[FAQ]

It got me thinking about content strategy from another angle:

I’m trying to plan out my YouTube content more strategically instead of just posting random, one-off videos. I want to start creating a recurring “series” to give my channel more structure.

What are the pros and cons of the different types of series formats people use in 2025? I’m thinking of things like a consistent weekly ‘show,’ a limited-run ‘season’ of episodes on one topic, or maybe an evergreen ‘how-to’ series that people can discover over time.

I’m trying to figure out which format is best for building a loyal audience and keeping them coming back. Would love to hear your thoughts on this!

[Jeff Bullas]

That is a very strategic question. Choosing the right series format for your YouTube content can have a huge impact on your workflow, your audience’s loyalty, and your channel’s overall growth.

There are a few common formats that creators use, and each comes with its own set of pros and cons.

First, you have the weekly episodic show. This is a consistent, ongoing series that you publish on the same day each week, for example, “Marketing Mondays.” The main benefit of this format is that it builds a strong viewing habit and a very loyal audience that learns to expect your content at a specific time. The major downside, however, is that it requires a relentless pace of content creation, which can be difficult to sustain long-term without burning out.

Second, there is the seasonal or finite series. This is a series with a set number of episodes, perhaps six to eight, that all focus on a single, overarching topic. It has a clear beginning, middle, and end. The biggest advantage of this format is that you can promote the entire season as a major “event,” which can build a lot of anticipation. It also has a defined endpoint, which is excellent for managing your workload. The main con is that you might see a drop-off in viewership between the end of one season and the beginning of the next.

And third, you have the pillar or evergreen series. This is essentially a curated playlist of videos all centred around a core topic, but they are standalone and do not necessarily need to be watched in a specific order. An example would be a playlist of “Beginner Photography Tips.” The main pro here is that these videos have a very long shelf life and can continually attract new viewers through Youtube for years to come. The con is that this format does not create the same “tune in next week” urgency as an episodic show.

In summary, the best format depends on your goals. Episodic shows are excellent for building loyal habits, seasonal series are great for creating high-impact events, and evergreen series are powerful for long-term growth through search. Many successful channels will often use a mix of these formats in their content strategy.

Cheers,

Jeff

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