Build Your Website: Social Media Images for YouTube

NOTE: This post, “Social Media Images for YouTube”, introduces YouTube’s requirements for images needed in setting up your account and the images and videos you plan to use in posts on this site.

---

This post’s intention is to provide this information about fields and provide image examples of what the various video types look like to help you in preparing the images, video, and text you’ll need.

Be sure to maintain consistency (and your branding) by using the same colors, banner, headshot, and fonts from other social media sites to make you/your business recognizable.

To repeat, you ideally start with an image as large as you can make it, usually 1,080 px wide by χχ px high.

YouTube will adjust your image to suit their guidelines, so be sure to pre-adjust your image to the correct dimensions to ensure your composition isn’t compromised by automatic cropping, stretching, or compressing.

This will ensure clarity. Keep this file as your original. Make duplicates of it for every different size you’ll need. I like to label my images with its purpose and the social media name, e.g., profYT or YTProf meaning profile picture for YouTube or coverYT meaning cover photo for YouTube.

Develop your own preference and then be consistent to reduce confusion!

NOTE: Any post content on YouTube must comply with their Community Guidelines, Copyright, Monetization Policies, and Creator Policies.

NOTE: Certain features require you to be in the YouTube Partner Program.

Return to top

Quick Navigation
Social Media Posts	In this post	Found in “Intro to Social Media”
Intro Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Pinterest Snapchat TikTok X	YouTube Resources for Social Media Images	Online Imaging Options Imaging Definitions

Return to top

Exploring More . . .

You may want to also look at more possibilities in “Images on Your Website” and “Understanding Licensing” or have some fun on the homepage Building Your Author Website.

For more on websites, check out: “First Steps for a Website“, “Outline Your Website“, “Anatomy of a Web Page“, “Pages on the Front End of Your Website“, “Pages Behind the Scenes of Your Website“, “More Specific Disclosures for Your Website“, and “Navigation For Your Website“.

Return to top

Build Your Author Website is . . .

. . . an opportunity to do a bit more with your author’s website or blog and have some fun with it as well as getting a look at building it from the ground up with a comprehensive listing of the pages you’ll need . . . all while learning something about HTML (hypertext markup language) and CSS (cascading style sheets) — the easy way, lol.

If you found this post on “Social Media Images for YouTube” interesting, consider subscribing to KD Did It, if you’d like to track this post for future updates.

