Channel setup: name, handle, description and banner

How to choose your channel name, handle, description and banner when you first set up.

People judge your channel page before they watch anything. Set it up well once and it keeps working for you.

Channel name

• Hint at what the channel is about, e.g. "Budget Cooking with Sam"
• Keep it short and easy to say

Handle (@name)

Your handle is the unique ID in your channel URL and comments. Matching it to your channel name makes you easier to find.

Description

• Start with one sentence: who it's for and what kind of videos
• Mention your upload days if you have a schedule
• Use a channel-only email for business inquiries, not your personal one

Profile picture and banner

• The profile picture shows as a small circle, so keep it to a simple face or logo
• Banners are cropped differently on phones and TVs; keep important text in the center

Browse the names and descriptions of growing channels in your category on RisingTube for ideas on how to introduce your own.

Can you change it later?

• Channel name: yes, but frequent changes confuse viewers, and there's a limit on how often you can change it within a period.
• Handle: your old handle redirects for a while but can eventually be taken by someone else. Update it on your other profiles too.
• Description and banner: change them anytime. Update them when your schedule or focus changes.

Next guide: YouTube Partner Program requirements, explained