5 Branding Mistakes You're Making on Your YouTube Channel

Image by Tymon Oziemblewski from Pixabay

Running a YouTube channel involves many steps, including laying the foundation for success. A thriving channel requires a lot of planning, research, and commitment. Amazing content is just one piece of a bigger picture.

With more than 31 million YouTube channels, branding is critical. Since so many channels compete for viewers' attention, your branding strategy can make you stand out.

Avoiding these five branding mistakes on your YouTube channel can help you dramatically enhance your marketing efforts and grow your community.

Not branding every part of your channel.

Branding and personalising your channel's look help grab visitors' attention and quickly show them what your channel is about. To attract more viewers and enhance your channel's professionalism, you must pay close attention to banners, thumbnails, video intros, and end screens.

Implement a clear and compelling channel art that represents your brand well.

You don't have to spend a fortune to refine your channel's identity. Plenty of budget-friendly software can help you create the designs you need quickly and easily.

An easy-to-use intro maker for YouTube can turn your logo into a video without expensive software or prior experience. You can add text in a few clicks or choose hundreds of intro templates from some of the world's best animation designers.

Create your end screen using your brand colours or a photo for a more branded look.

Not having custom& consistent thumbnails

Think of thumbnails as billboards for your channel and videos. They should catch the viewer's interest, tell a story, and make people click. Custom and consistent thumbnails add personality and provide a cohesive look to your channel.

A video thumbnail with your logo and specific design also helps distinguish your brand from millions of others.

The thumbnail is a vital element for a video you will post on YouTube. Without an engaging and attractive thumbnail, there are very few chances that your video will become successful among the massive competition. You don’t have to rely on design software to generate thumbnails of your videos. A thumbnail maker for Android users is the perfect solution for creating eye-catching thumbnails in just a few minutes. This app offers a wide range of thumbnail templates that people can use without any hassle. It’s a much better option for everyone as it saves your time, effort, and money.


When selecting a scene that brings out the best in the video, make sure it lets the viewer know what they can expect if they opt to watch it. Think about telling a story in a single snapshot. It can be the end result of a how-to project or an exciting moment in your video.

Adding a short line of text, big and bold (since it will be tiny on many devices), explaining what your video is about can make it stand out and gain more views. Enclosing your text in a solid color shape boosts visibility even more.

Neglecting to monitor your brand online

Finding out what your brand image looks like can help you make improvements and further grow your channel. If you fail to monitor your brand online actively, you will miss what people are saying and thinking about your brand, which matters a lot.

There are free tools out there that can help you track any conversations of your brand online. The Brand Grader gives you a quick overview of how your brand is performing online.

This tool allows you to assess what's working for you and where you need more effort. Brand sentiments are essential.

If people speak negatively about your brand, you have to invest in improving your reputation.

Not providing a channel trailer for new viewers

A channel trailer is an opportunity to give a preview of your channel offerings to all unsubscribed visitors. It can help you get your brand noticed, and when created properly, the trailer can hook your viewers and turn them into subscribers.

Keep it short and to the point while engagingly explaining your cause. A compelling YouTube trailer includes a warm welcome; if you are making an appearance, you must look approachable and likeable.

Introduce yourself and the channel, inform your viewers about the type of content you create, and let them know how often you post it. The trick is to make the first few seconds of spellbinding so your viewers stick around for the rest of the video.

A captivating trailer reveals just the right amount of juicy information to interest viewers but still leaves them hungry for more!

If you have a tagline, include it in the trailer, as it helps with brand awareness.

Inconsistent brand communication

A successful brand is instantly recognisable and distinguishable in peoples' minds. To achieve this, your entire team (if you have one) must have clear brand guidelines making your style and tone of voice consistent.

When done correctly, your viewers can immediately recognise your brand by the colours, font, and tone of voice.

When it comes to visual communication, your logo, color scheme, images, and typography need to be consistent across your channel to create instant recognition. Also, make sure to stay consistent in terms of how often the videos are uploaded and their style.

If you manage to maintain a unified voice in all communication areas, your channel will resonate more with your audience, building loyalty in the long run.