So, you’ve decided it’s time to stop uploading YouTube videos from your personal Gmail account named after your dog. Good call.

Creating a YouTube Brand Account isn’t just a smart move—it’s a structural foundation for turning YouTube into a real growth channel for your company. And the good news? It’s surprisingly quick to set up.

Here’s exactly how to do it—plus a few pro tips to make sure you don’t just create a channel, but actually launch one that looks and feels like a brand.

First: What You’ll Need

Before you begin, make sure you’ve got:

• A Google Account (this will become the “owner” of the Brand Account)

• A few minutes to follow the steps

• A rough idea of what you’ll call the channel (don’t overthink it—yes, you can change it later)

Ready? Let’s go.

Step-by-Step: How to Create a YouTube Brand Account

1. Sign in to YouTube with Your Google Account

This will be the primary admin account, so use one that makes sense for your business. If you’re a solo founder, it’s fine to start with your own Google login—you can add team members later.

👉 Pro tip: Don’t use a throwaway email. You’ll want this tied to your main brand infrastructure.

2. Head to the Channel Switcher

Go to: youtube.com/channel_switcher

You’ll see a list of all channels linked to your account. If this is your first rodeo, it’ll likely just be your personal channel.

Click “Create a new channel.”

3. Name Your Brand Account

Choose something brand-appropriate. If you’re planning to go big on SEO, you might bake in a keyword or two. If you’re just getting started, your company name is perfectly fine.

Click “Create.”

Boom—you now have a shiny new YouTube Brand Account. But don’t stop here.

Don’t Just Create a Channel—Actually Brand It

A raw YouTube channel is like a blank billboard. Let’s add some polish:

1. Add a Channel Icon and Banner

• Icon: 800 x 800 pixels (renders at 98 x 98)

• Banner: 2560 x 1440, with the key content falling within the 1546 x 423 safe zone for mobile and desktop
  This is the first thing viewers will see—don’t leave it as the default letter-in-a-circle avatar.

2. Write Your Channel Description

Use this like a mini homepage bio:

• Who you are

• What you post

• Why someone should subscribe
  YouTube also lets you add up to 5 custom links (think: your website, socials, newsletter).

3. Add a Channel Trailer

Create a short, punchy intro video. Think of this as your elevator pitch in motion. You don’t need Hollywood production values—just a warm hello and what people can expect from your channel.

4. Set Up Channel Managers

Head to Settings → Permissions → Add manager

You can give your marketing lead upload access, let your creative team update banners, or invite external collaborators without giving away your password.

Collaborative, secure, scalable. It’s how real YouTube channels are run.

Common Questions (With Uncommon Answers)

Can I convert my existing YouTube channel into a Brand Account?
Yes, and it’s relatively painless. Go to your channel’s Advanced Settings and look for the “Move channel to a Brand Account” option.

Do I need a Brand Account if I’m a one-person team?
Still yes. Even if you’re solo now, a Brand Account future-proofs your channel and gives you access to better tools.

Will people know it’s a Brand Account?
Nope. There’s no difference in how your channel looks or behaves publicly. It’s just more powerful behind the scenes.

So, Why Bother with All This?

Because if you want YouTube to work for your brand, you have to treat it like a brand channel.

Most companies still post from personal accounts, mix work and play, and lose control when a social media manager leaves. It’s messy. It’s amateurish. It’s completely avoidable.

With a Brand Account, you can:

• Collaborate securely

• Build a consistent visual identity

• Make your content discoverable and professional

• Scale your channel with the right team structure

Think of it like laying the foundation for a house—you won’t see it in the thumbnail, but everything sits on top of it.

Want help growing your channel after setup? That’s what we do at Humble&Brag. From zero to monetised—or branded and beautiful—we help companies grow on YouTube. Let’s talk.