the best youtube channel settings & keywords

How to Choose the Right Keywords for Your YouTube Channel Setup.

There’s an essential concept in YouTube SEO that many new creators miss: channel keywords are not just about what you post—they define how the algorithm sees you. In this guide, you’ll learn how to use free tools like Google Trends, YouTube search, and keyword extensions to choose low-competition key phrases that actually work for growing a new channel.

Why Your Channel’s “Flavor” Matters

Think of your channel as a new guest at a party. If you tell the host you love Tupac, they know who to introduce you to. This same idea applies to YouTube. The algorithm (like our friend Albert) wants to know who to serve your content to.

Even if you’re not sure what kind of content you'll make long-term, picking a “flavor” helps the algorithm get started. That flavor gets defined by your channel key phrases—the specific terms that describe your topic focus.

Use Google Trends for Low-Competition Keyword Ideas

Go to trends.google.com and search for a topic like “Tupac.” Set the geography to match your phone number region (usually your country), and filter for YouTube Search over the last 30–90 days.

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You’ll see two categories:

• Top: Evergreen search terms that people always look for

• Rising: Trending terms that are gaining traction right now

For example, “Tupac reaction” or “Hit Em Up reaction” are strong, low-competition keywords for a music reaction channel.

Pick Keywords Based on Search Intent

Not every keyword should go into your channel settings. Focus on phrases, not single words—what people actually type in the search bar. Here are some examples of good low-competition key phrases:

• tupac reaction videos

• tupac music review

• poetic justice movie reaction

• tupac deep dive

• underrated tupac songs

Tip: Avoid overly broad terms like “rap” or “Tupac” alone—they’re too saturated. Look for more specific intent phrases like “tupac poetry analysis” or “tupac lyrics meaning.”

How to Find Specific Video Ideas with Google Search

Go to Google and start typing in “Tupac.” You’ll get auto-complete suggestions, which reflect what users are currently searching. Try different formats:

• tupac lyrics explained

• all eyes on me album review

• tupac unreleased songs

• tupac interview breakdown

Also try alternate spellings and nickname variations—"2pac," "Tupac Shakur," or even common misspellings. These can help you surface niche content ideas.

Don’t Forget YouTube-Specific Tools

Use YouTube’s own search bar to see what pops up when you type “Tupac reaction.” Look for:

• Suggested video titles

• Channels doing well in that space

• Keywords in their descriptions and tags

Then use a Chrome extension like VidIQ and/or TubeBuddy to view competitor channel tags. These can show you what’s working for similar channels.

Use YouTube Studio's Inspiration Tab for Niche Ideas

Inside YouTube Studio, head to the "Inspiration" tab and type in your main topic—like “Tupac” or “Tupac tarot” (yes, that’s a thing). This AI-powered tab surfaces video ideas based on what viewers are searching for but might not have enough content yet.

Great for picking low-content opportunity topics, especially if your niche blends genres like music and spirituality in this example.

Find Synonyms with Thesaurus Tools

A great trick for finding unique phrases is to look up synonyms for your topic. For example, if your channel is about makeup, look up alternatives like “cosmetics,” “beauty routine,” or “face paint.” Then repeat your keyword research using those terms.

This is especially useful if your niche is competitive and you need to stand out.

Watch Out for Keyword Overlap

If your keywords are too similar (like “Tupac” and “Tupac rapper”), it can confuse the algorithm. Instead, pick distinct but related key phrases to cover a broader range without duplication. Use a Chrome extension like Keyword Surfer to see search volume and overlap for your terms.

Lower-overlap keywords are more specific and tell Google exactly what your content is about.

Final Tip: Use Misspellings and Cultural References

Sometimes people misspell artist names or use slang. Tools like ChatGPT or Gemini can help you find commonly misspelled versions of terms like "Tupac." (2Pac). Including these in your tags or video descriptions can help catch otherwise missed traffic.

Summary: Tools You Should Be Using

Here’s a recap of the free tools used in this strategy:

• Google Trends – for real-time and evergreen interest

• Google Search Autocomplete – for intent-based keyword ideas

• Keyword Surfer Chrome Extension – for monthly search volume

• YouTube Search and Studio Inspiration Tab – for direct content ideas

• VidIQ or TubeBuddy – for competitor research

• Thesaurus.com – for synonyms and low-competition keyword angles

• ChatGPT or Gemini – for finding misspellings or niche phrases

Next Step: Match Keywords to Your Channel Branding

In the next post, we’ll go deeper into your channel’s branding—how your keywords connect to tone, category, and long-term audience building. For now, start collecting your best low-competition key phrases, and set up your channel metadata to reflect them.

Cheers,

Marcie