YouTube Account for Business: How to Get Started

Having a YouTube account for business is an effective way to get your brand in front of viewers and grow your online presence.

Utilizing video for your business puts recognizable faces with your brand and invites viewers into your world. Whether you’re sharing live streams, tutorials, or behind-the-scenes footage, video is a glimpse into your brand’s inner workings that your viewers can’t get from a blog article or a text-driven social media post. With so many users leveraging YouTube as a search engine, you’ll want to add your own video content to the mix so you can grow your account on the platform and get more eyes on your business or product.

Whether you want to start your own agency’s channel (which we recommend) or grow a brand on YouTube for your clients, this platform is a valuable space to get more attention on any brand. Let’s take a look at how to get started.

Why You Should Use YouTube for Business

Not sure if YouTube is worth the hassle? We’ve got some data that begs to differ.

YouTube is the internet’s second-largest search engine next to Google, with 2.3 billion users around the world. In addition to being the #2 search engine in the world, YouTube is the second most popular social media platform. 79% of users on the internet say they have an account on YouTube.

YouTube is available in over 100 countries and 80+ languages, leading to viewers watching a whopping 1 billion hours’ worth of video daily. Ninety percent of YouTube viewers say they’ve discovered new products or brands on YouTube, too. Needless to say, the potential for your business’s reach on YouTube is mind-blowing.

Video content performs well for many businesses, providing an engaging and attention-grabbing medium for viewers who want to learn or be entertained. Today, roughly 86% percent of businesses now leverage video in their marketing strategy. Ninety-three percent of marketers say that video is an important component of their strategy, with 84% asserting that videos generate leads for their businesses.

With all that knowledge in place, let’s take a look at how to create a YouTube Account for business purposes.

If you need more in-depth and structured information on how to grow your YouTube channel, have a look at our YouTube Marketing Course.

How to Create a YouTube Business Account

Creating your new YouTube business account is easy. The platform features clear and simple instructions for setting up your profile, entering relevant content, and uploading your first video. Let’s jump right in.

1. To get started with your YouTube account, visit YouTube’s homepage and Sign In. Two buttons are displayed; one on the left-hand side of the screen and one in the upper right corner.

Youtube account for business creation process

2. From the Sign In page, click Create Account and select To Manage My Business.

Sign in to create YouTube account for business

3. Google will ask you to enter an existing email address or set up a new Gmail account. Follow the prompts to create your profile. You’ll need to enter basic information such as your name, phone number, age, and any email accounts you want to link to this new YouTube account.

4. Once you’ve set up your new account, you’ll be redirected to the YouTube homepage, where you’ll already be logged in. Click the account icon in the upper right corner of the screen, then select Create a Channel from the drop-down menu.

Name Your Channel

There are many options and ideas for YouTube channel names you can choose from. Consider using a keyword related to your brand that will make it easier for users to find in search. For example, if your brand is centered around copywriting, you’ll want to make sure you use the word “copywriting” in your channel title.

Enter the channel name you’ve chosen and click Create Channel.

Once you’ve named your channel, you’ll be taken to the channel’s homepage. To customize it further, click Customize Channel in the upper right corner. This is where you’ll be able to upload branded images and get your channel set up the way you want it.

Upload a Profile Picture and Cover Image

Now, it’s time to upload your profile photo and cover, or banner, image. Select your images carefully, making sure they align with your brand. For example, if you’re a personal brand you could upload your headshot as a profile image, but if your brand does not center around one personality, you could use your logo.

To upload your images, head over to the Customization tab, then click Branding. Here, you’ll see places to upload your profile picture, banner image, and video watermark. Note the optimal sizes for each image:

Profile pictures should be at least 98 x 98 pixels, with a file size of 4MB or less. Only PNG and GIF files are allowed, and GIFs cannot be animated.
Your banner image should be 2048 x 1152 pixels, with a file size of 6MB or less.
If you choose to upload a watermark, that image should be 150 x 150 pixels, with a file size of 1MB or less. Supported file types include PNG, JPEG, BMP, or GIF (non-animated).

When you’re creating the art for your YouTube channel, there are some considerations to keep in mind. You’ll want to make sure your banner image is of high enough resolution to look great on any screen, for example.

Consider where your channel icon and sharing buttons are going to show up, and what elements of your banner they might overlap. Keep your designs simple, your images high-quality, and make sure the profile image you select works well with the banner.

Write Your “About”

Next, navigate to Basic Info in your Customization tab. Here you’ll see a text box where you can craft your channel description. Include a descriptive, keyword-friendly description that will help potential viewers find your channel. Your “About” should focus on your unique selling proposition (USP) so viewers know exactly what to expect before they watch the first video.

How to Add Additional Users to Your Channel

If you want to add additional users to your channel, navigate to your Settings (in the lower left-hand corner of the screen) and click Permissions. From here, you’ll be able to invite other users to perform different roles in your channel. Additionally, it’s possible to use a third-party tool, such as Agorapulse, to grant access.

How to add team members to YouTube account for business

Optimise Your Channel

Now that you’ve set up the basics of your YouTube account for business, it’s time to optimise. Here’s how to do that.

