A trailer on your YouTube channel can convey to new viewers what your channel is all about, and why they should subscribe. Executed well, they’ll convey what makes your channel unique, and tease content that already exists or is coming soon.

However, many of the top channels don’t feature custom trailers. Should yours?

We’ll cover tips on how to make a good channel trailer, and discuss if it’s worth the time and effort.

What is a YouTube channel trailer?

A channel trailer is a video you can assign to be prominently displayed on your channel’s home page with YouTube’s Video Spotlight feature. Their primary purpose is to convince new viewers to subscribe. The trailer will sit near the top of your channel’s homepage, above other playlists or YouTube’s personalized recommendations.

Unlike other videos, ads aren’t shown on trailers. There are otherwise no special features of channel trailers—there are no length restrictions. You can search through your uploaded videos to select one to feature. It's as simple as that.

But you should put some thought into it. A channel trailer should establish the identity of your channel: who you are, what kind of content you make, and why people should be interested.

You can even customize which video to spotlight based on whether or not the viewer is a subscriber.

How to mark a video as a trailer

On your channel’s homepage, click “customize channel” directly below your channel name and description. Once in channel customization, you can set your channel trailer from the videos you’ve uploaded to your channel.

You can also select the customization tab in Creator Studio.

How to create a great YouTube channel trailer

A great YouTube channel trailer should convey what your channel does and why a viewer should subscribe. Here are some helpful tips to consider.

1. Include a hook

Grab the viewer’s attention in the first few seconds with a big question or exciting statement. You can also showcase something visually intriguing. 

Remember, you’re not just trying to get someone to watch the rest of your trailer; you’re trying to get them to watch the rest of your channel. Leave a little bit of intrigue to encourage the viewer to explore the rest of your library.

2. Be concise

Your trailer only needs to be long enough to get someone to click subscribe and, ideally, watch another video.  There’s no hard rule, but I’d recommend keeping your trailer under a minute.

3. Provide a value proposition

What will a viewer get if they subscribe to your channel? Good trailers promise something tangible, like The Editing Podcast’s trailer that positions the channel as a way to become a better editor. Value propositions shouldn’t be overly vague. Kurzgesagt: In a Nutshell promises to explain the vast universe one video at a time, while highlighting videos to entice viewers.

4. Have a call to action

It may be obvious, but remind the viewer to subscribe. Don’t burden the trailer by cramming in multiple calls for multiple things—keep it simple.

5. Differentiate

What makes your channel different from others in the same niche? Your trailer should establish what is unique about your channel, likely some combination of your personality and approach to the topic.

Also consider how what isn’t explicitly said can differentiate your channel. Do you have a unique animation style to show off, or a specific brand of visual humor?

6. Show off your footage

Use the opportunity to show off your most exciting footage, whether that’s mouthwatering food or big-name guests. Doing this visually demonstrates what the viewer should be watching from your larger library, and gives a taste of what’s to come if they subscribe.

7. Use quick cuts

Don’t dwell on any one image for too long, if you can avoid it. Quick cuts let you show more of why your channel matters, while keeping the viewer engaged.

Even if your videos are primarily a single speaker on screen, consider how you can cut between different angles and B-roll.

8. Experiment with music and sound effects

Even if your videos don’t contain dramatic crescendos or mood-setting beats, the trailer is a good place to experiment. Music and sound effects can add emotion and intrigue for the rest of your content.  The Editing Podcast’s channel trailer exceeds in this regard as well.

Should I have a channel trailer?

Frankly, it depends. Viewers who have stumbled across a video of yours may start investigating your channel’s home page in order to decide whether they should subscribe. A trailer lets you carefully control what kind of impression they’ll get. 

But overall, channel trailers don’t get many views compared to other content. Consider SweetPotatoSoul, whose channel trailer has amassed almost 26,000 views in 3 years. That may seem like a lot, but it’s a lot less impressive than her 720,000 subscribers. Maybe that trailer netted the vegan food channel 26,000 new subscribers, but the vast majority likely came from the content itself. There are, of course, exceptions.

Some of the biggest creators don’t use the video spotlight feature at all. MrBeast is currently spotlighting a video he released 10 days ago. The same goes for Chicken Shop Date creator Amelia Dimoldenberg, whose homepage prominently features her recent video with comedian Eric Andre.

Others skip the spotlight altogether, choosing instead to put playlists or YouTube’s “For You” suggestions at the top of their home page. That’s the approach of Michelle Khare, who has a “Start Here” playlist featured on her homepage.

In other words, there are a lot of good ways to make your channel page alluring to potential subscribers. Trailers are just one option. Many creators, pressed for time, will be better served by spotlighting a popular video rather than spending the time creating and editing a dedicated channel.

Descript: The best tool for YouTube channel trailers

Descript is a great tool to edit together clips, score your trailer, edit new footage, and add narration. 

You can add existing YouTube videos to Descript by pasting the URL directly in Descript under New Project. Underlord, Descript’s AI tool, will give you the option to automatically create clips from your footage if you don’t already know what you want to use. 

From there, making a fast-paced trailer of new and old footage is a breeze with text-based editing. You’ll also get access to:

• Stock footage and images to elevate your edit
• Transitions to seamlessly guide viewers through your clips
• Studio Sound that automatically removes background noise and echo while enhancing voices

How to make a YouTube channel trailer FAQ

How do I create a channel trailer on YouTube?

To create a channel trailer, upload your edited video to YouTube. Under channel customization, you can set a trailer for viewers who have not yet subscribed to your channel. You can set any video uploaded to your channel.

Should I make a trailer for my YouTube channel?

Trailers for YouTube channels can be valuable, but they’re not strictly necessary. Many successful channels opt to spotlight a popular video instead, and some skip it altogether.

What is a trailer on YouTube?

A YouTube trailer is a video featured on your home page that can help viewers decide if they’d like to subscribe. Trailers should give a sense of what the channel covers and the unique value it provides.