How to Create a YouTube Channel in 2023: A Step-by-Step Guide

May 9, 2023

By auroraoddi

With more than 2.5 billion monthly users, YouTube offers creators a significant opportunity to reach a large audience. Although the platform’s popularity can be intimidating, don’t worry.

Through this signature Syrus guide, we will provide you with essential tips for starting a successful YouTube channel in 2023. We will cover topics such as selecting the best graphics, creating eye-catching hooks, and optimizing SEO to increase visibility on the platform.

Create your YouTube Channel to Increase your Content

YouTube remains the world’s leading video-sharing social network, with over 14 billion monthly visits, surpassing Facebook, Instagram, Wikipedia, and Amazon. In the United States, 62% of adults visit YouTube daily. You can find the latest YouTube statistics at your convenience.

Understanding how YouTube views are counted is important for any creator looking to increase their audience. A view is counted when a viewer intentionally plays a video and watches for at least 30 seconds. However, playing your own video will also count as a view.

It’s worth noting that if a viewer watches your video multiple times, each view will be counted as a new one. However, attempting to artificially inflate your views by repeatedly refreshing the page will be detected by YouTube’s algorithms.

Embedded YouTube videos and those shared on Facebook will also count towards views, as will live views. Keep in mind that YouTube analytics are updated every day or two, so it may take some time to see an accurate reflection of your channel’s activity.

Let’s now look specifically at how to make an optimized youtube channel in 2023, here is our guide.

1. Point your Target and Content

Getting started on YouTube can be spontaneous and exciting, but success is more likely when creators have a clear idea of the content. The top categories for growth are movies and TV, entertainment, pets, people and blogs, and video games.

For inspiration, you can do an intensive Google search to take a look at the keywords most searched by viewers. Consider your audience and the type of content they would find informative, provocative, emotional or entertaining. Don’t be afraid to get creative with unexpected topics to discover a dedicated niche audience.

For example, try making cooking videos that end in chaos or funny reaction videos to Internet forums.

2. Now Create your YouTube Channel

Your YouTube profile picture and name are the first things that viewers will see when your videos are recommended, so choose them carefully. Your channel art should be clean, simple, and have a few colors to make it eye-catching. Use photo editing tools to make your art unique, but make sure you have the right to use the image.

Choose a channel name that conveys your content focus and personality to potential viewers. For example, “The Puppy House” and “A Four-legged Love” could be potential names for channels devoted to animal care, but they suggest different types of content. If you have difficulty deciding, opt for something simple and catchy. Remember that you can always change the channel name later.

3. Adorn your Profile and Channel

Make the most of your channel description, trailer, and banner image to capture viewers’ attention. Check out successful channels in your niche to see what works for them. Consider adding eye-catching images, an intriguing trailer intro, or a lively description. You can then use compelling questions or share your best stories or jokes in your trailer to keep viewers engaged.

For example, Markiplier’s channel, one of the most popular gamers in the U.S., features a clean and direct banner image. He also divides all his videos into categories to enhance his users’ searches.

4. Make a Content Calendar

Consistent posting of quality content is key to success on YouTube. To build a loyal audience, create a content calendar to plan your uploads and manage your time effectively. Start with a realistic posting schedule, such as once a week, and adjust as needed.

To keep your content fresh, mix things up with seasonal features, guest stars, or a miniseries. By consistently posting engaging content, you’ll increase your chances of success on YouTube and avoid burnout.

5. Now you Can Start Creating

Now, it’s time to upload your first YouTube video! The key to a successful video is a captivating hook, a compelling narrative, and an authentic tone. Begin your video in a way that captures your audience’s attention and tells a story that keeps them engaged. Authenticity is essential, whether it’s sharing your opinions, quirks, or humor.

Remember, your first video may not be your best work, but it’s important to establish your channel’s concept and personality. Don’t worry too much about production value in the beginning; even simple videos can lay the foundation for a successful channel that can continue to grow.

6. Expand your Reach and Engage Viewers

To increase your chances of being recommended by YouTube, it’s important to get more views on your videos. This means leveraging your network by sharing your channel with friends and family to get your first few views. Additionally, cross-posting your content on other platforms and engaging with your audience through comments and shout-outs can help build a community and attract new viewers.

By building relationships with other creators and being active on multiple platforms, you can increase your visibility and attract more viewers to your channel. Remember that the more views you get, the more likely YouTube is to recommend your content to new viewers.

7. Deepen your Youtube Channel

Congratulations on getting views for your video! However, to achieve consistent performance in the long run, it’s important to focus on the details that can boost your video’s SEO and analytics. SEO refers to the factors that impact your video’s rankings in search results and recommendations, many of which are within your control.

Improving your video’s title, description, and thumbnail can all help improve performance. There are also various tools, such as title and thumbnail generators, that can assist in this process. Analytics tools can provide detailed information about your video and channel performance across different metrics.

8. Keep Updating your Strategy

After gaining familiarity with SEO and analytics, it’s crucial to use the knowledge to test different tactics. Try out various title formats and video lengths to see if they impact performance. Analyze viewer retention and search result rankings for specific tags to gain insights into your video’s success.

Experimentation is key, and don’t be discouraged by early ups and downs. Even the most successful creators started from zero subscribers and had to put in the work to build an audience over time.

Approaching YouTube with a long-term strategy in mind is the best tactic for success. By planning ahead, you can begin your journey as a YouTube creator on the right foot. Remember, you can make changes to your channel whenever necessary.