-
YouTube video sharing strategy for more traffic
I’m trying to figure out the best way to use my YouTube videos to drive more traffic and improve SEO, and I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Is it generally better to post direct YouTube links when I share on forums, Pinterest, X, etc.? Or would it be smarter to embed the video on my business website and then share that website link instead?
My main goal is to get more traffic coming back to me and hopefully show up in more search results. I’m not sure if linking straight to my YouTube video on my channel is the best option, or if I’d be better off pushing traffic to my own site where the video is embedded.
Or maybe there’s another strategy I haven’t thought of yet that works even better.
Has anyone here tested this or found one approach that clearly works best for SEO and traffic growth?
-
5 Replies
-
Great question—you’re thinking about this in exactly the right way. Here’s how the strategies break down:
Linking Directly to YouTubePros
- Boosts your YouTube channel authority (more views, watch time, likes, and subscribers).
- It helps videos rank higher in YouTube searches and may even land on Google video search results.
- Viewers may binge-watch your other videos when they reach your channel.
Cons
- Traffic ends up on YouTube, not your own website.
- YouTube could recommend competitor videos right after yours.
- Less control over capturing leads or driving sales directly.
Embedding Video on Your Website and Sharing That LinkPros
- Drives all traffic to your site (where you control calls-to-action, lead capture forms, and internal links).
- Increases time on site and lowers your bounce rate, giving you SEO benefits.
- Builds your site’s domain authority, since backlinks point to your site, not YouTube.
- Allows you to optimize with schema markup (VideoObject), which can give you rich snippets (thumbnail, duration) in search results.
Cons
- Views on your embedded video may not count as strongly for YouTube’s algorithm as native views.
- YouTube channel authority grows more slowly when most visitors are sent to your site.
Hybrid “Best of Both Worlds” Strategy
This is the move that elite SEO and video pros swear by:
- Upload your video directly to YouTube.
- Title, tags, and description should all have keywords.
- Don’t forget to add timestamps!
Create a blog post that echoes the video:
- Place the video at the top, add detailed text, FAQs, internal links, and clear call-to-action buttons.
- Blast the blog URL on forums, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and any channel you love.
- BAM: You build quality backlinks to your domain.
- The blog collects traffic and juice from Google.
- YouTube still racks up views, pumping those algorithms.
Now and then, drop the raw YouTube URL in spaces that love pure video—think Reddit and niche Facebook groups.
Advanced Tips for More Traffic & SEO
- Include a transcript or a blog-style summary just below the embedded video. More text means more keywords.
- Don’t skip schema markup (VideoObject).
- It helps the video pop up in Google results.
- Make Pinterest pins linking to the blog, not just the YouTube page.
- When you post on forums, share helpful insights, then gently leave a link to your blog post with the embedded video.
- It’s much less spammy than slinging a plain YouTube URL.
- Remember those strong CTAs: “Apply Now,” “Get Quote,” and “Call GCA.” They get clicks!
Bottom line:
When your top focus is growing your brand and driving visitors back to your business, the winning move is to send folks to your website with videos and helpful articles included.
However, if growing your YouTube channel is your primary aim, send traffic straight to the YouTube page.
Using the website-first strategy with embedded videos is the wiser choice for your business, which ultimately wants to bring in mortgage leads. It builds your long-term SEO and gets leads in the door.
-
Thank you for the detailed response. That is very helpful information. I appreciate all the advice. I’ll keep you updated on how it all works out!
-
We’re so glad the information was helpful! Please keep us updated—we’d love to hear how things work out for you. And remember, if any new questions come up, you can always post here in the forums or call us at 800-900-8569. At Gustan Cho Associates, you’ve got a team and a community ready to support you at every step.
-
This reply was modified 5 months, 3 weeks ago by Brandon.
-
This reply was modified 5 months, 3 weeks ago by
-
-
Gustan Cho Associates is a mortgage broker based in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, known for its ability to secure loans for borrowers in various situations (https://www.bbb.org/us/il/oakbrook-terrace/profile/mortgage-broker/gustan-cho-associates-0654-1000038430). They boast a national reputation for handling complex loans that other lenders might reject (https://www.bbb.org/us/il/oakbrook-terrace/profile/mortgage-broker/gustan-cho-associates-0654-1000038430, https://www.zillow.com/lender-profile/GustanCho/).
