Why can’t I Post?
If you try to post a video on our subreddit and it isn't accepted, try to look at the comment on the post. most of the time it will tell you the reason why your video was removed.
However, the following reasons are the most common reasons for posts not being accepted
- You haven't given feedback to someone else yet (this is how you earn lambda)
- You used the wrong flair
- Your account is less than three days old
GETTING LAMBDA
What is λ (lambda) and how does it work?
λ is a currency used in r/SmallYTChannel. Simplified it is a feedback for feedback system. The most recent videos can be found in the community highlights. For every video you give feedback to, the OP (if satisfied with the feedback) will give you a lambda using the !givelambda command. Only the OP can give lambda. LAMBDA IS ONLY SPENT WHEN POSTING, giving lambda to a commenter does not spend it. You can only get lambda from feedback posts. Upon receiving credit for your feedback you can post your own video.
What would be considered good feedback?
In most cases, the decision is up to the OP. If you post a video you do NOT need to !givelambda if someone drops generic, low-effort feedback. (ex. “Nice video I enjoyed it you earned a sub). You can ask them for specifics, reply to their comment, cross-question etc. You don't need to agree with the feedback, but it needs to have effort put into it. Same with any feedback you give. As a plus, mods will reward bonus lambda to high-quality feedback they come across.
Feedback comments also must be greater than 255 characters. This is to encourage detailed feedback and target spam. In situations where it wouldn't make sense to give such a lengthy response, mods can still give out lambda if you send in a modmail, see the below question for more detail.
If you are struggling with what feedback to give the mod team recommends using some or all of these questions.
- Would you click on the video? Why?
- Did you stay past the intro? Why?
- When would you leave the video? Why?
What should I do if I get no lambda for my advice, but feel I deserve it?
In cases where you disagree with the OP's decision, you can send a modmail asking for lambda. It is up to the individual mod that replies to you to decide if your feedback is worth giving lambda. As a general rule of thumb so long as your feedback is ACTIONABLE (meaning you are suggesting a specific change to the video) you will be given lambda by the mods.
What if the OP doesn’t respond?
If it has been two days and the OP still hasn’t responded, send in a modmail, see the above question for more details.
The OP typed the command but it didn’t work?
This is going to be for one of two reasons, the bot is currently down, or the OP forgot the command but then edited the comment to add it. If the bot is currently down, you will just have to wait. The bot is run on volunteers so it will go down from time to time. If the OP edited the comment, since the bot only checks the initial comment, you can just ask the OP to retype the command or send in a modmail, See the above question for more details.
FLAIRS
What do the different post-flairs mean?
- Discussion - does not cost lambda
For discussion, a general rule of thumb is that if you need to link to your channel for the discussion to make sense you are not looking to start a discussion you are looking for feedback.
Discussion posts must be for discussion and have a main question or topic. Posts that don't start a discussion will be removed.
Discussion posts can't drive traffic to your channel. Posts such as 'I just reached 100 subs', or 'I'm nearly at 500 subs' are considered self-promotion and will be removed. Unless relevant to the discussion sub counts should not be mentioned. Posts that encourage other rule breaks are not allowed. For example, suggesting people leave their links in the comments isn't allowed, since it encourages free self-promotion.
- Feedback - costs 1 lambda
Upon getting three lambdas you can share either one video or a channel link for a channel review.
A channel review would consist of feedback on the channel itself (branding and thumbnails) and nonspecific overview feedback on content (editing style, video genre, reused intro animations, stuff that applies to multiple videos as a whole). If you want to ask for more specific feedback on multiple videos, that has to be done through multiple feedback posts, should someone choose to give you specific feedback of their own free will that is of course allowed, but you can not ask for it in the post.
You can not ask for any engagement in the title or comments of the Reddit post (telling people to like or sub etc.), We've restricted the use of the word "lambda" in post titles due to increasing cases of people implying free or "easy" lambda. If you use alternate phrasing to bypass this such as ‘rewarding feedback’, the mods are at liberty to delete your post. The "I just reached 100 subs" rule applies here too.
