Читать книгу YouTube Channels For Dummies - Rob Ciampa - Страница 41

Take a reflective pause before you choose a username or channel name or another identifying criterion you want as your public face for the whole YouTube world. An overhasty decision here could end up being one you regret later. Many a creator has made the mistake of beginning to upload videos to what they thought would remain a low-key, personal channel, only to have that channel take off in popularity, at which point they begin to feel trapped in a channel named after their cat. (Okay, just to be clear, this wouldn’t be a problem if the channel is actually about your cat). The channel URL, however, is a different story, and you can learn about that topic later in this chapter, in the section “Setting Up a Custom Channel URL.”

Keep the following advice in mind when making your reflections:

 Avoid rushing into anything. You should think hard about this decision. Though it seems like a light one, it can truly impact the success of your channel in the long run if you choose a bad name.

 Relate the name to your content, if possible. Are you creating a channel about video games? Try to work a gaming term into your title. If you plan to create fitness-related content, try to integrate workout or sports terms.

 Steer clear of profanity, vulgarity, and inside jokes. Though you may find it hilarious to name your channel Dadfarts, a name like this one necessarily limits your market. It’s hard to predict what path your videos might take on their way out into the world, and a sophomoric name (or a downright obscene one) might deter your viewers from sharing your video. Note: You want people to share your videos!

 Come up with a catchy name. Your channel name needs to be memorable. People love puns, rhyming, and alliteration, but don’t try to integrate all three. That’s a little much.

 Make the name easy to spell. People need to be able to find your channel, and choosing a word that’s difficult to spell can prevent people from finding you. Do not see this as a felicitous opportunity to create a recondite channel name thronged with abstruse vocabulary that will confuse and confound your potential viewers.

 Provide a name that’s easy for people to talk about. When you think you’ve hit on the perfect name, try reading it aloud a few times, and make sure you can pronounce it. You want to have a channel name that people can talk about and make themselves understood. The best test for this is to call a friend on the phone and direct them to your channel. If you can tell your friend the channel name and they can get there without your having to spell it, you have a usable name on your hands.

 Ensure that the name is available and that you won’t be confused with another business on YouTube or elsewhere. You should search the web in general, and YouTube specifically, to make sure your brilliant channel name isn’t already in use elsewhere. You should also ensure that the URL you prefer is available. YouTube’s allocation of URLs isn’t automatic, and you choose your custom URL in a later step. So, even if your channel name is available, your custom URL may not be available. Check this in advance or else it can turn into a real problem.