Facebook and YouTube are two of the most popular social media platforms, with billions of users between them. Joining and using both platforms can help you connect with friends and family, share photos and videos, follow creators and artists you like, and stay up to date on news and current events.
While signing up for Facebook and YouTube accounts is free and straightforward, optimizing your profiles and understanding all the features on each platform does take some time and effort. This article will walk through the basic process for joining Facebook and YouTube, setting up your accounts, customizing your profiles, and taking advantage of key features on each platform.
Joining Facebook
Here are the steps for signing up for a new Facebook account:
Step 1: Go to facebook.com
Navigate to the Facebook website by typing facebook.com into your browser’s address bar and hitting enter. The Facebook homepage will load.
Step 2: Click Create New Account
On the homepage, you should see boxes prompting you to log in or sign up. Click on the “Create New Account” button to begin setting up your profile.
Step 3: Enter your information
Facebook will ask you for your first and last name, along with either your mobile number or email address. Mobile numbers need to be confirmed via a code sent through text, while email addresses will send a confirmation link.
Step 4: Agree to Terms and Conditions
Review and agree to Facebook’s Terms of Service. These outline what types of content and behaviors are allowed on the platform. You can also opt into additional data collection by Facebook for advertising purposes.
Step 5: Set your password
Choose a secure password that you don’t use on other websites. This will help keep your account more secure.
Step 6: Confirm your account
Once you’ve entered your name, contact info, agreed to the terms, and chosen a password, Facebook will send a 6-digit confirmation code. Enter this code to confirm your account setup.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Go to facebook.com |
| 2 | Click Create New Account |
| 3 | Enter your information |
| 4 | Agree to Terms and Conditions |
| 5 | Set your password |
| 6 | Confirm your account |
Customizing Your Facebook Profile
Once your account is created, you can customize your profile by adding a profile picture, cover photo, biographical info, and connecting with friends.
Add a Profile Picture
Your profile picture appears throughout Facebook and helps friends recognize your account. Upload a photo of yourself or another image you like. You can update this anytime.
Add a Cover Photo
The cover photo appears at the top of your profile. It’s a horizontal banner image that can showcase a favorite photo or your interests.
Fill Out Your Bio
In the About section, you can share details like where you live, where you work or go to school, relationship status, and more. Add as much or as little as you like.
Find Friends
Facebook makes it easy to find people you know. In the Friends section, you can search names and send connection requests. Facebook may also suggest friends based on contacts, networks, locations, etc.
Key Features to Check Out
Once your profile is set up, dive into Facebook’s many features:
News Feed
This is the main page you’ll see when you log in. It shows recent posts from friends, groups, events, ads, and more. Customize the feed to focus on what matters most.
Groups
Join groups around specific topics and communities. Groups allow you to connect with people worldwide who share similar interests.
Events
Create and find local events, or browse events from across the globe. Use Facebook events to organize gatherings, discover things happening in your area, or plan future activities.
Pages
Follow your favorite businesses, artists, organizations, influencers, and more through their public Facebook pages. Like and interact with pages to see more of their content.
Messenger
Facebook’s instant messaging app allows you to text, chat, call, and video chat with friends and connections on Facebook.
Photos
Post photos and videos to share with friends. Customize privacy settings for each post. Explore the Photos page to browse all your past uploads.
Videos
Upload or go live with videos right from Facebook. Add effects, filters, and more. View all your current and past videos in the Videos section.
Stories
Share photo and video stories that disappear after 24 hours. Add creative elements with stickers, effects, text, and more.
Joining YouTube
Like Facebook, joining YouTube just takes a few steps:
Step 1: Go to youtube.com
Open the YouTube website or mobile app. You can access YouTube from either.
Step 2: Click Sign Up
Find the Sign Up link near the top right of the page, enter your information and confirm your account.
Step 3: Choose a Channel Name
Your channel name will be the customized URL for your YouTube account. Pick something unique and memorable.
Step 4: Upload a Photo and Channel Art
Personalize your channel by adding a profile picture and channel art. The art is the banner that appears across the top of your channel page.
Step 5: Fill out Basic Info
Enhance your channel by sharing some background details like location, links, description, etc. This helps viewers understand what your channel is about.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Go to youtube.com |
| 2 | Click Sign Up |
| 3 | Choose a Channel Name |
| 4 | Upload a Photo and Channel Art |
| 5 | Fill out Basic Info |
Key YouTube Features to Use
Once you’re all signed up, check out these awesome YouTube features:
Homepage Recommendations
The homepage will start recommending videos and channels for you based on past views. This helps you discover new content you’ll like.
Subscriptions
Subscribe to channels you want to follow. This lets you stay updated whenever they post new videos. Your subscriptions feed makes it easy to see the latest content.
Liked Videos
Click the like button on videos to add them to your Liked playlist. You can find all your liked videos in one place.
Watch Later
If you don’t have time to watch a full video now, click Add to Watch Later to easily come back to it when you have more time.
Playlists
Organize videos into custom playlists around topics, events, projects, and more. Playlists help you save and categorize videos.
Comments
Engage with creators and other viewers by commenting on videos. Join in discussions and share your reactions.
Live Chat
For live premieres and streams, live chat lets you chat in real-time with the hosts and other viewers.
YouTube Studio
This is your creator workspace if you want to upload your own videos. It provides analytics, editing tools, community options, and more.
Cross-Platform Tips
Here are some tips for getting the most out of using both Facebook and YouTube:
Link Accounts
Link your YouTube channel to your Facebook page so new video uploads automatically post to Facebook. This helps cross-promote your content.
Embed Videos
Embed YouTube videos into your Facebook posts and vice versa to engage followers across platforms.
Cross-Promote
Promote your Facebook page and events on YouTube and promote your YouTube channel and videos on Facebook to reach more people.
Repurpose Content
Turn written Facebook posts into YouTube videos and vice versa. Adapt your content to utilize the strengths of each platform.
Use Similar Profile Images
Having consistent profile photos and header/banner images across both platforms helps build your brand.
Optimize Hashtags
Include relevant hashtags on YouTube descriptions and Facebook posts to increase discoverability and tap into larger conversations.
Conclusion
Joining both Facebook and YouTube is easy, fast, and free. Setting up your profiles and customizing your presence on each platform helps you maximize their many features for connecting with friends, sharing content, and engaging with online communities.
Optimizing and linking your Facebook and YouTube accounts, promoting across platforms, and repurposing content can help expand your reach and get the most value from each platform.
With over a billion users each, Facebook and YouTube offer unmatched opportunities for staying in touch and exploring content based on your unique interests. Engage thoughtfully, find connections and communities that inspire you, and have fun with the many creative options on both platforms.