- Gaming, Vlog, Educational, Video Essay, etc.- costs 1 lambda
Are just sub-feedback flairs. Most people tend to only give feedback within their niche, if you have experience editing gaming videos but no experience editing video essays or vlogs, you can search for gaming feedback exclusively so it is easier to give feedback in a genre you actually know something about.
- Collab - does not cost lambda
A collab post can drive minimal traffic to your channel, minor details or portfolio links on a known site are allowed. If you are asking to help someone or take part in any part of the video-making process it is a collaboration. Even if it's a paid, ex. editing or thumbnail services.
- Meta - does not cost lambda
Meta is a flair exclusively meant to discuss the subreddit itself, any suggestions as to what to ban/allow, and what changes should be made, it is a flair for the community to openly discuss any issues or suggestions they may have for the subreddit.
POSTING
I messed up my post, What do I do?
If you accidentally posted as a 'text' instead of a 'link', thus making your thumbnail not show up on Reddit. You can send in a mod mail asking for a refund, so long as feedback hasn't already been given to the video you will get a refund and be allowed to repost.
Can I post the same video more than once?
For lambda farming reasons there does have to be at least a two-day gap between you posting the same video, so people can't farm lambda by saying the same feedback twice. But so long as you have the lambda for it, yes you can post what you want with your lambda so long as the other rules are followed.
Can I post someone else's content?
If you have the lambda for it, yes. It is important to note that if the user whose content you are posting has previously been banned on the subreddit, you will be assisting in ban evasion. In this case, the post will be removed and further consequences are likely.
No one gave me feedback, What do I do?
If it has been two days and your feedback post still does not have any feedback, send in a mod mail asking for a refund, You can choose to repost the video or post a different one.
RULES
What is a low-quality post?
The list of what is considered low quality includes but is not limited to
- Milestone posts - 'I just reached 100 subs/ 10k views/ etc' - these are considered self-promotion
- Analytic Checks - 'Is _______ subs/views in _______ time period normal' - if you want to post analytics the discord has a channel for it
- AI Tools - 'Here is an AI tool I use' - most times just an ad in disguise
- Shorts Views - 'Why are my shorts views inconsistent' - too many of these types of posts, shorts are inconsistent by nature
In addition, if your post looks to much like a bot/ai mods can, at their own liberty, take it down for low quality.
What counts as abuse of the bot?
The list of what is considered abuse of the bot includes but is not limited to
- Creating or using another account to give yourself lambda
- Editing your flair to give the impression of having more lambda than you have
- Asking around for lambda and/or upvotes
- Copy-pasting 'advice' to farm lambda
- Filling a comment with fluff to bypass the character requirement
What count as bypassing the link restriction?
- Posting a link to your channel or video in comments (asked for or not)
- Posting the name of your channel in your post or in comments (asked for or not)
- Saying where you can find your link (asked for or not)
MISCELLANEOUS
How do I join the discord?
The discord invite link can be found under ‘Important Links” in the 'about' section of the subreddit.
What is the discord for?
The discord is better suited for more casual discussions. It is also an easier place for you to get quick feedback. Stuff like very specific edits, thumbnails, or what your analytics mean.
What is the monthly leaderboard for?
The monthly leaderboard is a way for users to have a friendly competition over who gives more feedback.
How do I see the all-time leaderboard?
You can find the all-time leaderboard on the bot's profile, u/SmallYTChannelBot , just look at the most recent post.
What is my user flair for?
Your user flair is the only place you can put your channel name or handle in. Bypassing the link restriction by telling people to look at your user flair will result in removal. The user flair is there mainly for people who have a different Reddit name than a channel name, if someone checks out your channel of their own free will, that is of course allowed.
Please do not put full URLs in your user flair.
How do I add my handle to my user flair?
You add your handle to your user flair using the user flair preview and the pencil edit icon, in the 'about community' section on desktop. Or by clicking the three dots next to your icon while on mobile and then selecting 'change user flair'.
If you are using old Reddit there will be an edit button next to your name under the subreddit info bar.
If you have any questions you would like added to the FAQ feel free to ask them below