Return to top

YouTube Social Media Images
Part of Web Building: Behind the Scenes
Definition: Any image or video you use on your social media site, including banners. A free, online video-sharing platform with over 2 billion monthly users that allows viewers to: Watch videos posted by other users Upload your own videos Comment on videos Share videos YouTube uses Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP), a widely-used protocol for video streaming. POST CONTENTS: Account Set-up Channel Profile Page Channel Banner Companion Banner Channel Name Channel Description Profile Picture User ID Channel ID Channel Handle Biography Video Short Video Flash Video YouTube Live Stream 180° Live Stream 360° Live Stream Virtual Reality (VR) Video Trailer Create: Elements Video Information Video Title URL Thumbnail Description Watermark Info Card End Screen Audio Transcript Translation Strike Copyright Strike Community Guidelines Strike NOTE: The word creative is tossed about: A video creative is a video ad that typically consists of a video asset and an end card image. A creative video is any type of video that engages and grabs the viewer’s attention and keeps them watching. A creative may be the person creating the video. NOTE: Teal blocks represent your images. NOTE: It is NOT standard, but this post uses a comma to separate specs with more than three numbers, e.g., 1080 is 1,080. The purpose is to aid tired eyes in registering the number.
Return to top or post contents
YouTube Account Set-up
You first need a Google Account, and then you can set up any of three types of accounts: Personal – if 18 or older, the default privacy setting is set to public Business – if 18 or older, the default privacy setting is set to public Child – ages 13–17 is private When setting up an account on YouTube, you’ll need: Channel Profile Page Video Audio Strike
Return to top or post contents
YouTube Channel Profile Page	Definition: Includes all the information needed to set up your YouTube account, including:
Return to top or post contents	Channel Banner Companion Banner Channel Name Channel Description Profile Picture User ID Channel ID Channel Handle Biography Your Profile Page should reflect your brand or identity. Up to 14 links can be included on your Profile Page / Channel Home tab with your first link prominently displayed in the profile section near the subscribe button. Your remaining links will show when your audience clicks to see more links. NOTE: Anyone on YouTube can see your profile page and its content unless you specifically set privacy settings to make it private. To make changes to your Profile Page, visit YouTube Studio.
YouTube Channel Banner	Definition: A broad band across the top of your Profile Page that should show what your channel is about.
Return to top or post contents	The cover image should clearly reflect your brand colors, logo, and overall aesthetic, instantly making your profile recognizable. “If you maintain a regular upload schedule, let your fans know when to come back for new videos by adding your schedule to your banner image. “Your banner image and profile picture can change with you. Change the visuals on your channel when you feel your values or the message you want to communicate has changed.” A.k.a. cover, header Source: Channel
	Image Size Min.: 2,048 x 1,152 px Best: 2,560 x 1,440 px Aspect Ratio 16:9 Resolution Range Standard: 72 ppi Max.: 96 ppi Safe Zone Text and logo should be within a Safe Zone of 1,235 x 338 px
YouTube Companion Banner	Definition: Different from a banner, it’s a smaller image that appears alongside a video ad (via Google Ads), essentially acting as additional visual marketing for the ad itself.
YouTube Channel Name	Definition: The official name of your YouTube channel, and as your channel identity, it appears on the channel page, in videos, and in search results. It’s an important part of a channel’s branding and discoverability.
Return to top or post contents	Some tips for choosing a YouTube channel name: Be memorable – the name should be easy to spell, pronounce, and remember. Be descriptive – Choose a name that accurately represents the channel’s brand and the type of content it creates. Keep it short – Focus on names that are 1–4 words long. Consider translations – Think about how the name will translate globally. Avoid overcomplicating the spelling of the name, as this can make it harder for people to search for your channel and pronounce it. Unlike a handle, a channel name can be shared by multiple channels. Keep YouTube’s Community Guidelines in mind when choosing a name. You can only create a new URL for your channel by changing your handle. To make changes to your channel name, visit YouTube Studio — you’ll need to re-verify your channel with YouTube. For help in choosing a Channel Name, consider using a YouTube name generator, such as Hootsuite‘s to help you come up with ideas.
