Have you ever been wondering how to schedule your video on YouTube? In case you’ve been creating video content based on YouTube marketing strategy for your business, the answer might be “YES”.
Scheduling videos allows you to plan and follow a social media content calendar. It is the best method to ensure that you don’t forget to publish your quality content at a time that is optimal for your audience.
In this step-by-step guide, we will go through how to schedule YouTube videos.
Let’s dive in!
How to unlock the schedule YouTube videos feature
If you don’t already see “schedule” as an option once you go to post a video on YouTube natively, you’ll need to verify your account. The process is simple and quick.
Step 1: See in case you’re already verified
In case your business has already created a YouTube channel, click on your YouTube profile icon, and choose YouTube Studio.
That may deliver you to your channel dashboard. In the left-hand column, underneath your profile icon, you will see more choices available. Scroll down and choose Settings.
Once in Settings, click Channel then Feature eligibility. Choose Status and Features at the bottom of that section. Here, you’ll see if your account is already verified or you may begin the verification process.
Step 2: Show you’re human
To get verified, YouTube will ask you to select the country you’re working in and the method you want to receive your verification code. Then, you may be asked to provide a phone number.
Step 3: Enter your verification code
Shortly after selecting your verification method, you will receive a six-digit code. Depending on which option you selected, that will arrive via text message or to your telephone as an automated voice message. Enter that into the provided box and tap Submit.
Step 4: You’re verified!
That’s it!
Verifying your channel will even provide you with access to a few other YouTube features, like custom thumbnails and longer videos:
Because you engage more people, YouTube will allow you to use more features. For instance, in case you have more than 1,000 subscribers and more than 4,000 public watch hours in the last year to be eligible for the YouTube Partner Program. This is something that celebrities and brands with large followings might benefit from. YouTube has a special application process for customers to access this.
However no matter your stats, you may start scheduling your videos. Keep reading to learn how.
The way to schedule YouTube videos from YouTube
Step 1: Upload your video
Click on the camera icon in the top right-hand corner of YouTube. Or, click on the red Create button in case you’re in YouTube Studio. Then, drag and drop your video to upload.
Step 2: Add your video details
In this part, you add a title, a description, and a thumbnail image for your video. That is also when you’ll choose which playlist you’d like your video to appear in, audience details for the video. Finally, you may place any age restrictions here.
Notice: There’s another choice to verify your account and unlock the schedule YouTube videos feature once you get to this step. Hover over the thumbnail section, which explains that to add a custom image you will have to verify your account. Then, tap Verify and follow the same steps as outlined in the previous section.
Step 3: Choose Schedule
After working through both the Details and Video elements tabs, you will end up at the Visibility tab. Here is where you can find the options to save, publish, or schedule your posts. At first, choose what you want – your video will be published or kept private when it goes live.
Then, click Schedule. That is when you enter the date and time you’d like your video to go live.
Step 4: Click Schedule
That’s it! YouTube will send you this notification once your video’s scheduled successfully.
The way to schedule a YouTube video on a phone
To schedule a YouTube video from your phone, you will need to download two apps to your phone: the YouTube app and the YouTube Studio app.
Step 1: Upload your video using the YouTube app
First, log into the YouTube app on your phone, then tap on the camera icon. Choose the video you’d like to upload. Then, click Next.
Add a video title, description, and location. Now, make sure the video is marked as private. Click Upload.
Step 2: Open the YouTube Studio app
Switch which app you’re working in. Turn to YouTube Studio app, you’ll see the private video you just uploaded.
Step 3: Edit the private video
Click on that private video from your list of videos. That will take you to a screen like this:
Then, click on the Edit button. This is the pencil icon in the top right-hand corner.
Step 4: Schedule your video to go public
Change the video from private to Scheduled.
Then, choose the date and time you want your video to go public.
Step 5: Click Save to schedule
That’s it! Once you revisit your list of videos, you will see that it has been scheduled successfully.
The way to edit a YouTube video after you’ve scheduled it
You can edit your video on YouTube, even after scheduling it.
Step 1: Navigate to your uploaded videos on YouTube
Hover over the video you’ve uploaded and scheduled. Then click on the Edit tool.
Step 2: Change the video details and scheduling options
Edit your video’s title, description, or other details. Click on both Basic and More Options tabs to edit your video details.
Here, you can also alter the date and time when you want to publish your video.
Step 3: Edit the video
Click on the Editor to edit your video. That is the third option down in the left-hand column.
Your video that you’ve uploaded will open and you can edit it from here.
The way to delete a video off YouTube
To delete a YouTube video natively, navigate to your uploaded videos on your YouTube channel. Choose the video by clicking the box on the left, and select Delete forever from the More Actions dropdown menu.
5 greatest practices for scheduling YouTube videos
Describe your video content
Write a descriptive, yet succinct, the title for your video. Make sure it lets viewers know what they can expect to watch.
Write a video description that gives viewers a few more details and ensure that description includes keywords. And be sure to add related tags, too.
Doing all this boosts the SEO of your video. It allows your video content to be searchable — and viewed and shared — once it goes live.
Know your audience
Analyze your content analytics, using YouTube Analytics. In case you have a great sense of who is viewing your content on YouTube, you can schedule your content on days, and at times when it is most likely to be viewed.
Research your competition
Do you know the time when your competitors often publish your video content and the frequency of their publishing posts?
In case you’re relatively new to posting to YouTube — and maybe don’t have significant demographic data yet but are hoping to reach the same audience — monitor your competitors. This can help you as you learn what scheduling specifics works best for your viewers.
Keep track of your content calendar
Planning a content calendar helps you to know exactly when your YouTube content is scheduled to publish. See gaps in your publishing calendar and try to fill them. Make sure you are not double-posting content. And see how your scheduled YouTube content might be scheduled and cross-promoted on your other social channels.
Schedule content regularly
Finally, try to publish content at a regular timetable so your subscribers know when they can view new content from you. That will help your YouTube channel earn a loyal following!