how to set up a youtube channel in 2025 

Before you dive into uploads, titles, and thumbnails — there’s one super important thing you need to do first.

Get your “fishing license.”

Not a real one, of course. What I mean is this: YouTube has a hidden system (think of it as the algorithm, or "Albert") that starts watching your channel from day one. Before you even post content, it's already picking up signals from your settings, connected accounts, and activity.

Let’s go over the basics — and the advanced YouTube settings that actually matter if you want to grow.

Step 1: Start Fresh with Chrome for YouTube Research

Always use Chrome when managing your YouTube channel. Why?

• It's made by Google (which owns YouTube).

• It supports powerful extensions like vidIQ and TubeBuddy.

• You can create separate browser profiles for different channels.

• If you’re repurposing an old channel, create a new Chrome profile just for it. This keeps everything clean and avoids login mix-ups.

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Step 2: Install vidIQ for Keyword and SEO Help

Go to the Chrome Web Store and install the vidIQ extension.

vidIQ helps you:

• Find keywords for titles and descriptions

• Understand how your videos are performing

• Stay consistent with SEO best practices

Just a heads-up — vidIQ often suggests or highly ranks clickbait-style titles. Feel free to use them as inspiration, but make sure your final titles still match your tone and audience.

Step 3: Tell the Algorithm Who You Are

In YouTube Studio, go to Settings > Channel and add keywords that describe your channel.

This helps YouTube’s algorithm figure out:

• What kind of content you’ll post

• Who your audience might be

• What other videos your channel should be recommended next to

• Even if you’re not sure of your niche yet, add general keywords based on your interests. You can refine them later.

Step 4: Choose “Not Made for Kids” Unless It Truly Is

Unless your content is specifically for children under 13, mark your channel as “Not made for kids.”

Choosing the wrong setting can hurt your visibility. YouTube restricts where kid-focused videos can appear — like in search results, autoplay, and recommendations.

Step 5: Connect Your Google Ads Account (Even If You’re Not Running Ads Yet)

Linking your YouTube channel to a Google Ads account helps verify your identity and gives your channel more credibility.

Benefits include:

• Stronger trust signals to YouTube

• Access to more advanced features

• The ability to appeal copyright or monetization issues

You don’t need to run any actual ads — just sign up, verify your account with an ID, and link it to your YouTube channel.

Step 6: Unlock Advanced Features in YouTube Studio

After verification, go to Settings > Feature Eligibility in YouTube Studio.

Turn on:

• Intermediate features (for videos longer than 15 minutes and custom thumbnails)

• Advanced features (to appeal copyright claims, live stream, and more)

• This is especially important if you plan to grow or monetize your channel later.

These involve some steps to confirm your identity that youtube will walk you through. Here is the link to check if you have already verified your phone number:

https://www.youtube.com/verify 

Step 7: Customize Your Upload Defaults

Go to Settings > Upload Defaults and add:

• A standard video disclaimer (like “This content is for informational or entertainment purposes only.”)

• Tags or keywords you always use

• Your default language and video category

These defaults save time and help keep your content consistent as you start uploading regularly.

Skip the Ads (For Now)

Yes, you can run paid YouTube ads (promotions) to get more subscribers, but don’t start there.

I tested this myself — and while the subscriber count went up, those viewers didn’t stick around or engage with my content at all. Organic viewers tend to watch longer and help your channel grow more sustainably.

Ready to Go Fishing?

That’s your beginner checklist for launching a smart, SEO-friendly YouTube channel in 2025.

Get your fishing license — that is, set everything up right — and you’ll be ready to cast your line and start attracting views and better results sooner!

Cheers,

Marcie