YouTube allows users to create playlists to organize and save videos for easy access later.
Playlists are useful for grouping together videos on similar topics, saving videos to watch later, or sharing collections of videos with others.
An advanced way to use YouTube playlists is to create a master “playlist of playlists” to organize multiple playlists in one centralized location.
Benefits of a Playlist of Playlists
Consolidates Playlists in One Place
Having a master playlist that contains all your other playlists keeps them organized in one centralized hub.
Rather than searching through your account to find different playlists, they’re conveniently accessible from your master list.
Allows Nested Organization
Within your master playlist, you can create categorized sub-playlists for different topics, themes, or purposes.
Then you can group relevant sub-playlists together into overarching categories. This nested organization keeps your playlists structured.
Provides Quick Access
The playlists you use most frequently can be quickly accessed from your master list, rather than having to search your account for them each time.
Keep your go-to playlists prioritized for easy reference.
Creates a Shareable Hub
If you want to share your full collection of playlists, simply send the link to your master list.
This allows you to distribute your organized playlists through one centralized access point.
Backs Up Your Playlist Structure
Having a master playlist acts as a snapshot of your full collection of playlists.
If any sub-playlists get deleted or you want to recreate your structure, the master list serves as a backup reference point.
Allows Continuous Updates
Your master playlist functions like a mixtape that you continuously edit.
You can remove any outdated sub-playlists and add new ones as you create them.
Maintain your master playlist to reflect your latest playlist organization.
By housing all your sub-playlists in one place, a master YouTube playlist provides a convenient and efficient way to manage your full collection in an organized structure. The master playlist serves as your dynamic playlist headquarters.
How to Create a Playlist of Playlists
Building a YouTube playlist that contains your other playlists is easy to do:
- Log into your YouTube account
- Click on the “Playlists” link under your profile icon
- Click the “New playlist” button to create a new playlist
- Give your playlist of playlists a title like “Master Playlist”
- Click on the “Add videos” button to add videos to your new playlist
- Search for and select your existing playlist titles from the results
- Repeat step 6 to add as many of your playlists as you want into the master playlist
- Drag and drop to rearrange playlists into your desired order
- Click “Save” to finish creating your playlist of playlists
It’s that simple! Your playlist will now contain clickable links to all your other playlists for easy access.
Managing Your Master Playlist
Once you’ve created a master playlist to organize your sub-playlists, you have several options for ongoing management.
You can edit the title, description, privacy settings, downloads, likes/dislikes and other details of your master playlist to optimize and improve its discoverability.
Adjust these playlist settings as needed to refine its purpose.
Adding new sub-playlists to your master list when you create them helps keep it fully up to date.
Removing any outdated or unused sub-playlists declutters your master playlist so it only contains relevant playlists.
Reordering the sub-playlists in your master list allows you to customize the sequence.
You can prioritize your most-used playlists by dragging and dropping them near the top for easy access.
Deleting a sub-playlist from your master list doesn’t delete the original playlist – it just removes that entry. But deleting a sub-playlist directly from your YouTube account fully removes it from all playlists.
Sharing a direct link to your master playlist lets you distribute your full organized collection of sub-playlists.
You can also embed or promote your master playlist to maximize its discovery.
Treat your master playlist like a dynamic mixtape that you continuously refine.
Regularly add, remove and reorder sub-playlists to accurately reflect your latest organization.
Actively managing your master playlist ensures it stays current as your playlist structure evolves. Like a playlist dashboard, optimize it to match your changing needs.
Using Playlists Effectively
Playlists are powerful but underutilized tools on YouTube. Here are some tips for creating and using playlists effectively:
- Create content-focused playlists – Group together videos on the same topics like recipes, product reviews, etc.
- Make themed playlists – Music playlists work great, or playlists around events, holidays, seasons, moods, and more.
- Build playlists for activities – Workout playlists, cooking playlists, commuting playlists, party playlists.
- Make watch later playlists – Save videos you want to watch down the road in a playlist to easily find them later.
- Use playlists to organize uploads – Have playlists for your different content categories rather than just bulk uploading.
- Make audience-targeted playlists – For example “Beginner Tutorials” or “Advanced Strategies”.
- Create playlists for specific uses – Such as a playlist of inspiring videos to watch on hard days.
- Include both your own and others’ videos – Mix channel uploads with other YouTube vids for comprehensive playlists.
