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How to Add Social Media Links to YouTube: A Pro’s Guide

Want to seamlessly connect your YouTube audience with your other online havens? It’s easier than you think. You can add social media links directly to your YouTube banner and video descriptions, providing a quick and convenient way for viewers to follow you on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter (X), LinkedIn, and more. This enhances your brand visibility and encourages cross-platform engagement, ultimately growing your overall online presence. Let’s dive into the exact steps and some crucial tips for making the most of this powerful feature.

Adding Social Media Links to Your YouTube Banner

This is where your links will be most prominent, visible on your channel’s header image across all devices. Follow these steps meticulously:

Log in to YouTube Studio: Navigate to studio.youtube.com and sign in with your YouTube account credentials.
Access Customization: On the left-hand sidebar, find and click on “Customization“. This is where the magic happens for branding your channel.
Head to Basic Info: Within the Customization section, select the “Basic Info” tab. This tab holds all the information about your channel, including the crucial link settings.
Find the “Links” Section: Scroll down until you see the “Links” section. This is where you’ll add and manage your social media links.
Add Your Links: Click on the “Add Link” button. A new field will appear where you’ll enter two things:
- Link Title: This is the text that will appear above the icon for your social media platform on your banner. For example, “Instagram,” “Facebook,” or “My Website.” Use clear and concise titles.
- URL: This is the actual web address (URL) of your social media profile or website. Ensure you copy and paste the correct URL to avoid sending viewers to the wrong place.
Reorder Your Links (Optional): You can drag and drop the links to change their order of appearance on your banner. Consider prioritizing your most important platforms or the ones where you’re most active.
Choose Link Display Options: Under the “Links” section, you’ll see “Links on banner.” Use the dropdown menu to choose how many of your links will be displayed on your banner. You can choose to display no links, the first link, or up to five links. Experiment to find what works best for your banner design and visibility.
Publish Your Changes: Once you’ve added all your links and arranged them to your liking, click the “Publish” button in the top right corner of the screen. This saves your changes and makes them live on your YouTube channel.
Verify Your Links: After publishing, go to your YouTube channel page and check that the links appear correctly on your banner. Click on each link to ensure they lead to the correct social media profiles.

Adding Social Media Links to Your Video Descriptions

While banner links are great for overall channel presence, including links in your video descriptions is vital for directing viewers to specific promotions or related content.

Edit Your Video: Go to YouTube Studio and select “Content” from the left-hand menu. Find the video you want to edit and click on the pencil icon (“Details”).
Access the Description Box: In the video details page, locate the “Description” box. This is where you’ll add the text that appears below your video.
Include Your Social Media Links: Simply type or paste the URLs of your social media profiles into the description box.
- Make it Clear: Precede the links with clear calls to action, such as “Follow me on Instagram: [Instagram URL]” or “Connect with me on LinkedIn: [LinkedIn URL].”
- Use Shortened URLs: To save space and make your descriptions cleaner, consider using a URL shortener like Bitly or TinyURL.
Save Your Changes: After adding the links, click the “Save” button in the top right corner of the screen.

Best Practices for Using YouTube Social Media Links

Consistency is Key: Use the same usernames and profile pictures across all your social media platforms to reinforce your brand identity.
Keep Links Updated: Regularly check your links to ensure they’re still accurate and working. If you change your username or website, update the links accordingly.
Mobile Optimization: Remember that many viewers will be accessing your YouTube channel on mobile devices. Make sure your social media profiles are optimized for mobile viewing.
Track Your Results: Use analytics tools to track the click-through rates of your social media links. This can help you identify which platforms are driving the most traffic and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Promote Links in Your Videos: Verbally mention your social media profiles in your videos and encourage viewers to follow you. You can also add on-screen annotations or end screens with links to your social media accounts.
Create a Branded Link Page: Services like Linktree, Taplink, and Beacons allow you to create a single, customizable landing page that contains all your social media links. You can then share this one link on your YouTube banner and in your video descriptions.
Use UTM Parameters: For precise tracking, add UTM parameters to your social media links. These parameters allow you to see in Google Analytics which links are generating traffic to your website.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are answers to some common questions about adding social media links to YouTube:

1. How many social media links can I add to my YouTube banner?

You can add as many links as you want in the “Links” section in YouTube Studio, but you can only display a maximum of five links on your channel banner.

2. Can I add links to specific pages within my social media profiles?

Yes, you can add links to specific pages. For example, you can link directly to a specific album on your Facebook page or a specific collection on your Pinterest profile.

3. Are there any restrictions on the type of websites I can link to?

YouTube’s Community Guidelines apply to all content, including links. Avoid linking to websites that contain inappropriate, illegal, or misleading content. Focus on your legitimate social media channels.

4. How long does it take for social media links to appear on my YouTube channel after adding them?

The changes are usually reflected almost immediately. However, it might take a few minutes for the changes to propagate across all YouTube servers. If you don’t see the links right away, try refreshing your browser or clearing your cache.

5. Can I customize the icons that appear next to my social media links?

No, YouTube automatically displays the appropriate icon for each social media platform based on the URL you provide. You cannot upload custom icons.

6. How do I remove a social media link from my YouTube channel?

Go to YouTube Studio > Customization > Basic Info > Links. Find the link you want to remove and click on the “Delete” (trash can) icon next to it. Then, click “Publish” to save your changes.

7. Can I add social media links to my YouTube channel from my mobile device?

Yes, you can add and manage your social media links from your mobile device using the YouTube Studio app. The process is similar to adding them on a desktop computer.

8. Will adding social media links improve my YouTube channel’s search ranking?

While adding social media links directly doesn’t have a direct impact on your YouTube channel’s search ranking, it can indirectly improve your ranking by increasing engagement and traffic to your channel.

9. Can I add links to affiliate marketing programs?

Yes, you can add links to affiliate marketing programs, but you must disclose that the links are affiliate links in your video descriptions, as required by the FTC (Federal Trade Commission).

10. What is the ideal size for my YouTube banner to ensure the social media links are visible?

The recommended banner size is 2560 x 1440 pixels. This ensures that your banner and the social media links are displayed correctly on all devices. Remember to keep the most important information within the “safe area” (1546 x 423 pixels) so it’s visible on all screen sizes.

11. How do I track the performance of my social media links on YouTube?

You can use YouTube Analytics to track the overall traffic to your channel. To track the specific performance of your social media links, use UTM parameters when creating the links. This allows you to see in Google Analytics which links are generating the most traffic.

12. Is it better to use shortened URLs or full URLs for social media links in my video descriptions?

Using shortened URLs is generally recommended because they make your descriptions cleaner and more visually appealing. Services like Bitly and TinyURL also provide tracking features, allowing you to see how many people are clicking on your links. This is a much cleaner approach.