How to Add Video Links to YouTube Shorts | Connect Your Content Seamlessly

Why should you add links to YouTube Shorts

Adding links in YouTube Shorts is a simple way to make your videos more engaging and help your channel grow. By including YouTube links, you can guide viewers to more content and keep them interested for longer. Here's how they can benefit your channel:

• Enhanced viewer engagement

When you add a link in YouTube Shorts, you give viewers easy access to more of your videos. This encourages them to stay on your channel and interact with your content. The more they engage, the more likely they are to share your videos with others, increasing your reach.

• Increased watch time

Adding links to other shorts or videos can help keep viewers watching more content. By guiding them to related videos, you boost the chances of longer viewing sessions. This not only keeps your audience entertained but also improves your video’s performance.

• Cross-promotion

A YouTube short link can be a great way to promote your other videos, playlists, or even external content. Cross-promoting helps viewers discover more of your work, giving them a reason to return to your channel.

• Improved channel growth

By driving traffic to your other content, your channel grows in both views and subscribers. With each YouTube short link you add, you're creating more opportunities for people to explore your channel, which leads to organic growth over time.

• Better traffic flow

Linking your YouTube Shorts to relevant videos ensures a steady flow of traffic across your content. This keeps your audience moving through your videos, resulting in better exposure and higher chances of gaining new subscribers.

Types of links to YouTube videos

YouTube provides several ways to incorporate links into your videos, helping creators connect viewers with external resources like websites, email newsletters, or affiliate programs. Each method has unique advantages and limitations, catering to different needs. Here are some common types of links in YouTube videos:

• Video description links

Adding links to video descriptions is simple and highly effective. Just include the URL in the description box. This method provides flexibility to link to external sites that aren't part of YouTube's associated websites list, making it a preferred choice for many creators.

• Cards

Cards appear during video playback and feature a small "i" icon that viewers can click to access links, videos, playlists, or channels. Custom URLs for cards require membership in YouTube's Partner Program. Cards are excellent for engaging viewers mid-video.

• End screens

End screens show at the end of a video, enabling creators to link to other videos, channels, or subscription prompts. Like cards, linking to custom URLs needs Partner Program access. End screens are ideal for retaining viewers and directing them to additional content.

• Video mentions

These are verbal or visual mentions of links within a video. While not clickable, creators can overlay watermarks or display the URLs as text on the screen, making it easy for viewers to follow manually. YouTube short links make these mentions concise and easy to remember.

• Community posts

For creators with access to the YouTube Community tab, links can be shared in posts to engage subscribers outside of video content. This method works well for promoting external content or announcements in a casual format.

How to add links to YouTube Shorts using cards

Adding links to YouTube Shorts is easy with YouTube's card feature. These cards let you add clickable links, videos, or playlists to enhance engagement. A small "i" icon appears on the video when cards are used, making them interactive for viewers. This method works well for promoting content and sharing external links.

Here's how to add video links to YouTube Shorts by using the cards:

STEP 1
1. Export and share

Log in to YouTube Studio and go to the "Content" section. Select the video you want to edit, click the pencil icon, and open the "Cards" menu in the editor.

STEP 2
1. Export and share

Click on "Add Card" and select the desired card type, such as a link or video. For external links, ensure your website is approved under the "Associated Website" section.

STEP 3
1. Export and share

Enter the "YouTube Shorts link" or other URL, title, call-to-action text, and a teaser image. Specify the exact start time for the card in your video and click "Save" to complete the setup.

How to add clickable links to YouTube Shorts using end screens

End screens are a simple way to guide viewers to additional content or external websites at the end of your YouTube Shorts. You can use them to add links to your other videos, playlists, or subscription prompts to enhance engagement. This feature works for videos longer than 25 seconds, making it perfect for Shorts.

Here is how to add clickable links to YouTube Shorts on the end screen:

STEP 1
1. Export and share

Go to YouTube Studio, select the video you want to edit, and click on "End Screen" in the editor. If uploading a new video, this option appears on the "Video Elements" screen during the upload process.

STEP 2
1. Export and share

Click "+ Element" and select a layout for your end screen, such as a video, playlist, or link. For external links, ensure the website is approved and listed under Associated Websites in your account.

STEP 3
1. Export and share

Enter the YouTube Shorts link or a call-to-action text. Position the link on your end screen and customize the display timing to appear in the last 5–20 seconds of your video. Save the changes.

Best practices to effectively use YouTube Short links

Using links in your YouTube Shorts can greatly enhance engagement and help grow your channel. However, to make the most of this feature, it’s important to use links strategically. Here are some of the best practices to effectively use YouTube Shorts links:

• Place links in the shorts

Make sure to include links in the video or description, so they are easy for viewers to find. By positioning them at the right moment in the video, you can capture the audience's attention. This helps direct traffic to your other content or channels.

