How to Create a YouTube Channel

YouTube is the second most-visited website in existence. Further, it has about 2 billion users who are four times more likely to use YouTube than other platforms to find information about a service, product, or brand however, as strange as it can sound only 9% of small businesses in the US use YouTube, why? because many business owners are still intimidated by producing videos thinking it’s much more expensive and time-consuming than producing a blog post.

That’s wrong!

Nowadays you can easily produce a video at very reasonable costs, which means that there is a huge opportunity for your business on YouTube, and if your brand isn’t grabbing this opportunity, another will. Not to worry. In this guide, you’ll understand how to create a YouTube channel for your business that works to attract, engage, and convert your audience.

How to create a YouTube channel

Step 1. Create a Google account

The first step in creating a YouTube channel is getting your account set up. Here’s how it works.

Start by visiting YouTube.com, then in the top right corner of the page click on the ‘sign in’ button.

To use YouTube, you’ll need to have a Google account (an account ending in @gmail.com). If you already have one, you can simply log in using the email and password from your existing account. If you don’t, you’ll need to create a new account.

To create a new Google account, click “Create Account” in the bottom left corner. Then, provide your first name, last name, new email address, and password.

Next, you’ll have the option to add your phone number and a recovery email address. Both are used to help keep your account secure. Below that, you’ll need to add your birthday and gender. However, in the gender field, you can opt for “Rather not say” if you prefer.

Then, review Google’s Privacy and Terms. If you click on “More options” here, you’ll be able to personalize your settings and the data stored with your account. Once finished, click “I agree.”

Once you’ve agreed, your Google account will be created. You’ll then be automatically logged in to YouTube and taken to your main dashboard. You’ll also be taken to this page if you logged in using an existing Google account.

Step 2. Create a YouTube account

Your YouTube account will automatically be created after step one. Then, it’s time to create your channel. You’ll start by clicking on your profile icon in the top right corner. A drop-down menu will appear. Click on “Create a channel.”

Next, you’ll upload a picture and name your YouTube Account. Then, click “Create Channel.”

After this step, you’ll have your very own YouTube channel!

However, YouTube has two types of accounts. By default, you’ll have a Personal Account. You’ll want a Brand Account instead if you would like to use a different name on YouTube than the name on your Google account. You may want this if you don’t want people to see your email address or name because there’s no public association between your Google account and the YouTube channel. Another reason you may want a Brand Account is to have and manage multiple YouTube channels from one account.

To switch to a Brand Account, sign in to your YouTube account, click on the profile icon in the top right corner, and click “Settings.” On the Settings page, click “Create a new channel.”

Then, you’ll be taken to this page, where you can create your channel name and agree to the terms of a Brand Account.

Once you click “Create,” you’ll have a new Brand Account channel.

You can double-check if your Brand Account was created successfully by signing in and going to this link: www.myaccount.google.com/brandaccounts. If you have a brand account, you’ll see a section titled, “Your Brand Accounts” with your new channel name listed under it.

Step 3. Customize your Youtube channel

Once you have a channel set up, it’s time to make it your own. You can do so by going to your channel dashboard and clicking “Customize channel.” From there, you can update the information under Layout, Branding, and Basic info.

Step 4. Use eye-catching channel art and thumbnails

You’ll also want to ensure your channel art and thumbnails are appealing. Channel art is the banner across the top of your YouTube channel page while thumbnails are the little pictures that show up for each of your videos.

The banner should match your branding colors, tone, and style while helping to welcome and engage viewers. Once your art is ready, you can upload it right below the section where you upload your icon. It’s best to use an image that’s at least 2048×1152 pixels and that’s 6MB or less in size.

Step 5. Choose the perfect channel icon

Your channel icon is your profile picture on YouTube. It’s highly visible to viewers on your channel page as well as when you leave comments on videos. It will typically be very small, so you must choose an image that is effective at small resolutions. Many opt for a headshot or logo. It should be 800×800 pixels and in one of the following formats: JPG, BMP, PNG, or GIF (no animations).

