YouTube Categories - YouTube

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# Lesson: YouTube Categories

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Content categories organise channels and videos on YouTube and help creators, advertisers, and channel managers identify with content and audiences that they wish to associate with. Success within a content category includes mastery of the foundational best practices and relevant content optimisation.

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  Researching content categories

  Each channel on YouTube can be associated with a content category on the platform. These categories help organise the millions of channels and billions of videos on YouTube, and enable viewers, advertisers and creators to have a common vocabulary and understand each audience’s needs. Categorisation helps viewers find content, allows advertisers to refine their targeting, and provides creators with common best practices.

  In order to optimise a channel, it is helpful to conduct research to understand what is popular within a content category. One way to start this process is to look at other YouTube channels within the same category. Think about the channel category or how someone would describe the channel you’re working with, enter in this information into the YouTube search bar, and filter by channel. Start with a niche, and then broaden your search accordingly to see larger themes (e.g. start by looking at “Kids Yoga” then broaden to “Yoga”).

  Below are a few examples of broader categories you can search for:

  - Auto & Vehicles
  - Beauty & Fashion
  - Comedy
  - Education
  - Entertainment
  - Family Entertainment
  - Film & Animation
  - Food
  - Gaming
  - How-to & Style
  - Music
  - News & Politics
  - Nonprofits & Activism
  - People & Blogs
  - Pets & Animals
  - Science & Technology
  - Sport
  - Travel & Events

  ### See it in action

  - #### Visit 'Best of YouTube' to see examples of top videos within specific categories. Visit 'Best of YouTube' to see examples of top videos within specific categories. Visit 'Best of YouTube' to see examples of top videos within specific categories. Visit 'Best of YouTube' to see examples of top videos within specific categories.

  - #### The A-Z of YouTube: Celebrating 10 Years The A-Z of YouTube: Celebrating 10 Years The A-Z of YouTube: Celebrating 10 Years The A-Z of YouTube: Celebrating 10 Years

- ###
  Identifying best practices within a category

  Content is king on YouTube. Shareable, emotionally moving, or compelling videos tend to bring viewers back again and again to YouTube. To help evaluate content for a specific channel category, it is helpful to think about what is working well for each category.

  Here are four top-level goals and a few questions to get started:

  Identify top influencers within a category and analyse how the content offers value to the audience

  Evaluate what works well for top channels and use the information as high-level themes and best practices for content creation. Since channels have different levels of resources, be practical in your evaluation and application

  - What are top creators within the category known for and what do they do well?
  - Does the channel’s content focus on educating viewers? Entertaining viewers? Inspiring viewers?
  - Does the channel employ one type of content strategy or does it exhibit a mix of content strategies?

  Identify the audience within the category

  Consider who is watching content within the category (age, gender, location) and think about whether or not the content on the channel matches what they are looking for. If the content is well targeted, it should also align with the brands and advertisers within the category. This type of evaluation will help determine if the channel is targeting the right audience and if the channel is attractive for advertisers.

  - What is similar between the audiences of similar channels within a category?
  - How does the content strategy of the channel cater to the audience demographics of the category?
  - Does the channel content align with brands that advertise within the category?

  Identify content strategies that work well within the category

  Assess the type of content that is on the channel and how and when it’s being released.

  - Does the category release regularly scheduled content around viewer passions, programmed series, or thematic groups?
  - Is always-on content optimised for viewers’ intent and interests, or are large-scale events or “big” moments driving awareness?
  - How does the programming schedule sustain viewership, grow a following and convert new subscribers?

  Identify the common elements within the category

  Evaluate how different categories present their content. Depending on the type of content (e.g. music video vs. comedy sketch), viewers are often accustomed to seeing videos in specific formats and lengths, and at specific production values. Look for these themes and see how they can elevate channel content.

  - Does the category have videos of similar production value? Length? Format?
  - What are common production qualities of similar channels? What production technologies or techniques do they typically employ?
  - What are common elements of the channel design of similar channels?

  Identifying category-specific requirements can prevent costly trial and error and best position a channel for success.

  ### TIPS

  For best practices on how to develop content for specific categories, take a look at one of the following courses: Target your audience, Unlock your gaming channel, Making sweet music (channels) or Develop a beauty channel.

## Try it

Identify a channel’s content category, write down the top 2 creators that come to mind, and list out what those channels do well.

## Test your knowledge

How do content categories help creators, viewers, and advertisers?

They automatically organise videos into playlists.

They help establish a common vocabulary of best practices.

They do not specifically help any of the users mentioned above.

They allow creators to only interact with creators in the same category.

Correct.
Try again!
Why is it important for a channel to consider what category they are in?

The category determines the channel mission.

Each category only has one right way to optimise a channel.

There are category specific best practices that can help to optimise a channel.

It is helpful to know all categories on YouTube.

Correct.
Try again!
What are common elements to assess within a category?

Production value

Length

Format

All of the above.

Correct.
Try again!

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On the day: March 5, 2018
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