If you're reading this article, I probably don't demand to tell you that video content accounts for over 74% of all online traffic, or that over five billion YouTube videos are watched every single day.

You lot already know video is an of import channel, and you lot're ready to start leveraging YouTube for your own business. I'yard here to testify you how to do it.

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This article will cover everything you need to know about creating a YouTube aqueduct, so yous can showtime uploading your own videos and growing your audience today.

Tin can't create a new channel?

If yous're seeing a "This action isn't allowed" message when you endeavor to create your channel, you may be using an outdated version of the YouTube app.

Hither are your options to move forward:

  1. Update the YouTube app on your device.
  2. Create your YouTube channel using a browser on your PC (following the steps outlined in more detail beneath).

How to Create a YouTube Channel

Creating a well-managed YouTube channel with consistent content tin can assist businesses grow better, but doing it right is just as of import. Here'southward how to do information technology footstep-by-pace.

1. Sign in to your Google account.

To picket, share, create, and comment on YouTube content, you'll need a Google account. Go to youtube.com and click "Sign In" in the upper right-manus corner. From in that location, you'll be taken to a Google sign-in page.

  1. If y'all have a Google account, you'll be prompted to sign in.
  2. If you have multiple Google accounts, be sure to select the one you want to be associated with the YouTube aqueduct.
  3. If you do not have a Google account, click "Create Account" and follow the prompts to register for one.

youtube sign-in page with "create account" prompt

two. Create a new YouTube channel using your Google account.

Once you lot're ready with and signed into your Google account, it's time to create a channel. Click your user icon in the upper correct-paw corner. This represents both your Google account and you YouTube business relationship (as YouTube is owned by Google). You'll see a drop-down menu, where you lot'll want to click "Settings."

youtube channel settings menu

From at that place, you'll be taken to your account overview. Click "Create a new channel" nether "Your channel."

youtube create new channel

The first step is to create a Brand Account. It can be whatever name yous want, and doesn't have to be the same proper name that you used to create your Google account -- merely nosotros practise recommend that it reflects the brand the YouTube Channel will represent.

create a brand account in youtube

After you lot enter the Make Account proper noun, yous might be asked to verify the account via text message or voice call. If that happens, enter the code you receive from the option you choose.

Once y'all've verified your Brand Account, you'll be taken to the dashboard for your aqueduct. At present, it's fourth dimension to start customizing it.

3. Navigate to the Customize Aqueduct page.

We'll start with the fundamental details almost your channel. From your channel dashboard, click "Customize channel."

youtube customize channel

From there, you'll be taken to the channel customization page.

You'll notice three tabs: "Layout," "Branding," and "Basic info." These iii tabs will help you optimize your channel for viewers.

4. Add Basic Info to your aqueduct for discoverability.

Start by clicking "Basic info."

youtube channel customization basic info

Here's where yous'll enter some basic information well-nigh your aqueduct, like the language your videos are in, equally well every bit a description that helps people notice your aqueduct when they enter search terms that describe what videos they're looking for. These keywords can include what your channel is about, the problems information technology helps solve, the people and products featured, your manufacture, and more than.

You'll likewise be able to add links to sites you want to share with your viewers. These links will be displayed over your banner image (more on this subsequently) like so:

youtube featured links

5. Upload branding elements to your channel.

In addition to the descriptive details that you lot've added, there's another element of customization for a new YouTube channel: The visuals.

youtube channel customization branding

Under the "Branding" tab, you lot'll exist able to add your:

Contour Picture

Amid this channel art is your profile photo -- this is how YouTube users volition identify the creator of a video when browsing video content. Yous'll encounter this image announced beneath YouTube videos on the play page, every bit shown beneath. YouTube recommends using a picture with dimensions of at least 98 x 98 pixels.

youtube profile photo

Banner Image

The banner image is a large banner displayed at the top of your channel page, and it's a big opportunity to convey your brand to your viewers. YouTube recommends using an image that'southward at least 2048 x 1152 px.

youtube banner image

Video Watermark

The video watermark is displayed at the bottom right of every video y'all post (meet below). You'll want to choose a logo that all-time represents yous sized at 150 x 150 px.

youtube video watermark

6. Customize your more advanced layout options.

Click the "Layout" tab.

youtube channel customization layout
From here, you'll be able to specify certain details near how you want your content presented on your channel'southward page. You'll take the option to designate a video spotlight and organize your channel page with featured sections.

7. Add videos and optimize them for search.

To upload your kickoff video to YouTube, click the "Create" button in the top-right corner and follow the prompts.

youtube upload videos by clicking "Create" button

Optimizing your aqueduct for discoverability is only the beginning. Once you start adding videos, y'all'll want to optimize them for search, which in turn helps users discover your video.

But this goes beyond giving your videos accurate, clear, and curtailed titles -- though that is important. Below, we describe some of the most of import things to optimize on YouTube. (For a fully comprehensive post on YouTube SEO, visit this postal service.)

Title

When we search for videos, 1 of the start things that our eyes are fatigued to is the championship. That'south oftentimes what determines whether or non the viewer will click to watch your video, so the title should not only exist compelling but also clear and concise.

Description

This should be limited to 1,000 characters -- and remember that your viewer came hither to watch a video, not to read a lot of text. Plus, YouTube only displays the outset 2 or iii lines of text, which comes to almost 100 characters, so front-load the clarification with the most important information.

Tags

Using tags doesn't just let viewers know what your video is nigh -- they inform YouTube, too, which uses tags "to empathise the content and context of your video," according to Backlinko. That way, YouTube can acquaintance your video with similar videos, which can broaden your content'southward achieve. Merely approach with caution -- just equally with your championship, don't use misleading tags considering they might get yous more views -- in fact, Google might penalize you for that.

Category

Choosing a category is another way to group your video with similar content on YouTube -- but that might not exist as unproblematic equally it sounds. YouTube's Creator Academy suggests that marketers "think well-nigh what is working well for each category" yous're considering past answering questions like:

  • Who are the acme creators within the category? What are they known for, and what practice they do well?
  • Are in that location whatsoever patterns between the audiences of like channels within a given category?
  • Do the videos within a similar category accept share qualities like production value, length, or format?

That'south information technology -- you lot've officially not but created a YouTube channel but now also know how to optimize its content for discoverability. For more than information on how to all-time leverage YouTube for marketing, check our entire collection of resources.

Editor'south notation: This post was originally published in November 2019 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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Originally published Feb 3, 2021 7:00:00 AM, updated February 04 2021