Your icon is often the first element that visitors see when they visit your page, be sure to choose an icon that complements your banner, speaks to your target audience, and represents your brand well.

Step 6. Upload your first YouTube video

When you’re ready to upload your first video, you’ll go to the top right corner and click “Create” and then “Upload videos.” From there, follow the instructions to upload your video file.

Step 7: Optimize your YouTube channel

While we go into channel optimization for discoverability below, the short story is, that you need to ensure that people will find your channel, and to ensure as many people see the videos as possible. To get people to see them, you’ll need to optimize your YouTube channel for search. In short, you want to make sure that when people search YouTube for videos on your topic, yours come up and get clicked. So how do you do that?

Here are the basics you need to know.

1. YouTube keyword research

When planning the video content you create for your YouTube channel, it’s important to consider the keywords people are searching for related to your topic. With that knowledge, you can create videos to give people the answers they are already looking for. If you create videos about things people aren’t searching for, it will be harder for you to get views.

While keyword research can get complicated, here are a few simple steps you can take to find the right keywords for your YouTube videos.

• YouTube’s search suggests a feature: Type phrases related to your channel’s topic into the YouTube search bar. As you type, YouTube’s autocompleting feature will begin offering suggestions. The keywords you see are excellent because these are terms and phrases people type on YouTube, therefore they are 100% relevant. For example, if you type “30-minutes recipes” into YouTube’s search bar, you get suggestions such as 30-minute recipes for dinner, 30-minute recipes for healthy, and 30-minute dessert recipes. All of these could be separate video ideas.
• Competitor analysis: Another way to research keywords is to see what keywords your popular competitors are using. You can find out by playing a video you want to analyze, right-clicking next to the search bar,  and clicking “View Page Source.” Next, click Ctrl + F and type in keywords. You’ll then see the word “keywords” highlighted with a list of all the video’s keywords on the right.
• Keyword research tools: There are several tools available that perform some of the keyword research work for you like SEMrush.

These DIY tactics can help you brainstorm video ideas that will help get your videos seen. However, if you want help, you can also hire a YouTube SEO expert to help with your planning.

2. Use keywords in your titles and descriptions

Keywords aren’t just used to help you choose your video topic, they also need to be placed in the text supporting your video to help your videos come up in the search results. So you’ll want to choose the main keyword for a video and ensure it’s in the video title. However, it should be incorporated in a way that feels natural and tells the viewers exactly what they can expect from the video.

You’re also going to want to get people to click the title so you should focus on engaging them. Here are a few tips:

• Include a number (like 5 tips, 10 ways, etc.)
• Use attention-grabbing words (The best, I cried, etc.)
• Integrate emotions

While you want to grab attention, you don’t want to mislead your viewers using clickbait. Make the title engaging but ensure it is honest. As you’re writing the title, keep in mind, that the title character limit is 100 words but anything longer than 60 may get cut off/truncated in the search results. Ensure you get the key information across upfront in the first 60 characters.

Then, write a description for the video. Optimized descriptions can boost SEO, help you get more subscribers, increase video views, and drive more watch time. You can write descriptions up to 5,000 characters, however, only about 100 characters will show before being truncated in snippets. It’s necessary to front-load your description with the most important information, including the main keywords and the main value the video offers.

You don’t want to keyword stuff but you do want to purposefully mention your main keywords.

Here are some other tips for writing optimized descriptions:

• Use your main keywords two to three times
• Incorporate LSI keywords
• Tell viewers what they can expect from your video
• Include your value proposition (Why should someone watch this video? What value do you offer?)
• Promote your brand below the fold with relevant links, social profiles, and a channel description
• Include calls to action to like, comment, and subscribe
• Include links to any resources you mention in the video that could be helpful for your audience

3. Add hyperlinked timestamps for the key moments’ feature

YouTube’s key moments feature allows viewers to quickly skip ahead to the topics most relevant to them within the video, based on timestamps you have provided within your video’s description section.

