How to create effective YouTube CTAs

How to create effective YouTube CTAs

Picture of Written by Nico Prins
Written by Nico Prins

Guest Author

When you upload a video, you probably have a goal in mind, whether it’s getting more subscribers, boosting watch time, or driving viewers to another video. Adding a clear CTA makes it easier for your audience to take that next step. If there’s no “Sign Up Here,” no “Contact Us,” and no “Get Started Now.” What do they do next? Nothing. 

Without a CTA, your viewers enjoy your videos, maybe even smile or nod in agreement, but then what? They close the tab and move on. 

A well-placed CTA keeps them connected to your channel and helps you reach your goals.

Let’s explore how to create CTAs that get results.

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Short Summary

  • YouTube CTAs guide your audience to take specific actions like subscribing, watching more videos, or engaging with your channel. Without CTAs, you risk losing potential engagement and leaving your viewers without direction.
  • Avoid placing CTAs in the first 15 seconds of your video; instead, introduce them naturally once your audience is engaged. Mid-video or end-video placements often perform best for driving action.
  • Ensure your CTAs feel authentic and relevant to your video. For instance, in a tutorial, encourage viewers to subscribe for similar tips, or in a product review, include a link to the product in the description.
  • Not all CTAs work for every audience. Test various formats, phrasing, and locations like verbal prompts, social media buttons, pinned comments, or end screens to see what resonates most with your viewers.
  • Use YouTube Analytics to measure your CTAs’ performance. Monitor metrics like click-through rates and audience retention, and refine your strategy with data-driven insights.

What is a YouTube CTA?

A CTA is a voice or visual prompt that directs your audience to take specific actions, such as subscribing to your channel, watching other YouTube videos, or exploring your social channels. 

In essence, YouTube CTAs tell your viewers exactly what you want them to do and give them more reasons to stick around. 

Why do you need CTAs on YouTube?

Although YouTube already has buttons to help viewers subscribe, like, or share your video, adding verbal or visual CTAs in your video can create a significant impact. 

Here’s how a description CTA can help your YouTube channel:

  1. Higher video engagement
  2. Longer watch time
  3. More viewers and subscribers
  4. Better search rankings

1. Higher video engagement

YouTube algorithm thrives on engagement. The more your viewers interact with your videos, the more views you’ll actually have. Whether they are commenting on their favorite takeaway, liking the video, or clicking a link to learn more, these interactions show your content is valuable. 

For example, at the end of a cooking tutorial, you can add, “Leave a comment about your favorite dish in the comment section.” 

Simple, right? Yet, this small nudge could double your engagement rate. It serves as a conversation starter, encourages immediate engagement, and builds a stronger connection with your audience.

2. Longer watch time

According to YouTube, you must have at least 1000 subscribers and 4000 watch hours in the past 12 months to qualify for monetization. Or 10 million YouTube Shorts views in the past 90 days.

Strategically placing your CTAs can extend how long viewers stay engaged with your content. You increase your watch time by directing viewers to related videos or playlists. Look at this example below.

CTA playlist socialbee

Image Source

In this case, SocialBee used video recommendations to keep the viewers hooked. So, viewers are enticed to explore more of your content instead of exiting the page or YouTube. 

I recommend creating themed playlists and using CTAs like “Dive into the full series here”. This translates to more watch time, a key factor for YouTube rankings.

3. More viewers and subscribers

Every successful channel has one thing in common: an engaged subscriber base. 

More so, every creator, both established and newbies, wants more YouTube subscribers. But how do you convert casual viewers into loyal fans?

Effective YouTube CTAs ensure that casual viewers don’t slip away. You can go a step further to reiterate the extra value they will get by subscribing to your channel. For instance, Edureka uses CTAs like “Subscribe to Edureka channel for more tips on digital marketing.”

youtube cta

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Converting viewers into subscribers helps you create a consistent audience for future uploads. Remember, most people need a reminder to subscribe. Don’t assume they’ll do it on their own.

4. Better search rankings

Search engine optimization (SEO) isn’t just for Google; it’s vital for YouTube, too. Every interaction prompted by your CTAs strengthens your video’s performance in YouTube’s search results.

