YouTube Creator Basics 8 tips Youtube Update for Youtube Creators

                           YouTube Creator Basics   8 tips

 

1.  How to Create a YouTube Channel & Customize It (Creator Basics)

Are you interested in being a YouTube creator?

Maybe you wanna use your voice to spread a message

or you wanna teach people how to do something.

Maybe you love gaming, beauty, or fitness.

Or you could just wanna show people your life and build a community.

Whatever your passion is

creating on YouTube allows you to connect with viewers around the world.

In the Article, we'll show you what you need to know to start

and grow a channel as a creator on YouTube.

First, you'll need to start a channel.

To do this here are the steps you'll need to take:

First, sign in to YouTube using a Google Account.

Then, try any action that requires a channel

such as uploading a video, posting a comment, or creating a playlist.

If you don't yet have a channel, you'll see a prompt to create a channel.

If you already have a channel and wanna create another new one

click on your channel icon.

Then go to "Settings" and click "Create a new channel."

When it comes to picking your channel name, there's no exact science.

But try picking a name that's easy to remember

and captures what you wanna be known for.

Once your channel is created, you have the option to customize it

with your own personal branding.

First, you can add a profile picture.

This is the image that shows on your channel homepage

on your video watch pages, and next to all your comments.

So, you want people to see it and instantly recognize your channel.

You can also add a channel banner.

Your banner is the space at the top of your channel.

Here you can show what your channel is about

and why viewers should subscribe to you.

You can put visuals or short snippets of text

that highlight what type of content you create.

And if you plan on uploading regularly

you can also include your upload schedule here.

A channel trailer video and a channel description

can also help viewers understand what they can expect if they subscribe.

The more complete your channel is, the easier it'll be

for viewers to understand what you do and what they'll get to enjoy by watching.

You can add or update all of these with the customization page in YouTube Studio.

Now that you have your channel set up, you're ready to start uploading videos.

Good luck and thanks for watching!

 

2.  Creator Basics: Guidelines for Uploading & Making Money on YouTube

 

Search in video

Being a creator on YouTube is a fun way to unleash your creativity,

use your voice, and build a community.

If you're looking to create videos for YouTube

and maybe make money while doing it

there are a few things you need to know.

To upload videos to YouTube, you'll need to follow our Community Guidelines

and local copyright law.

If you wanna make money with your channel

you'll need to be part of the YouTube Partner Program

and understand our advertiser-friendly guidelines.

Here's a quick overview of each one of these guidelines and policies.

First, YouTube's Community Guidelines:

Our Community Guidelines are designed to ensure our community stays protected.

They set out what's allowed and not allowed on YouTube

and apply to all types of content, including videos, comments, links

and thumbnails.

These are mostly rules you'd expect

like "don't harass others or post-ultra-violent videos."

But they also include some YouTube-specific rules

like not posting a bunch of repetitive comments, and more.

If you violate these guidelines, you'll first receive a warning

and then a strike if it happens again

which will limit your access to some features.

If you get three Community Guideline strikes in a 90-day period

your account might be terminated.

Check out the link in the description

for a complete list of YouTube's Community Guidelines

Next, copyright law.

Copyright isn't something created by YouTube

but all creators have to follow local copyright laws in order to upload videos.

Copyright is a legal right, that says you can't use someone else's original work

in your videos without their permission

This includes someone else's videos, music, or other creative work.

YouTube is required by law to enforce this.

That's why we have our Copyright Strike system and Content ID.

If a copyright owner sends YouTube a valid legal complaint

known as a "takedown notice", we take down your content and

you receive a Copyright Strike.

You have three ways to resolve this.

You can wait 90 days for it to expire.

You can contact the person who took your video down and ask them

to retract their complaint.

Or you can submit a counter-notification if you feel like your video was taken down

due to a mistake or misidentification.

If you get three Copyright Strikes in a 90-day period

your account might be terminated.

Content ID, on the other hand, is an automated enforcement system

that lets some of the world's biggest rights-holders find their work

when it's being used by others on YouTube and claim it.

Once it's claimed, they can choose to track it, monetize it, or block it.

Content ID claims on your videos do not result in Copyright Strikes

and don't affect your channel's access to features.

