🎯 Your Mission: 10.7K → 50K Subscribers in 79 Days
Current State (Oct 13, 2025): 10,700 subscribers • 1,307 avg views/video • 245 videos published
Target State (Dec 31, 2025): 50,000 subscribers • 5,000 avg views/video • Recognized as "Smosh of Young Africa"
Strategy: This is NOT a 365-day plan. It's an aggressive 79-day sprint with weekly deliverables, daily tasks, and measurable milestones. Every week builds on the last. Miss one week = cascade failure.
Your #1 Priority: STOP wasting time on "guess" formats (374 avg views). START signature series (projected 2,000-5,000 views).
Oct 14 - Nov 12
Nov 13 - Dec 12
Dec 13 - Dec 31
PHASE 1: FOUNDATION (Days 1-30)
Goal: Kill failing formats, launch first signature series, lock in Core 5 cast, establish weekly production rhythm
Target Metrics: 15K subs (+4.3K) • 2,500 avg views • 20 videos published
WEEK 1: Emergency Pivot
Oct 14-20, 2025• Delete unused guess footage to free mental space
• Announce to team: "No more trivia games unless Nigerian-specific with stakes"
• Share top 30 patterns (what works) and bottom 30 disasters (what to avoid)
• Get buy-in on Core 5 cast strategy + signature series approach
• Explain growth strategy: They'll be in 80% of videos (4x/week exposure minimum)
• Present talent development program (personal brand support, growth milestones)
• Get commitment: 3 filming days/week minimum for next 75 days
• Each cast member introduces themselves in 8 seconds
• Post Thursday Oct 17 with caption: "Your new favorites. You'll see them A LOT."
• Plan first 4 episodes: Ade vs Semiloore (Week 1), Elizabeth vs John (Week 2), Henry vs Ade (Week 3), Winners Face-off (Week 4)
• Create VERSUS series branding: thumbnail template, intro music, set design
• 5 rounds: Afrobeats lyrics, artist identification, song year challenge, dance-off, fan vote
• Stakes: Loser buys winner lunch + admits defeat on their Instagram
• Film horizontal (16:9) for cropping to shorts
• Get 8-10 "reaction moments" for short extraction
• "Guess Your Age Challenge" (40s)
• "Who Spent More on Their Outfit?" (50s)
• Post 1 short Friday, 2 shorts Saturday, 2 shorts Sunday
• Extract 8 shorts: best reactions, controversial moments, winner reveal
• Create thumbnail: Split-screen Ade/Semiloore with "VS" in middle, Nigerian flag colors
• Mon-Sun: Post 1 short per day (7 shorts total from various sources)
• Plan Thursday shoot: VERSUS Ep 2 (Elizabeth vs John)
✅ Core 5 cast locked in with commitments
✅ "Guess" formats officially killed
✅ ZOOKA VERSUS Episode 1 filmed and edited
✅ 8 shorts extracted and scheduled
✅ Week 2-4 content calendar created
WEEK 2: Launch & Learn
Oct 21-27, 2025• Pin comment: "Who do you think won? Team Ade or Team Semiloore? 👇"
• Share to all Core 5 Instagram/Twitter with custom posts
• Monitor first 2 hours closely (algorithm decision window)
• Respond to ALL comments in first 3 hours (algorithm boost)
• If performing well (500+ views in 6 hours), boost with paid promotion (₦5,000-10,000)
• Check comments: What moments are people talking about?
• Compare to channel average (1,307 views): Above or below?
• Adjust Ep 2 based on learnings (if retention drops at 10 min, make Ep 2 shorter)
• Film Wednesday: "Nigerian Gen Z Tries American Halloween Candy 🎃" (15 min)
• Extract 5 shorts: "Wait...they eat THIS?!", best/worst reactions
• Schedule for Oct 30 (1 day before Halloween for algorithm window)
• 5 rounds: Lagos landmarks, slang, traffic routes, street food, local celebrities
• Apply lessons from Ep 1: If viewers dropped at 10min, tighten pacing
• Quick challenges (4): Speed reactions, taste tests, trend-jacking
• Behind-the-scenes (3): Bloopers, cast goofing around, "how we film VERSUS"
• Create spooky thumbnail with Nigerian twist
• Title: "Nigerians Try American Halloween Candy 🎃😱 (Their Reactions Shocked Us!)"
