The Future Of YouTube Isn't What You Think (Hayden Hillier-Smith Interview)

Hayden Hillier-Smith is an industry leader in online editing.

He has edited for top-name talents like Logan Paul, Sam & Colby, Alex Wassabi and many more. In 2020, he won the Streamy for best editing. Today, Hayden is also the cohost of The Editing Podcast, publishing weekly videos about film editing.

In this episode, you’ll learn where YouTube is heading, how to keep an audience’s attention, how to hire an editor, and why Hayden doesn’t believe in creating videos for the YouTube algorithm.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - YouTube Content Is Shifting
01:27 - INTRO
01:43 - Hardest Thing About Working For Logan Paul
03:25 - We Are Entering The Next Era Of YouTube
06:33 - Why You Shouldn’t Copy Big YouTubers
08:05 - Why Hayden Went Solo
09:41 - How Do You Reconcile Niching Down?
10:57 - Hayden Doesn’t View Data Like Other YouTubers
12:14 - How Hayden Approaches Making Videos
14:43 - Importance of Early Retention
16:34 - What Creates High Energy?
17:46 - Sign Up For Creator Science!
18:21 - Importance Of Sound Design In Videos
20:39 - How To Choose What Sounds To Use
21:28 - How Does Being An Editor Affect Personal Viewing Experiences
23:00 - Why Start A Podcast?
24:15 - Hayden’s Rules For The Editing Podcast
26:12 - The Editing Podcast Intros Are Insane
27:13 - What’s Been Surprising Since Going Solo?
29:15 - Drama and Negativity Get Views
31:02 - Thinking About Growth Oriented Content
32:29 - Hayden Wants To Improve Life For YouTube Editors
33:46 - Listen to the Audio Podcast
35:01 - How To Hire A Great Video Editor
38:30 - What Should A New YouTuber Be Doing?
39:41 - What To Think About YouTube Shorts
40:37 - The Community Tab Is SUPER Underrated
42:06 - We Love Colin and Samir
44:25 - Why YOUR Perspective Is Important In Content
46:04 - Hayden’s YouTube Predictions
47:43 - Start Investing In Your Audience NOW
47:56 - OUTRO

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CONNECT WITH HAYDEN HILLIER-SMITH
📹 Hayden's Channel: @HillierSmith
📹 The Editing Podcast: @EditingPodcast

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CONNECT WITH JAY

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TEAM

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[Afrofeeling]

Your channel is going to blow. Excellent content. Your voice is great. You do your home work. Your questions are relevant. The editing is on point. Thank you and congrats for a really good job.

[CarlosFeral]

Thanks for all the info, great content you're going to blow up pretty soon.
Could you possibly make a video about shorts on YouTube? I have been growing a lot because of shorts but it's almost like a totally different game in terms of strategy that you don't get to choose a thumbnail, and for example many people put in personalized subtitles versus people don't be using them at all. Those would be interesting things to talk about.

[lionelrivera_MMA]

Jay, I'm surprised you have so few subscribers. Love the content. Love the value. You should try to get Colin and Samir on.

[neurojitsu]

This is SO good... I've studied a lot of film-making theory and practices, but this cuts right through the translation to youtube in such a clear and jargon-free way. Your questioning style is just right too: keeping the subject on-point and focused on your viewers' interests, but without guiding the witness; and love the tone of calm curiosity. One request: I loved the one where your scriptwriting guest live-edited some copy segments into compelling speech for youtube... could you do more of that sort of content, eg in this case do some realtime deconstruction of good editing, or analysis of how editing could be improved. Short snippets would be enough, just to 'see' each guest's mastery in action - I feel that we'd learn as much as hearing them try to explain what they do, if you get my drift.

[OmniTierra]

I’ve watched three of your videos now, and I got to say, thank you!
As a very small travel blog channel, this is a hard industry to get a handle on. These interviews really help.

[KazamYoutube]

You’ve got some amazingly helpful content here Jay, and I really appreciate you sharing what you do! I made some shorts that went viral, and now I have a channel with lots of subscribers but very little engagement. So I visit your work frequently as I feel like I’m just starting from scratch. 🤷‍♂️ Thanks for helping me keep my head up, and want to stay the course. 🙃

[ScriptScience]

Came for Hillier Smith wisdom, ended up also getting a masterclass on how to interview people. Subscribed.

[SlideSkills]

Hi Jay, what a fantastic job you did!

I clicked the video while doing chores and honestly thought I was listening to the Colin & Samir show (which I constantly listen to).

From start to finish, brilliant interview.

And thank you for diving deeper in the “education” type of channels, something which is exactly what I’m looking for.

Pure gold! Subscribed and liked (1000th like, made me feel extra happy 😅)

[MotifMusicStudios]

Jay, you've got such a unique, calm interview style and what a cool lineup of guests. Enjoying following along.

[KevinBurns]

Jay, I really like your style. So good! You are a great interviewer as well. You ask a question and you listen. Some interviewers forget this rule. But you don't. You listen. Keep it up! Enjoying!

[trovarion]

6:57 never has anything said on youtube resonated so much with me...

[alexstoermer]

I love these detailed videos gentlemen; putting onto the table openly the reality of negativity, fear, greed, etc. In the beginning, we think "If I just provide quality, educational content, FOR FREE... people will love it and my audience will explode!" So you do that, putting in hundreds of hours and... no one cares; no one watches. The realization that you have to entertain people or they won't watch - and almost trick them into being educated as a biproduct - is another chapter in the humbling book I've self-titled... "The World Doesn't Work How I Think It Should, It Works How It Works..."

[LordsiVR]

Just Listed to the whole Episode in the shower 😂 Great perspectives and great questions!!! You got my sub this was fascinating

[LoveGrowLiveFree]

Last video I watched recently had 6500+ subscribers, this shows you as 7100! WELL DONE! Well deserved! Great job!

[BootsAndMeds]

These were the BEST questions! Some I wanted to ask, some I didn't even know I wanted asked. This was awesome! Thanks so much!

[LilyGazou]

I listen to lots of videos daily while I work and commute. I usually only sub to micro channels but you are a gem. This was well worth my time.

[adameskow]

+2 incredibly underrated.

The production quality reaches a new level every 2 weeks (great job excuting on those first 1-2 mins...high energy🔥🔥)

Questions were thoughtfully planned and targeted.
Hayden is so in tune with storytelling, psychology, and trends.

Tons of takeaways. Ty!

[NaickKim]

Great interview, really interesting questions and you could tell Hayden had fun replying to them as well because they were original. Thanks, Jay!

[DaveSy]

Awesome seeing your stuff on YouTube AFTER discovering you on LinkedIn haha. Really cool conversation!

[spotlightspy]

Jay, I think every one of your videos is GOLD and I am so happy I found you.