YouTube channel settings, customizations, and SEO – Pro Guide
No need to include any keywords in channel name because it has little SEO advantage if any. Choose a short and unique name. For branding consistency YouTube channel name should be exactly same as your website domain. You may read our branding article to learn more about company naming.
YouTube Channel Customization Options
For channel customizations, please click the profile image on top right corner of screen and then select the ‘YouTube Studio’. Alternatively, you can click the ‘Customize Channel’ button.
If you like you can select Dark Theme for your channel by clicking on profile image. I will prefer the light theme.
Layout
Under ‘Layout’ you can add the channel trailer video. You can select one from already uploaded videos. Please note that the channel trailer should cover the overall information, products, or services about your brand. It should reflect the crux of your video content.
You can also specify some featured video for the returning subscribers.
Next you should add some sections for your YouTube channel. Default sections include ‘Short videos’ and ‘Uploads’. Here, for example, I can add Popular Uploads. You can also prioritize which section should display on the top of your channel page by dragging and dropping the sections list.
Please note that sections are different from the Playlists of your channel. Sections describe the broad and inclusive topics of your channel videos. Playlist are more specific about certain topics.
Through featured section you can also display links to your other channels.
Branding
Let's now click on Branding. Upload a profile picture for your YouTube channel. I have created a 500 by 500 pixel for channel profile image. No need to use any keywords in the file name of profile image. For example, I have used only DOZRO as file name for the profile picture. After uploading, you can customize the size and dimensions of profile image.
Next upload banner or cover image for your YouTube channel. You can use the keywords of your brand in the file name of the banner image. YouTube again gives option to customize the dimensions of banner image for better fit. As I have already perfectly designed the banner image, therefore I have no need to further customize it. Please note that banner image design is a little tricky. You can get Dozro services to design the banner image (or video watermark) for your YouTube channel. Please click on Done to apply the banner image.
Next, I will upload the video watermark. You can see the video watermark in action in our tutorial video (link below). In my opinion video watermark should be a transparent PNG image and it should appear anywhere at the end of your video. You can also display it throughout entire video, but I do not recommend it.
Basic Info
Next, I will click on Basic Info. These settings are highly important, especially for the SEO of your YouTube channel. Please include the important and overall broad keywords about the products or services videos of your brand in the description field of your YouTube channel. YouTube channel description cannot be more than 1000 characters.
Next, you can add language for your channel videos. Click on ‘Add language’ button. On the left I will select English as the original language. On the right I will select some other translation language for example I have selected French language. I can use Google Translate for the translation of channel description. I will paste here the translated description. I will click on Done to add description translation. Because Dozro is a global channel, I will add translations for some more languages.
Next, it gives me the URL of my channel.
Next, it gives option to add links to share with channel viewers. For example, I can add link to the Facebook page of Dozro, Twitter and Instagram handles, LinkedIn company page of Dozro. In the title field I will add link title (ex. Facebook, Twitter, Website) and in next field I will paste the relevant link URL. These links are displayed on the banner image of your YouTube channel, from where your viewers can easily access social accounts of your brand. Here, you can decide which links to display on the banner of your YouTube channel home page.
Next, you can enter business email where your customers or followers can contact you.
Before adding playlists, I will first publish the channel by clicking the ‘PUBLISH’ button on top right corner.
Playlists
Now I will click to on the ‘Playlists’ to add playlists for my YouTube channel. Please click on the ‘New Playlist’ button on the top right corner.
Please write description for each playlist because it is also very important for the SEO optimization of your YouTube channel. Include relevant keywords in playlist descriptions.
YouTube Channel Settings
Now I will customize the settings of my YouTube channel.
I will select US dollars (USD) as the currency in ‘General’ section of settings.
In Channel section, please select your ‘country of residence’. Here, you can also write main keywords related to your business and then press enter.
In the Advanced settings, I will select ‘No set this channel as not made for kids’ as default for all of my channel videos. In fact, you will also be able to select a different option while uploading each video.
I prefer to select or tick the checkbox for ‘Don’t show potentially inappropriate words’ and ‘Allow my viewers to clip my content’ options. I prefer not to check the ‘Disable the interest-based ads’ option.
Now, I will click on ‘Feature eligibility’ option. I suggest you verify your phone number to immediately access ‘Intermediate features’ and becoming eligible for ‘Advanced features’. You should also upload a government issued identity (such as ID card or passport) to access the ‘Advanced features’ which will be added within 24 hours. Please remember that for channel optimization, the access to intermediate and advanced features is highly imperative.
Upload Defaults
Next, I will customize the ‘Upload defaults’ section. I will not add anything here because each future video on my channel will have a unique title and description which I will add at the time of uploading every video.
I will select ‘Public’ under ‘Visibility’ option.
I will also keep the tags field empty because I will add and individual unique tags for the each video. While uploading a video, you will also have the option to remove default tags and add new ones.
Next, I will click ‘Advanced settings’ option.
I will select ‘Standard YouTube license’ option.
I will check mark to allow ‘Automatic chapters’ option.
I will select some relevant category for my YouTube video content, for example I can select ‘Science & Technology’ or ‘Howto & Style’ category.
Next, I will select the default video language as English. Don’t worry, you will also be able to select video language while uploading each video.
In the ‘Caption certifications’, I will select the first option of ‘This content has never aired on the television in the US’.
For the title and description language I will again select English.
Pro Tip: Even if your audience does not use English, even then you should use English as title and description language. Because, most people in India, China, Russia, Arab countries etc, prefer to search queries in English language.
For comments I preferred to select ‘Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review’ option.
Now I will click ‘Permissions’ section in YouTube channel settings. If you want to add additional roles for your YouTube channel such as manager, editor, then you can use this section.
Let’s now explore ‘Community’ section. For now, I will keep all of these fields empty because it is yet a new channel. Next, click ‘Agreements’ and the click on ‘Save’ button.
Upload First Video on YouTube
Click on the ‘Dashboard’ of your newly created YouTube channel. Select ‘Upload Videos’ button. Select a video file from your computer. Include keywords in title and description of the video. Keywords should be specific and highly relevant to your video, so that your video can rank better. For short video, please #Shorts in the title or description of the video.
Select thumbnail from three options or upload a custom thumbnail. The keywords in the file name of thumbnail are also important for SEO ranking of your YouTube video. Please do not overuse keywords. Next, select a playlist for the video. Please note that each playlist should have videos on closely similar topic for better YouTube SEO optimization and reach.
Please select ‘Show more’ button and there add tags relevant to only this video. Please avoid adding broad and irrelevant tags. Video language is selected by default because I had selected English in the ‘Upload defaults’ earlier in settings.
I will select the recording date of this video. Now I will click the ‘Next’ button. I have added subtitles for the video. I will click Next and then click on public and finally click on ‘Publish’ button to publish this video. Success. Your video can be watched by the world.
As last but useful suggestion, you should make it your habit to regularly check the analytics about your YouTube channel videos.
More Resources
These resources might be helpful for you.
YouTube business account vs personal channel – the Difference
Method to Create a YouTube brand channel.
YouTube banner best size guideline.