4. Create custom thumbnails

A custom thumbnail is a little picture that YouTube users will see as a preview for each of your videos. While YouTube will offer you a few thumbnail options pulled from your videos, you can create your own which can help you promote your video and entice people to click on it. A good video thumbnail will communicate the subject of the video, will show speakers speaking in a flattering image, and will include branding. When all your videos have optimized thumbnails, it also makes for a more appealing channel page.

Here are a few tips and guidelines to keep in mind:

• Use a 16:9 aspect ratio
• Keep your thumbnails consistent with your branding
• Respect the 2MB size limit
• Incorporate colors and text to encourage clicks
• Choose a close-up image

5. Add related tags and hashtags

To build viewership to your channel, it’s a good practice to add hashtags within your video descriptions to help make them more discoverable. There is no need for over-tagging because YouTube will ignore all of them. Limit yourself to a maximum of 15 hashtags, and don’t use hashtags that are misleading or that are not directly related to your video’s topic.

After you upload your video, include some tags within the tag box section. Again, make sure to only use tags that are properly related to your video. For best results, use a mix of head keywords, and 1-2 term keywords. These are terms that would likely be searched by a user, or used by YouTube or Google to learn what is your video about.

6. Add subtitles/closed captions

Subtitles and closed captions are helpful for both your readers and your channel. They can enable you to share your message with audience members who are hearing impaired as well as those who prefer to watch with the sound off. Additionally, they enable YouTube and search engines to understand the contents of your video.

Tip: Be sure to incorporate your main keywords into your video script to boost SEO.

You can add subtitles on YouTube by:

• Going into the YouTube Studio
• Selecting “Subtitles” from the left menu
• Clicking the video you want to edit
• Selecting your language
• Clicking “Add”

You can also edit the captions and customize them to control how much text appears at one time.

7. Add cards to promote related content

The more time people spend on your content, the more positive signals are sent to the YouTube algorithm which will help you show up more often in the search results.

YouTube also allows you to add up to five interactive cards to each video, which enables you to direct your viewers to view more related content to the current video within your channel.

8. Include calls-to-action on end screens

YouTube offers end cards that appear at the end of videos (in the last five to 20 seconds). These allow you to promote your website, other videos, playlists, and more. Be sure to add them to your videos to invite viewers to engage with you further.

9. Create playlists

By creating playlists, you can organize your content by themes so that viewers can easily view a collection of content about a specific topic. For example, if you create makeup tutorials, you could put all your eye shadow videos into an eye shadow tutorial playlist. This helps with your viewer’s experience and your engagement as well as with SEO.

10. Add a transcription in the description

Along with writing an optimized description for your videos, you’ll also want to include a transcript of the video. This way viewers can read the video’s content if they prefer. Your video script must be optimized for your target keywords, meaning you talk about them naturally. As a result, your transcription will also help your video rank better.

That’s it! Creating YouTube videos alone is not enough. You’ll also want to optimize your videos and channel using these tactics so you can get the highest possible return on your investment.

How to create YouTube channel art

So how do you create your channel art? Here’s a quick guide.

Channel art design ideas

Where do you start? Well, here are a few common design approaches to channel art that work well. The right approach for you will depend on the focus of your channel. Here are some ideas:

• Self-portrait: If your YouTube channel is focused on you, it will make sense to have a photo of you in your channel art. This is a common route for people launching personal vlogs or brands. In some cases, it may make sense to have an action shot of you doing something that you will be doing on your channel. For example, if you are starting a channel to show how to cook 30-minute meals, you may have a picture of you in the kitchen cooking. On the other hand, if you’re a consultant, you may feature a professional-looking headshot.
• Representative photo: Another approach you can use is to feature an image that shows what your channel is about in some way. For example, a channel where someone is playing video games may feature in-game screenshots.
• Brand assets: Another approach is to use the banner as a place to reinforce your brand assets such as your logo. For example, Red Bull might just have its Red Bull logo filling up the entire banner.
• Combination: You can also get creative and use a combination of the above in a collage. For example, you may have a design that integrates a self-portrait, a representative photo, and your logo.

