Nikhil Kamath says he wants to sell t-shirts on YouTube, CEO Neal Mohan warns not to chase the algorithm

While in a discussion with YouTube CEO Neal Mohan in the latest episode of his “WTF is” podcast, Zerodha CEO Nikhil Kamath asked how to crack YouTube to sell t-shirts.

Nikhil Kamath questions YouTube CEO Neal Mohan

Neal Mohan said, “If your only goal in life is to sell t-shirts, then you better also really care and have passion around creating content.”

Kamath enquired next what he could do to sell t-shirts or create what sort of content to close sales on his YouTube channel.

“What is the YouTube algorithm to a layman like me, and what can I do today to succeed on it?” the Zerodha boss asked.

Mohan’s advice was clear that one should not chase the algorithm. 

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Why passion pays on YouTube

“You’re not going to build a fan base if you're not authentic. Fans figure that out very, very quickly,” he said.

According to him, it is passion, not product placement, that fuels lasting success.

He explained that YouTube rewards creators who genuinely care about their content.

“We work with athletes, musicians, educators... It comes through really quickly when they’re talking about something they’re truly excited about. It’s not just about throwing up a piece of content,” the YouTube CEO said.

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CEO explains what actually works on YouTube

YouTube’s algorithm, Mohan explained it is all about building long-term engagement.

“It’s a slow burn,” he noted. “Set expectations with your audience about what your content is going to be, and then deliver. The algorithm is just a reflection of that audience.”

According to the CEO, content can’t just be a marketing tool on YouTube. To sell t-shirts or anything, one needs to show up consistently with real passion, authenticity, and patience.

“That’s the difference between someone who quits after a few months and someone who actually builds something meaningful,” Mohan signed off. 

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