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Creating a YouTube custom name helps you to stand out and build your brand as an artist. Once you have enough subscribers, you can change your YouTube URL also. This will enable new and existing fans to find your videos and personalises your channel.
Do you upload music videos and footage of you singing to YouTube ? If so, it’s important to know how to make the most of your social media channels. Read on to find out how to personalise your channel and to see if you meet the criteria needed to update your URL.
Change your YouTube URL
Having a unique and bespoke YouTube URL is important. When creating a brand as an artist it’s really useful to have consistency across all of your social media platforms . This enables your fans to easily access your music and stay up to date with gigs etc. And it makes you look more professional.
URL stands for uniform resource locator and is an address used to identify a webpage. Every website has a URL and your YouTube channel will have its own distinct URL that’ll initially be assigned by YouTube. However, you will be able to choose a different one when you have enough subscribers. Having a similar URL on your website and YouTube channel is a good idea.
Criteria to change a YouTube custom URL
To create a custom YouTube URL for your channel, your account needs to:
- Have 100 or more subscribers
- Be at least 30 days old
- Have an uploaded photo as channel icon
- Have uploaded channel art (check out these guidelines for YouTube channel art)
How to change a YouTube channel URL
You can change your YouTube URL in 9 easy steps. Unlike some other social platforms, there are limits on the number of times you can change your URL. Therefore, it’s important that you’re sure about your decision before updating it.
Here’s how to change your YouTube URL.
- Sign in to your YouTube account.
- Check if you are eligible for your own custom YouTube URL.
- Go to your advanced account settings by clicking your icon in the top right-hand corner.
- Click ‘Advanced’ under your YouTube account name.
- Under ‘Channel settings’, select the link next to ‘You’re eligible for a custom URL’. [Text Wrapping Break] Note: You will only see this link if your channel is eligible.
- In the ‘Get a custom URL’ box, you will see the custom URL(s) for which you’ve been approved. You can’t change the part in the grey box, but you may need to add a few letters or numbers to make the URL unique to you.
- Read the ‘Custom URL Terms of Use’
- Tick the box to agree to them
- Click ‘Change URL’
Creating a YouTube custom name
You may want to change your YouTube or channel name. Your taste and mindset change over the years so a name you previously liked may not seem as attractive as it first did. Or you may have rebranded as an artist. If you can’t change your YouTube URL then don’t worry because there are other names you can change.
Your YouTube name is also known as your YouTube username or channel name. Unlike your YouTube URL, there is no subscriber threshold to change your name. When you change your name, it will change the name that appears on your channel, as well as in comments.
How to change youtube link channel name
You can only change your YouTube name three times every 90 days. You do this by editing your name on Google. If you want to change your YouTube name without changing your Google name, you must turn your YouTube account into a brand account. This simply means that you’ll have a different name on your YouTube channel to your Google account.
Once signed in, it only takes 3 steps to change your YouTube channel name:
- Click your account icon > settings.
- In the “Overview” section, click Edit on Google next to your channel name.
- Update the channel name and click OK.
How to delete a custom URL on YouTube
Once you’ve decided on a new YouTube channel name, or if you decide to discontinue your channel and start a new one, you may want to delete your custom URL. You can remove a custom URL from your channel up to 3 times per year. This deactivates the URL so that it no longer directs viewers to your channel. Once signed in this can be achieved in a few simple steps.
- Sign in to YouTube and go to your ‘About Me‘ page.
- Select the account with your YouTube channel in the top-right corner. (You may have to click All of your Brand Accounts if your account is not in the list)
- Find your current custom URL under ‘Sites’ and click edit.
- Next to the URL that you want to remove, click X .
- Click OK.
It may take a couple of days before the previous custom URL stops directing to your channel. Then to set a new custom YouTube URL, follow the steps detailed earlier in the article.
Now you’ve changed your URL and/or channel name, it’s time to let people know. Post about it on your website, on your other social media channels and add a link. Tell the audience at gigs and open mic nights that they can find your videos online and share your content wherever possible.
YouTube has launched many famous artist’s careers, including the likes of Dua Lipa , Stormzy, George Ezra and more. Could you be the next name to be discovered?
Related Questions
- Why is my YouTube link not working?
This could be down to a number of reasons. First, check you’ve copied or embedded the link correctly and are not missed any text. Check the originating page is still active and that the URL matches the one you’re trying to share. Your browser may also be blocking the link, so try using another one.
- How do you get a YouTube URL without 100 subs?
Unfortunately, the only way is to have 100 subs. In the meantime, you can focus on building your channel, making great content and interacting with your audience to get the subscribers you need. Ask your friends and family to subscribe and plug your channel on your other social media platforms.
- What is the URL for my YouTube channel?
Your URL displays in the address bar on your computer when you’re on your channel page. Your standard URL is based on your channel ID but while you can change your URL, you can’t change your channel ID. Check your channel and user ID via your account settings (click on ‘advanced’ on your overview).
Have you changed your YouTube URL or created a custom YouTube name? If so, share a link to your channel in the comments below