Customize Your YouTube Channel

After setting up your YouTube account you are ready to start customizing your YouTube channel. What is "your YouTube channel? Your YouTube channel is what you and others will see when they visit your YouTube website.

YouTube offers a deep range of customizing options. This guide will get you started. The guide is not designed to be an exhaustive review of all YouTube options. It is designed to get you going and put a basic and strong skill set in your hands so you can continue on your own exploring additional customization options.

OK, let's get started.

  1. Go to www.youtube.com, sign in and log in to your channel.



  2. On the next screen enter your email address and password.



  3. In the upper right corner of the YouTube window locate your YouTube username. In the example below it is Van21demo.
  4. Click on the username. This will open your default YouTube channel view. A drop down menu will open. This is a little confusing. Click on the username, not the drop down menu items.

  5. The default channel page will look like the following image.



  6. Let's start with your channel name.
  7. Note that your channel's default name is to the right of the little default image near the top left of the screen. In the image below it is Van21demo's Channel.



  8. Click on the Settings button at the top left part of the screen.
  9. In the the left half of the settings area you will see the URL or Internet address of your YouTube channel. This is the address you can send to friends in an email so they can click on it and go to your channel. In the image below it is http://www.youtube.com/user/Van21demo
  10. Below the URL is the Title field. Enter a name for your channel here. In the example below YouTube Jumpstart has been entered. You can come back later and change your channel name.



  11. In the the right half of the settings area you will see the Channel Tags field. Here you can enter keywords people are using to locate YouTube Videos like yours. Think about what words you might use when searching for videos that cover the same or similar topic you are covering. Enter single keywords and be sure to separate them with a single space.
  12. When done click on the Save Changes button.



  13. After saving your changes you will see your new channel name in the top left part of your channel view.

Create Your Profile

There is a Profile section where you will be able to add lots of information about who you are and your interests.

  1. To access all the profile information options click on the edit link to the right of the word Profile.



  2. A list of profile information fields will open up. The image below is an abbreviated screen
  3. shot of what is available.



  4. Note that the Name field is the first field you can customize. You can enter your real name or a pseudonym.
  5. If the checkbox to the left of the item name has a check in it the information will be displayed under your profile.
  6. You can opt to not show most items by un checking the checkbox. In the example above the Age item is unchecked. The age will not display under the profile.
  7. The next custom field you can fill out is the Website field. If you enter a website address be sure to enter the http:// prefix as shown in the image above.
  8. Continue on down the list and enter as much information as you desire. You can always come back later and modify, delete or uncheck entries.



  9. When you are done click on the Save Changes button at the top of the Profile drop down options box.



  10. You will now see your changes displayed in your Profile.



  11. To change or add new information to your profile click on the edit link and make your changes.

Express Yourself! Select a Color Scheme That is You

The default channel color scheme is gray and light blue. Let's jazz this up a bit.

  1. Click on the Themes and Colors button at the top left of the channel window. Next, a strip of theme choices will open.



  2. Click on a the color Forest to change your color scheme.



  3. Click on the Save Changes button to save the Forest color selection.



  4. You can come back at any time and change your color scheme.
  5. After selecting the Forest color scheme you will want to make changes to font colors so they color coordinate and contrast better with the background colors you have selected.
  6. Click on the Themes and Colors button again.



  7. Click on the show advanced options link. This action will expand the options area.



  8. On the left you will see the General options area. Here you may change the font style as well as a variety of background colors. To avoid technology overload we will just experiment with the Font options.



  9. Click on the Font drop down menu to select another font style. Select Georgia.



  10. Look at your channel to see the font changes.
  11. Select whatever font style you want to use.
  12. Let's experiment with changing text color.
  13. Look for Color Palettes on the right side of the Advanced Options area.



  14. Click on the little green color swatch to the left of Title text color. The #274E13 code is a herbicide code that defines that particular color for the computer screen. There are 16 million codes. You do not need to change this. If you understand how to customize "hex codes" feel free to do so.



  15. After clicking on the swatch a color swatch palette will open. Click on an alternate color for the Title text.



  16. View your channel Titles to see the new color.



  17. If you want to try out a new color select another color using the same procedure you just performed.
  18. When you are done customizing your theme click on the Save Changes button.


Your Turn, Customize to Your Color Preferences

  1. To start over again just click on the Themes and Colors button.
  2. When the themes open you will see a new theme named with the same color scheme name you previously customized followed by the number 2 as shown by Forest 2 in the next image.
  3. To totally delete your old theme first select a new theme.
  4. Next click on the little delete link under the OLD theme you wish to delete.



  5. Now you can start over again and customize your colors as you wish.

To log into your YouTube account just go to www.youtube.com and sign in.