diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2fe1e28..6524aa5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -27,3 +27,13 @@ Feedr strives for constant improvement, so here's what will be implemented
 * Embed Links
 * Attach Files
 * Add Reactions
+
+# Changelog
+## 1.1.0
+* Replies are no longer deferred
+* Messages can now be sent in Announcement channels [1.0.3]
+* Better checking for valid YouTube channel IDs
+* Channels with no uploads will be tracked now
+
+## 1.0.0
+* Initial release
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index d0bf25c..cd1ebe2 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "videonotifier",
-  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "version": "1.1.0",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "videonotifier",
-      "version": "1.0.0",
+      "version": "1.1.0",
       "dependencies": {
         "discord-api-types": "^0.37.93",
         "discord.js": "^14.15.3",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index faa9e4b..6151a77 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "name": "videonotifier",
   "module": "src/index.ts",
   "type": "module",
-  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "version": "1.1.0",
   "devDependencies": {
     "@types/bun": "1.1.6"
   },
diff --git a/src/commands.ts b/src/commands.ts
index e056bd5..0af7120 100644
--- a/src/commands.ts
+++ b/src/commands.ts
@@ -148,10 +148,14 @@ const commands: Record<string, Command> = {
 			const discordChannelId = interaction.options.get('updates_channel')?.value as string;
 			const guildId = interaction.guildId;
 
-			// Deferring the reply is not the best practice,
-			// but in case the network/database is slow, it's better to defer the reply
-			// so we don't get a timeout error
-			await interaction.deferReply();
+			// Check that the channel ID is in a valid format
+			if (youtubeChannelId.length != 24 || !youtubeChannelId.startsWith('UC')) {
+				await interaction.reply({
+					ephemeral: true,
+					content: 'Invalid YouTube channel ID format!',
+				});
+				return;
+			}
 
 			// DMs are currently not supported, so throw back an error
 			if (!guildId || interaction.channel?.isDMBased()) {
@@ -173,24 +177,28 @@ const commands: Record<string, Command> = {
 
 			// Check if the bot has the required permissions for the target channel
 			const targetChannel = await client.channels.fetch(discordChannelId);
-			if (targetChannel && targetChannel.type === ChannelType.GuildText) {
+			if (targetChannel && (targetChannel.type === ChannelType.GuildText || targetChannel.type === ChannelType.GuildAnnouncement)) {
+				const requiredPermissions = [
+					{ flag: PermissionFlagsBits.ViewChannel, name: 'View Channel' },
+					{ flag: PermissionFlagsBits.SendMessages, name: 'Send Messages' },
+					{ flag: PermissionFlagsBits.SendMessagesInThreads, name: 'Send Messages in Threads' },
+					{ flag: PermissionFlagsBits.EmbedLinks, name: 'Embed Links' },
+					{ flag: PermissionFlagsBits.AttachFiles, name: 'Attach Files' },
+					{ flag: PermissionFlagsBits.AddReactions, name: 'Add Reactions' }
+				];
 				const botPermissions = targetChannel.permissionsFor(client.user?.id as unknown as GuildMember);
-				if (
-					!botPermissions?.has(PermissionFlagsBits.ViewChannel) ||
-					!botPermissions?.has(PermissionFlagsBits.SendMessages) ||
-					!botPermissions?.has(PermissionFlagsBits.SendMessagesInThreads) ||
-					!botPermissions?.has(PermissionFlagsBits.EmbedLinks) ||
-					!botPermissions?.has(PermissionFlagsBits.AttachFiles) ||
-					!botPermissions?.has(PermissionFlagsBits.AddReactions)
-				) {
-					await interaction.followUp({
+				const missingPermissions = requiredPermissions
+					.filter(permission => !botPermissions?.has(permission.flag))
+					.map(permission => permission.name);
+				if (missingPermissions.length > 0) {
+					await interaction.reply({
 						ephemeral: true,
-						content: 'The bot does not have the required permissions for the target channel!',
+						content: `The bot does not have the required permissions for the target channel! Missing permissions: ${missingPermissions.join(', ')}`,
 					});
 					return;
 				}
 			} else {
-				await interaction.followUp({
+				await interaction.reply({
 					ephemeral: true,
 					content: 'The target channel is not a text channel!',
 				});
@@ -199,16 +207,16 @@ const commands: Record<string, Command> = {
 
 			// Check if the channel is valid
 			if (!await checkIfChannelIdIsValid(youtubeChannelId)) {
-				await interaction.followUp({
+				await interaction.reply({
 					ephemeral: true,
-					content: 'Invalid YouTube channel ID!',
+					content: 'That channel doesn\'t exist!',
 				});
 				return;
 			}
 
