Niche research before setup is the highest-value 2 hours you will spend on this project. A good niche means every video has a natural audience. A bad niche means hundreds of videos that receive minimal distribution.

The Validation Checklist

  • Search volume: Type your niche keyword in YouTube search. Multiple autocomplete variations indicate real demand.
  • Competitor analysis: High views on young channels means the algorithm is distributing the niche aggressively.
  • RPM estimate: Look up the niche on social blade or income disclosure videos from existing channels.
  • Content supply: Can you generate 365+ unique stories in this niche? If too narrow, story generation becomes limiting quickly.
Niche selection support
Empire Package Includes Setup Support for Niche Selection
Direct email access to the builder for niche recommendations based on your market and goals.
Get Empire -- $497

The 2-Hour Validation Process

Spend 30 minutes searching your niche on YouTube. Spend 30 minutes on keyword research using TubeBuddy or vidIQ free tier. Spend 30 minutes watching the top 5 videos in the niche noting what they do well and where they are weak. Spend the final 30 minutes writing 10 story titles for your niche. If you cannot write 10 interesting titles, the niche may be too narrow or too tired for the format.