7 YouTube Channels Crushing It That You Can Learn From Pranksters? Supplement sellers? Instagram satirists? What do you have in common with these people?

By Jonathan Long

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

zamzawawi isa | Shutterstock.com

With more than a billion users watching hundreds of millions of hours and generating billions of views -- that's approximately one-third of all people on the Internet we're talking about -- YouTube has become an extremely powerful discovery and promotion platform.

Related: Do Your YouTube Videos Suck? Make Them High-Quality Using These 4 Simple Tips.

It's borderline insane to not have a presence on YouTube these days. That's why I've been making that task a priority for my agency. But things are about to get even better: For 2016, we have a pretty clever web-series planned that will be hosted on YouTube.

If you too are considering starting a YouTube channel -- or want to take your current channel to the next level -- take a look at these seven channels that are doing it right, I have no doubt that you will be able to pick up some valuable information by watching these successful channels and taking notes.

1. Prank vs Prank

Prank vs Prank, a YouTube channel started by Jesse Wellens and Jeana Smith, a real-life pranking couple, has grown into one of the most popular prank-theme channels. With more than 9.3 million subscribers, Prank vs Prank is clearly doing something right -- after all, there is a never-ending supply of prank channels to select from. Everyone is an aspiring prankster these days, it seems.

There are two things that stand out in my mind -- the authenticity and the fun factor. The couple, who recently celebrated their 10-year anniversary, are 100 percent themselves on their channel -- there is no "act" or "fake persona" here. Also, their pranks are fun and feature topics that are highly shareable, which no doubt has helped them build a strong and loyal following.

2. Casey Neistat

Casey Neistat is a New York-based filmmaker and the co-founder of Beme, a video-sharing app. He has created videos for some of the largest brands in the world: To get a sense of his style, take a few minutes to watch this movie he made for Nike. It's nearing 17 million views and is a perfect example of how creative Neistat is, both behind the camera and in the editing process.

His videos have always been epic, but what I believe has really taken his channel to the next level are his daily videos. A new video is added every day at 8 a.m., taking viewers inside his world -- startup life, movie-making, family, the city, etc. Neistat's channel is one that I visit daily, even on the weekends, becausehis videos are so brilliant. And I'm not alone, as he has more than 1.6 million subscribers, a number that continues to climb quickly.

3. Tiger Fitness

You would think that a channel for one of the largest online supplement websites, TigerFitness.com, would be filled with ads and promo plugs. That's not the case at all, thanks to Marc Lobliner, the company CMO and CEO of MTS Nutrition and Ethitech Nutrition.

Lobliner speaks his mind and doesn't hold anything back. Instead, he covers a wide variety of topics, including bodybuilding, supplements, family, social life and anything else he thinks his audience will connect with. Tiger Fitness is a perfect example of how to build a following by providing value, without asking for anything in return. Where do you think the more than 270,000 subscribers buy their supplements? What brand do you think they are loyal to? This is a perfect example of content marketing done right.

Related: How to Start a YouTube Channel

4. Jenna Marbles

Approaching 16 million subscribers, Jenna Marbles' YouTube channel is one of the most popular and successful, ranking in at number 18 on the Top 50 Most Subscribed Channel List. That statistic is even more impressive when you consider that six of the channels ranking ahead of her are VEVO music channels for the likes of Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Eminem, Katy Perry, Rihanna and One Direction.

What really stands out is the simplicity of her videos. There is no wild production -- just Jenna being Jenna. She handles 100 percent of her writing, filming, editing and uploading -- there are no production teams or networks involved. She's a one-woman YouTube tycoon. Marbles' success is also a great reminder that you can build a wildly popular and engaged channel without fancy equipment and production.

5. Lilly Singh

Lilly Singh, or Superwoman, her YouTube username, has built up a subscriber base of more than 7.3 million people who engage, religiously, with her channel. In addition to running her channel, Singh is a stand-up comedian, rapper and motivational speaker.

She has two characters in particular whom she portrays, in reaction videos that are among her most popular. The characters are based on her parents. What really stands out to me, though, is the collaboration videos that Singh makes with other YouTube stars. Collaborating with other channels that have large audiences in the same genre is a great way to cross-promote and expose your talent or product to an entirely new audience, further building your subscriber base.

6. Nicole Arbour

The most controversial YouTuber of 2015 has been, hands-down, Nicole Arbour. Her channel gained serious momentum after her "Dear Instagram Models" video dropped; the channel practically exploded once "Dear Fat People" dropped. That video caused such an uproar that it is was temporarily removed by YouTube, but was later restored.

That controversial video led to several media requests, including an appearance on The View, which was the most-viewed episode of the season. The lesson here? You will never be able to please everyone -- even satire can be misinterpreted by some, and cause a backlash. Rather than crumbling and throwing her hands in the air, however, Arbour stuck to her guns, didn't apologize and continued to make videos, growing her audience to more than 274,000 subscribers.

7. The Dominic Show

Dominic "D-Trix" Sandoval, the creator of The Dominic Show YouTube channel, took an interesting path through the entertainment world before becoming a full-time YouTuber. Sandoval was a contestant on the third season of So You Think You Can Dance, and won the third season of America's Best Dance Crew as a member of Quest Crew. He later became a judge on ABDC.

His channel, a mix of dance and comedy, is subscribed to by more than 2.5 million YouTube users -- a clear indication that Sandoval is creating video content that really connects with people. The biggest take-away from this channel: Be yourself and let your true personality draw your audience members in and keep them engaged.

Related: 6 Must-See Motivational Videos on YouTube

Wavy Line
Jonathan Long

Founder, Uber Brands

Jonathan Long is the founder of Uber Brands, a brand-development agency focusing on ecommerce.

Editor's Pick

A Father Decided to Change When He Was in Prison on His Son's Birthday. Now His Nonprofit Helps Formerly Incarcerated Applicants Land 6-Figure Jobs.
Lock
A Teen Turned His Roblox Side Hustle Into a Multimillion-Dollar Company — Now He's Working With Karlie Kloss and Elton John
Lock
3 Mundane Tasks You Should Automate to Save Your Brain for the Big Stuff
Lock
The Next Time Someone Intimidates You, Here's What You Should Do
5 Ways to Manage Your Mental Health and Regulate Your Nervous System for Sustainable Success

Related Topics

Business News

After Being Told They Could Work From Home Forever, Employees Made Major Life Changes. Then, a New CEO Ordered Them Back to the Office.

Farmers Group CEO Raul Vargas is facing backlash for the change, but he says being in the office brings more "collaboration" and "innovation."

Business News

Hedge Fund Pays NYC Interns $20,000 a Month on Average, Sent to Lavish Palm Beach Kickoff

Citadel is known for its over-the-top parties and company retreats.

Business News

Pete Davidson Says He's 'Figuring It Out' After Buying a $280,000 Boat While 'Very Stoned'

The former "Saturday Night Live" star purchased a used Staten Island Ferry with Colin Jost in January 2022.

Green Entrepreneur

Blockchain Could Help Us Combat Climate Change — Here's How.

Digital carbon plays a vital role in addressing climate change.

Business News

Uber Eats Deliveries Are Flooding a Los Angeles Neighborhood — Except No One Knows Who Placed the Orders

Residents of L.A.'s Highland Park neighborhood are once again the target of dozens of unsolicited Uber Eats orders. The "annoying and somewhat disturbing" mystery is gripping the city.

Business News

'I've Got the Bug for Business': See All of Mark Wahlberg's Entrepreneurial Endeavors, From Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch to Wahlburgers

Mark Wahlberg owns businesses in several categories, including entertainment production, apparel, fitness, and nutrition.