Every good YouTube channel steals.
The problem is most people steal backwards. Same industry, same format, or a creator 100x their size.
So the video flops, and they decide YouTube doesn't work.
Today, we're covering:
Why most people steal backwards (and why copying Hormozi can't work for you)
The 6 pieces of a video you can steal, and why you never take them all from one place
How to pre-validate every piece before you hit record
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The Actionable Takeaway
Before you film your next video, run one quick test.
Write down where each piece came from.
The idea, the concept, the execution, the title, the thumbnail, and the thumbnail text.
Aim for at least 3 different sources.
If you don’t have multiple sources of validation, don’t make it
That's the difference between stealing and building.
Why Most People Steal Backwards
Let me be clear.
Everybody steals on YouTube and I have nothing wrong with it
The problem is where they steal from.
Mistake #1: stealing from your own industry.
Your video ends up looking exactly like the one your viewer watched yesterday.
Mistake #2: stealing videos that are too close to yours.
Even if you change the niche, copying the same exact packaging, scripts, etc., is just placing you as the second best
Mistake #3: stealing from channels that are way too big.
I see so many people end up stealing from creators like Hormozi
But Alex Hormozi has years of brand and channel equity behind every upload.
That equity is half the reason his videos go viral.
So when you copy his video, you get the format without the equity.
Your version isn't going to have the same effect, no matter how good it is.
How to Steal the Right Way
Now, stealing the RIGHT way is simple but takes a lot more effort (it’s worth it I promise)
It comes down to combining a bunch of different sources and building a video that's almost entirely different.
There are 6 pieces you can steal:
The idea. The overall thesis. "The economics of a brand." "Reviewing a brand." "Email design." Just the base idea.
The concept. What they're actually doing in the video.
The execution. How they're doing it.
The title.
The thumbnail.
The thumbnail text.
For example, one of our client videos hit 200,000+ views.
Five pieces, five different sources.
The thumbnail text alone came from an AI automation agency, in a completely different industry.
Nobody watching could tell you what we "copied."
Because we didn't copy anything.
We stacked it.
How to Pre-Validate Every Piece
Every piece you steal should already be proven.
And while there are tons of different places you can actually look and find these sources, here are my two favorites.
Source #1 is YouTube, and it's the strongest.
Look for videos from the last 3 months.
If you see the same title format 3 times, it's working. Same goes for the thumbnail, the execution, all of it.
Source #2 is other platforms, and it's a little weaker.
News articles, LinkedIn posts, Instagram videos, Twitter posts.
If something is doing extremely well there, you know it's hitting a nerve with that ICP, and you might be able to bring it to YouTube.
But I always recommend one rule:
Have at least one source of validation directly from YouTube.
Pull trends and topics from everywhere else, as long as the platform you're posting on has already said yes to something in the video.
How We Can Help You
→ Book a call here» where we will map out your marketing funnel and see if YouTube is the right move
→ Watch our full video breakdown of ideation, packaging, and scripting here»
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Appreciate you stopping by,
Braden