Launching or rebooting a channel and want real, measurable traction in 90 days? This action-first, data-driven “starting a youtube channel checklist” gives you specific, non-generic steps to turn viewers into subscribers and push videos into search and suggested feeds. Every item below is a tactical “do this now” move — not vague advice — and optimized for mobile, voice search, and Google’s ranking signals.
Why this checklist works (hook)
Most creators miss the small technical and behavioral levers that compound early: the first 10-second retention boost, a thumbnail pixel rule, or a metadata template that matches search intent. Use these youtube channel tips focused on short-term experiments with long-term payoff. Follow the 90-day plan, track KPIs, iterate weekly, and you’ll see measurable growth in discoverability and watch time.
Core setup (Days 0–7): Nail discoverability and first impressions
Before you film, fix these. They cost minutes but affect every view.
- Channel identity audit (30 minutes) — One-line niche statement: “I teach X to Y in Z minutes.” Use that in the About section and as a voice-search-friendly phrase (e.g., “How to learn Excel for finance fast”).
- Verified metadata template — Create a clipboard template for every video: Title (primary keyword + benefit), 300–350 word description (first 200 chars are critical), 5-10 tags (seed to long-tail), and 3 hashtags. Save it as a text snippet for speed.
- Channel visuals — Upload 2560×1440 banner with the safe area centered; set a 800×800 profile image; design a 3-second channel trailer with a hook and a single CTA to “Subscribe for X” (use the phrase exactly).
- Featured sections & playlists — Build 3 playlists that map to search intent (How-to, Problems, Case Studies) and apply custom playlist thumbnails that match your channel look.
Keyword & audience map (Days 1–10): Stop guessing — map intent
Use this precise research flow to pick topics that the algorithm can rank quickly.
- Quick seed research (30–60 minutes):
- Enter three seed queries into YouTube search. Use the autocompleted suggestions to find “how-to” and “best” long-tail phrases.
- Check Google Trends for each seed to verify seasonality (Google Trends).
- Competitor gap scorecard (90 minutes):
- Pick 5 videos ranking for your seed keyword. Note their titles, view velocity (views/day), upload date, and average duration. If top results are older and short, you have a discoverable opening.
- Create a 10-topic keyword map: For each topic list: primary keyword, 2 supporting long-tail LSI keywords, target intent (learn, fix, compare), and ideal video length.
Production system (Days 7–30): Batch, template, measure
Build repeatable production so you can test content systematically.
- Batch filming schedule: Film 6 videos in two sessions each week. Each video should be shot and edited with the same intro/outro template.
- Thumbnail A/B framework (do this every week):
- Create two thumbnails per video: version A follows the “face + high contrast + 3-word headline” rule; version B is product/feature focused.
- Use a small border and keep the subject at 60–70% of thumbnail box for mobile clarity.
- Hook and retention script (use this template):
- 0–5s: Tease result (“In 60 seconds you’ll learn X”).
- 5–15s: Show the outcome (screenshot/one-liner proof).
- 15–60s: Deliver backloaded value, with a pattern-interrupt at 30s.
- Closed captions & chapters: Always upload an SRT and add precise chapter timestamps in your description — voice search picks up chapters for direct answers.
SEO and metadata specifics (Ongoing): Templates that rank
Stop writing ad-hoc descriptions. Use these exact rules to increase SERP and suggested visibility.
- Title formula: Primary keyword | Benefit — Secondary keyword (limit to ~60 characters).
- First 200 characters of description: Answer user intent in one sentence (include primary keyword). Add 2–3 supporting keywords within the next 150 words.
- Timestamps and chapters: Minimum 3 chapters: Hook (0:00), Main Steps (0:30), Results/Takeaway (last 20s).
- Tags and hashtags: Use exact phrase tags plus 3 long-tail LSI tags. Add one branded tag: #YourChannelName.
- End screen & cards: At 70–90% of expected view duration, add a recommended video card linking to a playlist with high retention.
Shorts strategy (Day 10 onward): Use Shorts as discovery funnels
Shorts can jumpstart channel discovery if they funnel viewers to long-form content. Here are exact moves.
- 30–45 second micro-teaser: Clip a key “aha” moment from your long video and add a pinned comment: “Full tutorial: [link]” and a 3-word CTA in overlay text.
- Shorts title and description: Use the same primary keyword as the long-form video. In the description, add “Watch full video: [link]” in the first line.
- Convert viewers: On the full video’s first 15s refer to the Shorts as “Watch the 45s breakdown we posted today.” Cross-reference to increase session watch time.
Growth loop & community signals (Days 15–90): Build the engine
Change how you solicit engagement and you change how often YouTube recommends you.
- Mini-experiments every week: Run one A/B on titles or thumbnails. Keep records in a spreadsheet: thumbnail A CTR vs B CTR and resulting 7-day watch time change.
