How to Populate Your YouTube Channel with Guest Appearances

Starting a new YouTube channel can feel overwhelming, but leveraging your past guest appearances on podcasts and webinars is an easy way to build up your content.

Not only does it populate your channel, but it also serves as valuable social proof for your audience.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make the most of those appearances by creating a playlist and showcasing it on your channel.

Step 1: Search for Your Guest Appearances

Head to YouTube.com and type your name into the search bar. If your name is common, include a keyword related to your expertise (e.g., “Jane Smith financial planning”). This ensures the search results are relevant to you.

Browse the results to locate videos where you’ve been a guest speaker. These are the videos you’ll add to your channel.

Step 2: Create a Playlist for Guest Appearances

Playlists are a powerful tool on YouTube, allowing you to group similar content for viewers. Here’s how to create one:

1. Access YouTube Studio:
   • Click your profile picture in the top-right corner of YouTube.
   • Select “YouTube Studio” from the dropdown menu.
2. Customize Your Channel:
   • In YouTube Studio, click “Customize Channel” to access your layout.
3. Add a New Playlist:
   • Click the “Create” button (often found in the top-right corner).
   • Select “New Playlist” and name it something simple like “Guest Appearances.”
   • Set the playlist to Public for visibility and choose “Date Published” as the default order.

      

Step 3: Add the Playlist to Your Channel Homepage

To make your playlist easily accessible:

1. Go to the Home tab in channel customization.
2. Scroll to the Layout section and click “Add Section.”
3. Select “Single Playlist” and choose your “Guest Appearances” playlist.
4. Move the playlist higher on your homepage layout to emphasize its importance.

    

Step 4: Add Videos to Your Playlist

Now that the playlist is created and visible on your homepage, it’s time to populate it with videos:

1. Search for a specific video where you were a guest (e.g., “New Planner Podcast with Katie Braden”).
2. Below the video, click the three dots (next to the share button).
3. Select “Save to Playlist” and choose “Guest Appearances.”
   

or 

1. In the YouTube search results, you can simply click the three dots on the right side of a video (as shown below) and click “Save to Playlist”

    

Pro Tip: Refresh your YouTube homepage to ensure the video appears in the playlist.

Step 5: Repeat and Maintain

Consistency is key. Each time you appear as a guest on a podcast, webinar, or other platform, follow this process to add the video to your playlist.

Make it a habit to review and update the playlist monthly or quarterly to keep it current.

Why This Matters

• Builds Social Proof: Highlighting your guest appearances shows your authority and credibility.
• Easy Content Creation: Repurposing existing content is a time-saver, especially when starting fresh.
• Increases Engagement: Playlists encourage viewers to watch multiple videos, boosting your channel’s watch time.
  

Ready to Grow Your YouTube Channel?

Populating your channel with guest appearances is just the start. Stay consistent, and keep building your presence with simple strategies like this.

For more tips on growing your channel, subscribe and check out my other resources.