We also have tools that let you take action to resolve Content ID claims

like trimming out the claimed content.

You can find these tools, and see any active Copyright Strikes

or Content ID claims against you, in YouTube Studio.

Also note that there are some regional exceptions that do allow you to include

someone else's work.

So be sure to read up on what counts as fair use and the public domain.

To learn more about understanding copyright, how to protect your own copyrighted content

and how to avoid violating copyright laws, check out the resources in the description.

YouTube's Community Guidelines and copyright law

are the two things you need to know to upload content to YouTube.

Note that community guideline strikes and Copyright Strikes are separate

and don't affect each other.

Finally, let's dive into the YouTube Partner Program

and advertiser-friendly guidelines:

the two things you need to know to make money off your content.

The YouTube Partner Program, also known as YPP

gives creators access to more resources and to our monetization features.

To apply for YPP, you must be in good standing with YouTube

have at least 1,000 subscribers

and have 4,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months.

You can check your progress toward hitting these goals, and apply to YPP

in the monetization tab of YouTube Studio.

To be in YPP, you also have to follow YouTube's monetization policies.

We built these policies with the goal of rewarding creators who work hard

on unique and original content.

That means we don't allow channels into the program that are

Auto generating repetitive content or just reusing content already posted by others

even if they have permission.

You can review a full list of monetization policies

with the link in the description.

Once you're in YPP, you can make money from features like channel memberships

Super Chat, or even create your own merch once you meet their eligibility criteria.

You can also run ads on your videos.

If you want to make money from ads on YouTube

your content must follow YouTube's advertiser-friendly content guidelines.

Advertiser-friendly content is appropriate for most audiences.

It does not feature sensitive content, such as sexually suggestive content

or drug consumption.

Some brands are willing to show their ads on more mature content

but if your video contains mature themes

it might receive less revenue from ads overall because fewer brands

are interested in showing ads on your video.

To learn more about advertiser-friendly guidelines

check out the link in the description.

We hope this overview helps you better understand what's needed to upload

and make money, on YouTube.

Thanks for watching!

 

3.  How To Upload Videos with YouTube Studio (Desktop)

In the Article, we'll show you how to upload videos to YouTube

from your computer.

While logged in, go to YouTube Studio.

If you're on the channel dashboard, you can click the "upload" icon

in the top right.

Or you can click the "create" icon, then "upload video."

Then, choose the video file or multiple files that you'd like to upload.

After selecting a file to upload, you can close the upload screen at any point.

And your video will be saved as a draft on your videos page.

From here, you'll be asked to add a title, description, and thumbnail for your video.

You can also add it to a playlist

and you'll be asked to set your video's audience.

You can find additional settings by clicking "more options."

Once you've added these details, click "next."

If monetization is enabled on your channel through the YouTube Partner Program

you'll be led to this section next.

You can choose to have monetization turned on or off for that specific video.

If you choose to have monetization turned on, you can fill out your Ad settings.

Once that's completed

and the initial processing of the video is done

you can add different video elements like captions, end screens, and cards.

There will also be a "check" step that screens your videos

for potential issues related to copyright and, if you're monetizing, ad suitability.

With this step, you can become aware of potential restrictions

and have the chance to address any issues, before publishing your video.

Then, under "visibility"

you can choose whether you want to publish your video now, as "public"

or set it as "unlisted" or "private".

Or you can choose to schedule your video for a future date and time.

Or to set you video as a "premiere," if this feature is available to you.

Then click "publish"

if you want your video to go public immediately

"save" if you're leaving it as "unlisted" or "private"

or "schedule" if you wanna pick another day and time to publish your video.

Or, set it as a "premiere".

Thanks for watching.

  4.  How To Navigate YouTube Studio (Desktop)

In the Article, we'll show you how to navigate YouTube Studio.

To get to Studio, go to Studio.YouTube.com.

Or if you're already signed in, click your profile picture

in the top right-hand corner and select YouTube Studio.

This will bring you to the Studio channel dashboard.

This is your landing page for Studio.

From here, you can use the left menu to manage your videos and channel.

You can also search across your channel for specific videos

with the search bar at the top.

Or use these icons to quickly upload a video, go live, or create a post.

On the dashboard, you'll get a high-level overview

of recent activity on your channel.

