How to Get YouTube Comments on Small Channels: 12 Practical Tips

Getting comments on a small YouTube channel can be difficult. When you have only a few viewers, you may publish a useful video and still see little or no discussion underneath it.

This doesn’t necessarily mean your content is bad. People often need a clear reason to participate before they leave a comment.

If you want to learn how to get YouTube comments on small channels, the key is to make commenting easy, relevant, and natural. Instead of simply telling viewers to “comment below,” create opportunities for them to share an opinion, answer a question, choose between options, or describe their own experience.

Here are practical strategies you can use to encourage more meaningful comments.

1. Ask a Specific Question

One of the simplest ways to encourage comments is to ask a specific question related to your video.

Avoid vague requests such as:

“What do you think? Comment below!”

Instead, ask something easy to answer.

For example:

“Which YouTube thumbnail style do you prefer: simple text or text-free?”

A specific question gives viewers a clear starting point.

Try to make the question directly connected to the topic they just watched.

2. Ask for an Opinion

People often enjoy sharing their opinions.

If your video discusses different strategies, tools, or approaches, ask viewers which option they prefer.

For example:

• Which strategy would you try first?
• Which method works better for you?
• What would you change?
• Which option do you prefer?
• Do you agree with this approach?

Opinion-based questions can turn passive viewers into participants.

3. Ask About Their Experience

Personal experience can be an excellent conversation starter.

Suppose your video is about growing a YouTube channel.

Instead of only saying:

“Subscribe for more tips.”

you could ask:

“How many subscribers does your channel have right now?”

Or:

“What is the biggest challenge you’re facing with your channel?”

Viewers who relate to the subject may be more willing to share their own experiences.

4. Give Viewers an Easy Choice

Not every viewer wants to write a long comment.

Make participation simple by asking a question with two or three possible answers.

For example:

“Which do you focus on first: thumbnails or titles?”

The viewer can answer with just:

“Thumbnails.”

This reduces the effort required to participate.

Once someone leaves a short answer, you can continue the conversation by responding with a follow-up question.

5. Respond to Comments Quickly

Getting the first comment is only the beginning.

When someone comments, respond to them.

A useful reply could:

• Answer their question
• Thank them for sharing
• Ask a follow-up question
• Provide an additional tip
• Clarify something from the video

For example, if someone says:

“I struggle with finding video ideas.”

Instead of replying only:

“Thanks!”

you could ask:

“What niche is your channel in? I may be able to suggest some topic ideas.”

This can turn one comment into a conversation.

6. Use Your Video’s Main Topic to Start Discussion

The best comment prompts usually come from the content itself.

If your video is about YouTube thumbnails, ask about thumbnails.

If your video is about upload schedules, ask about upload frequency.

If your video is about video length, ask viewers how long their videos usually are.

This keeps the conversation relevant and avoids making the call to action feel forced.

7. Create Videos Around Questions

Question-based content naturally creates opportunities for discussion.

For example, you could create videos around questions such as:

• Why are my YouTube videos not getting views?
• How long should a YouTube video be?
• How often should beginners upload?
• Should small channels use YouTube Shorts?
• What makes a good YouTube thumbnail?

At the end of the video, ask viewers how they handle the same problem.

The video answers one question while the comments can introduce additional experiences and questions.

8. Invite Viewers to Share Their Results

If your video teaches a process, ask viewers to share what happened after trying it.

For example:

“If you try this thumbnail strategy, come back and tell us what changed.”

This creates a reason for viewers to return and potentially participate later.

However, don’t promise that a specific strategy will automatically produce a particular result. Encourage viewers to share their actual experience.

9. Use a Strong Call to Action

A call to action doesn’t have to be complicated.

Instead of asking viewers to comment, like, subscribe, share, and do several other things at the same time, focus on one simple action.

For example:

“What is the biggest problem you’re facing with your YouTube channel? Tell me in the comments.”

This is more specific than simply saying:

“Don’t forget to comment!”

The viewer knows exactly what information you’re requesting.

10. Mention the Question Before the Ending

Don’t wait until the final two seconds to introduce your discussion question.

You can mention it earlier in the video and then remind viewers near the end.

For example:

At the beginning:

“Later in this video, I’ll ask you which upload schedule you’re currently using.”

At the end:

“Now I’d like to know: do you upload once, twice, or more times per week?”

This gives viewers time to think about their answer.

11. Turn Comments Into Future Videos

Comments can become a useful source of future content ideas.

Suppose viewers repeatedly ask:

“What should I do if my Shorts get views but my long videos don’t?”

That question could become an entirely new video.

You can also mention the comment in the future video:

“Several viewers asked about this, so today we’re going to explain it.”

This shows viewers that their questions can influence your content.

As a result, people may have more reason to leave useful questions in future videos.

12. Create a Friendly Comment Section

People are more likely to participate when the discussion feels welcoming.

Respond respectfully even when someone disagrees with you.

You don’t have to agree with every comment.

Instead, you can say:

“That’s an interesting approach. Why has it worked for your channel?”

This encourages conversation without creating unnecessary arguments.

For a small channel, building a friendly community can be more useful than simply chasing a large number of comments.

Comment Strategies for Different Video Types

Different videos can use different questions.

Tutorial

Ask:

“Which step was the most difficult for you?”

YouTube Growth Video

Ask:

“What is your current subscriber count?”

Strategy Video

Ask:

“Which strategy would you try first?”

Comparison

Ask:

“Which option would you choose and why?”

Problem-Solving Video

Ask:

“Are you experiencing the same problem?”

Matching your question to the video makes the comment prompt feel natural.

Mistakes to Avoid

Asking vague questions

“Any thoughts?” gives viewers little direction.

Begging for comments

Repeatedly asking for engagement can feel unnatural.

Asking too many questions

One strong question is often easier to answer than five different questions.

Ignoring existing comments

If viewers take the time to comment, respond when you can.

Creating controversial questions just for engagement

Don’t manufacture unnecessary arguments simply to increase activity.

Giving fake engagement promises

Avoid suggesting that commenting automatically makes YouTube recommend a video.

Focus on creating useful conversations instead.

A Simple Comment Strategy for Small Channels

You can use this simple formula at the end of your videos:

Answer + Question + Invitation

For example:

“We’ve covered three ways to improve your YouTube thumbnails. Which one are you going to try first? Tell me in the comments, and if you have another thumbnail tip, share it with the community.”

This gives viewers both a direct question and an opportunity to contribute their own knowledge.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to get YouTube comments on small channels is less about asking viewers to comment repeatedly and more about giving them something worth discussing.

Ask specific questions, encourage opinions, invite viewers to share their experiences, respond to existing comments, and turn useful discussions into future content.

Remember that a small number of meaningful comments can create a more useful conversation than a large number of empty responses.

As your channel grows, continue treating commenters as participants rather than simply numbers. When viewers feel that their questions and experiences are welcome, your comment section can gradually become a more active part of your YouTube community.