YouTube Automation Step-by-Step Guide (2024)

YouTube automation is a lifesaver for agencies and busy social media managers.

Even if you’re juggling a gazillion YT-related tasks—from creating YT content to creating reports—you can still stay on top of your list of to-dos if you leverage automation.

That’s why automation is key when it comes to improving efficiency, productivity, and the overall performance of your YouTube marketing.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps and tips to kick off your YouTube automation implementation to increase your efficiency in managing your clients’ YT channels.

What you will learn 

• What is YouTube automation?
• 4 Benefits of YouTube Automation
• 4 Steps to implement YouTube automation
• What to automate for YouTube automation
• Potential risks and downsides to YouTube automation
• The best tool for YouTube automation
• YouTube Automation FAQs
• Boost engagement with YouTube automation

What is YouTube automation?

YouTube automation is about using online tools to perform tasks automatically or with minimal human intervention.

For instance, you can use social media management (SMM) tools to automate liking videos, creating, scheduling, and uploading content, and analyzing your client’s content performance.

What you’d like to avoid, however, are bots that automate copying and reposting the videos of other creators. By doing so, you risk violating YouTube community guidelines—which can get your clients’ accounts deactivated and even banned.

Yikes!

4 Benefits of YouTube Automation

Wanna know the benefits you can enjoy by automating your YT tasks? Check these out…

1. Supercharges your workflow

Skip the tedious tasks, such as metadata tweaking and video uploads, and let automation do the grunt work.

Automation gives you more time so you can focus on key tasks, like enhancing your client’s YouTube content strategy to boost engagement.

2. Consistently churn out content

One of the best ways to engage your clients’ audiences is to keep a regular posting schedule.

Automation tools make this possible by letting you plan and schedule your client’s videos to auto-publish.

Automated YouTube video publishing ensures your client’s content is posted on times and dates when target audiences are most active and likely to engage with the content.

Set your preferred publishing date and time, and the tool can do the rest, ensuring a consistent posting schedule.

The consistency can entice audiences to stay tuned to your clients’ videos, getting them excited for the next post—which is always great for engagement.

3. Improves SEO

Nailing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tactics are key to your clients’ videos getting more visibility and organic traffic.

Handy automation tools with robust SEO features can streamline keyword research and metadata optimization tasks.

With these features, your efforts to optimize your clients’ YT videos can be more efficient and seamless while getting more eyeballs to your clients’ content.

The more traffic your clients’ videos get, the higher their chances to get more views on YouTube Shorts and channel content, boosting engagement and subscriptions. 

4. Get your audience engagement going

Automation tools let you automate sending replies and comments on your clients’ videos.

It makes managing audience interactions easier and faster, helping your clients boost engagement and foster deeper connections with viewers.

4 Steps to implement YouTube automation

Set up YouTube automation by following these steps.

1. Choose your niche

Before you create a YouTube channel, choose a niche where your client can shine (if they don’t have a specific niche yet).

Consider your client’s strengths, what they’re good at, their brand, and target audiences (among others).

For example, clients in the food industry can share content about tips to make various types of fresh produce, such as tomatoes and lettuce, last longer.

The most profitable niches include:

• Technology
• Health and Fitness
• Travel
• How to make money online tips
• Business and luxury
• Software tutorials
• Interesting facts
• Personal Finance
• Cars and vehicles
• Happiness-related content

Remember that some niches can be more competitive (with higher payouts) than others.

Help your client stand out by going for a unique YouTube content angle to establish their space in their specific YouTube niche.

2. Create a branded YouTube channel for clients

Create a Brand Account for business for your clients (if they haven’t yet) instead of a personal YouTube account.

A Brand Account allows multiple user access, making managing your client’s YouTube automation channel easier.

Follow these steps to set up a Brand Account for your client’s YouTube channel.

• Open YouTube and sign in to the Google account you want to use. If you’re already signed in to a Google account and want to use another one, click the account icon and select Switch account > Add account.

• Choose Create account and click For work or my business.

