How to Set Up Your YouTube Channel
Establishing a fresh YouTube Channel is uncomplicated, particularly if there is an existing Gmail account that can be utilized to link the new channel with the email address.
1. Create a YouTube Channel Account
To commence owning a YouTube Channel, the primary procedure is to access YouTube and generate a new channel.
Two opportunities exist for creating channels: a personal channel or a brand (business) channel.
The primary variation between them lies in the fact that a personal channel will adopt the name and picture of your Google account, and all actions taken on YouTube will be affiliated with your personal account.
A YouTube brand account allows for multiple users to manage your channel and permits customization of the channel name and appearance to align with your business or brand, which distinguishes it from other accounts.
Even if your channel will bear your personal name, it is strongly advised to set up a brand account.
For example, if you want to name your channel “Alex Chris”, don’t create a personal channel but a brand account with the name “Alex Chris”.
If you find this to be unclear, don’t fret. All you need to do is adhere to the straightforward guidelines provided below in order to successfully set up your YouTube channel account.
Access YouTube and log in utilizing your Google account (the same account utilized for other Google services, such as Gmail). Simply click on the SIGN IN button located at the top-right corner and choose your personal Google account from the available options.
Afterwards, navigate to your list of channels and select the option to CREATE A CHANNEL.
When creating your channel, you will be asked to choose a name. Even though you have the option to modify your channel name later on, it is advisable to adhere to these suggestions to select a memorable name from the outset.
- Choose a name that is representative of your brand
- Your channel name should match your other social media profiles and domain name
- Use a short, catchy, unique, and memorable name
- Use 2-3 words max (without numbers)
Our guide, titled “How to Choose a YouTube Channel Name,” offers a wealth of advice, including numerous examples and suggestions to assist you in selecting the best name possible for your channel.
After choosing a channel name, click on the CREATE button to complete the process of channel creation.
Your YouTube Channel is prepared, but it requires customization to create a friendly environment for both users and the YouTube search engine.
Once you’re on your channel’s homepage, tapping on the CUSTOMIZE CHANNEL button located at the upper right corner will launch YouTube Studio in a separate tab. This is a free resource that is readily available to all YouTube content creators.
The YouTube studio allows for adjusting various channel settings, managing analytics, adding or deleting videos, making playlists, applying branding visuals, among other features.
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2. Add a Channel Description
Your channel’s description is the initial item to personalize. When users look up your channel name, it is displayed on your ABOUT section and in YouTube search results.
If you want to add a description to your channel, access the Basic Info tab, input your preferred description, and then hit the PUBLISH button located at the top right corner.
Best practices for channel description
These tips should be followed when creating your channel description:
It is crucial to express the purpose of your channel within the first 150 characters since that is typically all that is displayed in YouTube’s search outcomes.
Consider this as your channel’s “meta description.” Beyond appearing in YouTube search results, the initial 150 characters also display in Google search results for brand-related queries.
It is advisable to incorporate relevant keywords in your channel description, but avoid excessive usage. Including the keywords you would like your channel to be associated with a few times in the description is sufficient for search engines to ascertain the nature of your channel.
Consider the phrases that individuals may utilize to discover your YouTube channel and incorporate them into your content. Including the keywords early in your content is an extra advantage.
You can request individuals to subscribe to your channel and include various calls to action statements or even your website URL, despite being unable to incorporate any links into the description box, only text is permitted.
Compose an engaging portrayal – Your portrayal need not be excessively lengthy, but it must possess sufficient length to enable your keywords to appear organically within the text and must be sufficiently captivating to entice individuals to view or participate with your content.
Visit your favorite YouTube channels and click the “About” button to get some ideas on how to make your description stand out.
I am fond of this particular example as it possesses all the optimization features.
Observe the distribution of keywords in the text and the distinct call-to-action located at the end.
3. Choose a Channel Icon
Adding a channel icon is the subsequent task. The channel icon is a significant component of your channel since it is visible on your channel’s homepage, beneath videos, on comments, and other various locations.
Tips for Creating Effective Channel Icons
Take into account the following pointers when selecting a channel symbol:
When selecting an icon for your brand, keep in mind that it serves as a potent tool for promoting your channel and increasing brand recognition. By using your icon in YouTube search results and comments, it is easy for viewers to associate your brand with it. Therefore, ensure that you choose an icon that reflects your brand and channel accurately.
Opting for a headshot as your channel icon is the ideal choice when building your personal brand on YouTube. A great illustration of this is showcased by Marques Brownless, who is known as the YouTube influencer responsible for MKBHD.
If your brand is recognized, display its logo. An illustration from a global brand serves as a demonstration.
If you’ve created a channel that focuses on a specific topic but has a generic name, such as Relax My Dog, it’s important to choose an icon that stands out and can be easily recognized amongst other logos and icons.