• Use clear call-to-actions

Include a strong call-to-action in your Shorts, telling viewers what to do with the link. Phrases like "Click the link to watch more" or "Check the description for more info" guide the audience effectively. This encourages viewers to interact with the YouTube Shorts link.

• Link relevant content

Always link to videos or resources that are directly related to your Shorts. This keeps the viewer experience seamless and valuable, ensuring the link adds to the content. By doing this, viewers are more likely to click and explore more of your content.

• Shorten links for clarity

Long, complicated links can be off-putting and hard to manage. Use link shorteners to create cleaner, more professional-looking links. This makes the YouTube Shorts link easier for your audience to recognize and click.

• Track link performance

Use tracking tools to see how well your links perform. This helps you understand what kind of content your viewers are interested in. By analyzing the data, you can adjust your strategy and optimize future YouTube Shorts links.

Bonus tip: How to create eye-catching YouTube Shorts with CapCut

The CapCut desktop video editor is a tool for creating engaging YouTube Shorts. With its user-friendly interface and a variety of features, you can easily edit your videos to captivate your audience. It enables you to add creative effects, transitions, and text, making your Shorts more dynamic. Whether you're adding YouTube Shorts links or enhancing your video content, CapCut helps you make professional-quality videos.

Key features

The CapCut desktop video editor has a range of features that make creating captivating YouTube Shorts easy and efficient. Here are some key features:

• Convert long video to short

Quickly convert long videos into short, engaging clips perfect for YouTube Shorts. This helps you focus on the most important moments.

• Improve voice quality with AI

Enhance audio clarity using AI-driven voice improvement tools, ensuring your voiceovers sound crisp and professional.

• Versatile short video templates

Use a wide variety of pre-designed templates to create dynamic Shorts without starting from scratch. Perfect for quick and creative video production.

• Easily make color adjustments

Fine-tune your video’s color balance, contrast, and saturation to create visually stunning content that stands out in viewers’ feeds.

• AI auto-caption generator

Automatically add subtitles to your videos, improving accessibility and making your YouTube Shorts easier to follow, even without sound.

How to make engaging shorts in CapCut

To make engaging shorts in CapCut, first download and install the CapCut desktop video editor. Simply click the button below to download the software and get started with easy editing tools to create dynamic, attention-grabbing videos.

STEP 1
1. Export and share

Start by uploading your video to the CapCut desktop video editor. To do so, click on "Import" or drag and drop the video onto the workspace.

STEP 2
1. Export and share

Begin by bringing your video to the timeline for editing. Use the trim tool to cut away unwanted sections and focus on the key moments. Then, head to the "Text" tab to add dynamic text in versatile fonts, colors, and sizes to enhance your message. To make your video more accessible, add captions by selecting "Captions" > "Auto captions" > choose "Spoken language" > and click "Generate." For a polished look, enhance the video’s colors with AI-driven color adjustments and auto color correction to make your Shorts visually striking.

STEP 3
1. Export and share

Once you're happy with your edits, export the video and share it as a YouTube Shorts to capture your audience’s attention.

Conclusion

In conclusion, learning how to add video links to YouTube Shorts can significantly increase viewer engagement and direct traffic to more of your content. It helps keep your audience interested and encourages them to explore your channel further. By strategically adding links, you can enhance the overall viewer experience. However, for seamlessly editing short form content, consider using the advanced features in the CapCut desktop video editor.

FAQs

1
1. Does the thumbnail of a YouTube Shorts link affect its click rate?

Yes, an attractive thumbnail plays a key role in boosting the click-through rate of your YouTube Shorts. A well-designed and relevant thumbnail catches viewers' attention, encouraging them to click on the video. It serves as the first impression, making it crucial for attracting more viewers. For creating engaging thumbnails, the CapCut desktop video editor provides simple tools to design visually appealing images.

2
1. How do links in YouTube Shorts boost engagement?

Links in YouTube Shorts can direct viewers to related content, increasing their interest in exploring more of your videos. This strategy keeps your audience engaged, leading to higher watch time and more channel interactions. By linking to other videos or playlists, you create a seamless viewing experience. Moreover, you can use tools like CapCut to add engaging elements to your short videos.

3
1. How to add links to YouTube Shorts if my account is not verified?

If your YouTube account is not verified, you can still add links in the video description, but they won't be clickable. To add clickable links, you need to verify your account, which can be done through YouTube Studio. Once verified, you can add links to your Shorts and improve engagement. However, use the CapCut desktop video editor for easy video editing and instant caption generation.