• Fill out the required basic information for your client’s channel.
• Once your client’s Brand Account channel is up, you can add other YouTube channel managers, such as yourself. 

Add visual elements, such as a branded banner and logo, to highlight your client’s brand.

3. Set up an automation workflow and team

Starting an automated YouTube channel means initially doing the bulk of the work yourself.

Once you get your client’s channel up and running, start a YouTube video content using reliable tools or work with third-party services and freelancers to automate key tasks such as scriptwriting.

The tools and services you can use for your client’s YouTube automation business include:

• Video editing software. Opt for video editing software that can automate batch processing and editing.

• Scheduling platforms. Use robust social media management platforms with post scheduling features to automate publishing and sharing your clients’ content.

• Workflow automation solutions. Leverage tools that let you connect various apps to streamline YouTube-related tasks. For example, Zapier lets you connect your client’s YouTube account to their Facebook pages to automate creating a post when a new video is uploaded on the channel.

• Project management tools. Streamline YouTube content planning and development with handy project or task management platforms. These tools allow you to automatically track project hours, assign tasks, and organize your client’s content calendar or schedule.

• Transcription services and translation solutions. Implement tools that can auto-generate video audio into text for instant captions. Tools like AI video translators can translate videos in one click using natural voice clones with an authentic speaking style.

4. Monetize the channel

Once your client’s YouTube channel starts taking off, start monetizing.

One of the ways for your clients to earn money through YouTube videos is to run ads via the Partner Program.

Eligibility for the YouTube Partner Program includes the following:

• A minimum of 1,000 subscribers
• More than 4,000 watch hours within the last 12 months
• Be in a country where the Partner Program is available
• Compliance with the YouTube channel monetization policies
• A linked Google AdSense account 
• No YouTube Community Guidelines strikes   

Other ways your clients can monetize their YouTube channels include:

• Paid sponsorships. A paid sponsorship is when a brand or business pays or sponsors content creators to use, feature, or demonstrate their products in a video. YouTube creators with a large following and established influence often earn money through sponsored content.

• Affiliate programs. Your clients can include affiliate links in their YouTube videos that lead viewers to a brand’s landing or product page. Your clients can earn commissions for each sale via the affiliate links, depending on the program.

• YouTube channel membership. Creators can set up a monthly subscription that other YouTube users can sign up for to get special offers, such as one-on-one live chats and exclusive videos. Your clients need at least 1,000 channel subscribers before they can enable the feature.

• Via Patreon. Clients with a loyal fanbase can leverage platforms such as Patreon to offer exclusive perks to Patreons, supporting their content and channels. Your clients can set up tiered memberships with various perks, such as early access passes to new videos, regardless of their subscriber count.

• Merchandise. If your clients have over 10,000 subscribers, they can sell branded merchandise through a merch shelf on each video page.

• Super features during live streams. Turning on the Super Chat feature allows your clients to earn between one and 500 dollars by featuring messages from audiences who pay to get their messages highlighted during live streams or premier chats. Your clients can also enable Super Stickers that viewers can buy and share and the Super Thanks option that lets audiences pay a small amount to get their comments featured in the live stream chat.

What to automate for YouTube automation

Your clients can automate the following YouTube-related tasks and processes.

Scriptwriting

One of the most time-consuming aspects of running a YouTube channel is planning and writing your client’s video scripts.

The good news is that you can plan and write a YouTube script faster and easier with the right tools and methods.

For example, you can use AI tools such as ChatGPT and Jasper to generate script ideas instantly.

You can specify the length, tone, and target audience, and the AI can write the entire script.

You can even ask the AI to throw some humor in your script to make your client’s content more engaging.

After all, what’s engaging content without some humor?

Take it from content and copywriting manager Adam Hayes, who said…

“Humor, where appropriate, is a great addition to your video… so embrace the personality of your product, and let it shine through!”

Another option is to hire reliable freelancers who can produce one-off scripts of weekly content for your clients’ YouTube videos.

SEO research

Optimizing your clients’ YouTube videos for organic search is crucial to help raise their ranking in search results, making them visible to more audiences.