	# of Characters Max.: 50 characters Most Common: 10–15 characters * * Keeping it to 20 characters or fewer can make the name easier to remember and type.
YouTube Channel Description	Definition: A short section of text that provides additional information about the purpose/content of your YouTube videos and how they can help the viewer.
Return to top or post contents	Focus on your main themes and unique value proposition. Ideally, create a template for basic channel information you can use in all your video descriptions. This can also include links to related videos, social media or website links, timestamps, and more. Hootsuite has an online AI description generator to help write your channel description.
	Character Limits Max.: 1,000 characters 100–150 words
YouTube Profile Picture	Definition: This is your signature image or logo that represents your channel.
Return to top or post contents	It appears in many places — on your channel page, when you comment, and on the bottom right of videos in most playback modes. It’s best to upload a square or round image. If you do use a round image, save it as a PNG to preserve the transparency. Ensure your image is centered so nothing is cropped out — remember the safe zone. See Sample Profile Page for a color-blocked example.
	Image Size Recommended: 800 x 800 px Displays at: 98 x 98 px Aspect Ratio 1:1 Resolution Range Standard: 72 ppi Max.: 96 ppi File Size 2 MB File Format PG, GIF, BMP, PNG, WebP
YouTube User ID	Definition: Uses a series of letters, numbers, and/or dashes to create a unique identification of the user (you) to the computer. It is used to refer to the channel in certain apps and services. A.k.a. login ID, userid, username
Return to top or post contents	An example User ID: UZHFZ9jIKrLroW8LcyJEQQ
YouTube Channel ID	Definition: A unique identification of your channel, YouTube creates by adding “UC” to the front of your user id. A.k.a. login ID, userid, username
Return to top or post contents	Based on the User ID creates this example Channel ID: UCUZHFZ9jIKrLroW8LcyJEQQ
YouTube Handle	Definition: A unique and short channel identifier you can create that automatically becomes the YouTube URL for your channel and will identify you in channel pages, Shorts, and other YouTube areas.
Return to top or post contents	It represents your public identity on YouTube, is distinct from the channel name, and can be used to promote your channel. It also helps distinguish your channel name from the same YouTube channel name someone else is using. NOTE: Handles are not case-sensitive. Each channel can only have one handle. As the channel owner, your handle URL is created when you choose (or change) your handle name. To create a new handle for your channel, you must change your handle through YouTube Studio.
	Handle Guidelines Handle: youtube.com/@youtubecreators You must follow YouTube’s Community Guidelines # of Characters 3–30 Allowed Characters Use alphabet letters or numbers from one of YouTube’s 75 supported languages. Characters also include underscores (_), hyphens (-), full stops (.), Latin middle dots (·). Exceptions to Characters Han/Hangul: 1–10 characters Ethiopic/Hiragana/Katakana: 2–20 characters Mixed Script Left-to-right scripts cannot be mixed with right-to-left scripts in a single handle, except when numbers are added to the end of the handle. Mixed script handles may have different minimum and maximum limits A Handle Cannot Be URL-like or phone number-like Already be in use Be violent, offensive, sexualized, or spammy Be sold or transferred
YouTube Biography	You are allowed up to 1,500 characters for a biography, so make the most of it. After about 150 characters, YouTube will clip the bio and put the rest behind a More link.
Video	Definition: A multimedia file that users can upload, view, and share on the YouTube platform.
Return to top or post contents	Include keywords from your video title and include those words in your description AND add them as tags — with each video uploaded. Include custom elements to help the video appear in search results and suggested videos. NOTE: If uploading an HDR video, use HDR metadata in the codec or container. YouTube will convert your HDR to SDR, but it needs that metadata for the best conversion and to be played back properly on YouTube. Short Video Flash Video YouTube Live Stream 180° Live Stream 360° Live Stream Virtual Reality (VR) Video Trailer Create: Elements Video Information Source: Upload
	Basic Video Specs Image Size Shape Image Size Landscape 1,290 x 1,080 px 1,280 x 720 px 854 x 480 px 640 x 360 px 426 x 240 px Vertical 1,080 x 1,290 px 720 x 1,280 px 480 x 854 px 360 x 640 px 240 x 426 px Aspect Ratio Landscape: 16:9 Vertical: 9:16 Resolution Range Best: 1,080 p (1,920 x 1,080 p) Note: 1080 p is usually known as Full HD resolution. Other possibilities: 4320 p (8k) 2160 p (4K) 1440 p (2k) 1080 p (HD) 720 p (HD) 480 p (SD) 360 p (SD) 240 p (SD) Video Duration Up to 15 min For longer than 15 min, you must have a verified account Frame Rates 24–60 fps Bit Rates Recommended for SDR Uploads Resolution Range Standard High 1440 p (2 K) 16 Mbps 24 Mbps 1080 p 8 Mbps 12 Mbps 720 p 5 Mbps 7.5 Mbps 480 p 2 Mbps 4 Mbps Key Frame 2–4 sec (60 frames at 30 fps) File Size Max.: 128 GB / 12 hrs File Format Best: MP4 MOV, MPEG4, AVI, WMV, MPEGPS, FLV, 3GPP, WebM, DNxHR Audio Best: FLAC, WAV MP3, AAC Video Captions/Subtitles Click Closed captions > Automatic captions Subtitles can also be used Automatic Captions are only available in the default video’s language. Auto-Translate can convert the original audio to your chosen language.
