How to create a playlist on youtube?
Playlists are a really powerful (but not often noticed) feature for growing your YouTube channel. It's not just about putting videos together. It's a big part of your YouTube plan.If you make playlists smartly, they can help you use the YouTube algorithm to your advantage. They can also affect what your viewers choose and make them come back.In this article, we'll show you how to make and manage new playlists on your YouTube channel. We've also put together some good ways to use this tool well.
- Author: Shine
- Update: Mar 14, 2025
What is a YouTube playlist?
Video-sharing platform for watching, sharing, and creating content.
A YouTube playlist serves as a compilation of videos that are usually put together according to various themes. By creating playlists, you're able to classify your content effectively, which in turn helps your viewers easily locate particular videos. Viewers have the option to access these playlists in the dedicated Playlists section of your YouTube channel page.
In addition to content categorization, playlists can be a valuable tool for structuring your channel's homepage. For instance, as demonstrated on Sprout's YouTube channel:
Playlists inject a binge - watch - friendly aspect into your YouTube channel. They operate under the same principle as streaming services such as Netflix. Once a video concludes, the subsequent video in the playlist automatically commences playing.
Not only can viewers create YouTube playlists, but channel owners can do so as well. Now, let's explore the reasons why playlist creation is a crucial component of your brand's YouTube strategy.
Why create playlists on YouTube
Enhances YouTube Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Playlists have a significant tendency to secure positions within YouTube's search results. In reality, a multitude of search queries trigger the appearance of a distinct segment dedicated to 'Related playlists.' This not only provides an additional avenue for your content to be discovered but also indicates the importance that YouTube places on playlists in its search algorithm. By creating well-structured and relevant playlists, you increase the likelihood of your videos being showcased in these prominent search result sections, driving more organic traffic to your channel and individual videos.
If you optimize the title and description of your playlist in line with popular search terms, it stands a better chance of achieving a higher ranking. This, in turn, will increase the likelihood of your playlist garnering more views. Since the description can be up to 5000 characters long, you can smoothly incorporate the keywords your audience is looking for.
Should you wish to learn more about how to make your videos appear at the top of search results, our guide on YouTube SEO is at your disposal.
Enhances Discoverability
Videos that are part of a playlist enjoy a greater likelihood of being presented as suggested videos to viewers. YouTube has a preference for featuring "topically relevant" videos within the Suggested Videos column. Significantly, these playlist - included videos can surface as suggestions even when a user is watching one of your videos that is not part of that specific playlist.
Take a look at the example below to observe how a playlist and a video from the same channel are displayed in the Suggested section:
Increases Audience Engagement
There are numerous strategies through which you can leverage playlists to enhance the engagement rates on your YouTube channel.
For instance, you can direct your channel visitors towards the videos that you specifically wish to promote. Compiling your most popular videos into a single playlist is an excellent approach. This way, new viewers will be exposed to your top-notch content right from the start.
Another effective method is to organize your videos based on themes, target audience types, or the nature of the content. This is particularly beneficial if your YouTube channel features a diverse array of videos. It simplifies the navigation process for viewers, enabling them to effortlessly find and explore the content that aligns most closely with their interests.
A great illustration of this can be seen on Andey Crowley’s channel. He has curated separate playlists for guitar lessons, categorizing them according to different learning levels. This makes it convenient for learners at various stages to access the appropriate instructional videos.
Steps to Create a New Playlist on YouTube
You are able to create, edit, and manage playlists for your YouTube channel via YouTube Studio.
Step 1: In the left - hand menu of YouTube Studio, choose "Playlists". Then, on the top - right corner, click "NEW PLAYLIST".
Step 2: Input a title for the playlist and, if you wish, add a description (this is an optional step). Then, make a selection from the drop-down menu for the visibility settings. We recommend choosing the "Public" option so that your target audience has the ability to view the playlist. After making these selections, click on the "CREATE" button. Once you've completed these steps, you will be able to access and view the newly created playlist.
Step 3: In order to incorporate videos into the playlist, locate the playlist you've just created and click on the edit pencil icon that is situated next to it.
Step 4: Click on the three-dot menu button, and from the options that appear, choose "Add videos". This will allow you to start populating your playlist with the desired video content.
Step 5: Scroll through the section labeled "Your YouTube videos" and pick out the videos that you intend to include in the playlist. Once you've made your selections, click on the "Add videos" button.
Step 6: In order to rearrange the sequence of the videos within a playlist, simply drag each video and drop it to the desired position, either higher up or lower down in the list.
Congratulations! Your carefully curated YouTube playlist is now all set. Your audience will be able to view it in the playlist section of your channel.
Moreover, you have the option to add a video to one or multiple playlists simultaneously when you're uploading a video on YouTube. After you've added all the necessary elements to your video upload, you'll be presented with the choice to select an existing playlist or create a brand new one for that video.
