Channel Tips and Tricks
Properly optimizing your YouTube can lead to more views, channel subscribers, and traffic to your website or offers. The three most important areas you need to optimize for are: Playlists, About, and Subscribers.
Playlists
Playlists are a group of organized videos that play in order, one after the other automatically. Typically they are grouped by themes, however, you can group them in any order you would like. Creating playlists will help your marketing efforts two ways:
1. Creating playlist for specific themes, you are making it easy for your audience to find the content they want.
2. Playlists are indexed separately in YouTube search which makes your content easier to find.
Every playlist you create will includes an area for you to write a description describing what the playlist is about. This is another opportunity for you to connect with your audience.
Example: “How to videos that teach you helpful balloon folding tips and tricks. Learn how to fold balloon animals, balloon flowers, balloon hats and other creative ideas to help you perfect your balloon folding technique”.
In order to create playlists, you will need some videos published on channel. If you haven’t published anything, then return to this method once you have 6+ videos published.
To begin, every channel should have a minimum of one playlist.
Playlist 1 – “New Here”. This playlist should be a highlight reel of your greatest videos (they type of content that your audience has proven they want with likes, shares, comments, etc.). You will organize your channel with this playlist first with all other playlists below.
Playlist 2 – “Recent Uploads”. This playlist will include a collection of your latest published videos.
Playlist 3+ – ‘themed content’. These playlists will include collections of videos around themed content.
Example: #1 – A collection of how to fold balloon dogs. #2 – A collection of how to fold balloon flowers.
Creating a Playlist (Adding a Video to a Playlist)
Step-by step:
- Navigate to the video you want to include in a playlist.
- Under the video click on the Add to dropdown menu.
- Select either a list you’ve already created or “Create new playlist”.
- Adjust privacy settings if necessary.
- Click “Create”.
- Repeat for additional videos you would like to add to playlists.
Adding Playlists to your Channel
Step-by-step:
- Navigate to the channel you want to add a playlist.
- Click on the “Add a section” button and then add the playlists you’ve created.
About Section
Your “About” section is another opportunity for you to help YouTube (and your audience) understand what your content is about (similar to video titles, descriptions, and tags).
Step-by-step:
- Navigate to the channel you want to update the about section.
- Click on the “About” button and complete the section.
Tips & Suggestions:
• I recommend a minimum of 100 words and include your main niche keyword once and maybe 2-3 semantically related keywords spread throughout the copy.
• Your first sentence should explain why visitors should watch your videos.
Example: “John’s balloon animal videos show you how to become and expert at making amazing balloon creations”.
• Your second sentence should provide an idea of what topics are covered within the channel.
Example: “I publish how to videos on making children’s party favorites like balloon animals, balloon hats, balloon flowers and more.”
• Close your “About” section with a call to action.
Example: “Learn to become a balloon folding expert – SUBSCRIBE right now and never miss another lesson.”
Once completed you’ve completed the “About” section, navigate to the channel keywords and add your terms there too. Use the relevant terms that you are trying to rank your channel for. Be sure to wrap 1+ keywords in quotes to avoid any confusion for YouTube.
Example: “balloon animals”.
Subscribers
It takes less a 1/10th of a second for someone to form an impression about your website and decide whether they will stay or leave. YouTube is not exception, that’s why it is critical to create a professional looking channel.
1. The first element visitors see is your ‘Channel Banner’ image (aka Channel Art). The optimal size measures 2,560 x 1,440 pixels. The image should include your branded colors, maybe your logo, and your tag line.
2. The second element is your ‘Channel Icon’. The optimal for this image is 800 x 800 pixels. The image should include your logo if you’re a company or a headshot is you’re a personal brand.
3. The last element you should optimize is your ‘Channel Trailer’. Similar to a movie trailer, the Channel Trailer offers your visitors an opportunity to preview your content and make a decision on whether to subscribe. Channel Trailers will not display advertising (unless your trailer includes third-party claimed content). If someone visiting your channel is already a subscriber to your channel, the Channel Trailer will be replaced with a “What to watch next” preview.