The downside is that SEO takes a lot of time and effort.

Your best solution? You guessed it, automation.

You can automate key SEO tasks, including the following:

• Keyword research. Use modern tools such as Google Keyword Planner to find relevant keywords in a snap. The tool lets you export and filter the list of keywords based on competition and search volume.

• Video description and tag optimization. Let your client’s YouTube video descriptions and tags shine and draw more eyeballs to their content. Leverage tools that can analyze your video descriptions and suggest improvements and better tags.

• Content idea generation. Brainstorm YouTube content ideas in a flash with tools like AnswerThePublic. It shows you the most searched terms and burning questions from the people on the internet that you can use for content creation.

You can also join Reddit or Quora to explore the latest buzz and juiciest questions from people within your client’s industry or niche.

(Must read: 12 YouTube Channel Ideas for 2024: Ultimate List)

Video editing

Another time-sucking, energy-draining part of running your clients’ YouTube channels is editing videos.

Use the robust video editing software to speed up your video editing process.

Modern video editing platforms include templates, thumbnail generators, AI prompts for creating captions and descriptions, automatic transitions, and more.

The features can do a lot of the heavy lifting for you, streamlining your video editing process so you can churn out your clients’ content faster.

You can also work with a freelance video editor through Upwork or Fiverr to get professional editing services without exerting too much time and energy.

Analytics and channel management

Analyzing and managing your clients’ YouTube content is crucial to know what’s working or needs improvement to get engagement, subscriptions, and views up.

(Must read: Are Your YouTube Shorts Not Getting Views? Here’s Why…)

But like the tasks mentioned above, managing your clients’ YouTube channels and running analytics can take a lot of time and effort.

Automation is the key via top YouTube and social media analytics tools.

The tools can track and analyze metrics such as views and engagement to help you determine your client’s content performance.

You can easily extract insights to improve your client’s YouTube content and engagement strategy to boost views, channel subscriptions, and sales.

Moderating comments

Going through all the comments on your clients’ YouTube videos is a pain.

Automate the process by enabling the platform’s built-in comment filters to hold them for review automatically and not display inappropriate comments.

The option also lets you automatically approve comments from your clients’ loyal and trusted followers.

You can also use third-party moderation tools to manage and filter video comments easily.

(Must read: How to View Your YouTube Comment History [2024])

Thumbnail testing

Use A/B or split testing tools to automate testing your clients’ YouTube video thumbnail variations.

It simplifies and streamlines testing which thumbnail variations win over your clients’ viewers and get them to watch, engage with the content, and convert into subscribers or customers.

You won’t need to test and compare thumbnail variations manually but let the testing tool do the heavy lifting for you.

(Must read: YouTube Shorts Thumbnail Size: Best Practices + Tips & How-Tos)

Potential risks and downsides to YouTube automation

While automation offers a lot of perks, it also has several downsides and risks, including the following.

Losing authenticity

Without proper management, automation can make viewer interactions robotic and inauthentic.

For example, automating comment responses is great until the replies sound repetitive and too generic, making them feel as fake as a rubber duck.

As Modus Agency Founder and CEO Rick Levine said…

“Authenticity, honesty, and personal voice underlie much of what’s successful on the web.”

Interactions that feel fake can turn off viewers and loyal followers, which is bad news for your client’s YouTube channel reputation and brand.

Potential Terms of Service violations

Automating specific actions on YouTube can potentially violate its terms of service.

It can lead to YouTube removing your client’s content or suspending their accounts.

So read up on the platform’s community guidelines and terms of service to ensure you’re not automating anything that can get your clients in trouble.

Customization limitations

Some YouTube automation tools have limited customization options, making viewer interactions awkward and stiff.

It can mess with the channel’s vibe and unique style, limiting how your clients’ audiences view and interact with the content.

Algorithm drama

YouTube’s algorithm factors in user interactions and engagement.

If automation causes low-quality or unnatural interactions, the algorithm will likely give your client’s content (including YouTube Shorts) the brush-off.

