YouTube Handles Are Finally Here: Everything You Need

to Know
makeuseof.com/what-are-youtube-handles

October 23, 2022

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By
Aya Masango
Published 4 hours ago
YouTube is bringing handles to its platform. This is good news for creators as it can increase
channel visibility.

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A few common threads might come to mind when you think about social media networks like
Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. One of these is account handles, which are an essential
element of any social media account.

YouTube has launched handles to help people find your channel. Let’s explain what they are
and how they work.

What Are YouTube Handles?

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If you're unfamiliar with the concept, a social media handle is a way for people to search for
and identify social media accounts. Most social media channels have them, and YouTube is
following suit.

YouTube announced handles in a YouTube blog post on October 10, 2022, stating:

For many creators, YouTube isn’t just a place to upload and comment on videos, it’s a
community and home base. That’s why today we’re introducing handles, a new way for
people to easily find and engage with creators and each other on YouTube. Every
channel will have a unique handle, making it easier for fans to discover content and
interact with creators they love.

Handles are available to all creators, not just those on YouTube Premium. This will probably
come as a relief to many, especially since YouTube Premium comes at a cost. However, if
you're considering getting it, there are a few things you ought to consider before paying for
YouTube Premium.

How YouTube Handles Work

YouTube handles will work similarly to how they do on other social media channels. They
won’t replace channel names. Instead, they’ll make it easier to identify, mention, and tag
channels.

Creators can create YouTube handles when they receive a notification in YouTube Studio.
You can expect to receive one over the month following the announcement.

Channel handles will appear on both YouTube videos and on Shorts. Each channel will have
a unique handle. Given that there are channels with similar names, there may be cases
where the creators behind those channels try to secure the same handle. In such cases, the
creator who secures the handle first gets to keep it.

Since YouTube launched handles, some creators have complained about smaller, less
established channels securing handles similar to their channel names. But something to
consider is that YouTube automatically gives channels handles similar to their personalized
URLs.

However, those creators have the option to change their default handles when they receive a
notification from YouTube. Finally, when you create a handle, YouTube will generate a
matching URL that includes your handle. This will help you direct traffic to your content from
outside YouTube.

How YouTube Handles Will Affect Creators

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YouTube handles will help creators get more visibility for their channels and make them
easier to find, tag, and mention on YouTube. This will help creators grow their channels as a
result.

YouTube channel names tend to be long, so handles will help make channels easier to
remember. Again, this makes it easier for other creators and viewers to tag and mention
those channels.

However, it helps if your handle is similar to your channel name. Otherwise, it would be
counterproductive as it may leave people confused and even frustrated.

Remember: when it comes to YouTube, monetization is the name of the game. The more
eyes you attract and keep, the better your chances of making money on the platform. Your
channel elements, like your channel name and handle, are some building blocks of a
successful YouTube channel.

Take Advantage of YouTube Handles

It can be challenging to stand out on popular platforms like YouTube and other social media
networks. However, handles have made it simpler for people to discover a creator's content.
To that end, be intentional about the YouTube handle you create; it could be a great tool to
grow your channel and make it more noticeable.

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