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What is a faceless YouTube channel, and how do you start one?

Learn what faceless YouTube channels are, how to start one, and if they’re right for your content.

Alec Chillingworth

• 8 min read
Mask behind a leaf

Faceless YouTube channels might seem like a novel idea, but they’ve become in-demand over the past few years. Today, we’ll dig into the reasons behind their popularity, and if they’re right for your content. 

We’ll discuss:

What is a faceless YouTube channel? 

A faceless YouTube channel publishes content with no “face” behind it. There’s no regular host or famous presenter — the content creator never appears on screen, staying anonymous. The visual content is typically padded out with animation or stock footage.

There are two main types of faceless YouTube video: traditional and automated. 

Glass on a beach towel

Traditional faceless videos 

Traditional faceless YouTube videos are a more literal take on the word “faceless.” A host could be cooking, doing DIY, or walking through some software from a first-person point of view, so you never see their face. 

They might narrate as usual, and you’d probably feel their personality shine through. Those publishing this kind of faceless content usually do so because they’re camera-shy, or they just don’t want their face splashed across the internet. 

Automated faceless videos

Automated faceless YouTube videos are the more common example nowadays. They’re usually documentary-style, filled with stock footage and images. 

The host isn’t on screen, and if there’s a voiceover, it may be AI-generated — the host could also appear as a cartoon or digital avatar, rather than their “real” self. These videos are often produced using YouTube automation, which saves time.

When folks discuss faceless YouTube channels, they’re more likely talking about automated than traditional. For that reason, this article will lean more on documentary-style, automated faceless videos. 

Snowdrops coming from a kiwi

What is YouTube automation?

YouTube automation is a channel management model through which a channel’s daily tasks and processes are outsourced, rather than completed in-house.

This gives the channel owner time to focus on wider concepts like strategy, SEO, and monetization. They’ll either hire freelancers to carry out the tasks mentioned above, or have a permanent team ready to go.

Channel owners automating their processes favor faceless YouTube channels, as the lack of a face gives them one less thing to worry about. 

One of the most popular faceless YouTube channels is Lofi Girl. With around 15 million subscribers, the channel supports a 24/7 live feed filled with lo-fi beats — you’ll have probably seen a variation of this “Beats to relax/study to” video. 

Lofi Girl’s channel works for several reasons. It’s consistent, both in the sheer quantity of content and the visual presentation of the cartoon avatar. 

It also provides a moderated, high-quality chat in which viewers hang out, making it feel more like a “real” creator’s community. 

Finally, the music is always correctly licensed and broadcast live, lending the channel an authentic, ad-free feel when experienced live. This all results in a smooth, high-performing channel which can collaborate with everyone from LEGO to Renault without skipping a beat.

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Are there any downsides to faceless YouTube channels?

Faceless YouTube channels sound like a blast, but they don’t come without baggage. Here are a few downsides you could experience: 

  • Less chance to make a connection: Some viewers feel that the lack of a specific host or presenter leaves the content lacking personality. 
  • Lack of original material: Viewers may grow tired of stock images and footage, or think that the voiceover’s not spicy enough to prop up the visuals. 
  • Copyright issues: If the content you source isn’t properly licensed, your faceless YouTube video could be muted, demonetized, or even removed.

If you like the idea of faceless YouTube content but don’t want to compromise on quality, we’ve got your back there, too. Epidemic Sound’s Voices is an AI-powered voiceover tool that enables creators to craft instant voiceovers in a way that puts humans front and center.

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Choose from 20 world-class voice artists. Fine-tune aspects like language, speed, and breaks. Create voiceovers directly in your editing software with our Adobe and DaVinci Studio Resolve plugins, just like Epidemic Sound’s music and sound effects.

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Faceless YouTube channel monetization: Does it work?

Do faceless YouTube channels make money? Yep — it works like regular YouTube monetization. As long as your channel and the content you create meet the YouTube Partner Program requirements, you should be fine. 

However, as we mentioned earlier, faceless YouTube channels may suffer from the lack of a “real” host. A recognizable face can make the difference between a click or a swipe — try upping your thumbnail game to hook potential viewers. 

Beyond YouTube’s official monetization methods, you could always branch out into third-party methods like affiliate marketing, merch, and sponsorship.

Vinyl records and plates

How to start a faceless YouTube channel

Interested in starting a faceless YouTube channel? We’ve broken the process down into four bite-sized chunks.

