How to Get YouTube Comments on Small Channels

Getting comments on a small YouTube channel can be difficult. When your videos have only a few viewers, you may wonder how to encourage people to start conversations under your videos.

The good news is that you do not need thousands of subscribers to get comments. You can encourage interaction by making your videos more conversational, asking specific questions, and giving viewers a simple reason to share their opinion.

YouTube itself recommends asking viewers questions, responding to comments, and creating conversations to build a stronger community.

In this guide, you will learn how to get YouTube comments on small channels and how to turn occasional comments into an active community.

1. Ask a Specific Question

One of the easiest ways to get more comments is to ask viewers a question.

However, avoid generic questions such as:

“Did you enjoy this video?”

Instead, ask something that requires a specific answer.

For example:

• “Which YouTube thumbnail style do you prefer?”
• “What is your biggest problem with getting views?”
• “How many videos do you upload each week?”
• “Which method are you going to try first?”

Specific questions give viewers an easy starting point for a conversation.

YouTube specifically recommends asking direct questions to encourage viewers to participate in comments and provide feedback.

2. Ask the Question at the Right Moment

Do not wait until the final second of the video to ask viewers a question.

You can naturally introduce a question during the video when you are discussing an important point.

For example, if your video is about YouTube thumbnails, you could say:

“Before we move to the next tip, tell me in the comments: do you create your thumbnails on your phone or computer?”

This gives viewers a reason to think and respond while the topic is still fresh.

You can also repeat the question briefly at the end of the video.

3. Pin Your Own Comment

A pinned comment can make your question more visible.

YouTube allows creators to pin their own comment or a viewer’s comment at the top of a video’s comment section. YouTube specifically suggests using a pinned comment to ask your audience a question, clarify something, or thank viewers.

For example, after publishing a video about growing a YouTube channel, pin:

“What is your biggest challenge right now: getting views, subscribers, or watch time?”

This gives viewers an easy choice and can encourage more responses.

4. Reply to Every Genuine Comment

When your channel is small, you have an advantage: you can personally respond to many of your viewers.

Do not simply reply with:

“Thanks!”

Try to continue the conversation.

If someone comments:

“I started my channel last month.”

You could respond:

“Nice! What type of videos are you creating?”

That second question gives the viewer another opportunity to reply.

YouTube recommends replying to comments because it shows viewers that you are listening and interested in their feedback.

5. Heart Useful Comments

You can also use the heart feature to show appreciation for comments.

When you heart a comment, the viewer may receive a notification depending on their notification settings. This can help show viewers that you noticed their contribution.

For a small channel, recognizing early viewers can help create a more personal community.

Do not heart comments randomly just to increase activity. Use the feature naturally when someone leaves a useful, interesting, or thoughtful comment.

6. Create Videos That Invite Opinions

Some topics naturally generate more discussion than others.

Instead of always creating videos with one obvious answer, consider topics where viewers can share experiences, preferences, or different approaches.

For example:

Less conversational:
“How to Upload a YouTube Video”

More conversational:
“Which YouTube Upload Strategy Works Best for Small Channels?”

The second topic gives viewers an opportunity to discuss what has worked for them.

You can still provide factual information while leaving room for viewers to share their own experiences.

7. Give Viewers Two or Three Choices

A simple way to make commenting easier is to give viewers options.

For example:

“Which video should I make next?”

A: YouTube SEO
B: YouTube thumbnails
C: YouTube Shorts

A viewer only needs to type “A,” “B,” or “C.”

This removes the pressure of writing a long comment and can make participation easier.

You can also use this technique in Community posts. YouTube recommends polls and posts as ways to interact with viewers and get feedback about future content.

8. Turn Comments Into Future Videos

When viewers leave questions, use those questions as ideas for future videos.

For example, someone comments:

“How long should a YouTube video be for beginners?”

You could create a dedicated video answering that question.

Then you can tell viewers:

“Someone asked this question in the comments, so I made a full video about it.”

This shows viewers that their participation can influence your content.

YouTube also recommends using viewer feedback and suggestions to help build community.

9. Respond to Interesting Comments With Shorts

YouTube allows creators to interact with comments in different ways, including responding to a comment with a Short. This can turn a viewer’s question or opinion into another piece of content.

For example, if someone asks:

“Does uploading every day actually help a small channel?”

You could create a Short answering the question.

This creates a connection between your comments and your future videos.

10. Make Your Videos More Conversational

Your presentation style can also influence whether people feel comfortable commenting.

Instead of making your video sound like a lecture, occasionally speak directly to the viewer.

Use phrases such as:

“What do you think?”

“Have you experienced this?”

“Which option would you choose?”

“Tell me your experience below.”

These questions can make viewers feel like they are participating in a conversation rather than simply watching a presentation.

11. Do Not Buy or Fake Comments

Avoid buying comments or using fake accounts to make your channel look active.

Fake engagement does not create a genuine audience and can make your community less useful.

Instead, focus on attracting real viewers who are interested in your topic.

Your first few genuine comments may be more valuable than dozens of meaningless comments because real viewers can ask questions, provide feedback, and return to future videos.

12. Keep Your Comments Open and Manage Spam

Make sure comments are enabled when appropriate for your videos.

YouTube provides comment settings and moderation tools that allow creators to manage unwanted comments, blocked words, and spam.

You can also create channel guidelines that explain the type of conversation you want on your channel. YouTube currently allows creators to set up to three channel guidelines.

A welcoming comment section can make genuine viewers more comfortable participating.

A Simple Comment Strategy for Small Channels

For your next video, try this simple strategy:

During the video: Ask one specific question.

At the end: Remind viewers to answer it.

After publishing: Pin your question as a comment.

When viewers respond: Reply with another relevant question.

For useful comments: Like or heart them.

For interesting questions: Consider creating a future video or Short.

This creates a simple conversation loop instead of asking viewers for comments once and then ignoring their responses.

Final Thoughts

Getting comments on a small YouTube channel is less about having a huge audience and more about giving viewers a genuine reason to participate.

Ask specific questions, make your content conversational, pin useful questions, and respond to the people who take the time to comment. YouTube’s own creator guidance emphasizes direct questions, replies, hearts, and pinned comments as ways to build community through comments.

Most importantly, do not expect hundreds of comments immediately. Start by building conversations with the viewers you already have.

One genuine viewer asking a question can become the beginning of a much more active YouTube community.