YouTube Short Video	Definition: A vertical video uploaded on or after 15 October 2024 with a square or vertical aspect ratio, using a smartphone and the Shorts camera built right in the YouTube app.
Return to top or post contents	The Shorts camera is not yet available for iPad. Shorts can be uploaded at YouTube Studio on desktop or mobile apps. The music and sounds found in the YouTube Audio Library are free of charge to use, but only for personal, non-commercial use, unless you have the appropriate licenses. WARNING: When an uploaded Short matches another video (or segment of a video) in YouTube, a Content ID claim is automatically slapped on the Short. (Yes, there are also manual claims.) This “claim” blocks your Short globally. Your Short will not be playable or recommended on YouTube and will not be eligible for monetization. Your channel will not be penalized. There are two options to deal with such a “claim”: Remove the claimed content from your videos File a dispute Once the claim is resolved, your Short will be viewable and eligible for monetization. Note that Content ID claims can be geography-specific with a video with a Content ID claim being monetized in one country/region and blocked or tracked in a different country/region. Source: Create
	Image Size Square: Vertical: Aspect Ratio Default: 9:16 Resolution Range Max.: 1080 p Video Duration Best: 60 sec Up to 3 min Bit Rates Resolution Range Standard High 1440 p (2 K) 16 Mbps 24 Mbps 1080 p 8 Mbps 12 Mbps 720 p 5 Mbps 7.5 Mbps 480 p 2 Mbps 4 Mbps Key Frame 2–4 sec (60 frames at 30 fps) Video Captions Click Closed captions > Automatic captions Subtitles can also be used File Size File Format MOV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG4, MP4, MPG, AVI, WMV, MPEGPS, FLV, 3GPP, WebM, DNxHR, ProRes, CineForm, HEVC (h265) Audio Codec AAC-LC Audio Duration Min.: 33 sec (excluding silence and background noise) Max.: None Audio Bit Rate Acceptable: 256 Kbps 320 Kbps or higher for 2 channels Min.Lossy Formats : 64 Kbps Higher is always better Audio Sample Rate 44.1 Khz Audio Channel Configuration Only ingestions with mono, stereo, and 5.1 surround sound audio are supported. Other audio channel configurations may result in unreliable conversion to stereo. Source: Stream Audio File Format MP3 audio in MP3/WAV container PCM audio in WAV container AAC audio in MOV container FLAC audio
YouTube Flash Video	Definition: No longer used.
YouTube Live Stream
Definition: A free feature (to verified YouTube channels in good standing) that allows you to reach your community in real time, using a webcam (not your desktop), mobile, and/or encoder streaming. Creators can interact with viewers in real time, and viewers can send messages, reactions, and more via the chat window. Using live streaming ingestion, YouTube streams an event or video game, teaching a class, engaging in live Q&A, or hosting a workshop. Live videos are eligible for monetization, so eligible creators can earn money by streaming on YouTube. YouTube Live uses Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP), a widely-used protocol for video streaming. There is no time limit for a YouTube Live stream, BUT YouTube only archives the stream for 12 hours. NOTE: Really only good for instruction, Google Meet and Zoom would be a better alternative for face-to-face meetings.
180° Live Stream	Definition: YouTube supports uploading and playback of 180° spherical videos on Google Cardboard; on computers in Chrome, Firefox, MS Edge, and Opera browsers; on the YouTube mobile app; and/or, the YouTube VR app available on most VR headsets, for viewers to watch an immersive virtual reality experience. Source: Watch
360° Live Stream	Definition: YouTube supports uploading and playback of 360° spherical videos on Google Cardboard; on computers in Chrome, Firefox, MS Edge, and Opera browsers; on the YouTube mobile app; and/or, the YouTube VR app available on most VR headsets, for viewers to watch an immersive virtual reality experience. Source: Watch
Return to top or post contents	Use YouTube Studio to change the settings for your stream: Click Create > Go live. Google recommends testing your 360-degree stream before starting a public live stream, so you can try different set ups. Tests should include audio and movement similar to what will be in your public live stream. During the event, monitor sound and video quality, and review error messages. If your camera offers direct integration with YouTube Live, follow the directions from your camera manufacturer. Explore the experience of a 360° virtual reality video on Virtual Reality. You can use Spatial Audio in 360. NOTE: YouTube only supports equirectangular projection, a.k.a. spherical format, for 360 videos at this time. A.k.a. Video 360 Source: Encoder
