How to make clickable video hotspots, videos, hotspots and much more

Videos are a great way to create a narrative, showcase a product, and create an experience that is more engaging. For brands and video makers clicking links are a great way to add an element of interactivity to increase the engagement.

A video-in-video hyperlink differs from a typical in-description link used on the majority of video platforms. The clickable link in video is within the video and can appear as a traditional text link, hotspot, overlay or even chapter titles.

Clickable links multiply the video contents' value to the viewers as well as, in turn, for your business.

In this article

•    How can you include clickable hyperlinks to video
•    How to add clickable hyperlinks on YouTube video

How do you add clickable links in videos?

1. Add a contact form

As its name suggests, contact forms are designed to collect your viewers' contact information. According to what you have specified, a contact form can surface before, during, or after the video has ended.

It is possible to display the form during any point in the video. The content can be locked behind the contact form and collect user info to help with a lead generation strategy.

Bonus tip Consider allowing viewers to skip the contact form -- after all, there's no need forcing them to share your contact information unless you've gated your content.

To add contact form in your video:

1. Head to the Interaction tools tab in the settings for your video and then scroll to the bottom of the page, selecting Contact Form..
2. Decide when you'd like to allow the contact form.
3. Connect the form directly to any of your email marketing partner platforms via Connect button under the Email providers section. connect button in the section titled Email Providers section.
4. Accept the terms and conditions you see in the following. Then, log into your email application to sign in it with .
5. Choose at least one mailing list that you want to sync your collected information with and hit apply to save changes.

2. Cards to add

A different type of in-video link is the cards. They are notifications-like links that are visible for a limited period of time, generally 6 seconds. They can be kept simple by including a headline or flesh them out with a description, link, and thumbnail , as shown in the example.

To add cards to your video:

1. Go to the Tools for interaction tab in your video settings and scroll down to select the card from the during video drop-down menu.
2. Complete the required fields to flesh out the card. You need a title and datestamp to determine when to display your card. This is a must at least.
3. Click the Add button when you're done and then press save.

Keep in mind that it is possible to add as many cards per second.

3. Screens to end the Addend

End screens appear after the completion of the video. You can choose from several ways to modify these hyperlinks on your video.

• Include clickable background images
• Include social share icons
• Present a contact form
• Incorporate a CTA button
• Lead viewers to another video

To add an end screen for your video:

1. Visit the Interaction tools tab within the settings of your video and scroll back to choose the option after your video.
2. Click from the end screen dropdown menu now.
3. Select your end screen type and click Add and then Saving.

4. Chapters can be added

Chapters are perfect for long videos. They let you segment videos, which makes it easier to navigate and move between sections, skip content as well as rewatch the most important parts.

1. Go to the Interaction tools tab within the settings for your video, scroll through to the chapter section, then select "+New to start a new chapter.
2. Input the title of the chapter (up to 50 characters) with the timestamp to determine when it will be shown within the movie.
3. Press Save when you've finished making or editing chapters.

As with cards, you are able to add one chapter per second in your video. Each video may have as many as 100 chapters.

5. Include video hotspots

You can create static hotspots, which are located in a determined position in the video, or sticky hotspots that move with individuals or objects within the video.

In order to add a hotspot your video:

1. Play your video to pick the subject or the individual you want to add a hotspot to.
2. Under the Hotspot section, tap the (+) icon in the highest right-hand corner on the screen, once you've found which hotspot to put in.
3. Choose your preferred hotspot's design from  the template gallery that is ready to use or create your custom design.
4. Adjust the hotspot's position relative to the object/person the hotspot is added to.
5. Toggle to turn the Stick to object option off or on depending on whether or not you need a sticky or static hotspot.

6. Add interactive overlays

It is possible to include anything, including the text, images, videos, calls to action and animations in your overlay.

To add an overlay to your video:

1. upload your video, and pick the timestamp to include an overlay.
2. Position and style the overlay.

1. Pick from actions that overlay such as links, information panels, and much more.
2. Preview and hit the Save button..

How do you add clickable links in YouTube videos

Let's discuss adding links to videos on YouTube. Here are your options:

1. Include links in your description of the video

A popular place to add an e-mail link is within the YouTube description. Adding a link to your video's description makes the process easier for users to find your products or website's subscription links or affiliate link.

The YouTube description of your video shows in the right place below your video's title:

To make sure viewers don't miss the hyperlink, incorporate it into the start of the description so viewers are able to see the link even without clicking "see for more."

For adding a hyperlink to the YouTube description of your video:

1. Visit YouTube Studio by clicking on the upper right-hand corner of the dashboard.
2. The new screen which opens, choose Videos from the left-hand sidebar and then select the video that you want to edit.
3. Modify the description of the video in the video description box and paste in the URL you wish to include.
4. Click Save. YouTube will automatically turn the hyperlink into a clickable URL.

2. Cards to add

Another option to create the clickable videos for YouTube is to use info cards.

The cards appear in predetermined times in your video -and then changing to a lowercase "i" following the time it appears on the right-hand side of the computer's screen. So, users can hover over the "i" and click on to play the game whenever they wish.

You may add up to five info cards in your video which will direct viewers to similar videos, (public) playlists, YouTube channels or hyperlinks.

Keep in mind: you can only add the cards that you click on if you're part of YouTube's Partners Program. You can't also add cards to videos set for children.

To add cards to YouTube videos:

1. Sign in to the YouTube Studio and choose Content from the left menu.
2. Select the movie you would like to edit, then click Editor on the left.
3. Select Information cards here and begin adding cards.
4. You can change the beginning time under the video for each card you include. When you add cards to a channel (aka channel cards) it is also necessary to insert teaser text as well as a personal message explaining what the link leads to. The addition of teaser text is not required for other cards.
5. Save. Click "Save".

For sharing a link in an email, it's important that you adhere to YouTube's guidelines for community members as well as the the Terms of Service. If you don't in compliance, the search engine can delete the link in the video, or even deactivate the account entirely.

3. Add an end screen

End screen, sometimes referred to as an end card, or slate, are like info cards. They are displayed during the last five to 20 seconds of a YouTube video.

By using an end screen it is possible to direct users to a particular playlist or video, or add a link to an external site , such like your shop.

To add end screens in your video:

1. Log in to YouTube Studio and select Content from the left menu.
2. Select the video you'd like to edit, and then select Editor from the left.
3. Select the screens that end and then select the part you want to add.
4. Click "Save".

You'll be able to include elements (content that you can add to the end of your screen): apply templates, videos, playlists, subscribe, channel product and link.

If you are making links, ensure to include links that are in line with YouTube's guidelines to protect yourself from end screen removal or account cancellation.

Also, you can't add end screens to videos which are categorized as content for kids, 360 videos or mobile web. You can also not add end screens within the YouTube music app. Furthermore, only those videos with a minimum of 25 seconds long can feature an end screen.

Here's the thing! If you're feeling ready to go for it, you can try out your video uploads to create captivating, engaging, and clickable video clips that catch your viewers' attention.