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Starting My Dream Camper Build
August 12, 2025What I Learned from My First 10 YouTube Videos
The Mission
When I started Ryan Anderson HQ, I knew I didn’t want to create aimlessly. My ultimate goal is to build a camper from scratch like I did back in 2017. But I want to monetize the adventure. I also want to find affiliates. I think its a win/win. Content to help others find their groove in creating something with the resources they have but also speed up the process. I have chosen my blog and youtube to document the journey and today I thought, since my goal is to build an audience and my background is in marketing, I would start diving into the analytics. Once I started to dive into the analytics
Now that I’ve published 10 videos—ranging from camper builds to mountain biking shorts and gear reviews—I decided to dig into the numbers and see what’s actually working.
This post is an open book: I’m sharing the real analytics, what surprised me, and how I’m adjusting my strategy going forward.
The Data
To keep this transparent, I’ve included a downloadable PDF that outlines my first Creator Report:
Download Creator Report #1 (PDF)
Inside the report:
- Individual metrics
- What brought in the most subscribers
- Click-through and retention metrics
- My takeaways and next steps
Key Insights
✅ Shorts Get Views — Fast
My mountain biking short got over 1,800 views and 500+ engaged views. That’s more than 8x my next best long-form video. reach isn’t really my goal, but if it was I would double down on shorts.
✅ DIY Builds Attract the Right People
The DIY Camper Design video didn’t blow up in views, but it brought in the most subscribers, which tells me the audience it attracted is sticking around. This is why I cannot start building this project fast enough. I finally got the garage space cleared out and I am ready to start building the platform.
✅ Click-Through Rate is Strong on Niche Projects
My 4Runner mod and Teardrop Camper Build had CTRs near 5%. These topics, paired with focused thumbnails, clearly resonate with viewers searching for that kind of content.
❌ Some Ideas Fell Flat
A few videos had strong concepts but lacked early engagement. I’ll be reworking how I structure my openings and how I present value up front. I really thought the story of how a kids ride shotgun seat taught my daughter to balance without training wheels was going to be money but it just has not hit yet.
My Strategy Going Forward
Here’s how I’m pivoting:
- Weekly Long-Form Builds
I’ll release one long-form video every other week focused on the camper build. I would do it at a faster pace but I am paying for this out of pocket and wood has gotten expensive! I could attempt a long form video once a week, focusing on other DIY, projects, etc. I always have something going on. - Lifestyle Shorts (2–3 Weekly)
Quick hits on biking trails, gear, and project progress would be good for shorts. - Better Video Structure
I’m leading with results, skipping fluff, and delivering value up front. Expect more “Here’s what I built—now let’s see how I did it” style hooks. - Document Everything
I will try and post a creator report on a monthly basis. If you’re building something similar, you can follow along. I think I could turn the progress reports into videos as well.
Why I’m Sharing This
Most creators don’t talk about what’s happening behind the scenes until they’ve already “made it.” I think that’s backward. I’m building a channel that reflects who I am, and if you’re reading this, maybe you are too.
If you’re starting a channel, growing a business, or just trying to stay intentional in your work, I hope this gives you something to chew on.
Follow the channel here: YouTube.com/@ryanandersonhq