And the result? More discoverability, more clicks, and a competitive edge in search rankings. YouTube will readily recommend your video to a larger audience who are searching for that subject matter. 

Tip: Pair effective CTAs with optimized titles, tags, and descriptions to rank higher on YouTube. Use relevant keywords to optimize your title and mention them naturally in the video. 

Types of YouTube Video CTAs

Next, let’s break down the types of CTAs that work best and how to implement them effectively:

  1. Video suggestions
  2. Like and share
  3. Verbal cues
  4. Video description links
  5. Pinned comments

1. Video suggestions

Interactive elements like cards and end screens are an excellent way to direct viewers to suggested videos, playlists, or external resources, just like in the SocialBee video we looked at above. 

Video CTAs can also be used as part of a wider marketing campaign. For example, this card directs viewers to subscribe to the creator’s newsletter.

CTA pop up youtubeImage Source 

Or this CrashCourse endscreen asking viewers to subscribe to another YouTube channel.

youtube subscribe CTA

Image Source 

Whichever one you use, always combine a verbal cue with a visual CTA (On-screen graphics or text overlays) for maximum impact.

2. Like and share

Sometimes, the simplest CTAs are the most effective. A quick request asking followers to like your video if they find it helpful can work wonders. 

Similarly, prompting viewers to share your new videos helps spread your content organically and attract a new audience. This could also come in handy if you’re aiming for a subscriber count milestone. You can even add a sense of urgency or timeline to prompt immediate action. 

Here’s an example of such CTA:  “Did you enjoy this video? Don’t forget to give it a thumbs up and share it with your friends to spread the word!”

3. Verbal cues

As a video creator, your voice is your most powerful tool. Most of the time, all it takes is to ask your viewers directly to take a specific desired action.

You can use mid-video reminders like: “If you love this video and want to get more tips like these, hit that subscribe button and turn on the notification so you don’t miss out on our next videos.” The secret of verbal CTAs is to direct users without sounding conversational and not salesy.

Your video description provides the perfect avenue for helpful links. You can use this area to give a summary of your video, for example. The description is also perfect for adding affiliate links. 

youtube video description

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Here are some tips to make your CTA stand out:

  • Use bold text for key details.
  • Add emojis (🎉 or 📢) to grab attention.
  • Use ALL CAPS for short, important messages.
  • Space things out so it’s easy to read.

Example:
👉 Grab Your Free Checklist Here: XX
📧 Questions? Email us at: hello@yourbusiness.com

YouTube has also become a great lead-generation channel. If your business is using YouTube for this purpose, make sure to include a link to your business card here. You can use the best digital business card solutions to create and share this card as a link. 

Make sure the card contains key contact details like your phone number, website link, and email address. This makes it easier for leads to contact you. 

PRO TIP

If you’re looking to save time and optimize your descriptions, consider using a tool like SocialBee. It can help you craft professional, keyword-rich video descriptions that grab attention and boost your SEO. With SocialBee, you can also organize your content, schedule posts, and track performance to get the most out of your YouTube strategy.

SocialBee AI caption generator

Generate your YouTube video descriptions with SocialBee!

5. Pinned comments

The YouTube comment section is another prime location for CTAs. Pin a comment with helpful links and follow-up questions to encourage engagement and foster a sense of community with your audience. 

You can even ask viewers to share their thoughts or tag friends. This helps boost interactions and keeps your CTA front and center. 

youtube comments

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You can see how this pinned comment by Mr Beast on Ronaldo’s channel garnered over 500k likes and 730 comments. 

Overall, YouTube CTAs can guide your viewers toward taking actions that can grow your channel and increase engagement. The key, however, is to keep your CTAs clear and conversational to ensure they flow naturally with your content.

How to best use YouTube CTAs

To get the most out of your YouTube CTAs, focus on quality over quantity. Avoid overwhelming your audience with too many CTAs or placing them too early in the video. 

Make sure each CTA feels natural within the context of your content, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles. Regularly review performance metrics to refine your approach and improve results over time.