You can see how your latest upload is performing

and can quickly jump into analytics for more in-depth info.

You can also see a snapshot of your overall channel analytics

recent subscribers to your channel, and any channel violations you may have.

This view also includes recent news from YouTube

and if the platform is experiencing an ongoing issue

it will be surfaced via "Known YouTube Issues."

Next, you'll see your content page.

Here, you can manage your videos, livestreams, posts, and stories in one place.

For videos, you'll see their visibility, monetization status if you're in YPP

the date they were uploaded, or published

along with the views, comments, and likes, versus dislikes.

You can click on the "filter" bar to filter the list.

If you hover over a video, you'll see four clickable icons.

These will allow you to edit video details

access video-level analytics, review video comments, and more.

Click the back arrow to head back to the video list.

With playlists, you can create and manage your playlists.

With analytics, you can monitor the performance of your channel

and videos with metrics, and reports.

The comments page allows you to review, filter, moderate

and reply to comments on your videos.

The subtitles page lets you add subtitles to your videos.

The copyright page gives you direct access to our copyright complaint webform

and allows you to keep track of your copyright takedown history.

Here, you can see previous takedown notices you've submitted to YouTube

and check the status of your complaints.

The monetization page will give you a monetization overview

along with individual tabs, allowing you to deep dive into specific revenue sources

like merch, memberships, and more.

If you're currently not monetizing

you'll instead see a landing page detailing your eligibility status

and, if applicable, your progress towards the YouTube Partner Program requirements.

The customization page lets you change the layout, branding

and basic info for your channel.

And finally, the audio library lets you get free music and sound effects

to use in your videos.

Thanks for watching.

 

5.  Help Your YouTube Videos Stand Out & Keep Viewers Watching (Creator Basics)

As a creator, how can you make your videos stand out

and keep your viewers watching?

Here are some things to keep in mind that may help your videos succeed on YouTube.

To make your videos easier to find and more enticing for viewers to click into

try creating attractive and accurate thumbnails, titles, and descriptions.

The information you give in your thumbnail, title, and description

will not only help YouTube systems recommend your videos

but will also give viewers a sense of what your video is about and

why they should watch it.

Make sure you follow YouTube's Community Guidelines

when adding these pieces of information.

If you want to take your videos to the next level

try using cards and end screens.

These features will help you drive more watch time

and engagement on your channel.

Cards show up in the top right-hand corner of your video

and lets you lead viewers to more of your content.

End screens show up at the end of your video, and let you lead viewers

to more videos, playlists, or let them subscribe.

Both of these features can be added during the upload process.

Once you have multiple videos on your channel

you can also use playlists and channel sections.

Playlists allow you to group together multiple videos

so that your viewers can watch them all in a row.

This can help boost your channel's watch time

which is an important metric on YouTube.

You can group your videos by topic, format, or whatever you want.

Once you have playlists, you can add them as sections

on your channel homepage.

Sections allow you to customize the layout of your channel homepage.

They're made up of videos and playlists.

They help you organize and showcase what you create

for anyone who visits your channel.

You can add sections by going to the customization page in YouTube Studio.

Remember, the content you create is the most important piece

for how to be successful on YouTube.

Don't worry about being perfect.

Just start making videos about things you love.

Your viewers await.

Thanks for watching.

 

6.  Intro to Making Money on YouTube

The YouTube Partner Program, or YPP, gives creators greater access

to YouTube resources and features.

If you're looking to make money with your channel

you'll need to apply and be approved for YPP.

To apply for YPP, you must be in good standing with YouTube

have at least 1,000 subscribers

and have 4,000 valid public watch hours

in the last 12 months.

We've set these thresholds

because we want creators to be good citizens on the platform.

And these requirements ensure our teams have enough information

to review your channel.

You can check your progress towards hitting these thresholds

on the monetization page of YouTube Studio.

You can also choose to be notified with an email

once you're eligible to apply.

Once your channel does hit these thresholds, you'll need to sign the Partner Program terms

and sign up for a Google AdSense account.

After all of these steps are completed

then your channel will be reviewed against our policies.

If everything looks good, you can start earning money from ads

and from YouTube Premium subscribers watching your content.

You can also earn money in other ways

with channel memberships, Super Chat, or even by selling your own merch.

