How To Create And Optimize Your YouTube Channel [+ 7 Tips]

YouTube is undoubtedly a social media platform you want to avoid sleeping on. YouTube has 2.1 billion monthly active users worldwide. That number shows no signs of slowing down, with the projected number of users increasing yearly. YouTube sees approximately 122 million users utilising their platforms daily. Whether you’re hoping to showcase your talents, share your knowledge, or hoping to boost your business, creating and optimising a YouTube channel is a vital step towards success on this platform. In this blog post, we will outline the steps you need to follow to create and optimise your channel, along with examples and data-backed tips to help boost its performance.

1. Create Your YouTube Channel:

Before uploading videos, you need to create your YouTube channel. Here’s how:

a) Sign in to YouTube using a Google account. If you don’t have one, create it first.

b) Click on your profile icon in the top right corner and select “Your Channel.”

c) Choose a name for your channel and click “Create Channel.”

Congratulations! You now have your very own YouTube channel.

2. Customise Your Channel:

Customising your channel is crucial in establishing branding and attracting viewers. Consider the following steps:

a) Channel art: Choose a visually appealing banner image that represents the content you plan to share. The optimal size for channel art is 2560 x 1440 pixels.

b) Profile picture: Upload a high-quality profile image that resonates with your brand – a logo or a headshot.

c) About section: Write an engaging description that highlights the purpose of your channel and introduces yourself to viewers. Optimise it with relevant keywords for better discoverability. You can research keywords by typing different topics into YouTube’s search bar. Observe what questions pop up and implement these phrases into your YouTube channel descriptions.

For example, when you type in the word “dress,” YouTube auto-fills phrases like “dress haul” and “dress design.” If your business sells dresses, you can include these terms in your channel description and the videos you create. For example, your YouTube channel description may say: “We create dresses with beautiful dress designs and would make you want to do a dress haul .”

3. Consistent Video Format and Style:

Videos that follow a consistent format and style help establish brand recognition among viewers. Aspects to consider include:

a) Intro and outro: Develop a catchy intro and outro sequence for your videos.

b) Thumbnails: Use eye-catching thumbnails to entice viewers – custom designs work best. Keep a consistent style so your content is easily recognisable.

c) Editing: Adopt a particular editing style that sets your videos apart from the competition.

4. Optimise Titles, Descriptions, and Tags:

Optimising metadata increases the chances of your videos being discovered through searches or recommendations. Here’s how to get started:

a) Titles: The title of your video is one of the most important factors influencing its discoverability. A well-crafted title with relevant keywords can help your video appear higher in search results and attract more clicks.

It’s important to use engaging language that accurately reflects the content of your video without resorting to clickbait tactics that mislead viewers. Keep your titles concise and under 60 characters, as longer titles may get truncated in search results or on mobile devices.

b) Descriptions: The video description is another critical piece of metadata that can help viewers understand your video and why it’s worth watching. In addition to providing more context about the content of your video, descriptions can also include links to related content, social media profiles, or other calls to action. Using relevant keywords in your descriptions is essential, but avoid keyword stuffing, which can negatively impact your search rankings.

The most important information should be included near the beginning of your description, as only the first few lines are visible in search results.

c) Tags: Tags are another way to help YouTube understand the content of your video and recommend it to relevant viewers. Using 5-8 relevant tags that accurately reflect the content of your video can help it appear in related videos, search results, and on viewers’ homepages. It’s vital to choose tags specific to your content and avoid using broad or unrelated tags, as this can hurt your search rankings.

According to research by Briggsby, videos with high-ranking tags had 2.5 times more views than those with lower-ranking tags, so choosing the right tags is necessary for getting your video seen by the right audience.

Research by Briggsby found that videos with high-ranking tags had 2.5 times more views than those with lower-ranking tags.

5. Encourage Viewer Engagement:

Engagement not only boosts watch time but also helps YouTube identify valuable content. Encourage engagement by:

a) Encouraging viewers to like, comment, and share your videos. Ask them to share their thoughts or experiences related to the topic and respond to comments to keep the conversation going. It can help build a sense of community and increase engagement over time.

b) Responding to comments is a great way to show your viewers that you value their input and are committed to building a community around your channel. Make an effort to reply to as many comments as possible, even if it’s just a quick thank you or acknowledgement.

c) Collaborating with other creators in your niche or inviting guests onto your channel can lead to cross-promotion and increased exposure for your content. Look for opportunities to work with others who share your audience or have a complementary style, and be sure to promote their content as well.

By encouraging viewer engagement through likes, comments, shares, and collaborations, you can build a loyal following and increase the visibility of your content on YouTube. So, keep your audience engaged, and watch your channel thrive over time.

6. Make Use of Playlists:

Organising your content into playlists makes it easier for viewers to consume multiple videos at once, leading to increased watch time. Consider creating playlists based on themes, series or categories relevant to your audience.

7. Monitor and Optimise performance:

Stay on top of your YouTube game by tracking important performance metrics through YouTube Analytics. Using data to make informed decisions can help you optimise your channel for maximum growth and engagement. Key data points include watch time, audience retention rate, traffic sources, and demographics.

Analysing watch time can help you understand how long viewers are sticking around for each video and which videos keep them engaged the longest. Watch time can inform your content strategy and help you create more of what your audience loves.

Audience retention rate shows you how much of your video viewers are watching before they drop off. Analysing this metric can help you identify areas where your content may lose viewers and adjust accordingly.

Traffic sources reveal where your viewers are coming from, whether through searches, suggested videos, or external links. When you understand this, it’ll be able to help you tailor your promotional efforts and improve discoverability.

Demographic data can help you understand your audience, where they’re located, and their interests. Understanding demographic data can inform your content strategy, target your advertising efforts, and help you connect with your viewers on a deeper level.

Regularly monitoring and optimising your performance on YouTube can keep your channel growing and thriving over time.

Wrap up

In conclusion, creating and optimising your YouTube channel is an essential endeavour for brands and businesses seeking to capitalise on the platform’s vast reach and potential. By crafting a compelling channel identity, curating engaging content, leveraging SEO strategies, and consistently evaluating performance metrics, you’ll be well on your way to harnessing YouTube’s power to grow your brand. Don’t underestimate the significance of connecting with your target audience through authentic storytelling and valuable content. With patience and persistence, you can cultivate a flourishing community around your brand that propels your business to new heights. Now it’s time to roll up your sleeves, get creative, and make a lasting impact on the world’s favourite video-sharing platform!