Welcome to the world of YouTube, where creating engaging video content is an art form, and standing out from the crowd is key to building a successful channel.
If you’re new to YouTube or looking to take your channel to the next level, one of the most important things you can do is develop a strong brand identity. A well-defined brand will not only make your channel look more professional and trustworthy, but it will also help attract and retain subscribers who resonate with your message and values.
In this ultimate guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about YouTube branding, from creating a logo and choosing a color scheme to crafting a unique voice and tone that sets you apart from the competition.
So, let’s dive in and start building your brand!
Importance of YouTube Branding
According to a study by Google, around 70% of viewers have bought from a brand after seeing it on YouTube. With countless content creators trying to make a lasting impression, the need for impactful YouTube branding is now more important than ever.
So, where do you get started? What elements of branding on Youtube channels should you follow to connect with your audience? What common mistakes should you avoid? Let’s find out!
“67% of marketers indicated they plan to increase their YouTube video marketing efforts” – Social Media Examiner, 2022
For influencers across all industries, optimizing their online presence is a critical aspect of branding. Whether you’re building your brand identity or promoting your presence on video platforms, the key lies in finding and projecting your unique voice to your audience.
YouTube marketing isn’t just about creating entertaining content. Use your channel to offer trustworthy information to your audience. By doing this, you’ll build a reputation as an expert in your field and attract more subscribers who value your insights.
For example, create your ‘personal brand‘ on YouTube or make infomercials for any creative niche!
In short, gather your brand elements (palette, logo, typography, etc.) and ensure your YouTube branding is consistent and cohesive.
4 Main YouTube Branding Elements
1. Profile Picture
The most fundamental piece of branding on YouTube channels is your profile picture, otherwise known as a channel icon. This will help help your audience spot you more easily via your channel page, comments, and search results. As for businesses and brands, feel free to opt for your official logo and tweak it according to your design needs!
Ideally, images should be within a square dimension of 800x800px, or round render at 98x98px.
2. Banner Image
A banner image, also known as ‘channel art,’ gives anyone visiting your YouTube channel a taste of your brand personality. Since it forms the header of your profile, a helpful design tip would be to opt for colors that complement your profile picture and overall aesthetic.
Remember to keep your dimensions within 2560x1440px for an optimal visual experience on all devices!
3. Channel Description
Now it’s time to put on your literary hat and tell everyone your story in the channel description or ‘About’ section. Including a brand summary, along with relevant social links, will assuredly help your audience get an idea of what you have to offer.
Additionally, you can also inform people of your upload schedule and catch up accordingly. For example, ‘New videos every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Stay tuned!‘
Need to boost your Youtube branding game? Make use of this space to add important keywords, like ‘lifestyle brand’ or ‘fitness expert,’ to help you show up in searches!
4. Channel Trailer
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In the layout tab, you can shine a spotlight on your YouTube branding through the magic of a channel trailer. In addition to this, YouTube gives you the option to display a different video depending on the viewer’s subscription.
- For people who haven’t subscribed: Create a good first impression for a browsing user using a [preferably mini] trailer to show them what you create. It can also encourage them to subscribe right away!
- Featured video for returning subscribers: This section of the video spotlight allows you to display any video from your channel. For instance, your most popular upload, your latest video, or perhaps an announcement about upcoming events!
Remember to make your channel trailer description authentic and representative of your brand personality. After all, it’ll be displayed right on top of your channel features!
Related: 9 Powerful Tips That Will Make Your YouTube Thumbnail Stand Out
Common YouTube Branding Mistakes to Avoid
Even the most popular brands can fail to retain viewer attention when it comes to YouTube branding. Keep a note of these three common mistakes to make sure yours is a spot-on visual experience:
Visually displeasing thumbnail
According to expert brand recognition strategies, you need to keep your YouTube thumbnail designs consistent. It not only increases the chances of more views, but it also helps your audience community to have a visual reference for your aesthetic.
No YouTube branding watermark
A video watermark consists of your brand iconography, logo, or your best photo with a transparent background. It significantly increases the chances of a random viewer subscribing to your channel without having to leave the video screen.
Unorganized channel sections
A YouTube channel section consists of your selection of curated playlists, popular videos, and any recent uploads on display. If it isn’t in the correct order or shows broken thumbnails, your YouTube branding may suffer because of the unpleasant layout.
Related: YouTube Secrets: How To Write Engaging Titles That Get Views
Simplified Design Hacks for YouTube Branding!
Did you know that Simplified offers tons of absolutely stunning templates for all your YouTube branding needs? Tweak the elements according to your taste and bring out the unique characteristics of your brand!
Starting from scratch
Want to start your branding magic from scratch? No problem. Head to your dashboard and create your ‘YouTube Channel Art’ and ‘YouTube Thumbnail,’ effortlessly in just minutes!
Templates to inspire you
Take a look at some of our pre-existing YouTube thumbnail templates for some inspo!
Simplified: Your One-Stop Shop For Everything Creative
Besides being a top graphic design tool, Simplified offers a multitude of other features so users can make the most out of it.
With its AI copywriter, you can generate the perfect headlines and descriptions for your videos. Schedule and plan your content using the social media scheduler. And most important of all – edit your videos like a pro with Simplified’s video maker.