	Image Size Square 1,920 x 1,920 px 1,080 x 1,080 px 720 x 720 px Landscape 1,440 × 1,080 px 1,280 × 720 px 1,920 × 1,080 px Portrait 1,080 x 1,920 px 1,080 x 1,440 px 720 x 1,280 px Aspect Ratio Square: 1:1 Landscape: 16:9, 4:3 Portrait: 9:16, 3:4 Resolution Range Recommended: 1,440 p 2,160 p Choose the highest supported resolution you are able to use. Video Duration 15 sec 30 sec Frame Rates 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, 60 fps Other frame rates are also acceptable. Bit Rates Min.: 20 Mbps Choose the highest supported bitrate you are able to use. Key Frame Recommended: 4 sec File Size Max.: 1 GB File Format AVI, MOV, MP4, M4V, MPEG, MPG, WEBM, WMV Video Codec/Compression H.264 Black Bars None Letterboxing No Video Captions Click Closed captions > Automatic captions Subtitles can also be used Audio Codec Preferred: PCM AAC Audio Settings Spatial audio required: First Order Ambisonics First Order Ambisonics with Head-Locked Stereo Acceptable: Head-Locked Stereo Audio Channels Stereo Stereo + 5.1 Audio Bit Rate Min.: 192 Kbps Audio Bit 16 bit 24 bit Audio Sample Rate 48 kHz Audio Target Level -24 LKFS (+/- 2 LKFS) Campaign Manager 360 will normalize to target loudness of -24 LKFS. Source: Use
Virtual Reality (VR)	Definition: An immersive experience and you must have a headset to experience VR on any of the following devices: Oculus Quest 1, Oculus Quest 2, Oculus Quest Pro, Oculus Quest 3, and PICO 4. To create a VR video, use a 360-degree camera to capture footage of the environment or event — and this is a much more complex process than the usual videos on YouTube. You can use Spatial Audio in VR.
YouTube Video Trailer	Definition: Offers a preview of your channel so viewers can learn more and subscribe.
Return to top or post contents	When enabled, this trailer is automatically displayed at the top of a YouTube Channel Page for non-subscribed visitors. By default, ads won’t show on your channel trailer, unless your video contains third-party claimed content with the necessary rights or permissions to include such content.
	Image Size 1,920 x 1,080 px 1,080 x 1,920 px Aspect Ratio 16:9 9:16 Resolution Range Full HD More detailed projects and video trailers may use 4 K or 8 K Optimization Improve the efficiency and download speed for viewing on both small and large screens Use the right dimensions Use the right file format – PNG and WEBP are good for maintaining quality and reducing file size Compress the image to reduce the file size Use responsive settings Consider a CDN Video Duration 30–60 sec Premiere trailers: Min.: 15 sec Max.: 3 min Frame Rates 24–60 A higher frame rate is recommended for videos that require more movement or action, e.g., sports or gaming footage. Bit Rates Choose the highest supported bitrate you are able to use. Recommended Bit Rates for SDR Video Uploads Type Stnd. Frame Rate High Frame Rate 8 K 80–160 Mbps 120–240 Mbps 2,160 p (4K) 345–45 Mbps 53–68 Mbps 1,440 p (2K) 16 Mbps 24 Mbps 1,080 p 8 Mbps 12 Mbps 720 p 5 Mbps 7.5 Mbps 480 p 2.5 Mbps 4 Mbps 360 p 1 Mbps 1.5 Mbps Recommended Video Bit Rates for HDR Uploads Type Stnd. Frame Rate High Frame Rate 8 K 100–200 Mbps 150–300 Mbps 2,160 p (4K) 44–56 Mbps 66–85 Mbps 1,440 p (2K) 20 Mbps 30 Mbps 1,080 p 10 Mbps 15 Mbps 720 p 6.5 Mbps 9.5 Mbps 480 p Not supported Not supported 360 p Not supported Not supported File Size Max.: 256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less File Format MP4 Video Codec H.264 Video Captions You can include subtitles as well in a variety of languages. Audio Codec MPEG-2: MPEG Layer II, Dolby AC-3 MPEG-4: AAC Audio Bit Rate Min.: 128 Kbps
YouTube Create: Elements	Definition: An app, YouTube Create, that has editing tools that allow you to enhance your videos with: Stickers, GIFs, and emojis Transitions Adjust the color Add effects Apply filters Fun, interactive buttons Text effects Backgrounds Retouch Expanding Info Cards, including End Screens Video watermarks And so much more . . . WARNING: YouTube Create is available on Android phones that have at least 4G RAM. It claims that it will be available to iOS in 2024, but it’s running late. Also, you must be located in a country/region where YouTube Create is available — check for availability. A.k.a. assets Source: HD
Video Information	Definition: Usually textual information about a particular video. Video Title URL Thumbnail Description Watermark Info Card End Screen
YouTube Video Title	Definition: The name of a particular video. Consider adding a geographical location to your title if you only do business in one state or region.