The key is creating focused and organized playlists tailored to specific niches, uses, or audiences. Dumping random videos into playlists defeats the purpose. Thoughtfully built, maintained playlists enhance the YouTube experience.
Playlists for Learning
Curating video compilations on academic topics and skills can make studying more engaging.
Subject-Focused Study Playlists
Gathering videos on specific school subjects allows you to supplement your learning with different teaching styles.
Make math, science, history and other subject-based playlists to dive deeper. Having concentrated playlists creates focused learning zones.
Skill-Building Tutorial Playlists
Learning hands-on skills often benefits from seeing them in action.
Compile playlists of guitar lessons, knitting tutorials, public speaking tips, and other how-to videos. Visually walking through skills helps cement them.
Book Summary Playlists
Why not learn from the wisdom of books without reading them cover to cover? Find summary videos unpacking the key insights from fiction and nonfiction works.
Condense books into their core takeaways.
Research Paper Playlists
Struggling to find sources for your research paper?
Make playlists around your topics gathering videos from various creators. Curate your own research anthology.
Language Learning Playlists
Trying to pick up a second language? Videos offer an immersive resource.
Make playlists focused on conversational dialogue, vocabulary, pronunciation, and more to engross yourself.
Lecture Series Playlists
Expand your knowledge by curating playlists of university and educational lectures on academic subjects that fascinate you.
Create your own personalized course.
DIY Instructional Playlists
For hands-on learners, compile playlists around DIY projects like home improvement, automotive repair, tech fixes, and more. Watch and learn as you do.
Study Session Playlists
Reviewing for a test? Make a focused playlist of videos covering the material to reinforce what you need to know. Cram effectively.
YouTube’s wealth of educational videos lets you tailor robust playlists for active learning. Take control of your growth by curating custom video playlists on almost any topic.
Using Playlists for Entertainment
In addition to learning, playlists also provide great entertainment value. Playlists to consider for fun include:
Favorite music playlists – Group songs or music videos into playlists for different moods and genres.
Binge watch playlists – Add full seasons or series of a TV show or web series to flow through episodes.
Kids playlists – For children, pulling together playlists of cartoons, singalongs, educational videos.
Party playlists – Upbeat dance videos, funny videos, karaoke hits, playlists tailored to events.
Gaming playlists – Favorite playthroughs, eSports events, game trailer premieres.
ASMR playlists – Videos with soothing sounds for relaxation.
Exercise playlists – Music and trainer videos to accompany workouts.
Background playlists – Instrumentals, chill songs, ambient noise to play in the background while working.
Entertainment playlists help you relax, get pumped up, stay focused, or laugh. Organize the videos that make you happiest into playlists tailored to your mood.
Optimizing Playlists for Discovery
On YouTube, playlists aren’t just for your personal convenience – they also influence recommendations and help surface your content. Strategic playlists can support your channel growth. Considerations for optimizing playlists include:
Descriptive titles – Summarize the theme or purpose to help users understand what the playlist is about at a glance.
Engaging descriptions – Expand on what users will find in the playlist – your most popular videos on X topic, party songs, etc.
Organize by user intent – Group videos based on the needs and interests of your target audience.
Custom thumbnails – Create branded playlist icons that represent each playlist’s theme.
Rotate new uploads – Refresh older playlists by adding your latest relevant videos.
Playlists for underserved topics – Make compilations around topics with high demand but low supply.
Public visibility – Make sure playlists are public to be indexed for search and surfaced as recommended videos.
Share playlists – Post your playlists on social accounts, link in descriptions, promote them in end screens.
Optimized playlists tailored to viewer intent can help your videos rank in YouTube search and related videos to find new audiences. Refreshing them keeps discovery going.
Collaborative Playlists
YouTube allows multiple channel owners to collaborate on shared playlists. Some ideas for collaborative playlists include:
Friends playlists – Make a playlist where your friends can all add their favorite videos.
Themed collaborations – Partner with other channels on your niche for playlists tailored to your audience.
Family playlists – Shared playlists where family members can easily add their uploaded home videos.
Couples playlists – For relationships, a shared playlist of your favorite songs, shows, memories.
Shared binge playlists – Take turns adding each episode of a show you’re binging.
Group project playlists – For work/school, a playlist where every team member adds research videos.
Crowdsourced playlists – Invite viewers to add videos to a collaborative playlist around a theme.
Joint playlists let you engage with your friends, family, significant others, colleagues, classmates, and audience. Collectively curating videos into shared playlists brings people together.