Here are some tips on how to best use YouTube CTAs:

  1. Don’t use too many CTAs
  2. Don’t include CTAs in the first 15 seconds of the video
  3. Align with video content
  4. Experiment
  5. Track and optimize

1. Don’t use too many CTAs

Less is more. Overloading your viewers with multiple CTAs can dilute your message. So, stick to one or two key actions per video. 

With every CTA YouTube creators add, viewers are more likely to forget or ignore all the details mentioned. 

If your primary goal is to increase subscribers, prioritize a subscribe CTA over asking for likes, comments, and shares all at once. 

2. Don’t include CTAs in the first 15 seconds of the video

Adding CTAs at the beginning of your video can feel off-putting. Instead, use the first 15 seconds to hook your audience with an attention-grabbing statement or value proposition. Once they’re fully invested, introduce your CTA naturally.

For best results, place your most important CTA around the halfway mark, where viewer retention is typically at its highest.

3. Align with video content

Your CTAs should feel like a natural extension of your content. So, if your video is a tutorial, ask viewers to subscribe for similar tips. If it’s a product review, and for instance, you’re reviewing video conference equipment, include a CTA to check out the product in your description. 

This ensures your ask feels authentic rather than forced. Plus, relevance builds trust and increases the chances of your audience taking action.

4. Experiment

The truth is, there’s no perfect formula for CTAs. Not all CTAs will work for every audience. So, test different formats. You can experiment with verbal cues, cards, pinned comments, and on-screen graphics. You can also play around with different phrasing to see what gets the most reaction from your audience.

You can also make your CTAs feel like exclusive access. Instead of “Subscribe,” try “Join the club and get insider tips every week.” This small shift creates a sense of belonging and makes the action irresistible.

5. Track and optimize

Analytics are your best friend. 

Use YouTube Analytics to measure the performance of your CTAs.  Look at metrics like click-through rates, watch time, audience retention, and action per video.

Are viewers clicking the links in your description? Are your cards driving traffic to other videos? Use this data to refine your strategy over time. The data can also help you identify the best time to post for maximum views and engagement.

You can also do some A/B testing. For example, test two different CTAs in your pinned comments to see which performs better. You can compare “Comment your favorite recipe” versus “What dish do you want to see next?”, for example. 

Frequently asked questions

1. What is an CTA example?

A Call to Action (CTA) is a prompt designed to encourage users to take a specific action. Here’s an example for a webinar registration: “Don’t miss our webinar on test automation. Save your spot now! [Register here]”.

2. Is CTA a button or link?

A CTA on YouTube can be a clickable button, like those on end screens or cards, or a link in the description. Buttons are great for grabbing attention and driving quick actions like subscribing or watching another video, while links in the description work well for directing viewers to external sites or providing more details.

3. How do I create a CTA button?

To create a CTA button for YouTube, use features like End Screens and Cards. End Screens appear at the end of your video and can guide viewers to subscribe, watch another video, or visit a website. Simply set them up in YouTube Studio under the End Screen tab. 

Cards, on the other hand, are pop-ups that appear during the video and can direct viewers to videos, playlists, or external links. You can also design custom CTA graphics using tools like Canva and integrate them into your video with editing software. 

Lastly, include clickable links in your video description and verbally encourage viewers to take action.

It’s time to play around with CTAs in your YouTube channel!

Effective YouTube CTAs help you turn casual viewers into loyal subscribers, boost audience engagement, and drive action from viewers. From simple prompts like asking for likes and shares to strategic ones like linking to related content, CTAs play a key role in helping you grow your channel.

The key is to keep your CTAs clear and make sure they align with your content. Experiment with different CTAs to find what resonates and refine your strategy accordingly.

Are you ready to take your YouTube strategy to the next level? 

Sign up for SocialBee’s 14-day free trial and discover how our tools can help you manage, optimize, and grow your online presence effortlessly.

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About the author: Nico is the founder of Launch Space. The company works with enterprise SaaS and VoIP clients, helping them scale lead generation globally across EMEA, APAC, and other regions.

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