’d expect.

He ditched high-production editing, fancy graphics, and polished thumbnails.

Instead, he started filming unedited, raw videos on his phone, with thumbnails that looked… well, terrible.

And yet, those “terrible” videos made him go viral.

Was this just dumb luck? Or was it a genius move?

Let’s break it down.

Charlie Morgan video breakdown

For this breakdown, we’re going to analyse one of my favourite Charlie Morgan videos.

The same principles apply to many of his recent uploads, but this one stands out.

If you haven’t seen it yet, I’d recommend watching it after this breakdown.

Title & thumbnail design

Show this thumbnail to a professional designer, and they’ll probably laugh.

It looks like a random screenshot.

But here’s the crazy part:

This “terrible” thumbnail is actually genius.

Here's why:

• Authenticity - It looks raw and unfiltered, like a direct screenshot from the video. The clutter makes it feel like there are tons of valuable insights inside and no fluff.

• Originality - It stands out in a sea of professionally designed thumbnails. Not only does this draw attention, it means he can also recreate videos on topics that creators in the same niche have done because his design and video approach is so unique.

• Visual hierarchy - The title "DOPAMINE LOADING" is prominently displayed in large, bold letters, making it the first thing viewers notice. It grabs your attention and tells you exactly what the video is about in an instant.

• Scientific imagery - The inclusion of brain scans and other scientific visuals makes the content feel credible. It's subtly signalling to viewers: This video is backed by science.

Idea

Charlie saw a pattern in the self-improvement niche:

Videos about "dopamine detox" were going viral.

That told him one thing:

People were interested in content on this topic.

But instead of copying what was already working, he did something smarter.

He flipped the idea.

Rather than another video about quitting dopamine, he introduced a new term: “dopamine loading.”

Same audience, fresh concept.

Then, he made the video idea even more intriguing: instead of just self-improvement, he tied it to making money online.

A topic with way more urgency and appeal.

Because let’s be real: most people aren’t watching these videos just to be “better.”

They want an edge. They want results.

Charlie gave them exactly that.

And that’s why his video took off.

Intro

A great video hooks you immediately.

Charlie Morgan’s intro does this flawlessly. Let’s break down how:

Hook:

"If you can do this one easy thing, which literally takes five minutes to implement in your life, the speed at which you're going to get rich is going to increase massively."

This line does two things:

• It creates a curiosity gap: your brain needs to know what this “one easy thing” is.

• It teases a massive payoff: watch the video, and you’ll learn how to get rich faster.

Reverse psychology:

"If you can't sit and watch a quick 10-minute video on how to manage your brain so you can make money, I'm sorry but you're a lost cause and there's nothing I can do to help you."

Nobody wants to feel like a “lost cause.”

So what do you do?

You watch the video to prove him wrong.

This tactic challenges the viewer, making them even more likely to stay.

Length:

There's no fluff in this intro.

It takes less than 20 seconds to get into the main segment of this video, giving the viewer less time to lose interest and click off.

Video

What makes this video so good?

Simple:

It delivers insane value.

He shares actionable insights that make you feel like you’re learning something new and important.

But that’s not all.

His raw, unedited style makes the video feel authentic.

You feel like you’re getting advice from a real person.

Not a scripted, overproduced YouTuber.

That trust is what keeps people watching and makes them fall in love with your content.

What to take away

1. Your thumbnails don’t need to be perfect, just intriguing.

Forget about perfect design. A great thumbnail builds curiosity and makes people feel like they have to click. That’s what matters.

2. Study what’s already working.

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Analyse what’s performing well and put your own spin on it.

3. Value is king.

Editing tricks and perfect scripting won’t save a video if it’s not valuable. If your audience walks away learning something new or feeling inspired, they’ll keep coming back.

Quick note:

I'm currently running free 1-1 YouTube consultation calls.

I will:

• Review your channel

• Analyse your latest videos

• Give actionable strategies to improve

• Answer any YouTube growth questions you have

If you're interested, you can book your free call here.

Thank you for reading.

See you next Sunday,

Rory