Recently, I received a community guidelines strike for having a link error in my video description.
That really sucked because when you get a community guidelines strike, you can't upload,
post, or go live for one whole week. It came as quite a surprise because in the
14 years I've been on YouTube, I've never received a community guidelines strike for a link error in
the description. In this video, you'll discover how to correctly add links to your video content,
the types of links you can add, and how to block spam links in your YouTube comments.
Here are the types of links that you can add to your YouTube videos. Subscribe watermark,
this appears at the bottom right of all the videos on your YouTube channel.
When somebody clicks on the subscribe watermark, they immediately can subscribe to your channel.
To add a watermark, click Customization in YouTube Studio, then click Branding. Click Upload to
select an image from your computer. You can place it at the end of your video, at custom start time,
or display it on your entire video. After you've made your selection, just click Publish.
Custom subscribe link. You can add this custom subscribe link
to your social media sites, website, blog, or even in your video description.
Then when people click on it, they'll be able to subscribe to your channel.
All you have to do is add this code to the end of your YouTube channel URL. Click the
link in the description to learn how to do it. Hey, if you're enjoying the content so far,
hit the Subscribe button and click the bell notification icon, so you'll be notified
about new content like this every week. Channel banner links. Did you know that you
can add up to five links on your YouTube channel banner? So when people go to visit your channel
homepage, they can immediately subscribe to your channel, or check out your social media links or
website. To add the links, click on Customization in YouTube Studio, then click on Basic info,
then click Add Link. Keep in mind, you can only add five links to your YouTube channel banner.
Affiliate and website links in your description. When you place a website
link in your video description, make sure it's a full URL, otherwise, it won't be clickable.
If the link is a paid product placement like a sponsorship deal or a brand deal,
make sure you check the box that it's a paid product placement.
Before you add an affiliate link in your video description, make sure you don't get any errors on
that website. I made a mistake with my WordPress website of not updating the plugs and themes,
and therefore, I got a website error. Ultimately, it was picked up by YouTube, and as a result,
I received a strike on my YouTube channel. It was only when I fixed the website and
submitted an appeal to remove the community guidelines strike that the strike was removed
by YouTube. Fortunately, it only took a few minutes for the strike to be removed.
Here are some rules about links in your YouTube content. Links that send users to websites that
violate the community guidelines are not allowed on YouTube. For example, the link that I used in
my video description showed a site error when somebody clicked on it. As a result,
I received a community guidelines strike. Here are some other things to avoid when putting
links in your YouTube videos. Avoid links to pornography sites. Avoid links to apps or websites
that install malware. Avoid websites or apps phishing for login credentials or information.
Avoid websites or apps that give unauthorized access to audio content, video games, or software.
Avoid websites that seek to raise funds or recruit for terrorist organizations.
Avoid sites containing child sexual abuse imagery. Avoid sites in YouTube's regulated
goods guidelines. Just keep in mind that affiliate content doesn't violate YouTube's
terms of use. However, if you massively post affiliate content in dedicated accounts,
it will violate YouTube's community guidelines regarding spam.
I suggest you read YouTube's policies on spam, deceptive practices, and scams.
An example of a video link that might result in getting a strike is a phishing site that steals
people's credentials. For example, I might steal a user's banking login and passwords.
What happens if you get a community guidelines strike? You'll receive an email about the strike
and it'll also appear in your YouTube dashboard. YouTube will also remove the content. If you've
already received the warning on your channel, then you receive a strike. As a result,
you won't be able to post, upload, or go live for one week on YouTube.
Just keep in mind that deleting the content won't remove the strike. The strike will remain on your
channel for 90 days before it's removed. If you successfully appeal a strike,
which I did, then YouTube will remove the strike and you can upload a video,
go live, and post content. Just keep in mind if you get three strikes, your channel will be
terminated. I just wish that YouTube had notified me to crack the website instead of giving me a
strike. It would have saved a lot of stress. Let me know in the comments below if you ever
received a community guidelines strike on your channel and if you successfully got it removed.
How to block links and comments. Do you sometimes get comments from viewers where
they leave spam links in their comment? Here's an example of a spam comment containing a link
that was blocked and held for review. Here's how to block links in comments.
When you block links in comments, those comments will be held for review, so you can take a look at
them and maybe approve them or disapprove them. All you have to do is go into YouTube Studio,
click on Settings, click on Community, then click on Automated Filters. Check the box that says
Block links, then save your settings. Just keep in mind that live chat messages containing URLs will
also be blocked. This setting doesn't apply to the channel owner, moderators, or approved users.
Comments containing links and hashtags can be reviewed or approved and be held for review
tab. To find comments that have been held for review, click on Comments in YouTube Studio,
then click on Held for review. It knows I've got blocked words and potentially inappropriate.
I can choose to approve them, remove them, report spam or abuse, or hide user from the channel.
Here are a few other links that you should be aware of. Paid promotion links. If you have
a sponsored video that contains paid product placement, you got to check the box that says
My video contains paid promotion. When you check the box, then YouTube will show a message on your
video saying it includes a paid promotion. Associated website links. This is where you
can link to a website that's associated with your channel in the cards and end screens. To do this,
you have to be a member of the YouTube Partner Program, which means you need 4,000 watch hours
and 1,000 subscribers in the past 12 months. Click the link in the description to learn how to do it.
If you're not a member of the YouTube Partner Program, you won't be able to
link to an associated website. Just keep in mind, do not use cards to further redirect
your website to an unauthorized website. Just keep in mind, you can associate more
than one website using a search console. This includes domains as well as subdomains.
I can associate drostdesigns.com and I can also associate drostdesigns.com/about.
Merchandise and crowdfunding sites. You can link to a merchandise site or a crowdfunding site
as long as it's on the approved sites listed on YouTube. You also have to be
a member of the YouTube Partner Program. If you want to link to an associated website,
crowdfunding site, or merchandise site in the card or end screen, just select the Link option.
The beauty about linking an associated website to a YouTube channel is that you can link directly to
that website in the cards and the end screens. You can also include an image so when a viewer
clicks on the image, it takes them directly to that website. If you don't have that option,
just place the link in the video description. "Hey, Herman, how can I make money from my
YouTube videos?" I'm glad you asked. Just watch the video on the screen right now on how to get
sponsors for YouTube videos. You'll learn how to make an extra $500 to $1,000 each month,
even if you only have a small channel. [00:08:10] [END OF AUDIO]