As long as you meet their criteria, and they're available in your location.

Now, let's walk through some common questions.

One.

How long does it take for my channel to be reviewed?

If you think your channel qualifies for YPP but it hasn't been reviewed yet

we'll usually get back to you in about one month

once you hit the review thresholds.

Remember, you can find more about your status on the monetization page in YouTube Studio.

Two.

Why wasn't my channel approved?

If you're not approved for YPP, it's likely because our reviewers found

that a significant portion of your channel doesn't meet

the YouTube Partner Program policies and Community Guidelines.

Some of the most common reasons for not being accepted are regarding

the AdSense program policies

specifically related to reused or repetitious content.

This is content that is very similar or exactly the same across videos and channels.

You can reapply again in thirty days, as long as you still meet the watch hour

and subscriber thresholds.

Before you reapply, we suggest you read through these policies

and edit or delete any videos that violate those policies.

Three.

Do I have to meet the threshold every year?

The short answer is no.

However, you do need to stay active with uploads and community posts.

If you're inactive on your channel for six months

and fall below the threshold

we may remove your channel from the Partner Program.

For more information on applying to the YouTube Partner Program

check out the resources in the description below.

Thanks for watching.

 

 

7.  Creator Safety: Proactive & Reactive Steps for Account & Personal Security

Creating on YouTube lets you share your voice

and build connections with your audience.

But as your channel grows

you may encounter situations that leave you feeling uncomfortable, vulnerable, or unsafe.

This could be harmful comments or chats

account impersonation or hijacking attempts

or, in extreme cases, even threats of violence.

We want to make sure all creators feel equipped to handle unwanted behavior

so that you can maintain a healthy relationship with your audience

and continue to share authentically.

In the Article

we'll cover two main aspects of staying safe as a creator on YouTube.

We'll first walk through a safety checklist

of proactive, preventative steps you can take at any point in your creator journey.

Then, we'll cover steps you can take and resources to support you

in the event that an incident does occur and you need help.

First, how can you proactively ensure that you and your account stay safe on YouTube?

We'll cover how to help mitigate account hijacking

harmful comments, doxxing, and overstepping boundaries.

First, let's start with some crucial basics around account security

that all creators should implement.

Turn on 2-Step Verification.

With 2-Step Verification

you'll have a second layer of sign-in security

which is a hugely important step in preventing hacks.

Use a separate email just for your channel

and create a strong password that you don't share with anyone.

Consider turning on Advanced Protection.

You can find more info on how to use Advanced Protection

in our Help Center.

And beware of phishing scams.

Be careful when anyone asks you to click any links

or sign in to your account.

Check out myaccount.google.com/security-checkup

for more on how to strengthen your online security.

Next, comment moderation.

To help prevent hurtful comments, consider creating a blocked words list.

With a blocked words list

you can prohibit comments containing specific words

from showing up in your comments section.

You can also block your real name, address, and other personal information

to prevent it from being discussed.

To create the list, go to Studio, then Settings, and then Community.

For live chat, you can also turn on

the "Hold potentially inappropriate chat messages for review" setting.

Chats that might be inappropriate will be held for your review

and won't be posted until you approve them.

To set comment and chat defaults for all your videos moving forward

go to YouTube Studio, then Settings, then Community, then Defaults.

Next, be vigilant about what you share.

Of course, every creator is different and will have different boundaries.

But once something is out there, it's out there forever.

Many creators have told us that

information they shared when they were a small channel

was not something they were comfortable sharing with a large audience.

People can piece together information about you

even if you think it isn't noticeable in your content.

Here are some things you may want to do to prevent someone from doxxing you

or publishing your private or identifying information.

Don't use your real name for your channel name.

Avoid discussing where you live, work, or places you and your loved ones frequent.

Check to see if there's anything in your content

that might accidentally give away this information.

Look for things like street signs, house numbers, or pieces of mail

before sharing your video.

Use a blurring effect on sensitive information.

You can do this with your own editing software

or by using the video editor tool in YouTube Studio.

If someone does publicly share your private information

follow our Privacy Complaint Process in our Help Center.

Finally, it can be helpful to draw boundaries with your audience.

