When it comes to publishing videos on YouTube, selecting the right category and the best YouTube Channels is crucial to reach your target audience and maximize your video’s visibility. YouTube offers a variety of categories to choose from, each catering to different types of content.
In this article, we will delve into the full list of YouTube categories and explore the content they encompass, along with tips on how to pick the most suitable category for your videos in 2023.
Which ones are the best YouTube Channels for every category?
Just like placing a book in the correct genre section of a bookstore increases its chances of finding readers, selecting the right YouTube category is essential for effectively reaching your target audience. Below, we will explore the full list of YouTube video categories, the content they encompass, and which channels are the best representatives of their category. Let’s dive in!
Film and Animation
The Film and Animation category on YouTube is a vast section that encompasses all things related to movies. This includes movie trailers, reviews, and scenes from various films. Some of the most viewed channels in this category come from big film and animation industries like A24, Disney, and Sony. Additionally, independent creators also thrive in this space, producing content around franchises and niches, such as “The Film Theorists” and “ScreenRant.”
Autos and Vehicles
Autos and Vehicles is a popular niche on YouTube, covering a wide range of content related to cars and automobiles. From car showings to tutorials on basic car maintenance, channels like “Mighty Car Mods” focus entirely on cars and showcase cool modifications. This category appeals to automotive enthusiasts and those seeking knowledge about cars and vehicles.
Music
Music has been a cornerstone of YouTube since its early years, and it remains a lucrative category. Music videos from popular artists and labels like VEVO and Sony can amass hundreds of millions of views. Independent musicians also use YouTube to promote their music through covers, remixes, and original content. Notable musicians like Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, The Weeknd, and Ed Sheeran kick-started their careers through YouTube channels.
Pets & Animals
The Pets & Animals category covers both content related to pets and animals. Pet vlogs, pet-care advice, and channels like “Brave Wilderness,” which provide real-life analysis of various animals and insects, fall under this category. Additionally, the Animals category features videos related to wildlife, including wildlife documentaries and animal guides.
Sports
The Sports category encompasses all content related to sports activities. This can include sports commentary, talk shows, game highlights, and more. Sports enthusiasts often subscribe to channels like “SportsCenter” and “NFL” to stay updated on football news, highlights, and commentary.
Travel and Events
Travel and Events is a category that revolves around travel, attractions, and tourism. Travel vlogs featuring independent creators exploring interesting destinations worldwide fall under this category. Event channels showcase creators attending popular or unique events, such as Coachella and the Area 51 Raid. Channels like “Channel 5 With Andrew Callaghan” provide engaging event videos, featuring interviews with diverse individuals at different gatherings.
Gaming
Gaming is a surprisingly popular category on YouTube, with a wide variety of content styles. Gaming channels can offer gameplay walkthroughs, reviews, and even live streams of other gamers’ gameplay. Creators like “PewDiePie” and “Mr. Beast” have achieved immense success in this category, amassing a combined subscriber count of over 200 million.
People and Blogs
The People and Blogs category focuses on content related to individuals or their stories. This includes success stories, drama channels, and informative videos about famous personalities. Channels like “Philip DeFranco” summarize pop culture events and celebrity drama in daily shows.
Comedy
Comedy is a substantial category on YouTube, with channels like “Smosh” and “CollegeHumor” thriving on sketch comedy and improv. Stand-up comedy is also popular on the platform, with comedians sharing clips and bits of their material. However, prank videos have become less prominent due to ethical concerns surrounding some creators’ actions.
Entertainment
The Entertainment category revolves around pop culture and celebrities, with channels like “TMZ” producing content focused on celebrity lives and news. Major events in the entertainment industry generate a surge in views for videos in this category.
News and Politics
The News and Politics category encompasses content related to breaking news, political debates, and developing stories. Major news networks like CNN and Fox News operate in this category, along with various political commentary channels catering to different political identities.
How-to and Style
How-to Guides are popular resources on YouTube, providing tutorials on various topics, from parallel parking to building a cabin from scratch. Crafting is a significant subcategory, with channels like “5-Minute Crafts” offering short-form content for creative projects.
Education
The Educational category is a valuable resource for learning on YouTube, with channels like “Khan Academy” and “The Organic Chemistry Tutor” offering comprehensive lessons in math, science, and other subjects. Some educational channels, like “VlogBrothers,” blend entertainment with educational content to engage their audiences.
Science and Technology
The Science and Technology category centers around content related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Tech channels like “Marques Brownlee,” “Mark Rober,” and “Michael Reeves” use their expertise to create engaging content, showcasing their engineering skills and creations.