Return to top or post contents	Character Limits Visible: First 70 characters, then it’s truncated with an ellipsis, . . ., standing in for the rest of the title Max.: 100 characters
YouTube Video URL	Definition: The unique address for each of your videos. After uploading your video to your YouTube account: Create > Upload > Select Files > choose your video > click Open > fill out the title and video thumbnail.
YouTube Video Thumbnail	Definition: A quick snapshot image of your video. You can create your own or choose one of the options automatically generated by YouTube.
Return to top or post contents	The only limit on custom thumbnails is the number you can upload each day. If you get a “limit reached” message, try again in 24 hours. Shorts must use a frame from the Short as a thumbnail, which can’t be changed once the video is uploaded. Thumbnail limits may vary by country/region, channel history, copyright strike, or Community Guidelines Strikes.
	Image Size Min.: 640 px Video: 1,280 x 720 px Podcast: 1,280 x 1,280 px As large as possible is best. Aspect Ratio Video: 16:9 Podcast: 1:1 File Size Video – Max.: 2 MB Podcast Max.: 10 MB File Format JPG, GIF, PNG
YouTube Video Description	Definition: A short section of text that provides additional information about the content of a particular YouTube video and how it can help the viewer.
Return to top or post contents	Within the first few lines of your description about your video YouTube will truncate it and add the More link. The first few lines of your description should describe what the viewer can expect about the video content. Expand into why you are showing this content — include keywords from your title. Follow this with a call-to-action (CTA) such as “let us know what you would choose in the comments” or “be sure to subscribe for more from our channel”. At the end of your description, add information about your business including a link to your website and other relevant links (related videos, social media or website links, timestamps, etc.) you would like to include. NOTE: Add high-quality, relevant links that provide value to your viewers — avoid adding too many links as it can appear spammy. And only a certain number of links will be displayed visibly in the description before viewers need to expand to see more. Add tags through YouTube Studio > Create > Upload Video > select the new file to upload > in Details > More Options. For already uploaded videos, select Content > Show More. You can format your text with bold, italicize, or strikethrough text. You can also add interactive features that could help increase views, highlight collaborations, and grow your subscriber base. Hootsuite has an online AI description generator to help write your video description.
	Character Limits Max.: 5,000 characters
YouTube Video Watermark	A small semi-transparent logo or image added to videos that identifies the maker.
Return to top or post contents	The watermark is a clickable interactive element that allows a viewer to directly subscribe to your channel when using YouTube on a computer. Displays in landscape view and is clickable on a desktop but not a mobile. If you upload a YouTube watermark through the YouTube platform, then the platform will automatically place the watermark in the bottom right corner of your YouTube videos. NOTE: Channel watermarks do not show on custom YouTube chromeless players or Adobe Flash and are suppressed during an End Screen. NOTE: Any videos made for kids won’t show the watermark. A.k.a. channel watermark, video watermark, watermark Source: K
	Image Size Min.: 150 x 150 px Aspect Ratio 1:1 File Size < 1 MB File Format PNG
YouTube Info Card	Definition: An interactive element on a public YouTube video that allows viewers to link to a: Public YouTube playlist YouTube channel with which your viewers can engage Thank a channel that helped with your video Recommend another channel to viewers If you’re in the YouTube Partner Program, you can link to an external website Up to five cards can be added to one video. To add, visit YouTube Studio > Content > click video to be edited > Editor. NOTE: Cards aren’t available on videos set as made for kids and they are suppressed in an End Screen. A.k.a. teaser card Source: Add Info, YouTube Channel
YouTube End Screen	Definition: A type of Call-to-Action added to the last 5–20 seconds of a video used to promote other videos, playlists, your website, add a button to subscribe, etc.
