It is almost impossible to watch any YouTube content without hearing the famous phrase, “Like, Share, and Subscribe..”.These are the standard practices of a viewer who liked watching a specific video. Subscribing, however, does more than express a viewer’s enjoyment. It enables viewers to ‘follow’ the channel for similar content.  

In this article, Net Influencer breaks down how to subscribe and unsubscribe to a YouTube channel; and track and manage your subscription lists and notifications. We also explore how the feature may serve content creators in better content and brand management.

The Meaning and Usage of ‘Subscribing to a YouTube Channel’

YouTube’s ‘Subscribe’ feature is standard and enabled for all content on the platform. You will find the Subscribe button or icon beneath any YouTube video or on a Channel’s page. You can follow any channel by clicking on the Subscribe icon. Once subscribed, you will receive notifications every time the channel posts new content. New videos from this channel will also show up on your YouTube feed.

You can even set up push notifications on your phone or an email alert – depending on your settings. Customize the alerts for the different channels, allowing you to listen out for your favorites or top picks. You may turn off the notifications by changing your notification settings. 

Your notifications will then appear on the subscriptions screen of your YouTube app, but you will not receive an alert. Check the subscription screen if and when you require an update. 

YouTube helps you discover content you like by surfacing videos and channels with content that is similar to what you usually watch. The platform’s algorithm makes this possible. YouTube also surfaces content that is trending. This helps you subscribe to channels with more content you enjoy. YouTube gives you control here too. You can inform them that you’re not interested in any of the surfaced/suggested content. 

How to Subscribe to a YouTube channel

Subscribing to a YouTube channel is totally free. However, you can only subscribe to 75 channels per day and 2,000 channels, overall. Your subscription limit grows as your YouTube channel does. It is linked to the number of subscribers you have and the age of your account – older is better. So, your precise limits vary.  

Here’s How to Subscribe to a channel  

1. Open the YouTube app and sign in.

2. If you are on the home tab :

· Below the video whose channel you want to subscribe to, tap the channel icon.

· Tap Subscribe.

3. If you are watching a video, whose channel do you want to subscribe to:

· Tap Subscribe below the video.

Managing your YouTube Subscriptions

You can access and view your subscription using this link https://www.youtube.com/feed/subscriptions. Alternatively, click on the “Subscriptions” link on the left side of YouTube’s website. This is located near the bottom left of your screen if you’re on the mobile app. 

Follow these instructions:

1. Open the YouTube app and sign in.

2. Tap the Subscriptions tab. 

3. To view a list of your channels, tap All, and filter your results using the drop-down arrow at the top.

A dot appears near the channel name whenever any channel you have subscribed to posts new content. And the word “Live” will appear next to the channel name if the channel is live streaming.

Unsubscribing from a YouTube channel

Follow these easy steps:

1. Sign in to YouTube.

2. Go to a video whose channel you want to unsubscribe from.

3. Under the video player, tap Subscribe and then select Unsubscribe.

4. At the bottom of the screen, you will receive a notification confirming you have unsubscribed.

How does YouTube Subscriptions Benefit Content Creators

Content Creators thrive on viewers subscribing to their content. YouTube assists creators in reaching their audience and pushing content on the platform. This drives engagement through viewership and grows the channels and brands. Therefore, creators appeal to viewers to like, share and subscribe as it improves reach, engagement, and discoverability. With YouTube subscriptions, fans will never miss new content, and content creators can better reach their audience. 

Conclusion

YouTube subscriptions do more than generate notifications for the content creator’s channel. It is a mechanism that can be used to measure a channel’s popularity, engagement, and reach. Viewership may be once-off, but subscriptions are ongoing. This feature draws viewers back onto the platform to view content from creators who may become their favorites. Eventually, a community and fanbase are created by simply clicking the subscribe button. Long-term relationships between creators and their followers are possible through YouTube Subscriptions.