YouTube Creators Hub There’s No Such Thing As A Small Niche On YouTube - Jason Todd Interview
Aug 29, 2025
Jason Todd, known as Timberlake, is the mind behind the Smart Hobbies YouTube channel, where he has created a vibrant community around Sudoku puzzles with over 700 videos. In the chat, he reveals his unique journey from competitive Scrabble to teaching Sudoku, emphasizing the thrill of engaging with a niche audience. He shares innovative strategies like using YouTube Shorts and live streams to connect with viewers. Jason also discusses the pros and cons of maintaining anonymity while building a successful channel and the power of quality content in expanding reach.
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Origin Story: From Scrabble To Sudoku
- Jason started Smart Hobbies in Feb 2021 after COVID ended his in-person hobbies and he wanted a solitary pursuit.
- He chose Sudoku because he learned new solving strategies on YouTube and realized he could teach them himself.
Endless Content From One Game
- Sudoku offers effectively endless unique puzzles so a creator can publish new content daily without running out of ideas.
- Jason pairs puzzle solves with focused tutorials to create an ecosystem of short solves and deep strategy videos.
Define One Clear Audience Avatar
- Niche down and define a clear audience avatar to focus content and algorithm signals.
- Use an audience worksheet to identify who you serve and tailor videos for that person.
