Playlists on Youtube allow users to organize and curate videos into customized collections. Playlists make it easy to find and watch content on specific topics or from certain channels. Understanding the rules around creating and managing Youtube playlists can help you get the most out of this useful feature.
Creating Playlists
Any Youtube user with a channel can create playlists. There is no limit to the number of playlists you can have on your channel. To start a new playlist:
- Click the “+” icon next to “Playlists” on your channel’s Videos page
- Give your playlist a name and description
- Click “Create Playlist”
You can also create a new playlist by clicking the “Save” button under any video. This will prompt you to name a new playlist or add the video to an existing playlist.
Adding Videos
You can add videos to a playlist in several ways:
- On the Watch page, click “Save” below the video and choose which playlist to add it to
- On your playlist page, click “Add Videos” and select videos to add
- From your Video Manager, assign videos to playlists using the playlist dropdowns
There is no limit to the number of videos a playlist can contain. You can add your own videos or videos from other channels to your playlists.
Managing Playlists
As the owner of a playlist, you have full control over managing its content:
- Editing details – You can edit the name, description, privacy settings, and more from the playlist edit page
- Reordering videos – Drag and drop videos to customize the order in a playlist
- Deleting videos – Remove individual videos from a playlist at any time
- Adding/removing collaborators – Give other channel owners access to edit your playlists
Other Youtube users can’t make changes to a playlist without the owner’s permission. However, the playlist owner has the right to remove any video from their playlists at their discretion.
Playlist Privacy
Playlists can be public, unlisted, or private. Public playlists show up on your channel and can be viewed by anyone. Unlisted playlists don’t appear on your channel but can be shared via link. Private playlists are only visible to you.
To change a playlist’s privacy setting, go to the playlist edit page and select a privacy option from the dropdown menu. The privacy level affects both the playlist page and its videos:
- Public – Fully visible to anyone
- Unlisted – Only accessible to those with the link
- Private – Only visible to you
Note that a playlist’s privacy only controls the playlist itself, not the visibility of its underlying videos. You’ll need to adjust the privacy settings of each video individually.
Playlist Customization
There are several ways to customize the design and layout of your Youtube playlists:
- Thumbnails – Upload a custom thumbnail for branding and recognition
- Colors – Choose a distinct color palette to personalize your playlist
- Sections – Organize your playlist into separate sections with title cards
- Description – Add a detailed description explaining the playlist’s purpose
Customizing your playlist helps give viewers more context about what they can expect to see. A polished playlist stands out and keeps viewers engaged.
Playlist Statistics
Playlist owners can access stats to see how their playlists are performing:
- Views – Total playlist views over time
- Watch time – Average % of videos watched per view
- Subscribers – Number of subscribers gained from the playlist
- Traffic sources – Where views are coming from (Youtube search, external sites, etc)
Monitoring your playlist analytics helps you identify your best content. You can use these insights to optimize your playlists to attract more viewers.
Using Playlists to Rank Videos
Adding a video to multiple playlists can help increase its performance in Youtube search rankings. When the same video appears in multiple playlists, it signals to Youtube that the content is relevant to those topics.
However, avoid trying to spam playlists just to boost your videos’ rankings. Only add a video to playlists where it’s truly relevant. Otherwise, it may backfire and hurt your channel’s authority if users see irrelevant videos in playlists.
Playlist SEO Tips
Proper SEO improves the discoverability of Youtube playlists. Here are some best practices:
- Choose descriptive titles using keywords that viewers would search for
- Write useful descriptions that explain the playlist’s purpose
- Tag playlists with relevant keywords so they show up in searches
- Include sections and chapter markers to highlight key content
Optimized playlists have a better chance of ranking in Youtube and Google search results. Driving external traffic from search engines can significantly boost your playlist views.
Promoting Playlists
In addition to SEO, actively promote your Youtube playlists to help them reach a bigger audience:
- Share playlists on your other social media channels
- Embed playlists on your website and blog
- Collaborate with others and cross-promote playlists
- Include playable playlist links in your video descriptions
- Run paid Youtube ads targeting your playlist niche
Spreading the word about your playlists beyond Youtube is key to maximizing viewership. Leverage your entire digital presence to increase exposure.
Using Playlists to Earn Money
Well-optimized playlists can generate ad revenue and boost Youtube channel memberships. Ways playlists can monetize include:
- Increasing watch time and ad impressions
- Converting viewers into paid channel members
- Selling merchandise like t-shirts featured on popular playlists
- Using Super Chat or Channel Memberships to let fans pay for song requests
Curating playlists around topics that appeal to your target audience can help increase fan loyalty and engagement. The more value you provide, the more revenue opportunities will follow.
Legal Guidelines for Playlists
While playlists give you lots of creative options, it’s important to follow Youtube’s rules:
- Don’t attempt to mislead viewers about the content of a playlist
- Don’t add the same video to a single playlist multiple times
- Don’t steal other channels’ videos to pad your own playlists
- Remove any infringing or unauthorized content per Youtube’s guidelines
Violating Youtube’s Terms of Service with misleading, excessive, or infringing playlists can result in account penalties. Always respect copyrights and community guidelines.
Conclusion
Youtube playlists empower users to curate custom video collections around any niche. Following best practices for creating, optimizing, and promoting playlists will help your channel engage audiences. The more value your playlists provide to viewers, the more success your channel can find.