K TANZEEL ZAMAN GETS GALVANISED BY THE JOURNEY OF THE YOUTUBER, IFTEKHAR RAFSAN AKA RAFSAN THE CHOTO BHAI AND HIS FASTEST CLIMB OF REACHING 1 MILLION FOLLOWERS
Iftekhar Rafsan has always been known to be “different”. The 23-year-old YouTube star, who calls himself “The Choto Bhai,” was born and bred in Dhaka and was an average youngster who indulged himself in online gaming and anime. However, he also had a bone of creativity in him which led him to be one of the most well known YouTuber in the country. That being said, in the midst of a global pandemic where everything came to a screeching halt, this ecstatic individual managed to rack up followers from 100k to whopping 1 million on Facebook in less than a year. Rafsan shares his journey on his rocketship with ICE below.
Iftekhar Rafsan has always been known to be “different”. The 23-year-old YouTube star, who calls himself “The Choto Bhai,” was born and bred in Dhaka and was an average youngster who indulged himself in online gaming and anime. However, he also had a bone of creativity in him which led him to be one of the most well known YouTuber in the country. That being said, in the midst of a global pandemic where everything came to a screeching halt, this ecstatic individual managed to rack up followers from 100k to whopping 1 million on Facebook in less than a year. Rafsan shares his journey on his rocketship with ICE below.In 3 brief bullet points, how has your journey been so far?
Honestly, if someone told me this a year back I would never believe them. Personally, the journey has been stellar, being a loser all my life I had little to no confidence in myself with no expectations when I started. But the amount of love I recieved, this entire journey feels like a plot from a K-Drama.
How was it like to go viral for the first time?
I clearly remember that day, May 11th 2019, it was 2:30PM I just uploaded the Gelatissimo video and went to the washroom. 10 minutes later I saw this video was blowing up, like each and every hair in my body went up, these goosebumps, the adrenaline pumping -I was freaking out, taking a screenshot every 30 seconds. I was calling all my friends, I don’t think I’ll ever forget this feeling.
What were your first 3 thoughts when you hit 1 million followers on Facebook last year?
Initially I felt happy then I had a flurry of emotions; I was feeling happy, sad, anxious because honestly even to this day I can’t believe it.
What has been your secret mantra for gaining followers?
Shhh! it’s a secret, haha kidding! It has always been quality over quantity, I think I have the least number of videos uploaded by any Bangladeshi Content Creator, around 78 videos.
And the second tip, think everything from the viewer’s perspective.
In your own words, give 5 pieces of advice on how to get free YouTube subscribers/Facebook Followers?
In your own words, give 5 pieces of advice on how to get free YouTube subscribers/Facebook Followers?The most important tip, the moment a topic is hyped up, make sure to make a content about the topic while it’s still hot because with every passing moment you lose engagement.
Always be ready to do things other content creators wouldn’t be willing to do, get out of your comfort zone.
Trying posting on a specific time and day, this simple trick bumped up my audience by a huge margin, and prehype that certain content 24 hours before you upload.
Try collaborating with other content creators or doing contents in different regions, by doing either you “steal” that creator/region’s audience by hooking them.( One of the best YouTubers in the world taught me this)
Make sure whatever you’re producing it’s relatable, be natural, be yourself.
During the last quarter of the year, almost all of your videos went trending on Facebook, what’s the secret?
Personally, I feel I was willing to do things other people would be reluctant or scared to do, Hell even I was scared to do it but it paid off.
What’s something nobody knows about Choto Bhai?
I’ve severe performance anxiety. From the outside I seem like a confident person but honestly, 24 hours before I’m filming a content my heart starts racing very fast and I keep on thinking can I pull it off?
The night before I did the lungi video, I couldn’t sleep, every time I tried to sleep my heart was racing at the thought of wearing a lungi in public. The day before I did the collaboration video with Tawhid Afridi and Salman Muqtadir, I slept for 30 minutes. I kept
on thinking what if I mess up?
I struggle a lot with my mental health.
Does this anxiety affect your personal life?
This anxiety took and still is taking a severe toll on my personal life. I’ve recently done a shoot for a video and my heart was racing at the entire moment. But I know if my heart isn’t pumping like this for the content, then this content is definitely not worth it.
Does Choto Bhai plan to grow up after hitting more than 1 million followers?
NOO, I’M ONLY 23!
What’s next for Choto Bhai?
I plan on going international, I want to represent Bangladesh on the global stage. It’s now or never.
Say something nice about me?
You’re the biggest G ever, couldn’t ask for a cooler combo from a human being who is a complete Anime freak to a GAMER!