How to Make a YouTube Channel Searchable

By Joshua Phillips

YouTube lets you change your display name.
i Ethan Miller/Getty Images News/Getty Images

When you search for a YouTube video, in addition to displaying the relevant videos for your query YouTube also displays the channel of a user whose uploads match the query as well. If you notice that your YouTube channel is not appearing in search results, there are three possible reasons why: You are not including your channel name as a tag in your videos, your channel is not using any tags at all or you do not meet the prerequisites for having your channel indexed in the search results. In addition, you can also let people find your channel by searching when they have your email address.

Edit Channel Tags

Step 1

Navigate to YouTube and sign in to your account.

Step 2

Click your username and click "My Channel."

Step 3

Click "Channel Settings."

Step 4

Click the "Info and Settings" tab.

Step 5

Enter your YouTube username as a tag in the Tags field.

Step 6

Click "Done Editing." It may take up to 48 hours before your channel becomes visible in the search results.

Edit Video Tags

Step 1

Click your YouTube username and click "Video Manager."

Step 2

Hover over a video and click the "Edit" icon.

Step 3

Enter your username in the Tags field under the Basic Info tab.

Step 4

Click "Save Changes." Repeat this for every uploaded video to increase the chances of your channel appearing when someone searches for one of your videos. It will take 48 hours for your channel to appear in the search results.

Allow Channel To Be Searchable By Email Address

Step 1

Click your username and click "Settings."

Step 2

Click "Privacy" under Account Settings.

Step 3

Click the box to the left of "Let people find my channel on YouTube if they have my email address" so that a check mark appears in the box.

Step 4

Click "Save."

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