The short answer
Create a Google account for the channel, pick a name that says what it's about, and verify your phone before anything else: without verification you can't upload videos over 15 minutes or add custom thumbnails. Then add an avatar, a banner and a short description. It takes about an hour, and you can change most of it later.
Steps
What do you do, in order?
| Step | What to do | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Google account | Create one just for the channel | Keeps it apart from your personal email |
| 2. Create the channel | On YouTube, open your profile and choose Create a channel | You can rename it later |
| 3. Name and handle | Say what it's about: a place, a subject, a promise. Check the name isn't already taken | Avoid a name so narrow you can't grow past it |
| 4. Verify your phone | In YouTube Studio: Settings, Channel, Feature eligibility | Required for uploads over 15 minutes and custom thumbnails |
| 5. 2-Step Verification | Turn it on in your Google account | Needed for monetization, so do it now |
| 6. Avatar and banner | A simple logo or symbol, and a banner with one line on what you cover | Any free design tool works. It doesn't need to be perfect |
| 7. Description | Two or three sentences: what you cover, who it's for, how often you publish | Use the words people would search for |
| 8. Audience | Set your channel as made for kids or not | YouTube requires this from every creator |
Don't spend a week on this. Viewers come for the videos, and you can improve the banner once you know what your channel is.
FAQ
Questions
Do I need a separate Google account for my channel?
No, but it's tidier: it keeps the channel apart from your personal email and lets you add helpers later.
Can I run a channel without showing my name?
Yes. Your channel name and handle can be anything that isn't misleading. You'll still give YouTube your real details if you apply for monetization.
How long does setup take?
About an hour. Some advanced features can take longer to unlock, so verify your phone first.
Sources
Sources
- 1Verify your YouTube account · YouTube Help
- 2Set your channel's audience · YouTube Help
Lesson 1 of 5
Pick a niche
Three niches scored, and one you'd bet on. 11 min.