Channel art components

Aside from the overall design concept, there are a few things you may want to incorporate into your channel art, including:

• Channel name: Including the title of your channel in the design can help to reinforce it with your audience.
• Tagline: A tagline is a short slogan or catchphrase that’s meant to succinctly communicate a company’s purpose. Incorporating your tagline into your channel art can help to quickly communicate what your channel is about to your audience.
• Publishing schedule: Another piece of information that you may want to include is the publishing schedule for your videos. For example, if you are going to publish new videos every Wednesday, you may want to include “New videos, every Wednesday!” in your banner. This can help your audience know what to expect which can also encourage them to subscribe.
• Social proof: If you have been featured in prestigious publications, won notable awards, or other similar achievements, you can incorporate those into the art to help you earn the trust of your audience.
• Links: In the lower right-hand corner of your YouTube banner, there is a place where you can add links to external destinations such as your blog, website, and other social channels. You can also use the link to ask visitors to subscribe to your YouTube channel. While not part of your channel art, the link(s) will overlay your design so you’ll want to ensure you don’t have anything in the link area competing with it.

Channel art dimensions

Another important aspect to consider is the dimensions of your channel art. The banner you design (or have designed) will need to be formatted properly to appear in the right proportions across all devices.  YouTube recommends that your channel art image is 2560 x 1440 pixels, while the minimum is 2048 x 1152 pixels. Also, the file size should be 6MB or smaller.

Now to create the channel art, you can do it yourself or hire a pro to do it for you. If you go the DIY route, there are several programs you can use such as Photoshop, Canva, Snappa, and Fotor. While Photoshop is a bit more complicated and better suited for those with graphic design experience, Canva, Snapp, and Fotor offer templates and drag-and-drop functionality to make them more user-friendly. If you want to hire a pro, you can look for channel art designers on Fiverr who look like a good match for your needs.

Tips for starting a YouTube channel

1. Create a channel trailer

The first step to optimizing your business youtube channel for search is to create a channel trailer. It’s the same idea as using a movie trailer for an upcoming film. Your trailer will welcome your audience, give them an overview of your channel, and leave them wanting more. The first 15 seconds are the most important to pique your audience’s interest. And don’t forget to invite them to subscribe at the end.

Next to your channel trailer will be a channel description which should work with the trailer to earn new subscribers. Welcome them, explain what your channel offers, and invite them to subscribe. For SEO purposes, it’s helpful to include your main keywords in the description, preferably in the first half.

Note, that the channel trailer and description will only appear to people who are not yet subscribers.

2. Longer videos rank better

Search engines typically only list three videos on page one results. The videos that make the cut average 14 minutes and 50 seconds in length. A good rule of thumb is to aim for a minimum length of 10 minutes. Within that 10 minutes, it’s important to dive deep into your topic to give detailed coverage. This can help you break into the top three, setting yourself apart from the rest.

Further, you must hook your viewers in the first 15 seconds as they are deciding to keep watching or switch to something else. Start by immediately stating what your video is about and what value it provides. Next, show proof of credibility, and why they should listen to you. Then, go further into your video’s content and value with more detail.

3. Engage with the YouTube community

YouTube is a social media platform and the more you engage with others, the more engagement you will receive. To gain more visibility, spend time browsing other YouTube channels and interacting with their content. Subscribe, comment, and like.

This can help you in two ways.

• First, you can connect with other page owners and continuously support each other’s content. You may even help each other through collaborations. Often, an amazing community of support is disguised as your competition.
• Second, when you leave a comment, you can gain exposure to the audience of another creator. By leaving thoughtful, insightful, or interesting comments, you can inspire their subscribers to check out your channel.

