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Mastering the Art of Linking on YouTube: A Complete Guide

Linking on YouTube is more than just adding a URL; it’s a strategic move to drive traffic, build your brand, and enhance viewer engagement. It’s the digital equivalent of pointing your audience to your shop or other valuable resources. Let’s dive in.

The direct answer to how to make a link in YouTube depends on where you want to put the link, but the most common places are:

Video Description: This is the simplest and most fundamental way. Just copy and paste the URL into the description box when uploading or editing a video. YouTube automatically turns it into a clickable link.
End Screens: Add clickable links at the end of your videos to promote other content, your website, or even subscribe buttons. These appear in the last 5-20 seconds.
Cards (Info Cards): These are interactive notifications that appear during your video, directing viewers to other videos, playlists, channels, or external websites (if you’re in the YouTube Partner Program and meet the eligibility requirements).
Channel Banner: You can add links to your website and social media profiles on your YouTube channel banner, also known as channel art.
Comments Section: You can also add a link in the comment section.

Now, let’s delve deeper into the mechanics and best practices for each.

Leveraging Links in Your YouTube Strategy

Before we go any further, it’s crucial to understand why you’re linking. Are you trying to drive traffic to your website? Promote another video? Encourage subscriptions? Having a clear objective will inform your linking strategy.

Link Placement is Key

The placement of your link significantly impacts its effectiveness.

Description Box Dominance: The description box is the primary hub for all relevant information about your video. Make sure your most important link is near the top, ideally within the first few lines. Viewers often don’t scroll down, so visibility is paramount. Always use clear call-to-actions like “Learn more here,” “Visit our website,” or “Download the guide.” Consider using a URL shortener like Bitly to make links cleaner and easier to track.
End Screen Expertise: End screens offer a powerful way to keep viewers engaged within your YouTube ecosystem. Utilize them to promote your best-performing videos, relevant playlists, or the all-important subscribe button. Remember to time them strategically so they don’t interrupt the flow of your video but still give viewers enough time to click.
Card Charm: Cards are a subtler but equally effective way to guide viewers. Use them to provide context, offer related content, or simply point viewers to further information. You can customize the text that appears on the card to entice clicks. Strategic placement that aligns with the video’s content is essential for good results. You need to be in YouTube Partner Program to add links to external website through cards.
Channel Banner Branding: Your channel banner is prime real estate for branding and driving traffic. Use it to showcase your website and key social media profiles.
The Subtle Art of Comment Links: While less formal, dropping a relevant link in the comments section can be helpful, particularly if you’re responding to a question or directing someone to a specific resource. Always ensure the link is relevant to the conversation and provides value to the commenter. Avoid spamming!

Optimizing Your Links for Click-Throughs

Simply adding a link isn’t enough. You need to optimize it for click-throughs.

Compelling Anchor Text: Avoid generic text like “Click here.” Instead, use descriptive anchor text that tells viewers what they’ll find when they click. For example, “Download our free eBook” or “Watch the full tutorial.”
Call-to-Action Mastery: Always use a clear and compelling call to action. Tell viewers exactly what you want them to do.
Mobile Optimization: Ensure your linked websites and content are optimized for mobile devices. A poor mobile experience can lead to frustration and lost opportunities.

Tracking and Analysis

Just as you analyze your video performance, you should also track the performance of your links. Use URL shorteners with tracking capabilities (like Bitly) to monitor click-through rates. This data will help you refine your linking strategy and optimize your placements for maximum impact.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some of the most common questions I get asked about adding links on YouTube:

How do I become eligible for the YouTube Partner Program to add external links to cards?
- To be eligible, you need at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 valid watch hours in the past 12 months. You also need to adhere to YouTube’s monetization policies and have an AdSense account linked to your channel.
Can I link to affiliate products in my YouTube videos?
- Yes, you can, but transparency is key. Disclose your affiliate relationship in the video description (and potentially within the video itself) to comply with advertising guidelines.
How many links can I add to a YouTube video description?
- YouTube doesn’t have a hard limit, but I recommend focusing on quality over quantity. Too many links can overwhelm viewers and dilute the impact of your primary call to action. Place only the most important links in the description box.
Why are my links not clickable in the YouTube description?
- Make sure you’re including the full URL, including the https:// or http:// prefix. YouTube automatically recognizes and converts complete URLs into clickable links.
Can I change the link text in a YouTube card?
- Yes, when you create a card, you can customize the text that appears, making it more enticing for viewers to click. Use this to your advantage to create more compelling call to actions.
How do I remove a link from a YouTube video?
- Simply edit the video details and delete the URL from the description box, end screen, or card. Save the changes, and the link will be removed.
Are there any types of links that are prohibited on YouTube?
- Yes. You cannot link to content that violates YouTube’s Community Guidelines, such as hate speech, violent extremism, or sexually explicit material. Linking to malicious websites or engaging in deceptive practices is also prohibited.
How do I track the performance of my links in YouTube?
- Use a URL shortener with tracking capabilities, like Bitly or Rebrandly. These tools provide data on click-through rates, geographical locations of clicks, and other valuable insights. YouTube Analytics also provides some basic information, but URL shorteners offer more granular data.
Can I add links to my YouTube shorts?
- While you can add links in the description, end screens and cards were not initially available on Shorts, however, YouTube has begun rolling out more linking options, including the option to add a clickable link directly onto a Short, which will direct viewers to another video or Short on your channel. Always check the lastest features and updates.
What is the best way to promote my website using YouTube links?
- Create high-quality, engaging video content that’s relevant to your website’s offerings. Then, strategically place links to your website in the description box, end screens, and cards, using compelling anchor text and clear call-to-actions.
Does YouTube penalize me for using too many links?
- YouTube doesn’t explicitly penalize you for using a large number of links, but overloading your description or video with excessive links can hurt user experience, which may indirectly affect your video’s performance. Focus on providing valuable and relevant links to your audience.
Can I use UTM parameters in my YouTube links to track traffic in Google Analytics?
- Absolutely! UTM parameters are highly recommended for tracking traffic from YouTube to your website in Google Analytics. Add UTM codes to your links to identify the source (YouTube), medium (e.g., video description, card), and campaign (e.g., specific video or promotion). This allows for precise attribution and performance analysis.