Yes, it is possible to share your YouTube channel on WhatsApp to promote your videos and grow your audience. WhatsApp has over 2 billion monthly active users, making it one of the most popular messaging platforms globally. Sharing your YouTube channel on WhatsApp allows you to easily spread the word about your videos to friends, family, and contacts who use WhatsApp.
Ways to share your YouTube channel on WhatsApp
There are a few different ways you can share your YouTube channel on WhatsApp:
1. Share the channel link
The easiest way is to simply copy your YouTube channel’s URL and paste it in a WhatsApp message, group, or status update. When someone clicks on the link, it will take them directly to your YouTube channel page where they can view and subscribe to your channel.
To get your YouTube channel URL on desktop:
- Go to your YouTube channel page
- Click on the “About” tab
- Copy the URL in your web browser – this is your channel link
On mobile:
- Open the YouTube app
- Go to your channel page
- Tap on the 3-dot menu icon beside your channel name
- Select “Share”
- Copy the link
Once you’ve copied your channel URL, simply paste it in your WhatsApp message.
2. Share as a WhatsApp status
You can also post your YouTube channel URL as a status update on WhatsApp. Your status is visible to all your WhatsApp contacts for 24 hours, allowing more people to see and visit your channel page.
To share your channel link as a WhatsApp status:
- Open WhatsApp
- Tap on your Status tab
- Paste your YouTube channel URL into the text box
- You can customize the text around the link, e.g. “Check out my YouTube channel!”
- Tap Send to post it as your status for 24 hours
3. Share a channel trailer or popular video
Instead of just sharing your channel link, you can share one of your best videos or a channel trailer to give people a preview of your content. This helps garner interest so they are more likely to subscribe and follow your channel.
To get the video link:
- Go to the video on YouTube you want to share
- Click on the “Share” button below the video
- Copy the video URL
Paste this video URL in your WhatsApp messages, groups or status. You can customize the text, for example “Check out my latest video!”
WhatsApp features for sharing YouTube channels
WhatsApp has some useful features that make it easy to share your YouTube channel in different ways:
WhatsApp messages
You can paste your YouTube channel link or video in one-on-one WhatsApp messages to share it with individual contacts. This allows you to personally spread the word about your channel to close friends and family.
WhatsApp groups
Share your channel in relevant WhatsApp groups full of your target audience. For example, if you have a gaming channel, you can share it in gaming groups to reach more potential subscribers. Leverage your existing WhatsApp groups and join new ones to share your channel.
WhatsApp stories
Similar to your status, WhatsApp now allows you to post stories that disappear after 24 hours. Post your YouTube channel link or video previews to your WhatsApp story to increase reach.
WhatsApp business profile
If you have a WhatsApp Business profile, you can add your YouTube channel details to your business profile description so people can find and subscribe to your channel right from your profile.
Best practices for sharing a YouTube channel on WhatsApp
Here are some tips to ensure your YouTube channel gets maximum visibility when shared on WhatsApp:
- Customize the message – Don’t just paste bare links. Add some text explaining what viewers can expect from your channel.
- Follow up and remind contacts – Follow up with important contacts if they haven’t checked out your channel yet.
- Make video previews – Create 15-30 second video trailers or channel promos to share and pitch your channel.
- Leverage WhatsApp groups – Join relevant WhatsApp groups and actively share your content while engaging with members.
- Track performance – Use YouTube Analytics to see if WhatsApp referrals are driving views, subscribers and engagement.
- Offer exclusives – Share exclusive content, sneak peeks or offers just for your WhatsApp network.
Pros of sharing a YouTube channel on WhatsApp
Here are some of the key advantages of promoting your YouTube channel on WhatsApp:
- Large reach – WhatsApp has over 2 billion users worldwide, giving you access to a huge audience.
- Higher engagement – People check WhatsApp constantly so are more likely to see and click on your channel link.
- Viral potential – Content can spread organically as your contacts share your videos with their own networks.
- Free promotion – Leveraging existing messaging app users is free marketing for your YouTube channel.
- Easy sharing – WhatsApp makes it extremely easy to share links and content without any technical know-how.
Cons of sharing a YouTube channel on WhatsApp
While WhatsApp offers a great promotional opportunity, there are some downsides to be aware of:
- Message overload – People may ignore or get annoyed with too many unsolicited messages.
- Less control – You can’t control or track how far your links spread beyond your contacts.
- Limited analytics – Harder to track WhatsApp traffic sources and attribution vs other platforms.
- Requires patience – It takes time and consistent effort to see results from WhatsApp sharing.
- Not organic reach – Reach is limited to your existing contacts and groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sharing links on WhatsApp allowed?
Yes, WhatsApp permits users to share YouTube video and channel links. There are no restrictions on sharing public YouTube links via WhatsApp messages, groups, statuses or stories.
Can I automate sharing my YouTube videos on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp does not allow third-party automated messaging so you cannot automatically push your new YouTube videos to WhatsApp contacts. You will need to manually copy and share each video link.
What’s the best time to share YouTube links on WhatsApp?
Early mornings and evenings tend to have highest WhatsApp engagement. Share your most important YouTube links during peak usage times when people are actively checking their WhatsApp messages.
Is it spam to share my YouTube channel on WhatsApp frequently?
It can come across as spammy or annoying if you share your YouTube links on WhatsApp too frequently. Aim to share your best and most relevant videos occasionally rather than bombarding your contacts.
How can I customize my YouTube link previews on WhatsApp?
When pasting a YouTube link on WhatsApp, you can customize the preview title, description and thumbnail image that is automatically displayed. Simply edit the title, description and image when initially uploading your video to YouTube.
Conclusion
WhatsApp presents a great opportunity to increase visibility and subscribers for your YouTube channel. With over 2 billion users, it provides access to a massive audience who you can market your videos to for free. Just be sure to share your channel and popular videos selectively, personalize your messages, and track performance to get the most out of promoting your YouTube channel on WhatsApp.