Tip: Interact with content that appeals to your target audience to increase the chance they’ll be interested in your content.

4. Cross-promote on other social platforms

Do you have other social media accounts? If so, you can use them to drive people to your YouTube videos and channel. While you can’t always share the videos directly to the platforms, and you may not want to because of the way some platforms limit the reach of links, you can use a bit of creativity to spread the word.

One way to cross-promote a YouTube video is to make a teaser video. Make a short clip that introduces the topic and entices the audience to want to learn more. Then, share the link to your YouTube channel in the comments of your video post. You can also write a post to serve the same purpose and include an interest-evoking image along with the link. Share just enough information so the audience is hooked and wants to learn more. Then, direct them to your YouTube channel.

5. Run contests

A contest can be a great way to attract attention on YouTube as it gives people a reason to check you out. Here are the basics of launching one:

• To create an effective contest, you should first define your goal. In this case, it’s to drive people to subscribe to your YouTube channel and engage with your videos.
• Next, think of a prize your audience will love that is related to your channel. For example, if you do makeup tutorials, you could give away makeup. If you do coaching, you could give away a free session.
• Once you have a prize, it’s time to set up the rules and guidelines. How can people participate in the contest, what do they need to do, and how long do they have to do it? The rules could include subscribing to your channel, liking a video, and sharing your channel on one of their social media channels. This will help to drive the engagement you want.
• Then, you pick the winner and announce it as planned.

To spread the word, you should share your content strategically across your other social channels such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Snapchat. Create eye-catching promotional posts that will make people want to join the fun.

6. Connect via email

Email marketing can be a powerful tool. For many, the ultimate aim of building an audience online is to earn email addresses. Why? Because you own your email list and can reach them no matter what. Your audience on other platforms technically belongs to the platform and you could lose them at any time.

If you have an email list, incorporate the promotion of your YouTube channel into your campaigns and direct recipients to your channel and videos. If you don’t, it’s a good idea to start building one. Then, you can then keep subscribers engaged by emailing them every time you post a new video.

7. Partner with an influencer

Influencer marketing can be a helpful way to gain exposure and trust. Think of someone you follow and like. If they recommended another person, product, or service, would you value their opinion? Most likely. Google reported that three in five YouTube subscribers would be more likely to follow shopping advice from their favorite YouTube creator than their favorite TV/movie personality.

The approach here is to find someone who shares the same audience as you and to partner with them. They will then introduce you to their audience which will direct the audience to your channel and videos. This can be a great way to jumpstart your following or give your growth a boost. However, it will typically come with a cost.

8. Use YouTube advertising

Running ads on the platform is another way you can pay to jumpstart your engagement with a specific audience. The ads come in various forms, including:

• In-stream ads (skippable): Ads that play before or during a video and can be skipped after five seconds. You pay when someone clicks or watches for 30 seconds.
• In-stream ads (non-skippable): (including bumper ads) Ads that play before or during a video and can’t be skipped. You pay for each impression.
• Discovery ads (video): Your ad will show up in the YouTube search results for specific keywords. You pay when someone clicks on your ad.
• Non-video ads: These are text ads that appear on the side or on top of video content which you can use to direct viewers to your page.

You can use these ads to drive traffic to your channel to promote your brand, product, or event.

9. Turn your video into a blog post

A blog is another place where you can attract your target audience and direct them to your YouTube channel. Blogs give you endless amounts of space to talk about your topic. You first need a transcript of the video and then simply post the transcript as a blog post inviting your readers to follow you on YouTube for more video content on similar topics.

Conclusion

As the second most visited website in the world, YouTube is a place people frequent for entertainment and education. By carving out space for your brand and creating content to help your prospects, a YouTube channel can help you to gain more visibility, connect with your audience, and, ultimately, grow your bottom line. While there are many other creators, there are also over 2 billion users, so if you provide value, people will come. By following this guide, you will cover all the basics of starting your YouTube business channel. From there, stay consistent in posting and continue to track what brings you the best results.