YouTube Comments Setup Guide

BEFORE YOU START

What you need

• A Google account that owns or manages the YouTube channel
• A Google Cloud project with YouTube Data API v3 enabled
• Permission to manage Integrations in SEROS

CONNECTION STEPS

Connect YouTube Comments, one click at a time

Complete each small action in order. Do not move to the next step until the expected result matches what you see.

1. 01
   Google Cloud ConsoleOpen Google Cloud Console

   Create or select a Google Cloud project

   Use a project owned by your company, not a temporary personal project that may later be deleted.

   • Open Google Cloud Console and sign in with the Google account that manages company integrations.
   • Open the project selector at the top of the page.
   • Choose an existing integration project or select New project.
   • Give a new project a clear name such as “SEROS YouTube Integration” and select Create.

   Expected resultThe correct Google Cloud project name appears in the top bar.

2. 02
   Google Cloud ConsoleOpen the YouTube API page

   Enable YouTube Data API v3

   This API lets SEROS read new comments from videos owned by the authorized channel and post replies.

   • Open APIs & Services, then Library.
   • Search for YouTube Data API v3.
   • Open the result published by Google.
   • Select Enable and wait until the API overview page opens.

   Expected resultThe YouTube Data API v3 page shows API enabled.

3. 03
   Google Auth PlatformOpen Google Auth Platform

   Prepare the OAuth consent screen

   Google uses this screen when the channel owner authorizes comment access.

   • Open Google Auth Platform, then Branding, and enter the app name and support email if requested.
   • Open Audience and choose Internal for one Google Workspace organization, or External for other Google accounts.
   • If the app is in Testing, add the YouTube channel owner's Google account as a test user.
   • Open Data Access and add the scope https://www.googleapis.com/auth/youtube.force-ssl.
   • Before live use, publish the app to Production and complete any verification Google requests; authorization by an External test user expires after seven days.

   Expected resultThe channel owner's Google account is allowed to authorize the YouTube scope.

4. 04
   Google Auth PlatformOpen OAuth Clients

   Create the OAuth client

   The OAuth Playground will use this client once to create the offline refresh token.

   • Open Clients and select Create client.
   • Choose Web application and enter a name such as “SEROS YouTube”.
   • Under Authorized redirect URIs, add https://developers.google.com/oauthplayground.
   • Select Create, then immediately copy the Client ID and Client secret to a secure temporary note.

   Expected resultYou have both the Google OAuth client ID and client secret.

5. 05
   Google OAuth 2.0 PlaygroundOpen OAuth 2.0 Playground

   Enter your OAuth client

   Using your own client makes the generated refresh token work with the same ID and secret you will save in SEROS.

   • Open OAuth 2.0 Playground.
   • Select the gear icon in the upper-right corner.
   • Enable Use your own OAuth credentials.
   • Paste the Client ID and Client secret into their matching fields, then close the settings panel.

   Expected resultOAuth Playground is configured to use your Google OAuth client.

6. 06
   Google OAuth 2.0 Playground

   Authorize the YouTube channel owner

   Choose the Google account that owns or manages the YouTube channel whose comments should enter SEROS.

   • In Step 1, find YouTube Data API v3 and select https://www.googleapis.com/auth/youtube.force-ssl.
   • Select Authorize APIs.
   • Sign in with the YouTube channel owner's Google account and approve access.
   • If Google asks you to choose a channel identity, select the intended brand channel.

   Expected resultOAuth Playground returns to Step 2 with an authorization code.

7. 07
   Google OAuth 2.0 PlaygroundGoogle's offline-access guide

   Exchange the code and copy the refresh token

   The access token is temporary. SEROS needs the refresh token shown after the exchange.

   • Select Exchange authorization code for tokens.
   • Find Refresh token in the response panel.
   • Copy the entire refresh token value.
   • Do not copy the Access token and do not share either token in messages or tickets.

   Expected resultYou have the offline YouTube refresh token ready for SEROS.

8. 08
   SEROS

   Paste the three Google values

   Use values from the same OAuth client and authorization flow. Mixing values from different projects causes the test to fail.

   • Open SEROS, select Integrations, and find YouTube Comments.
   • Select Connect and enter a clear Connection name.
   • Paste the Client ID into Google OAuth client ID.
   • Paste the Client secret and refresh token into their matching password fields, then select Save securely.

   Expected resultSEROS creates a Pending YouTube Comments connection.

9. 09
   SEROS + YouTube

   Test, activate, and verify a comment

   SEROS verifies the OAuth token and channel, then polls YouTube for new comments because YouTube does not provide comment webhooks.

   • Close Finish setup, select Test, and confirm the expected YouTube channel name.
   • Select Activate and wait for Active status.
   • From another Google account, add a new comment to a public video owned by the connected channel.
   • Open SEROS Unified Inbox, reply to the comment, and confirm the reply appears on YouTube.

   Expected resultA new YouTube comment and its SEROS reply are visible in the same conversation.

FINAL CHECK

Verify before your team relies on it

• SEROS identifies the intended YouTube channel
• The connection status is Active
• A new owned-video comment appears in the Unified Inbox
• A SEROS reply appears as a YouTube comment reply

IMPORTANT NOTES

Know the provider rules