Here’s what a YouTube channel looks like with and without customization.    

1. Log into your YouTube account.  Click the yellow “Edit Channel” button.

2. Set up your channel information - website URL, profile picture (88×88)  and description.

3. Within Channel Design scroll down to Advanced Design Customization. Set background, link and border colors. If #ffffff means nothing to you, click on the blue pick link to choose your colors. You can hide features like the video log by unchecking the box.

4. Now the fun part - just under the Advanced Design Customization heading, YouTube allows you to upload a background image.  Upload your image to your server, or use a service like photobucket.com. Then paste the link into the background image field. 

5. Click update channel.

You can see my background here. I made my file 2000 pixels wide by 2000 pixels tall. My background is not set to repeat. This is how it looks on my YouTube channel. Download it below - business gray. Try adding in some banners, like this one I designed for Closet Control.

Download 6 FREE YouTube channel backgrounds

Click here to download a zip file, containing 6 Free YouTube backgrounds. 

Alternatively click on each of the links below, then do a right click “Save picture as”. 

1. Click here to view Minimal business gray

2. Click here to view Retro pink wallpaper

3. Click here to view Camouflage

4. Click here to view Animal print

5. Click here to view Cherry Blossom

6. Click here to view Green daisy

Inspiration - 5 cool customized channels

Check out these YouTube channels, I don’t need to mention copyright do I?

1. AskTheDecorator - Meghan’s  popular design show - View background only

2. Obama- Barack Obama’s official channel - Obama’s YouTube background

3. Royal Channel - good enough for the Queen… Her Majestys background

4. Nylon Magazine - Fashion mag - Youtube background image

5. Threadbanger - Embellish yourself & your home - YouTube background

Promote your customized YouTube channel, leave a link in the comments below…

Monetizing YouTube

You may have noticed some sites have an extra banner on their user page like this:

Also a large banner on their Channel like this:

In order to get these additional branding privileges - and advertising revenue - you need to partner with YouTube. If you have enough hits and post fairly regularly you can apply here to become a partner. You need to set up a Google Adsense account first. YouTube places ads on your site,  you get revenue every-time someone clicks an ad.

Click here to find out how to animate your YouTube partner banner or profile picture, like this one.