I have to agree that the "popular channels" are not related to the channel you are viewing, below is
@Superballs channel when I view it, I pick his as an example because the last video I watched was his and it was easier to just view the channel after that. If you want to know how your channel sits, looking at "related channels" will be more accurate.
In response to OP's question, I honestly have no tactic or plan when it comes to promoting or pushing the channel, I just post videos which I feel like doing, and if people watch it and like it, they can leave a like, or sub, all up to them. I have not done the click-bait, free-stuff, top-5, viral/trending, etc type of videos even though I'm pretty sure those can get probably get you some kind of boost, I prefer not to. Maybe after the 100k mark I might try some top-5 kinda stuff just for fun, I want to keep my pre-100k clean without resorting to any of the above "tactics", yes sure it will be slow but I'm not in a hurry.