Start Uploading Videos

In order to start attracting viewers to your YouTube channel, it’s time to upload your first video.

Head over to the Content tab on your dashboard and click Upload Video. Follow the prompts to upload your first video to your channel.

While your video uploads, you’ll be able to begin filling in details, including the title of your, the description (be sure to use relevant keywords), any playlists you want it to appear on, and your intended audience, disclosure of paid promotions, tags, and more.

Once the upload is complete, you’ll be able to select a thumbnail image.

Follow the prompts to fill out any relevant information you want to include with your video.

On the Video Elements screen, you’ll have the option to add subtitles, an end screen, or cards.

YouTube will scan your video for potential copyright issues.

You’ll also be able to set your video to Private, Unlisted, or Public, and you’ll get the option to schedule what date and time you’d like your video to publish.

Create Relevant Playlists

As you build your video library, organize your videos into relevant playlists your viewers can watch sequentially.

You can also build playlists from other content creators’ videos that your viewers may find helpful or interesting. Get started by clicking the Playlists tab on the left-hand side of your dashboard.

YouTube account for business creating playlists

Decide if You Want to Monetize

Next, it’s time to decide whether you want to monetize your channel. Click the Monetization tab on the left-hand side of your screen to get started.

YouTube account for business monetization

You won’t be able to monetize a brand-new YouTube channel, but if you eventually want to make money from your videos, you’ll need to work toward growing your brand. To monetize your YouTube channel, you’ll need 1,000 followers and 4,000 cumulative watch hours on your channel.

Set Up Moderator Abilities

If you want to set up comment moderation, you’ll first need to receive comments on at least one video. Then, you can set up moderators for those comments.

Have the person you want to moderate leave a comment on your video.

Navigate to Comments on your dashboard, then select the comment they left. You’ll see a flag icon that gives you the option of adding that person as a comment moderator.

Keep an Eye on Your Analytics

Once you’ve set up your channel, keep an eye on your YouTube Analytics. You can access this information from your dashboard’s left-hand navigation menu.

Monitoring your analytics will give you valuable insights into your channel’s growth, performance, what’s working and what’s not so that you can eventually optimize your channel for its highest possible performance. Check out this in-depth analytics tutorial from YouTube to learn more.

5 Different YouTube Accounts for Businesses To Draw Inspiration From

If you’re looking for ideas for YouTube channels, there are a variety of business accounts to choose from. Here are a few excellent accounts you should consider for inspiration.

1. Social Media College

The Social Media College YouTube account is a strong example of a channel that takes blog posts and converts them into videos in order to capture search intent through YouTube. Videos are later embedded in blogs, which creates a stronger, fuller funnel and uses an engaging medium while building trust with readers.

Social Media College has built a collection of playlists for followers, which are organized by type to make navigation easier. For example, there’s a playlist for weekly blog videos and one for how-to videos so users can easily find the tutorials they’re looking for.

Social Media College YouTube business account

2. Stitch Fix

Stitch Fix’s channel features a great mix of style tips and search-friendly how-to content. Their “What’s In My Closet?” series features influencers’ wardrobes, and fun tutorials help viewers update their own wardrobes with simple, easy-to-learn tips.

3. PilatesAnytime

PilatesAnytime is an online pilates subscription service. Their YouTube channel gives users a good preview of what they can expect from a membership. The selection of videos shows viewers how to break down different exercises to boost their confidence and show them that they can succeed with pilates at home.

This channel offers a wide range of playlists and tutorials, including beginner workouts, online challenges, prenatal pilates, barre exercises, advanced workouts, and more. The selection allows users from multiple target markets to see whether pilates is for them.

YouTube account for business Pilates Anytime

4. Keller Williams Realty, Texas

Although based exclusively in the US, the Keller Williams Realty YouTube channel is a universally relevant example of how to approach customers as a service-based business. Their videos include a brand awareness video that builds rapport with viewers and potential customers, useful content such as calculating profit share, and a 2020 series highlighting new real estate listings each month.

Keller Williams Realty YouTube account for their business

The channel features a healthy mix of brand-centric videos that communicate brand values to viewers and help them get to know some members of the Keller Williams team, plus helpful tips that educate viewers on different aspects of real estate and finance.

5. AdEspresso

The AdEspresso YouTube channel is a great example of how to rock your YouTube business account as a SaaS tool. They have a “Mastering AdEspresso” training playlist that walks users through how to use AdEspresso so they’re set up for success on the platform.

In addition, AdEspresso shares long webinars that contain high-value strategies viewers can apply to their own businesses. They also share changelogs to keep viewers up-to-date on what’s happening with the platform.

Final Thoughts

Creating and optimizing a YouTube account for business is fairly simple to do, and it can create a high return on your investment.

Focus on creating and posting high-quality, consistent content that aligns with your brand and educates or entertains your audience. With the right mix of content and a strong marketing strategy, you can multiply your brand’s reach and grow your online presence through video.

Ana Gotter

Social Media Marketing Specialist

Ana is a strategic content marketer specialising in business, finance, and marketing writing, though she's worked across a range of industries. She works from her home in Orlando with her three dogs.