 			// Check if the channel is already being tracked in the guild
 			if (await checkIfGuildIsTrackingChannelAlready(youtubeChannelId, guildId)) {
-				await interaction.followUp({
+				await interaction.reply({
 					ephemeral: true,
 					content: 'This channel is already being tracked!',
 				});
@@ -218,7 +226,7 @@ const commands: Record<string, Command> = {
 			// Check if the channel is already being tracked globally
 			if (!await checkIfChannelIsAlreadyTracked(youtubeChannelId)) {
 				if (!await addNewChannelToTrack(youtubeChannelId)) {
-					await interaction.followUp({
+					await interaction.reply({
 						ephemeral: true,
 						content: 'An error occurred while trying to add the channel to track! This is a new channel being tracked globally, please report this error!',
 					});
@@ -229,15 +237,15 @@ const commands: Record<string, Command> = {
 			// Add the guild to the database
 			if (await addNewGuildToTrackChannel(guildId, youtubeChannelId, discordChannelId, interaction.options.get('role')?.value as string ?? null)) {
 				const channelIdInfo = await client.channels.fetch(discordChannelId);
-				if (channelIdInfo && channelIdInfo.type === ChannelType.GuildText) {
+				if (channelIdInfo && (channelIdInfo.type === ChannelType.GuildText || channelIdInfo.type === ChannelType.GuildAnnouncement)) {
 					const youtubeChannelInfo = await getChannelDetails(youtubeChannelId)
 
-					await interaction.followUp({
+					await interaction.reply({
 						ephemeral: true,
 						content: `Started tracking the channel ${youtubeChannelInfo?.channelName ?? youtubeChannelId} in ${channelIdInfo.name}!`,
 					});
 				} else {
-					await interaction.followUp({
+					await interaction.reply({
 						ephemeral: true,
 						content: 'The channel to send updates to is not a text channel! Please make sure to set a text channel!',
 					});
diff --git a/src/database.ts b/src/database.ts
index 608060e..d0203fa 100644
--- a/src/database.ts
+++ b/src/database.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ export async function initTables(): Promise<boolean> {
 	const createYouTubeTable = `
 		CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS youtube (
 			youtube_channel_id VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,
-			latest_video_id VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL UNIQUE
+			latest_video_id VARCHAR(255) UNIQUE
 		);
 	`;
 	const createDiscordTable = `
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ export async function addNewChannelToTrack(channelId: string) {
 	}
 
 	const data = await res.json();
-	const videoId = data.items[0].snippet.thumbnails.default.url.split('/')[4];
+	const videoId = data.items?.[0]?.snippet?.thumbnails?.default?.url?.split('/')[4] || null;
 
 	const query = `INSERT INTO youtube (youtube_channel_id, latest_video_id) VALUES (?, ?)`;
 	return new Promise<boolean>((resolve, reject) =>
diff --git a/src/utils/checkIfChannelIdIsValid.ts b/src/utils/checkIfChannelIdIsValid.ts
index 272780f..bf808a8 100644
--- a/src/utils/checkIfChannelIdIsValid.ts
+++ b/src/utils/checkIfChannelIdIsValid.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { env } from "../config"
 
 export default async function checkIfChannelIdIsValid(channelId: string) {
-	const res = await fetch(`https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3/channels?part=snippet&id=${channelId}&key=${env.youtubeApiKey}`)
-	return res.ok
+	const res = await fetch(`https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3/channels?part=snippet&id=${channelId}&key=${env.youtubeApiKey}`);
+	const data = await res.json();
+	return data.items !== undefined && data.items.length > 0;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/utils/fetchLatestUploads.ts b/src/utils/fetchLatestUploads.ts
index 8dc18ca..a490a9e 100644
--- a/src/utils/fetchLatestUploads.ts
+++ b/src/utils/fetchLatestUploads.ts
@@ -63,10 +63,10 @@ export default async function fetchLatestUploads() {
 						}
 
 						await (channelObj as TextChannel).send({
-							content: guild.guild_ping_role && channelInfo ? `<@&${guild.guild_ping_role}> New video uploaded for ${channelInfo?.channelName}! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=${videoId}` : 
+							content: guild.guild_ping_role && channelInfo ? `<@&${guild.guild_ping_role}> New video uploaded for ${channelInfo?.channelName}! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=${videoId}` :
 								guild.guild_ping_role ? `<@&${guild.guild_ping_role}> New video uploaded! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=${videoId}` :
-								channelInfo ? `New video uploaded for ${channelInfo.channelName}! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=${videoId}` :
-								`New video uploaded! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=${videoId}`
+									channelInfo ? `New video uploaded for ${channelInfo.channelName}! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=${videoId}` :
+										`New video uploaded! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=${videoId}`
 						});
 					} catch (error) {
 						console.error("Error fetching or sending message to channel in fetchLatestUploads:", error);