How To Make A YouTube End Screen: A Simple Guide [2024]

Creating engaging content is crucial for a successful YouTube channel, but keeping viewers on your channel is equally important. One effective way to achieve this is by using YouTube end screens. If you’re wondering how to make a YouTube end screen, this guide will walk you through the process step by step.

End screens not only keep your viewers engaged with your content but also drive them to take actions like subscribing to your channel, watching another video, or visiting your website.

In this exclusive guide, we will discuss how to make a YouTube end screen and strategically incorporate it into your content. By the end of this article, you will have a solid understanding of how to utilize end screens to their full potential.

What Is A YouTube End Screen?

A YouTube end screen is a feature that shows during the closing 5 to 20 seconds of your video. It’s a customizable space that allows you to promote other videos, playlists, websites, or encourage viewers to subscribe. Essentially, it’s an opportunity to guide your audience on what to do next after watching your video.

End screens can include four elements:

Video or Playlist: Promote YouTube video or playlist that best suits the viewer’s interest or fits the context of the current video.
Subscribe Button: Let viewers subscribe to your channel with one easy click.
Channel Promotion: Recommend other YouTube channels, which can help grow your network.
External Link: If you’re part of the YouTube Partner Program, you can link to an external website or online store.

Key Features of YouTube End Screens:

Duration: Can be set to appear within the last 5 to 20 seconds of your video.
Customizability: You can add up to four elements to design your end screen.
Timing Control: Choose exactly when and where you want the elements to appear within the end screen section of your video.

YouTube end screens are important tools for maintaining viewer engagement and ensuring your audience sticks around for more content, increasing your channel’s overall performance.

Importance Of YouTube End Screen

YouTube end screens serve multiple functions that benefit both the content creator and the viewer. Here are some of the major reasons why end screens are so important:

1. Increase View Time

One of the primary goals of any YouTube content creator is to keep viewers on their channel as long as possible. If you use it properly, end screens can entice viewers to watch another video or browse your playlists. This increases the overall watch time on your channel, which is a key metric for YouTube algorithm to suggest your content to more viewers.

Statistic: According to YouTube, channels with high watch time are more likely to be recommended on users’ home pages and in the ‘Up Next’ suggestions.

2. Boost Engagement

End screens offer a subtle yet effective way to engage viewers beyond just watching your content. Whether it’s prompting them to subscribe, follow your channel, or visit a recommended playlist, end screens drive engagement in a way that feels natural to the viewer. This is very important to build a community around your channel.

3. Drive Traffic to External Sites

For content creators who are part of the YouTube Partner Program, end screens allow you to link directly to your website or online store. This is one of the best YouTube tricks to turn passive viewers into active customers, increasing conversion rates and sales.

4. Improve User Experience

Rather than having your video abruptly end, a well-designed end screen can create a smooth transition for the viewer, guiding them to related content they might enjoy. It greatly improves the viewing experience, which makes your channel look more professional.

5. Increase Subscriber Count

Promoting your subscribe button at the end of a video when a viewer is most engaged is one of the best strategies to grow your subscriber base. Studies have shown that channels that actively encourage subscriptions through end screens often see an increase in their subscriber count.

Statistic: YouTube reports that channels with customized end screens experience up to a 25% increase in subscriptions.

How To Make A YouTube End Screen And Add It To YouTube Video

Now that we understand the importance of end screens, let’s dive into the process of creating and adding one to your YouTube videos.

Step 1: Prepare Your Video for End Screens

It’s always a good idea to plan the final 20 seconds of your video before you design an end screen. Make sure there’s a clear space for the end screen to be displayed without conflicting with important content in the video.

Step 2: Upload Your Video to YouTube

If you haven’t already, upload the video you want to add an end screen to. You can do this by clicking on the “Upload Video” button in your YouTube Studio.

Step 3: Access YouTube Studio

Once you upload a video, focus on YouTube Studio:

Visit the YouTube homepage and then select the profile option in the upper right corner.
From the dropdown menu, select YouTube Studio.

Step 4: Select Your Video

In YouTube Studio, navigate to the Content section from the left sidebar. Find the video you want to add an end screen to, and click the Details icon (pencil icon).

Step 5: Click on ‘End Screen’

Scroll down until you see the End Screen option, and click on it. This will take you to the end screen editor.

Step 6: Choose a Template or Customize

YouTube offers several predefined end screen templates to choose from, which can make things easier if you’re new to this feature. Alternatively, you can opt to customize your end screen by adding individual elements such as a video, playlist, or subscribe button.

Here’s the breaking down of the most popular components:

Video Element: You can choose to show your most recent video, let YouTube pick the best video for the viewer, or select a particular video or playlist.
Subscribe Element: This is a button that lets viewers subscribe to your channel with one click.
Channel Element: If you want to promote a partner channel or a collaborator, you can add a link to their channel.
External Link Element: If you’re eligible, you can link to your website or an associated online store.

Step 7: Position the Elements

After selecting your elements, drag and position them on the screen. You can resize the elements and adjust their placement to fit your video layout. Make sure they don’t obstruct any important visual details from the video.

Step 8: Set Timing

You can decide when the end-screen components display. For most creators, placing the elements in the last 20 seconds works best, but you can adjust the timing depending on the video’s flow.

Step 9: Preview and Save

Once you’ve customized your end screen, click on the Preview button to see how it looks. If you’re happy with the result, click Save to finalize the changes.

Additional Tips:

Consistency Matters: Keep your end screens consistent across videos. It will help your channel to impress your target audience.
Update Regularly: Change the videos and playlists you promote in the end screens periodically to keep content fresh.

Conclusion

Knowing how to make a YouTube end screen is a simple yet powerful way to maximize engagement, increase watch time, and grow your subscriber base. End screens act as a final touchpoint to keep viewers on your channel and direct them toward content that matters most. When strategically used, they can lead to a substantial increase in viewership, subscriptions, and even external traffic to your website or store.

The process of creating and adding an end screen to a YouTube video is straightforward and highly customizable. With the help of this guide, you should now be able to create effective end screens that not only enhance the viewer experience but also promote further engagement with your content.

Leverage the power of end screens, and watch your YouTube channel grow!