• Schedule shorts for consistent posting: 9am, 2pm, 7pm Lagos time
• Plan Week 4: VERSUS Ep 3 (Henry vs Ade), 1 relationship debate video, daily shorts
✅ VERSUS Ep 1 launched with performance data
✅ VERSUS Ep 2 filmed and in editing
✅ Halloween content filmed (avoiding trend-miss disaster)
✅ 20+ shorts in content bank
✅ Adjusted strategy based on Ep 1 learnings
WEEKS 3-4 OVERVIEW
Oct 28 - Nov 10, 2025Week 3 Focus: Halloween + VERSUS Momentum
- Oct 30: Post Halloween special (target: 3K+ views from holiday algorithm boost)
- Oct 31: Post 3 Halloween shorts (trend-jack while window is hot)
- Nov 1: Launch VERSUS Ep 2 (Elizabeth vs John - Lagos knowledge battle)
- Nov 3: Film VERSUS Ep 3 (Henry vs Ade - Nigerian movie trivia with stakes)
- Daily: Post 1-2 shorts, engage with all comments within 2 hours
Key Milestone: By end of Week 3, VERSUS series should be averaging 2,500+ views/episode. If below 2K, pivot episode format (add more stakes, shorter runtime, better thumbnails).
Week 4 Focus: Launch Second Signature Series
- Decision Point: If VERSUS performing well (2.5K+ avg), launch ZOOKA UNHINGED. If struggling, double down on VERSUS improvements.
- Nov 6: Film ZOOKA UNHINGED Ep 1 - "Nigerian Gen Z Reacts to 2000s Nollywood 😂"
- Nov 8: Launch UNHINGED Ep 1 (target: 2K+ views from nostalgia factor)
- Nov 10: VERSUS Ep 4 - Winners Championship (Ep 1 winner vs Ep 2 winner)
- Planning: Start pre-production for Independence Day content (if relevant) or Thanksgiving Nigerian-angle content
PHASE 2: ACCELERATION (Days 31-60)
Goal: Scale to 3 signature series, launch talent personal brand program, optimize based on 1-month data, plan Christmas mega-specials
Target Metrics: 30K subs (+15K) • 4,000 avg views • 45 videos total published
Critical Window: Thanksgiving (Nov 28) and Christmas (Dec 25) content MUST be filmed Nov 11-20 to hit algorithm windows. Do NOT repeat 2024 Christmas disaster (posted too late, 87-132 views).
WEEKS 5-8 SPRINT (Nov 11 - Dec 8)
Week 5 (Nov 11-17): Christmas Prep + Third Series
Title: "How Nigerian Families REALLY Celebrate Christmas 🎄 (Americans Won't Believe #7)"
• Invite 3 Nigerian families (real families, not actors)
• Cover: food traditions, gift culture, church significance, family dynamics
• 25-30 min long-form + extract 10 shorts
• Schedule for Nov 18 posting (37 days before Christmas = prime algorithm window)
• Taskmaster-style challenge format with Core 5
• Stakes: Loser does winner's chores for a week
• Post Nov 15, target 3K+ views
• Compare VERSUS vs UNHINGED vs GAMES: Which series is strongest?
• Adjust strategy: Double down on winner, improve or kill underperformers
• Check Core 5 individual performance: Is Henry actually the star (1,547 avg view history suggests yes)?
Week 6 (Nov 18-24): Thanksgiving + Christmas #2
• Film Nov 19, post Nov 26 (2 days before Thanksgiving)
• Compare to Nigerian Christmas foods
• Extract 5 shorts: "Wait...they eat WHAT for dinner?!"
• Heartwarming special (repeat Mother's Day emotional formula that got 162K views)
• Film with Core 5 giving gifts to 10 street vendors
• Capture genuine reactions (THIS is what goes viral)
• Schedule for Dec 8 posting (17 days before Christmas)
• Provide content packages: 15 short clips per cast member to post
• Tag @thisisbazzooka in every post (cross-promotion)
• Track their growth: Goal is 5K+ followers each by Dec 31
Week 7 (Nov 25-Dec 1): Series Optimization
- Focus: Your 3 series (VERSUS, UNHINGED, GAMES) should now have 3-4 episodes each with clear data
- Decision Matrix:
- Series averaging 3K+ views = SCALE IT (add 5th episode, increase production value)
- Series averaging 2K-3K views = OPTIMIZE IT (better thumbnails, tighter editing, higher stakes)
- Series averaging <2K views = PIVOT OR KILL (major format change or replace with new series)
- Content: 3 signature series episodes + 10 shorts + 1 special Thanksgiving video
- Milestone: Should hit 20K subscribers by Dec 1 if on track
Week 8 (Dec 2-8): Pre-Christmas Sprint
• Dec 8: Post Christmas Special #2 (Street vendor surprises filmed Nov 20)
• Dec 2-8: Post 2-3 Christmas shorts daily (10-15 total shorts this week)
• Identify top 10 videos from past 60 days: What patterns emerge?
• Adjust Phase 3 strategy based on what's actually working (data > assumptions)
• Film Dec 8: "2025 Recap: ZOOKA's Craziest Moments 🎉"
• Schedule both for Dec 29-31 posting
PHASE 3: VIRAL SPRINT (Days 61-79)
Goal: Christmas viral push, end-of-year momentum, hit 50K subscribers, set 2026 foundation
Target Metrics: 50K subs (+20K in 19 days) • 5,000 avg views • 65 videos total
This is your MAKE OR BREAK period. Christmas algorithm boost + end-of-year "best of" content + New Year momentum = perfect storm for explosive growth. Execute flawlessly.
