When analyzing YouTube growth, I stumbled upon a fascinating case. If you search Ba Duan Jin (八段锦, an ancient Chinese martial art) on YouTube, the top-ranked video has an incredible 18 million views.
Yet, the channel that posted it only has around 30,000 subscribers, has released only 14 videos. Even more surprising—the video was uploaded over seven years ago.
This example proves an important truth: video views don’t always depend on subscriber count. Instead, they depend on whether your content is relevant, discoverable, and evergreen.
Why This Video Succeeded
- First-mover advantage
This Ba Duan Jin video was one of the earliest high-quality uploads on the topic. Being “first to market” often ensures that a video ranks highly and stays on top for years. - Evergreen topic
Unlike trending topics that die out, Ba Duan Jin remains relevant because people around the world continuously search for health and wellness practices. The demand for qigong videos isn’t tied to a specific year or season—it’s timeless. - Search engine behavior
YouTube functions as the world’s second-largest search engine. Once a video establishes strong rankings for a keyword, it often becomes the default resource people click on. This ranking stability brings compounding returns. - Algorithmic reinforcement
As the video gained consistent watch time and engagement, YouTube’s recommendation system reinforced its visibility. Over time, the video became a “safe bet” for the algorithm to recommend.
The Bigger Lesson for Creators
Most creators chase viral waves: celebrity drama, trending challenges, or breaking news. While these can generate a short-lived spike in views, they rarely build long-term growth.
In contrast, evergreen content is like planting seeds. You put in the work once, but the video keeps attracting views for months and even years. Think of it as building a digital asset library that works for you while you sleep.
The Ba Duan Jin case shows us: you don’t need millions of subscribers to get millions of views. You just need to align your video with a long-term search demand.
More Real-World Examples of Evergreen Success
- Language Learning: A small channel teaching Japanese grammar posted a “How to Count in Japanese” video. Years later, it still attracts students daily because learners worldwide search for the same basic skill.
- Fitness & Health: Yoga routines, meditation guides, and diet tips consistently perform well. For example, Adriene’s “30 Days of Yoga” series continues to attract millions of views annually, even though it was posted years ago.
- Technology Tutorials: A video about “How to Reset Your iPhone” might sound boring, but because millions of people encounter this problem every year, the video keeps pulling in views long after it’s uploaded.
How to Find Evergreen Topics
If you want to build videos that last, here are strategies to discover such topics:
- Keyword Research Tools
- Use Google Trends to check if interest in a topic is stable over time.
- Tools like TubeBuddy, VidIQ, or Ahrefs show you keywords with high search volume but low competition.
- Think Beyond Trends
Ask yourself: Will people still search for this topic one year from now? Five years from now? If the answer is yes, it’s probably evergreen. - Solve Timeless Problems
People will always ask:- How to cook rice
- How to improve sleep
- How to save money
Content that answers such universal questions never goes out of style.
- Leverage Cultural Practices
Just like Ba Duan Jin, many traditions (martial arts, calligraphy, meditation) have global curiosity attached. If you can explain them clearly, you’ll tap into a steady stream of interest. - Check Your Analytics
Sometimes your own older videos reveal hidden gems. If you notice a video that continues to get steady traffic long after publishing, double down on that niche.
Evergreen vs. Trending: A Balanced Strategy
This doesn’t mean you should ignore trending content entirely. In fact, the best YouTube channels often combine both strategies:
- Trending videos attract quick spikes of attention, new subscribers, and algorithmic momentum.
- Evergreen videos provide the long-term backbone, ensuring your channel has stable growth and consistent watch hours.
Think of it like investing: trends are short-term trades, while evergreen content is your retirement plan.
Evergreen Content Checklist: 5 Questions to Ask Before Uploading
Before hitting the “Publish” button, ask yourself these five questions to see if your video has evergreen potential:
- Will people still care about this topic a year from now?
- Example: “How to tie a tie” → Yes.
- Example: “iPhone 16 unboxing” → No, because it becomes outdated in months.
- Does this video solve a timeless problem?
- Sleep tips, money-saving strategies, fitness routines → Always relevant.
- Celebrity gossip → Quickly forgotten.
- Is there consistent search demand for this keyword?
- Use Google Trends or YouTube search autocomplete. If the graph shows stability instead of spikes, that’s a good sign.
- Am I offering unique value?
- If dozens of identical videos exist, ask: Why should viewers choose mine? Your teaching style, storytelling, or visuals need to stand out.
- Will this video still represent my channel well in five years?
- Think about long-term branding. Will you be proud if this video is still your top-ranking content years later?
✅ If you answered “Yes” to at least 3 out of 5, your video likely has evergreen potential.
Final Thoughts
The Ba Duan Jin case is more than an anomaly—it’s a roadmap. It shows that creators don’t need massive subscriber bases or viral luck to achieve millions of views. What they need is the foresight to create videos that answer timeless questions, solve lasting problems, and ride consistent search demand.
If you want sustainable YouTube success, don’t just chase the latest trend. Plant the seeds of evergreen content today, and let them grow into your channel’s strongest assets tomorrow.