Parasocial relationships are ones

where some fans may feel very close to you or like they know you

even though you may not know them.

But just like in any relationship

boundaries are an important part of maintaining a healthy connection

with your audience

and preventing incidents before they arise.

Here are some things to help you establish boundaries with your audience.

Determine how much of your life you want to share.

If you share details about your private life, kids, family, and friends

or feature them on camera

it can come as a shock when they become the subject of comments

or worse, targets for abusers or trolls.

Be clear with your audience

and let them know what feels comfortable to you.

You can find a full account security checklist

and more information about moderation tools

in the Creator Safety Center.

These proactive steps should help you prevent unwanted interactions

on your channel.

However, unwanted behaviors or incidents may still happen

even with all of these preventative safety measures in place.

So now, let's go through what to do when an incident does occur

and you need help.

Remember that if you or someone you know is in immediate danger

contact police or your local crisis helpline immediately.

Let's walk through what to do if you've been hijacked

if someone is impersonating you or your channel

if you're experiencing threats or violence

and how to care for yourself and your wellbeing.

First, what you can do if your account has been hijacked.

First, try to recover your Google Account.

If you can still sign in to your account, complete an account security checkup

at myaccount.google.com/security-checkup.

If you can't sign in

go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery

and follow the steps.

Then, follow the prompts to change your password.

For more info

check out our "Fix a Hacked YouTube Account" Help Center article

linked in the description.

If you're in the YouTube Partner Program

you can also report it to us.

Tap your profile icon, then Help, then Contact us.

Once you get your account back

immediately take steps to secure your account.

Review your channel permission settings to see who has access to your account

and remove anyone who shouldn't have that access.

And check your videos' privacy settings

to make sure hijackers haven't made videos you don't want shared public.

Next, what can you do if someone is impersonating you?

Impersonation is when someone copies another channel's content

profile, background, or overall look and feel

in such a way that makes it look like someone else's channel.

If someone is impersonating you or your channel

here's what you can do to protect yourself and your viewers.

Report the impersonating channel to us.

Go to the channel page you want to report

click About, then Report.

If you're a creator in the YouTube Partner Program

you can also contact support.

To avoid viewer confusion, you can block them in your comments

by clicking the 3-dot menu next to their comment

then "Hide user from channel."

To further protect your viewers from scams or being misled

you can also block comments with links.

To do this, go to YouTube Studio, then Settings, then Community.

Under the Automated Filters tab, select "Block links."

We take threats of violence or physical harm extremely seriously at YouTube.

Here's what to do if someone threatens to hurt you.

If you're in immediate danger or if someone is stalking you

contact police or your local crisis helpline immediately.

Once you're physically safe

you can report any YouTube channel, comments, and/or chats to us

that were related to the threat.

It helps to document all evidence.

You can take screenshots of what's happening on YouTube

related to the incident.

We also know that there may be times

when interactions leave you feeling afraid, isolated, or stressed.

Here are some tips to help you process these difficult situations.

Check in with your emotions.

In times of stress, consider what you need to feel grounded and safe.

Talk to friends or family who know you in real life.

Reassess your boundaries with your audience.

And take a break to manage your digital wellbeing.

If you feel like you need even more support, consider reaching out

to additional resources linked in the description.

The creator experience is unique, but you're not alone.

Whether you need preventative safety measures

or support after an unwanted incident

you can find help in the Creator Safety Center.

For more information and resources, check out the links in the description.

We hope they help make your creator journey smoother and safer

so you can focus on what you love most —sharing your voice with the world.

Thanks for watching.

  8.  Titles & Thumbnails

Hey, creators! Let's talk about titles and thumbnails.

The first things your audience sees when deciding what to watch.

Think of them as your content billboard.

You want to tell a story. Spark curiosity. Share a sneak peek.

And attract more viewers to your videos.

We'll cover things to keep in mind when designing thumbnails

tips for writing titles

and how to use analytics to see how these elements are performing.

Let's dive in.

First, let's talk about thumbnails.

Before you design, consider who your target audience is.

If you're catering to your subscribers, you may want to feature familiar elements

like a picture of you or your pets.

Or, if you want to appeal to a broader audience

you can use universally recognizable elements

and ask yourself, what value is your video offering the viewer

and how can the thumbnail help communicate that

and encourage viewers to watch?