FINAL 19 DAYS (Dec 9-31): BLITZ MODE
🎯 The 50K Strategy: How to Gain 20K Subs in 19 Days
This is mathematically possible but requires PERFECT execution. Your Mother's Day short got 162K views (124X channel avg). Christmas has 3X the search volume of Mother's Day. If you can create ONE Christmas short that hits 50K+ views, you'll get 10-15K subs from that alone.
Formula: 1 viral Christmas short (50K views, 10K subs) + 2 solid Christmas specials (8K views each, 3K subs each) + consistent signature series (15 videos, 4K avg, 4K subs) + 40 shorts (500 avg, 3K subs) = 20K new subscribers.
Week 9 (Dec 9-15): Christmas Content Flood
Title: "Surprising Nigerian Families Who Can't Afford Christmas 🎄😭💝"
• Highest emotional stakes possible (replicate Mother's Day formula that got 162K)
• Find 5 families struggling financially, surprise with groceries + gifts
• Capture GENUINE tears (authenticity = virality)
• Film Dec 10, edit by Dec 12, post Dec 14
• Create 30-second short version, post Dec 15 at 9am
• Budget: Allocate ₦50K-100K for gifts (ROI: Could bring 50K+ views = 10K subs = worth it)
• Topics: Nigerian Christmas foods, gift opening reactions, carol parodies, family chaos
• Goal: Flood the Christmas algorithm, increase chances of ONE breaking through
• Christmas-themed episodes: "VERSUS: Best Christmas Gift Wrapper", "UNHINGED: Worst Christmas Movies", "GAMES: Christmas Trivia for Prizes"
Week 10 (Dec 16-22): Peak Christmas Week
• Post your BEST Christmas content Dec 20-23
• Already filmed content earlier, now schedule optimally
• Post 4-5 shorts DAILY (Dec 20-25 = 24 shorts in 5 days)
• Respond to ALL comments within 30 minutes (algorithm reward for engagement)
• Spend ₦20K-50K on YouTube ads targeting Nigerian diaspora + local viewers
• Track which shorts are performing: Create sequels to winners immediately
• Post Dec 26 (day-of, while search volume is high)
• You already have Boxing Day proof-of-concept: 2,162 views in 2024
Week 11 (Dec 23-31): End Strong, Set 2026 Foundation
• Dec 29: "ZOOKA 2025 Best Moments Compilation 🎬" (15 min recap)
• Dec 30: "Ranking Nigerian Foods We Tried in 2025 🍲 (Worst to Best)"
• Dec 31: "LIVE: Counting Down to 2026 with ZOOKA 🎊" (2-hour livestream if possible, or 60s short posted at midnight)
• Did you hit 50K? If not, why not? What actually worked vs projections?
• Which signature series won? (Data will show clear winner)
• Calculate ROI: Views per hour of production for each format
• Create 2026 Q1 plan based on proven winners (not assumptions)
• If you hit 30-40K: Analyze gaps, double down on what worked Q4 2025
• Lock in Core 5 for 2026: Renegotiate if needed, ensure commitment
• Plan January content: New Year = clean slate for algorithm, fresh starts
✅ SUCCESS CRITERIA: How to Know If You're On Track
Week 2 Checkpoint (Oct 21):
✅ VERSUS Ep 1 posted with 2K+ views in 7 days
✅ Core 5 appearing in 80%+ of videos
✅ "Guess" formats completely stopped
✅ 12K+ subscribers (from 10.7K)
Week 4 Checkpoint (Nov 10):
✅ 2 signature series running (VERSUS + UNHINGED or GAMES)
✅ Average views per video: 2,500+
✅ Halloween content performed well (avoided timing disaster)
✅ 15K+ subscribers
Week 8 Checkpoint (Dec 8):
✅ 3 signature series optimized based on data
✅ Christmas content filmed and scheduled (NOT making 2024 mistake)
✅ Talent personal brands growing (5K+ followers each)
✅ 30K+ subscribers
✅ 4,000+ avg views per video
Final Day (Dec 31):
✅ 50K subscribers (minimum 40K acceptable if growth trajectory is strong)
✅ 5,000+ avg views per video
✅ At least 1 viral hit (50K+ views)
✅ Proven signature series formula (3 series averaging 3K+ each)
✅ Core 5 cast locked for 2026
✅ Clear 2026 Q1 plan based on data
⚠️ IF NOT ON TRACK: Review this report monthly. The data doesn't lie. If a format averages <1,000 views after 4 episodes, KILL IT. If shorts are getting 5K+ but long-form struggles, PIVOT to more shorts. Stay flexible, stay data-driven, stay ruthless about what doesn't work.