Here’s a quick rundown of Gustan Cho Associates:
* Services: Gustan Cho Associates specializes in securing mortgages for borrowers with complex situations, including those who have been denied loans elsewhere (https://www.bbb.org/us/il/oakbrook-terrace/profile/mortgage-broker/gustan-cho-associates-0654-1000038430, https://www.zillow.com/lender-profile/GustanCho/). They offer various loan options, including FHA, VA, USDA, conventional, and non-QM mortgages (https://gustancho.com/contact-us/).
* Area of Expertise: They have a strong reputation for handling non-prime mortgages, which are loans for borrowers who may not qualify for traditional loans due to credit score, income, or other factors (https://www.bbb.org/us/il/oakbrook-terrace/profile/mortgage-broker/gustan-cho-associates-0654-1000038430).
* Licensing and Reach: Gustan Cho Associates is licensed in 48 states and appears to be expanding to include Massachusetts and New York soon (https://gustancho.com/contact-us/).
Here are some resources to learn more:
* Gustan Cho Associates website: https://gustancho.com/
* Gustan Cho Associates’ profile on Better Business Bureau: https://www.bbb.org/us/il/oakbrook-terrace/profile/mortgage-broker/gustan-cho-associates-0654-1000038430
* Gustan Cho’s profile on Zillow: https://www.zillow.com/lender-profile/GustanCho/
-
You should not select either YouTube Links OR Website Embeds. You should utilize both on purpose. Each for a different purpose.
In this case, let’s illustrate it through a practical example, as approved by GCA.
YouTube wants ___ ___ _vs. _____ __ _wants
Two goals are different but interconnected.
YouTube Discovery Growth via:
- Added views, watch time, likes, comments, CTR → enhanced ranking in YouTube & Google video results.
Your Brand & Site Growth, which results in:
- Increased traffic to gustancho.com and/or gcaforums.com.
- Increased leads, signups, phone calls, and EEAT signals.
Their goals are in conjunction but also divergent at times:
- You send everyone to YouTube, which is fine for channel growth but not ideal for site traffic.
- You send everyone to your website, which is great for your brand and leads, but you destroy in-platform engagement signals that help the video rank.
So, the approach is:
- Use YouTube links when the platform tends to favor native video discovery.
- When you need to focus on SEO, EEAT, and conversions, go for website links.
Pros & Cons: Direct YouTube Link & Website Embed
Direct YouTube Link (youtube.com/youtu.be)
Pros:
- Increases session time and watch time on YouTube.
- This helps the video and your channel in the YouTube algorithm.
- On some forums, X, and other platforms, it is easier for users (because they recognize and trust YouTube, they can click and play it with no hassles).
- Often, it will create a nice thumbnail card video preview, which helps increase your click-through rate.
- More engagement signals to help rank the video.
Cons:
- You are losing control of your audience.
- Viewers watch your video and are then completely drawn to suggested videos (which are mostly your competitors).
- Does very little to boost the SEO and EEAT on gustancho.com unless they stumble upon you later.
Best Use Cases:
The platform is heavily video-centric:
- YouTube (obviously), Shorts, Stories, YouTube Community tab.
- On X posts where you want pure video engagement.
- Some forums that automate YouTube.
- The focus is to boost the video’s performance on YouTube.
Sharing the YouTube Page Link After The Video is Uploaded.
This includes the steps listed below:
- Create/optimize a blog page within gustancho. Embed the video from YouTube.
- Share the embedded video link from your site via forums, X, Pinterest, email, and other platforms.
Pros:
- Primary leads (with forms, phone, CTAs, calculators, internal links, etc.).
- They are accessing your site property.
- You are building first-party data with the help of email opt-ins or analytics.
- More topical authority and internal links garnered on a page increase the chances of ranking for long-tail keyword queries.
- Google appreciates content with different media formats.
- You most definitely receive YouTube views with the embedded player.
Cons:
- YouTube video cards are far more visually appealing than the unappealing previews created by YouTube and other video services.
- More users may abandon the page if they find the cluttered page to be tedious.
- This is a hassle for users who prefer a video.
Best Use Cases:
- Pinterest: It allows users to link directly to the article pages with embedded videos.
- Forums where you can include links and contextual information (e.g., GCA Forums, niche real estate forums).