1. Find your niche

Finding faceless YouTube niches can be tricky, but so are unique ideas for “regular” YouTube content. If you’re creating content to gain traffic and make money, it’s worth researching topics with a higher RPM. 

This means revenue per mille, which calculates how much a YouTuber makes per 1,000 ad-supported video views. A niche’s RPM differs based on everything from the topic to the intended audience. Content designed for US viewers may command a stronger RPM, for example, as US advertisers generally pay more for ads compared to other countries. 

From there, think about the type of content you’d like to create. Here are just a few faceless YouTube channel ideas to mull over:

  • Documentaries and explainers: Mainly using stock footage and imagery, you can weave a compelling narrative without splurging on footage. 
  • Reviews and breakdowns: Books, movies, games, concerts — whatever you want. As long as you offer something fresh rather than a basic summary, this space is always looking for new voices.
  • ASMR: People can’t get enough of ASMR. If that’s your thing, a faceless YouTube channel could go down a storm — pairing suitable visuals with your ASMR audio makes the experience even more effective. 
  • Gameplay walkthroughs: Plenty of streamers show their faces alongside gameplay walkthroughs nowadays, but it doesn’t mean they have to. As long as you have a unique take, it’s worth looking into. 
  • Data breakdowns: Economics, newsworthy trends, viewing habits — visualizations of this stuff can be compelling when paired with a strong voiceover. 
  • Compilations: Faceless accounts like FailArmy are true masters in this field, literally making a living from other people’s misfortune. It’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it. 

These format and genre niches are just the tip of the iceberg, though. Once you’ve found a niche, it’s time to tool up. 

2. Consider SEO tools

Your topic niche is your core offering, your elevator pitch. Next, you’ll need to create a keyword cluster from which you can draw ideas. Take your initial, short-tail keyword — “fail compilation,” for example — and hunker down into more specific keywords and video titles. Perhaps “fail compilation dogs.” 

Doing this will help you understand how YouTube SEO works, and where the best opportunities lie. Tools like Ahrefs and Keyword Tool will help you map keywords and identify untapped niches. 

3. Research the competition 

Even though the most successful faceless YouTube channels don’t have a “face,” they do have a formula. Study their thumbnails, the way they structure their content, how they present it visually. What works, and equally, what doesn’t work?

Belt and high-heeel shoe

This might seem like a huge task, but it serves a purpose. Gaining an informed, balanced insight into your competitors’ content helps you make better decisions when creating your own niche content.

You’ll know what drives engagement, which thumbnails feel too clickbaity, how to build a killer intro — it’s all grist to the mill. As long as you don’t copy other channels, their influence can only make your content stronger. 

4. Create your first video, then experiment

Once you have everything in place, it’s time to put your well-laid plans into action. Create your first faceless YouTube video, edit it like a pro, take extra care with that voiceover, and hit publish. Use YouTube Analytics to measure how well it performs — has it done better than expected, or is there space to improve? 

Usually, it’s the latter. The most successful faceless YouTube channels have refined their output into a streamlined, tight process. If you don’t do massive numbers the first time round, there's no shame in going back to the drawing board, crunching the numbers, and trying something different. After some fine-tuning and experimentation, you should find a rhythm and process that suits you. 

Ice cream on a banana

Is it worth running a faceless YouTube channel? 

There are so many faceless channels on YouTube, and the views don’t lie. If your content is driven by data, doesn’t require a recognizable host, or focuses on lists and rankings, going faceless could make sense. 

But look at the most-subscribed and -viewed YouTube channels for a second. They put the face, the character of the content, at the forefront. Everything from kids’ edutainment channels to MrBeast and Stokes Twins, Indian mega-corps to hyped-up US wrestling — it’s high-quality, entertaining, and relatable. If they were faceless, they’d lose some of that. 

Naturally, there’s no harm in researching faceless YouTube channels and seeing if it could benefit your content. But once you veer into practices like YouTube automation, you run the risk of sacrificing quality control for efficiency. 

Whether your content’s faceless or not, you’ll likely need music. Don’t settle for second-best. Try Epidemic Sound. 

Our catalog is high-quality, affordable, and safe. An Epidemic Sound subscription goes beyond royalty-free music, removing the headache of licensing and freeing you up to do what you do best. 

You can enjoy the safety of our license hand-in-hand with our catalog of 50,000 tracks, covering just about every genre you can think of. You’ll also gain unlimited access to our advanced search functions — finding the right sound’s never been easier. 

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