YouTube Live Streaming Best Practices for Pre-Recorded Content

Encoding best practices

• Resolution: pick one (1080p30 or 720p30) and stick with it across all files.
• Bitrate: 4500–6000 kbps for 1080p, 2500–4000 kbps for 720p.
• Keyframes: every 2 seconds. GOP = fps × 2.
• Audio: AAC-LC stereo, 160 kbps, normalized to -14 LUFS.
• Color: BT.709 limited range. Avoid HDR for 24/7 — bandwidth waste.

Title, description & tags

• Front-load the primary keyword in your title.
• Write a 200–400 word description with 2–3 internal links (your other videos, your website).
• Use 5–10 specific tags. Skip irrelevant high-volume terms.
• Include timestamps if your loop has named segments.

Thumbnail strategy

• High contrast, readable at 120px wide.
• One focal subject. Avoid clutter.
• Consistent typography across thumbnails to build brand.
• Don't use copyrighted character art unless licensed.

Chat & moderation

• Enable slow mode (3–5 seconds) to reduce spam.
• Use AutoMod on the strictest setting; review held messages daily.
• Recruit 2–3 volunteer mods covering different time zones.
• Pin a welcome message with playlist info and house rules.

What to track

• Concurrent viewers by hour of day → schedule new playlists at peak times.
• Average view duration → if dropping, refresh playlist order or visuals.
• Live-shelf impressions → indicator of how often YouTube features your stream.
• Chat activity per hour → proxy for engagement quality.