(Must read: How the YouTube Shorts Algorithm Works [2024]: w/ Tips & FAQs)
It can mess with how the algorithm ranks and shows your client’s content to more viewers, impacting views and engagement opportunities.

Important note: The video’s size and specs can also impact quality, so follow the recommended YouTube video size requirements.

Getting flagged as spam

Automation gone rogue can make your client’s comments section seem spammy.

After all, a wave of generic comments that scream “Automated!” can raise eyebrows (and red flags), causing viewers (and the algorithm) to steer clear of your client’s content.

Updating struggles

YouTube is constantly changing its policies, guidelines, and processes, which can make it hard for automation tools to keep up.

Outdated automations can lead to errors, glitches, and even potential YouTube Community Guidelines and Terms of Service violations if you don’t regularly monitor and manage them.

Stay updated on the platform’s policies, guidelines, and everything else—from the required YouTube Shorts dimensions to monetization requirements and ensure your automation tools align with them.

Security mishaps

Automating certain YouTube activities and tasks involves handing over some control to third-party tools.

The catch is that not all tools offer some level of security, which can expose your clients’ accounts and content to potential security breaches.

The best tool for YouTube automation

If you want a modern SMM platform with robust YouTube automation features, look no further than Vista Social.

The platform’s YouTube management tools for business have everything you need to streamline managing your clients’ accounts, channels, and content.

Schedule your clients’ YouTube videos to auto-post with Vista Social’s easy-to-use Publisher.

After linking your client’s YouTube account, create a new post by clicking Create > New Post.

Create your client’s post by uploading the video and adding a description (up to 2,000 characters).

Do you need to come up with descriptions and captions fast?

Use Vista Social’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Assistant (powered by ChatGPT technology) to auto-generate posts based on your client’s target audience.

You can customize the post by adding a title, category, and tags, including a first like, and enabling subscriber notifications, embedding, and Mode for kids.

Select Schedule, then Next to set the time and date to auto-publish your client’s YouTube video on their channel.

You can post the video now, add it to a queue of other scheduled posts, or save it as a draft for further review and client approval.

Use Vista Social’s Publisher to schedule content across social media platforms, including YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, Facebook Stories, and TikTok videos.

For instance, you can use the Publisher to share a YouTube video on Instagram Story automatically.

Say goodbye to manually searching for hashtags for your client’s posts with Vista Social’s AI hashtag generator.

The tool can instantly give you hashtag suggestions for YouTube Shorts and channel content, TikTok videos, and more based on the social media platform, your preferred language, topic, and keywords.

(Must read: YouTube Shorts vs. TikTok: Which One’s Better?)

Vista Social also has optimization algorithms to auto-publish your clients’ posts on optimal schedules.

This way, you won’t need to manually find the best times to post on YouTube Shorts and your clients’ channels for maximum engagement.

Other nifty Vista Social features include engagement management options, YouTube analytics and reporting, social listening, and review management tools.

YouTube Automation FAQs

Check out the frequently asked questions about YouTube automation below. 

Is YouTube automation legal?

Yes.

YouTube automation is legal, but it’s crucial to ensure that automating YouTube tasks and activities don’t violate the platform’s policies and guidelines.

For example, avoid using automation to spam, mislead viewers, and fake engagement.

Is YouTube automation worth it? 

Yes, since automating YouTube tasks and activities can streamline video editing, content publishing, content optimization, and other core tasks that lead to higher engagements, views, subscriptions, and ad revenue.

Is YouTube automation risky?

The biggest risk of YouTube automation is getting your client’s account banned.

However, this only happens if your clients use automation for suspicious and unethical activities that violate YouTube’s terms of service and community guidelines.

You should be good to go if you use automation for legitimate purposes.

Boost engagement with YouTube automation

Take your YT marketing efforts up a notch without breaking a sweat.

Use YouTube automation now to publish your videos, create reports, and engage your audience.

Vista Social offers many automation features that established agencies and long-time social media marketers use.

Create a Vista Social account today.