Return to top or post contents	It usually appears in the last 5–20 seconds of a video — your video has to be at least 25 seconds long to have an end screen. To add an End Screen: Sign in to YouTube Studio > Content > Click the title or thumbnail of the video you’d like to edit from the left menu > Editor > End Screen. Up to four elements can be added in your end screen for videos with standard 16:9 aspect ratio. Other aspect ratios may have a lower limit. Those elements include: Apply template that contains groupings of elements that you can customize to create an end screen Add a video that features your most recent upload, best for viewer, or a specific video Display a public YouTube playlist Encourage subscriptions to your channel Promote another channel with a custom message Can link to an external website, IF you’re in the YouTube Partner Program And more options can be found at Add NOTE: While End Screens can be seen on iPad mobile web, they cannot be seen on: Mobile web In the YouTube Music or YouTube Kids apps In now-discontinued Flash videos In 360 videos WARNING: As YouTube improves End Screens — based on performance, viewer behavior, device, and context, your End Screen may not always show or may show differently than designed. A.k.a. End Card Source: Add
	Explore a slew of End Screen examples by typing “end screen example for YouTube” and selecting “Images”
YouTube Audio	Definition: Music or voiceovers.
Return to top or post contents	Add music to regular and monetized videos via YouTube’s Audio Library of licensed songs or a voiceover to your video using your computer. To add audio tracks, visit YouTube Studio > Content > Editor > Audio To add additional audio tracks, select Subtitles > Language > Choose your language. You can also add a language of your own. You can use video editing software to convert your audio file to a video.
	Audio Codec Preferred: PCM AAC Compressed: AAC-LC Audio Channels Compressed: Channels: 2 (stereo) Audio Settings Required Audio Bit Rate Min.: 192 Kbps Lossy formats: 64 Kbps Compressed: 320 Kbps or higher for 2 channels (higher is always better) Acceptable compressed: 256 Kbps Audio Bit 16 bit, 24 bit Audio Sample Rate 48 Khz Compressed: 44.1 Khz.d Audio Target Level Max. Loudness: -14 LUFS Max. Transient Peaks: -9 LUFS Audio Duration Min.: 33 sec (excluding silence and background noise) Max.: None File Format MP3 audio in MP3/WAV container PCM audio in WAV container AAC audio in MOV container FLAC audio Source: Audio
YouTube Transcript	Definition: The print version of the voiceover as captions or subtitles in your video. This is handy for deaf, hard-of-hearing viewers, or those who speak a language other than the default. Transcript text: Must be in one of the 75 languages supported by YouTube’s speech recognition technology Automatically synchronized to your video Must be in the same language that’s spoken in the video To add this, go to YouTube Studio > Content > Editor > Subtitles > Language > Choose your language > Add. From there you can: Add the transcript file — be sure to verify the timing of the titles and captions are in their proper places in the video. You can drag the caption to the best part of the video. Paste in captions from the transcript Type captions in manually as you watch the video You can add additional captions NOTE: Transcripts are not recommended for videos that are over an hour long or have poor audio quality. You can always add captions or subtitles manually.
YouTube Translation	Definition: YouTube has an Auto-Translate feature — if available for one of YouTube’s 75 supported languages — that can translate your titles and descriptions into the default language of the video. YouTube Studio > Content > Editor > Subtitles > Language > Choose your language. You can edit existing subtitles and/or captions by going to Duplicate and Edit to make the desired changes. If the language you want to use is not available, edit or translate existing captions/subtitles through Subtitles > Add video elements > Type your captions in manually * YouTube is still rolling out multi-language audio, and it may not be available to everyone.
Strike	Definition: A warning from YouTube that your channel has violated copyright or Community Guidelines.
Return to top or post contents	The warning will be delivered one of three ways: Email Mobile and/or computer notifications Through your channel settings The warning will include: What content was removed Which policies it violated, e.g., harassment or violence How it affects your channel What you can do next Visit Community Guidelines Strike Basics on YouTube to learn how to cope with first, second, and third strikes. A case of severe abuse can result in channel termination. Copyright Strike Community Guidelines Strike
Copyright Strike	Definition: A copyright owner has submitted a legal copyright removal request for using their copyright-protected content. When a copyright removal request is submitted to YouTube, they review it. If the removal request is valid, YouTube has to remove your video from YouTube to comply with copyright law. Copyright strikes may impact channel history eligibility.
Community Guidelines Strike	Definition: A violation of YouTube Community Guidelines that govern how you behave on YouTube. These guidelines apply to all types of content on YouTube. NOTE: Your channel won’t get a strike in some cases such as a first-party privacy complaint or a court order. Community Guidelines strikes will affect how many custom thumbnails you can upload.