- Subscriber gating: Create a 60–90 second “member benefit” short pinned as the first playlist video to nudge non-subscribers.
- Pinned comment CTA: Pin a comment asking a single, specific action (e.g., “Which method did you use? 1 or 2 — reply with the number”) to increase reply activity which signals community interaction.
- Community posts schedule: 2 posts/week: one poll and one preview clip. Use the poll to test next episode ideas and let viewers vote — YouTube rewards engaged communities.
Measurement & KPIs (track weekly)
Measure to optimize. Here are exact KPIs and weekly targets for the first 90 days.
- Primary KPIs: CTR (click-through rate), Average View Duration, Watch Time (hours), Views per 24/48/72 hours, Subscriber growth.
- Weekly targets (new channels):
- CTR: 4–8% (improve thumbnails if below 4%).
- Average View Duration: Aim for 35–60% retention for tutorial/educational niches; 45–65% for narrative content.
- Watch Time: Increase week-over-week by +10–20% via playlist funnels.
- Experiment log: Keep a simple table (Date | Test | Variant A | Variant B | Metric | Outcome). Stop tests after 2 weeks if no lift.
90-day content calendar (sample)
Below is a compact calendar you can copy. This follows the “6 videos per 2 weeks” batching plus weekly Shorts.
| Week | Main Long-form Videos | Shorts | Priority KPI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 3 videos (keywords A, B, C) — intro to niche | 3 Shorts (teasers) directing to videos | CTR & first 48h views |
| Week 2 | 3 videos (how-to, FAQ, case study) | 2 Shorts + Community poll | Avg view duration |
| Weeks 3–6 | Batch 12 videos — test thumbnails A/B | 4–6 Shorts — cross-link | Watch time & subscriber rate |
| Weeks 7–12 | Iterate top-performing topics; double down on playlists | Shorts highlight reels & behind-the-scenes | Suggested traffic % increase |
Exact description template (copy-paste)
Use this template for every video. It’s tuned for search and voice queries.
0:00 Intro — What you’ll learn 0:30 Step 1: ... 1:45 Step 2: ... (Full explanation in the video) Quick answer: [Concise answer to the common question — 1 sentence with primary keyword] 🔎 Resources & timestamps: - Guide link: [link to playlist or blog] - Related video: [link] Subscribe for weekly [niche] tips → https://youtube.com/yourchannel #YourChannelName #PrimaryKeyword
Advanced tactical tips (specific moves that most miss)
These are not generic; apply one per week and measure the lift.
- Thumbnail mobile pixel test: Shrink your thumbnail to 320px wide; if the headline is illegible, reduce copy or increase contrast until it’s readable on small screens.
- Retention pattern break: Place a 2–4 second unexpected visual at 22–28 seconds to re-catch attention if retention dips.
- Search-to-suggest funnel: Make one video strictly answer a high-volume “how to” long-tail, then use playlist sequencing to surface your convertive “deep dive” video as the next up.
- Voice-search optimization: Add the exact question phrase to your first paragraph of the description and a short one-line answer — voice assistants often read the first sentence.
- Retention-triggered comments: At the 60–70% mark, ask viewers a cold question that requires them to re-watch the top — turns passive viewers into re-watches.
For more on YouTube policies and best practices, refer to the official Creator Academy and Help Center: YouTube Creator Academy and YouTube Help.
FAQ — Fast answers for creators (SEO friendly)
Short, searchable answers to the questions people actually ask when starting out.
Q: What are the first 10 videos I should make?
A: Use a topic ladder: 3 foundational “what is/how to” videos (high search intent), 3 “how-to” tutorials solving specific problems, 2 case studies or results videos, 1 FAQ video from comments, 1 “best tools” roundup. Map each to a keyword from your 10-topic keyword map.
Q: How often should I post to grow fast?
A: Consistency beats volume. For growth, batch 3–4 high-quality videos every 10–14 days and publish 2–3 Shorts per week. Focus on improving CTR and average view duration before increasing frequency.
Q: Will Shorts help long-form discoverability?
A: Yes, if you direct Shorts viewers to long-form content via pinned comments, matching titles, and hooks in the first 15 seconds. Use Shorts as a discovery funnel, not the final product.
Q: What’s the fastest metric to improve to trigger more recommendations?
A: Improve CTR and initial 24–72 hour average view duration. A higher CTR signals relevance; longer early watch time improves ranking in suggested and search.
Conclusion + 1-step CTA
Use this 90-day “starting a youtube channel checklist” as your operating manual: research with intent, produce with templates, measure ruthlessly, and iterate weekly. Pick one advanced tactical tip above, apply it this week, and measure the lift. Want a ready-to-use keyword map and metadata template in Google Sheets that you can copy? Click here to request it in the comments or message me on my channel.
Make these youtube channel tips your weekly ritual, and you’ll see both faster growth and more sustainable discovery from search and suggested feeds.