Be accurate.

It's also very important that thumbnails accurately reflect your content

which can lead to better watch time.

On the flip side, a misleading thumbnail can lead to decreased watch time

as viewers might click off as soon as they realize

it didn't accurately represent the content itself.

Go for the emotional impact.

Think about how you can express a story or an emotion in your thumbnail.

For example, include a moment of peak discovery, conflict, or excitement

to hook your viewers.

Take pictures during your shoot of faces or relevant props

so you have several options to include when creating your thumbnail.

And finally, familiarize yourself with our thumbnails policy

in the Help Center, to make sure yours doesn't violate our Community Guidelines.

Now that you're done planning, here are some design tips

to help you bring your idea to life.

Make the design pop, even on small screens.

A lot of viewers are on mobile devices, so make sure the thumbnail

still looks good and readable shrunk down.

We recommend 1280 by 720 pixels, which is a 16:9 ratio

and saving it as a JPG, GIF, BPM, or PNG.

Use the rule of thirds.

The rule of thirds is a guideline used in visual design.

It states that if you divide your image into thirds

both horizontally and vertically

the main subject or element should be where these lines intersect.

This helps create interest in the composition of your thumbnail.

And don't make the design too busy.

Dynamic use of color and composition can help catch the eye

but too much can be overwhelming.

Strike a balance when using lots of color or elements.

And remember, tastes change over time.

Don't be afraid to experiment with new thumbnail designs

and even update old ones that haven't performed well

to increase your video's appeal to new viewers.

Next up, let's talk about titles.

Just like with your thumbnail, your title can help a viewer decide

if they want to watch your video.

You can think of titles in two categories: searchable and intriguing.

Searchable titles are more straightforward, like "How to tie a tie."

These cater toward viewers' pre-existing interests

and appeal to those who are searching for specific topics.

On the other hand, intriguing titles focus less on searchable keywords

but instead create a strong curiosity in the viewer.

And they often have a more creative relationship

with their accompanying thumbnails.

An example of an intriguing title could be something like "This is not yellow."

These types of titles often appeal to viewers

who may not be looking for topic-specific content.

But both types of titles can be successful with viewers.

It's up to you to decide which works best for the content you're creating.

No matter which you choose, keep these three tips in mind as you're writing.

Number one: Be accurate.

Your title should represent your video accurately

or else viewers may stop watching, which can affect your discoverability.

Number two: Keep it short.

Viewers may only see part of your title

so put the most important words at the beginning.

Save things like branding and episode numbers for the end.

And number three: Limit the use of all caps and emojis.

These can be really great elements, but use them sparingly

to highlight important parts of your title.

OK, now that you know the general best practices for thumbnails and titles

let's walk through how you can use analytics to see how yours are performing

and to find inspiration.

When evaluating the effectiveness of your titles and thumbnails

click-through rate and watch time in the first 24 hours after uploading

can help give you an indication of how a video's doing.

Click-through rate represents how often viewers watched a video

after seeing a thumbnail.

And watch time can tell you how long they stuck around.

To check engagement with your subscribers, it helps to look at click-through rate

in the Subscriptions feed.

For general audiences, it can be helpful to look at

the click-through rates on Home, Suggested, and Search

since this where viewers often discover new videos and channels.

Also, keep in mind that as reach increases

it's possible that click-through rate will decrease

since a more casual audience

is potentially less likely to click on your video

relative to your core fanbase.

What's most important, though

is to look at the overall performance of your video.

So not just click-through rate

but also things like audience retention and overall watch time.

If you have a high click-through rate, but low watch time and retention

it can mean your titles and thumbnails initially attract viewers

but that attraction isn't kept up with the actual video content.

Or, it can mean viewers felt like your title and thumbnail wasn't accurate.

It's important to not only attract viewers

but also make sure they stick around to watch your content.

And finally, if you're looking for inspiration

check out the Audience tab in Studio analytics.

Here, you can find other videos your audience watched

to spark ideas for your thumbnails and titles.

And use the Research tab to explore

what your audience and viewers are searching on YouTube.

We hope these tips will help you create strong thumbnails and titles

for your content.

Be sure to check out the links in the description for more info.

Thank you for watching.

 

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