Return to top or post contents

C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which website issues are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix the . . . and we’ll all benefit!

Satisfy your curiosity about other Working Your Website posts in its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Publishing Tips, the Properly Punctuated, Word Confusions, and Writing Ideas and Resources.

Return to top or post contents

Resources for YouTube Social Media Images

Some of these links may be affiliate links, and I will earn a small percentage, if you should buy it. It does not affect the price you pay.

“Add End Screens to Videos.” YouTube Help. Google. n.d. Accessed 2 Jan 2025. <https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6388789>. Article.

“Add Info Cards to Videos.” YouTube Help. Google.. n.d. Accessed 2 Jan 2024. <https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6140493>. Article.

“Audio File Guidelines.” YouTube Help. Google. n.d. Accessed 4 Jan 2025. <https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/4603579>. Article.

“Channel Banner & Profile Picture Tips.” YouTube Help. Google. n.d. Accessed 3 Jan 2025. <https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/12950272>. Article.

“Create YouTube Shorts.” YouTube Help. Google. n.d. Accessed 1 Jan 2025. <https://support.google.com/fvyoutube/answer/10343433>. Article.

Dial, Minter. “Write a Great Bio.” MINTER DIAL: Brand strategy and digital transformation. 3 Sept 2014. Accessed 5 April 2019. <http://minterdial.com/2014/09/write-a-great-bio/>

“Encoder Settings for Live Stream in 360 Degree Videos.” YouTube Help. Google. n.d. Accessed 31 Dec 2024. <https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6396222>. Article.

“HD Visual Effects Archives.” ProductionCrate. n.d. Accessed 4 Jan 2025. <https://footagecrate.com/visual-effects.html>. Free and a subscription plan.

K, Adam. “YouTube Watermark Size & How to Add One to Your Videos.” TubeRanker. 20 Sept 2022. Accessed 6 Dec 2024. <https://tuberanker.com/blog/youtube-watermark-size>. Article.

Nizzoli, Giada. “Using Images in Blog Posts: Complete Guide for Businesses.” Crafty Copy. n.d. Accessed 25 June 2024. <https://craftycopy.co.uk/blog/guide-on-how-to-use-images-in-blog-posts>.

Nyst, Annabelle. “Social Media Image Size Guide For All Platforms in 2024.” Search Engine Journal. 19 Sept 2024. Accessed 10 Nov 2024. <https://www.searchenginejournal.com/social-media-image-sizes/488891/>. Article.

Olafson, Karin and Tony Tran. “Social Media Image Sizes for All Networks.” Blog. Hootsuite. 3 Dec 2024. Accessed 6 Dec 2024. <https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-image-sizes-guide/>. Article.

“Stream 5.1 Surround Sound Audio on YouTube.” YouTube. Google.com. n.d. Accessed 11 Dec 2024. <https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/13440750>. Article.

“Upload High Dynamic Range (HDR) Videos.” YouTube Help. Google. n.d. Accessed 1 Jan 2025. <https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7126552>. Article.

“Use Spatial Audio in 360-degree and VR Videos.” YouTube. Google. n.d. Accessed 31 Dec 2024. <https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6395969>. Article.

“Watch VR180 and 360-degree Videos with Cardboard.” Community. Creator Tips. YouTube. Google. n.d. Accessed 31 Dec 2024. <https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6239930>. Article.

“YouTube Channel Basics: What You Need to Know.” Video Marketing & Production. ProfileTree. 5 May 2024. Accessed 3 Jan 2025. <https://profiletree.com/youtube-channel-basics/>. Article.

“YouTube Recommended Upload Encoding Settings.” YouTube. Google. n.d. Accessed 24 Dec 2024. <https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1722171>. Article.

Return to top or post contents

Pinterest Photo Credits

YouTube Logo Icon by Alexis Dureau is free, via IconScout.