If there's one thing creators of all tiers struggle with, it is finding means to keep their viewers engaged beyond their content and keep the conversation going. Websites to promote YouTube channels are the obvious choice here but reaching people who genuinely want to connect with your videos never gets easier!
So, we figured it's a good time to talk about one of the most underused features on YouTube: the community tab. The YouTube community tab is still an overlooked feature that can boost engagement. With options like quizzes, image polls, videos, and text posts, it offers many ways to start conversations with viewers. For growing channels, this tool is a must for keeping viewers interested between uploads.
Read more: YouTube's Community Tab Is Your Super Secret Weapon for Channel Growth
The YouTube community tab is located on the homepage of your channel, between the playlists and membership sections.
It's a bite-sized social media network where viewers can see all of your interactive posts, such as quizzes and polls.
But you can also share:
So, if you don't have any videos planned, you can use this tab to promote yourself on YouTube and engage with your audience in the meantime!
The community tab used to be a locked feature, but earlier this year, YouTube's official documentation on community posts, mentioned how the barrier to entry has. Previously, a creator needed 10,000 subscribers. But now, you can simply enable advanced features on your channel and get full access.
1. First, go to the YouTube Studio.
2. Next, click Settings in the left menu.
3. Select the Channel tab, then Feature eligibility. At the bottom, turn on advanced features.
Posting on the community tab is quick and easy. Everything you need is in the YouTube Studio, and there are plenty of features to customize your content.
1. Click the Create icon at the top of your YouTube homepage. Select Create post from the drop-down menu.
2. Type a message to create a short text post. You can also add a gif, poll, image, video, etc.
In a recent update, YouTube has introduced a new feature that lets viewers post on your community tab. The new feature, simply called "Communities" is YouTube's way of trying to improve audience interaction and form a more vibrant community.
Read More: YouTube Communities: Connect with Creators
You can monitor the performance of your community posts as well. This can help you improve your future posts and also give you a taste of what your community wants from you.
1. Go to the YouTube Studio.
2. Find the left navigation menu and click Content.
On the next page, you'll see some tabs at the top. Click on the one called Posts to see all the community posts you've published on your channel.
The posts are in chronological order by default, but the columns are sortable. If you want to know something specific, such as which community posts have the most comments or likes, you can easily shuffle through the data.
You can post various types of content on the community tab, including images, videos, polls, plain text messages, quizzes, and animated GIFs.
When browsing the community posts page, these content types will appear in different ways. Plain text posts display an alphabet symbol, ‘Aa’, to quickly represent non-media messages. Any post with an image or video will be shown with the image it comes with, while voting polls are displayed with three blue horizontal lines.
If you mouse over each community post, you’ll notice a drop-down menu with more options for managing the feature. The first one lets you edit a post directly from the YouTube Studio, which is pretty cool. You can also manage and respond to comments or click a link to take you to the original community post on YouTube.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that you can’t edit polls. This is probably a safeguard to stop creators from changing the answer choices once voting begins.
Lastly, there’s an option to filter community posts. This lets you view only the posts you want to see, such as plain text or animated GIFs. You can even filter the posts to see which ones have been published or scheduled for future publication.
The community tab on YouTube is more than just a space for updates. It is a great spot to connect with viewers between video uploads. Use it to start friendly chats and build bonds.
Think about when you are posting on the Community. Check your channel stats to see when viewers are most active. Many find that late afternoon or early evening works best.
Mix up your content. Try polls one day, behind-the-scenes photos the next, and ask a simple question later. This keeps the YouTube community tab lively and fun. If you create a poll, ask a question like, "Which topic should I do next?" This makes your viewers feel important. Use your posts to test new video ideas too.
Lastly, be present. Reply to comments and keep the conversation going. A chatty creator makes for a stronger community.
As your audience grows, keeping the chat clear is very important. YouTube offers several controls to help manage your YouTube community post. These controls ensure healthy discussions.
YouTube handles some housekeeping on its own. But you also have extra options:
Posts that break YouTube rules can be taken down. Repeated issues may even limit your features. If your channel is flagged as 'Made for Kids', your posts will not go public. This rule helps protect children.
For years, the community tab has helped creators stay in touch with their audience, especially when only publishing one or two videos each week.
So, if you haven’t already, start using the community tab! Challenge yourself to post something every day for the next three to six months — polls, animated GIFs, or anything that brings you closer to your audience. And, as you keep growing through this content creation journey, don’t forget to avoid these mistakes as well.
To get the YouTube community tab, open YouTube Studio, go to Settings > Channel > Feature eligibility and enable advanced features. Previously, a creator needed 10,000 subscribers.
The YouTube community tab (also known as Posts) is where creators post updates. The newer Communities feature allows subscribers to start their own posts and conversations directly on your channel.
Aim for 2-3 posts per week. This helps keep engagement up without overloading your viewers.
Visit YouTube Studio under Content > Posts to see your community post analytics. You can check views, likes, and comments for each post.
Yes, youtube community posts can appear in your subscribers' home and subscription feeds. Subscribers may also get notifications if they have them turned on.
Lydia Sweatt is a writer, bookworm, and bass guitar enthusiast. When she goes outside, a bicycle goes with her.
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