Nonprofits and activism
YouTube provides a platform for charitable organizations and social movements to share their content and raise awareness. Nonprofits showcase their achievements and seek donations through videos that explain their causes and how viewers can help. Organizations like “WWF International” have some amazing content and lots of viewers.
Bonus
YouTube’s diverse landscape is filled with captivating content across various categories, attracting millions of subscribers worldwide. From music to educational content, food to sports, and history, let’s take an extra look at some of the platform’s most popular channel categories, featuring creators who have garnered an impressive following. Notably, some of the channels highlighted here belong to organizations, while others are helmed by individual creators who have achieved exceptional fame and recognition.
T-Series
At the pinnacle of YouTube success stands T-Series, an Indian music and movie production company with an astounding 245 million subscribers. Captivating the hearts of over 500 million active viewers in India, T-Series boasts a network of 29 channels primarily focused on Indian music and films. Their team engages influencers, promotes content, and collaborates with partners to continuously entertain and retain their vast viewership.
Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes
Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes is a beloved channel tailored for kids, attracting over 160 million subscribers. Parents flock to this channel seeking engaging and educational content for their young ones. The videos feature catchy rhymes, simple activities, and fun counting games, fostering language and socialization skills in the impressionable minds of children.
MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson)
MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, reigns as the most popular individual YouTuber with over 165 million subscribers. His dedication to philanthropy, stunts, and challenges has pioneered a niche of expensive generosity. Starting his YouTube journey at the young age of 13, his channel has evolved to include not only philanthropic acts but also gaming content and five additional channels to further engage his massive fan base.
PewDiePie (Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg)
Swedish sensation Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, famously known as PewDiePie, was the most popular YouTuber for a decade until recently overtaken by MrBeast. With over 111 million subscribers, PewDiePie focuses on the “Let’s Play” style of video gaming. His fun and relatable content have fostered a loyal following, while he also diversifies his uploads with music, commentary, comedy, and shows.
Justin Bieber
In the realm of music on YouTube, one cannot overlook Justin Bieber‘s channel, a powerhouse with over 70 million subscribers. Justin joined YouTube in 2007 as a platform to release his music, quickly gaining immense popularity as a teenage sensation and budding pop star. Despite having fewer videos than some other creators, Justin Bieber’s massive following solidifies his channel as one of the best on YouTube.
How to set your channel’s default category
To ensure your content is consistently categorized, you can set your channel’s default category in the YouTube Channel Studio. Doing so is quite important for accurate viewing and a stable growth in your channel. Here’s how:
- Log in to your YouTube account and go to the YouTube Channel Studio.
- In the YouTube Channel Studio, locate and click on the “Settings” option, usually found on the left sidebar.
- Within the “Settings” menu, find and select the “Upload Defaults” option.
- In the “Upload Defaults” section, look for the category setting and choose the category that best represents the majority of your videos.
- If desired, you can customize default titles and descriptions for your videos, making them consistent across other platforms.
- After setting the default category and making any optional customizations, save your changes to apply them to all your future video uploads.
Changing an individual video’s category
If you need to change the category of a specific video, you can do so by following the instructions right below:
- Go to your YouTube account and navigate to the “Content” section where all your uploaded videos are listed.
- From the list of videos, choose the specific one whose category you want to change.
- Once you’ve selected the video, scroll down to the “Video Details” page, and click on “SHOW MORE” to reveal additional settings.
- Look for the option that allows you to change the video’s category. It is usually labeled as “Category” or something similar.
- Click on the category dropdown menu and select the new category that best fits your video’s content.
- After selecting the desired category, remember to save your changes by clicking the “Save” or “Apply” button, located at the bottom or top of the page.
- Confirm that the video’s category has been updated to the new selection before finalizing the changes.
Do categories matter?
While categorizing your videos is essential for driving targeted traffic, YouTube’s algorithm is sophisticated and considers various factors beyond categories. Consistency in the type of content you create is crucial, as it helps YouTube understand your niche and audience better. As you produce more videos within a specific category, YouTube will likely recommend your content to more relevant viewers.
How to pick the right category
Selecting the best YouTube category for your content can be challenging, especially if your content is nuanced. While categories do not guarantee instant success, focusing on popular categories like How-Tos, Comedy, Music, and Entertainment/Pop-Culture can attract larger audiences. However, the key to success lies in creating quality, engaging, and consistent content that resonates with your target audience.
In conclusion, understanding the YouTube categories and selecting the most suitable one for your content can significantly impact your channel’s growth. By consistently delivering valuable content within your chosen category, you can build a dedicated audience and thrive on the platform in 2023 and beyond.
If you are invested in the giant social media platform, you might also want to check out the YouTube premium price increase in 2023.
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