To ensure proper sizing, your channel icon should be a minimum of 98×98 pixels and in a square shape. PNG or GIF is the preferred image format and the file size should not exceed 4MB.
To enhance the outcome, utilize an image that measures no less than 400×400 and has ample blank area surrounding the emblem. Once resized and shaped into a circular form, it will appear vivid and crisp.
To include a channel emblem, access the Branding section and click on the Upload icon positioned below the Picture option.
4. Customize YouTube Channel Art
Your channel page should feature a banner image, which is also known as channel art and is displayed at the top of the page.
The sole location on your channel where you can visually communicate with your audience and provide them with an understanding of the purpose of your channel.
Your channel’s artwork can range from basic elements like your logo or slogan to more imaginative and attention-grabbing designs.
5. Add a Channel Trailer and a Featured Video
It’s time to set up the channel trailer and choose a featured video.
Upon visiting a channel homepage, one can readily observe that a video is prominently displayed at the top of the page, just under the banner image.
This video is either a channel trailer or a featured video. A channel trailer is presented to non-subscribers, while a featured video is presented to current subscribers.
Depending on their status, either one of two videos will be shown at any given time, but not both, for both subscribers and non-subscribers.
To configure this, simply navigate to the Layout tab and choose a video for both the channel trailer section and the featured video section.
Recommendations for Creating Effective Channel Trailers
The purpose of the channel trailer is to welcome new visitors to your channel and encourage them to subscribe. Additionally, the video will automatically play with sound once users land on your homepage, unless they have disabled sound for videos.
To grab the user’s attention, you can adhere to the uncomplicated instructions provided below:
Ensure that you utilize a calming and pleasant background melody. The presence of automatic videos with sound can be extremely disruptive to a visitor’s experience. Therefore, it’s important to select a soothing tune that won’t startle individuals who have their sound on.
Incorporating pleasant background music can enhance the watchability and listenability of your video compared to having a speaker talk without any background sound.
Make it brief and concise – Your channel trailer need not be overly lengthy. Communicate to potential subscribers the type of content you produce and what they can anticipate from your channel.
It’s best to keep your message brief – 60 seconds or less is sufficient. Share only the essential information that new users require.
Tips for starting a successful YouTube Channel as a Beginner
After setting up your YouTube account, it is crucial to establish the groundwork necessary for a thriving channel. Failure to comprehend these measures as a novice could result in squandered resources and time.
To begin, it’s crucial to have the know-how on producing a YouTube video. It’s necessary to obtain the appropriate apparatus, gain experience utilizing it, and initiate refining your material.
Find the Best Video Equipment
Investing in high-quality audio and video for your videos can distinguish you from many other YouTubers. We believe that obtaining the appropriate equipment from the start is the initial stride towards establishing a prosperous YouTube career.
If you are contemplating investing in gear, you might wonder if commencing a YouTube channel will be lucrative. Nonetheless, if you make calculated choices and put in the effort to produce exceptional content, you will discover multiple prospects for earning a profit.
What’s the Best Audio and Video Equipment for Starting a YouTube Channel?
While starting vlogging with your smartphone is fine, if you desire your audience to appreciate your material, purchasing appropriate gear is advantageous. A majority of YouTubers tend to utilize DSLRs or mirrorless cameras in combination with other necessary videography accessories such as lenses, studio lighting, and tripods. For individuals who generally vlog while traveling, standard gear staples consist of a mirrorless or action camera, in addition to a dependable monopod or handheld gimbal stabilizer.
It’s important to keep in mind that having a high-quality vlogging camera isn’t the only factor in creating successful videos. Poor audio quality and lighting can cause viewers to lose interest within the first few seconds and prevent them from subscribing to your channel.
Make sure to purchase a quality microphone that can be attached to your camera. Additionally, be mindful of the environment you are recording in and regularly verify that your audio is easily comprehensible for your audience.
To achieve optimal outcomes, utilize a directional microphone specifically fabricated to gather audio from the front, thereby minimizing disruption from surrounding and rearward regions. Certain vloggers allocate resources for various microphones to cater to distinct recording scenarios; for example, a lavalier microphone may be necessary for recording fitness videos or other types of recordings where there is distance between you and the camera. Alternatively, a high-quality condenser microphone, or any microphone typically applied for podcasting, can provide you with clear voice-overs.
Start with Simple Editing Software
You don’t necessarily require sophisticated video editing software such as Final Cut Pro simply because you are producing videos. Even if you face a lot of difficulties in the initial weeks, these software programs may not necessarily enhance your content.
For those who are beginners in video editing, it is recommended to use uncomplicated software such as Windows Movie Maker or Apple iMovie which are more user-friendly and can be conveniently downloaded for free if they are not already installed on your device.
