YouTube Community Posts: Engage Your Audience (2026)

YouTube Community Posts let you engage with subscribers between video uploads through text, images, polls, and video shares. Available to channels with 500+ subscribers, community posts appear in subscribers' feeds and on your channel's Community tab. Use them to announce videos, gather feedback, share behind-the-scenes content, and maintain audience connection.

Key Takeaways

• Community Posts require 500+ subscribers (lowered from 1,000)
• Post types: Text, Images, Polls, GIFs, Video shares, Quizzes
• Posts appear in Home feed, Subscriptions, and Community tab
• Best posting frequency: 2-4 posts per week
• Polls get highest engagement; use them to involve your audience
• Schedule posts for optimal times using YouTube Studio

What Are YouTube Community Posts?

Community Post Types

Where Posts Appear

• Community Tab: Your channel's dedicated post section
• Home Feed: Mixed with videos for subscribers
• Subscriptions Feed: Between video recommendations
• Notifications: If subscribers have bells enabled

Requirements

How to Create Community Posts

From Desktop (YouTube Studio)

• Text: Type your message
• Image: Upload photo/graphic
• Poll: Add question and options
• GIF: Search or upload GIF
• Video: Select from your videos
• Quiz: Add question with correct answer

From Mobile (YouTube App)

Community Post Types Explained

Text Posts

Best uses:

• Quick channel updates
• Questions to audience
• Thoughts/opinions
• Announcements

Tips:

• Keep under 500 characters
• Ask engaging questions
• Include call to action
• Use emojis for visual interest

Example:

What video should I make next? 🎬

A) Deep dive into [Topic A]

B) Tutorial on [Topic B]

C) Comparison of [Topic C]

Let me know in the comments! 👇

Image Posts

Best uses:

• Behind-the-scenes photos
• Infographics
• Memes related to your niche
• Announcements with graphics
• Personal updates

Tips:

• Use high-quality images
• Add text overlay if needed
• Match your brand style
• Optimal size: 1200×675 pixels (16:9)

Poll Posts

Best uses:

• Content decisions (what to make next)
• Opinion gathering
• Fun engagement
• Market research

Tips:

• Keep options clear and distinct
• Limit to 4 options when possible
• Share results in follow-up
• Use for genuine decision-making

Example:

Poll: When do you watch YouTube most?

• Morning (6am-12pm)

• Afternoon (12pm-5pm)

• Evening (5pm-9pm)

• Night (9pm+)

GIF Posts

Best uses:

• Reactions to news/events
• Celebration of milestones
• Light entertainment
• Relatable content

Tips:

• Use relevant GIFs
• Add context with text
• Don't overuse (can feel spammy)
• Match your brand personality

Video Share Posts

Best uses:

• Promote older evergreen videos
• Highlight relevant past content
• Connect to current events
• Resurface underperforming videos

Tips:

• Add context about why you're sharing
• Link to topics in the news
• Don't share too frequently
• Focus on evergreen content

Quiz Posts

Best uses:

• Educational channels
• Trivia engagement
• Testing audience knowledge
• Fun interaction

Tips:

• Make questions relevant to your content
• Include explanation with answer
• Use to tease upcoming content
• Keep difficulty appropriate

Community Post Strategy

Posting Frequency

Content Mix

Recommended balance:

• 30% Engagement (polls, questions)
• 30% Value (tips, behind-scenes)
• 20% Promotion (videos, announcements)
• 20% Fun (GIFs, memes, relatable content)

Best Times to Post

Post Ideas by Channel Type

Gaming:

• Game update reactions
• What game should I play polls
• Gaming memes/GIFs
• Stream announcements

Education:

• Quick tips as images
• Quiz questions
• Topic polls
• Resource sharing

Lifestyle/Vlog:

• Behind-the-scenes photos
• Daily life updates
• Opinion polls
• Q&A prompts

Tech:

• Product launch reactions
• Tech news commentary
• What to review polls
• Quick tips

Increasing Post Engagement

Writing Engaging Posts

Do:

• Ask questions
• Use emojis strategically
• Keep it conversational
• Include calls to action
• Share genuine thoughts

Don't:

• Be overly promotional
• Post without context
• Ignore comments
• Use clickbait
• Post too frequently

Engaging with Responses

Using Polls Effectively

High-engagement poll topics:

• Content decisions (let audience choose)
• Opinions on trending topics
• "This or That" choices
• Predictions

Poll best practices:

• Share poll results in videos
• Follow through on winning choices
• Use results to shape content
• Thank voters for participating

Scheduling Community Posts

How to Schedule

Desktop:

1. 1.Create your post
2. 2.Click dropdown arrow next to "Post"
3. 3.Select "Schedule"
4. 4.Choose date and time
5. 5.Click "Schedule"

Scheduling Strategy

Benefits:

• Post at optimal times
• Maintain consistency
• Batch content creation
• Plan around video uploads

Example Weekly Schedule:

• Monday: Poll (content ideas)
• Wednesday: Image (behind-scenes)
• Friday: Video share (relevant to weekend)
• Sunday: GIF/fun content

Community Posts Analytics

Checking Performance

Where to find:

YouTube Studio → Analytics → Content → Posts

Metrics to Track

Improving Based on Data

If posts underperform:

• Try different post types
• Adjust posting times
• Make posts more engaging
• Add more visuals
• Ask direct questions

Community Post Checklist:

1. 1.✅ Unlock at 500 subscribers
2. 2.✅ Post 2-4 times per week
3. 3.✅ Mix post types (polls, images, text)
4. 4.✅ Time posts for audience activity
5. 5.✅ Engage with comments on posts
6. 6.✅ Use polls for real decisions
7. 7.✅ Track analytics and optimize

The Community tab is an often-underused feature. Creators who use it well build stronger communities and see better video performance when they do upload.

Related Resources:

• YouTube Studio Complete Guide
• How to Grow YouTube Subscribers
• YouTube Analytics for Beginners