Tuesday Tutorial – YouTube “Links”

Movie Clapper BoardEveryone knows if you’re an author with a published book, you’re supposed to have a video trailer. It’s become virtually mandatory. But many Indie Authors can’t afford to pay to have one done, nor do some of us have the knack for doing that kind of thing ourselves. But all is not lost.

If you have a YouTube channel, and if you have videos on that channel, there is still something you can do to help steer people towards your book(s).  It’s extremely simple but most of us don’t do it. (Yes, you can even do it on your book’s video trailer if you’re fortunate enough to have one.)

Indies Unlimited Video Part I
Indies Unlimited Video with Live Link

Believe it or not, it’s as simple as adding a clickable link to the description of your video. You can do that as you’re uploading your video or you can go back later using the edit option and add it in. The point is, if someone has a convenient way to get to your web site – they’re more likely to use it. Try to keep your descriptions short so your link shows on the video page without the viewer having to click on “more.” Check out the example to the right. Make sure you include the http:// before your link otherwise it will not be clickable. That is the number one mistake made by most people.

Simple, right? If by some chance your video goes viral – your website will get massive exposure. Not a bad deal for free.

Author: K.S. Brooks

K.S. Brooks is an award-winning novelist, photographer, and photo-journalist, author of over 30 titles, and executive director and administrator of Indies Unlimited. Brooks is currently a photo-journalist and chief copy editor for two NE Washington newspapers.  She teaches self-publishing and writing topics for the Community Colleges of Spokane, and served on the Indie Author Day advisory board. For more about K.S. Brooks, visit her website and her Amazon author page.

6 thoughts on “Tuesday Tutorial – YouTube “Links””

  1. That's a good point, Kat. I was told about that when I put my first videos on YouTube. I only have 4 there, and not very good ones at that, but I hope to do some more in the future. I don't know how to make a trailer, but I can do a video with a short reading or something. That is, if I can figure out again, after all this time, how to use the web cam.:-)

    1. Yeah, I thought for certain that my video of my really cute dog launching his campaign for President would go viral. 204 views and almost 6 months later…not so much LOL.

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