- Posts on Facebook and LinkedIn where the purpose is conversions (apply now, call, read guide).
- Email newsletters (New video: How to Qualify for FHA with Chapter 13 – Watch and Read Here).
What’s the “best” for SEO and traffic?
For Pure YouTube SEO (Video Rankings):
YouTube’s algorithm does not care about the origin of the views, but:
- Strong audience retention.
- Good click-through rate.
- Significant engagement (likes, comments, subscriptions).
This is what truly makes a difference:
- Direct YouTube links, along with ease of liking/commenting on the platform, support these signals.
- For Google/website SEO + traffic back to you:
- Shooting embedded videos into certain relevant and well-optimized blog posts on the website is the clear winner.
- Then promote that blog post URL on all your other channels.
Thus, the real answer is:
- Use YouTube links to increase your channel and video authority.
- Use your website URLs with embedded videos to enhance your SEO, traffic, and leads.
- You want both engines running.
A Simple Hybrid Strategy You Can Actually Follow
- This is a working playbook for you and GCA.
Step 1: Each Serious Video Targets a Homepage on Your Website.
For each serious video (not every 10-second meme), create:
An SEO’d blog on gustancho.com or gcaforums.com that contains:
- Exact or close equivalent to YouTube title, modified for keywords.
- 800–2,000 words of supporting content (transcript, cleaned, and written FAQs + extra internal link explanation).
- YouTube video (embedded, above the fold).
- Strong CTAs (Apply Now, Call 800-900-8569 for related guides/calculators).
- Schema if you want to get fancy (VideoObject / Article schema later).
- This page becomes the canonical “hub” for the topic.
Step 2: The YouTube Description Always Redirects Back to That Hub
Do the following in the YouTube description:
- First external link in the description.
- Read the full guide & see details: https://gustancho.com/your-slug-here
Then your usual:
- A summary.
- Bullet points.
- Call us, etc.
- Now the flow of traffic is YouTube → Site → More pages → Lead.
Step 3. A Rule-of-Thumb to Social Sharing
Whenever you decide to share content, always note the following:
- Forums (especially niche or your own GCA forums).
Where it applies, share your website article URL alongside:
- A brief overview.
- A few important bullet points.
- And add, “Video inside if you prefer to watch.”
- In a “video first” culture, you can share the YouTube link and the complete guide.
- YoYouTubeere: [link] or read full breakdown here: [site link].
Pinterest:
- Optimal: Pin that directs to the blog post and not the YouTube article.
- Employ vertical images with the title: (“How to Get a Mortgage After Bankruptcy”) and add:
- Video + full guide on the page.
X (Twitter):
- Rotate the content.
- Certain posts include a direct YouTube link (to increase engagement with the video).
- Certain posts = link to the article (to direct people to your website).
- A light thread is acceptable: first tweet with a hook + link to the article, and a second reply tweet with the YouTube link for people who prefer the native video.
Facebook / LinkedIn:
- If the desire is conversations & comments on the pain points of mortgages, the YouTube link works.
- To gain leads & SEO traffic → use this article with the video included.
Email List:
- Always begin by linking to your site page.
- You can also include “Or watch on YouTube here” as a secondary link.
Who Wants to A/B Test for Science?
Since you seem to care about data and the numbers, I’d suggest you A/B test this with almost no friction:
- Identify 2 or 3 new videos around similar topics (ie, FHA/VA/Non-QM).
- For each video, publish a corresponding article on your website.
For one chosen channel (ex., X or a major forum where you spend much time):
- For Video A: Post only the YouTube link.
- For Video B: Post only the link to the blog post with the video embedded.
Monitor For Around 2 Weeks:
- In YouTube Studio: Views, CTR, how long people stayed, and sources of traffic.
- In Google Analytics or GCA: Sessions, how long people stayed, scroll depth, and conversions from that social channel.
From this, you will see:
- In which areas do people prefer YouTube?
- In which areas are people willing to click on the link to the article?
- Then change your automatic settings for each platform.
Focus Your Efforts on These Engaging Tasks
Whenever you share a new mortgage video on YouTube:
- Write or refine an SEO blog on gustancho.com or gcaforums.com.
- Embed the video in the online article. Ensure it is placed near the top.
- Append transcript file, pertinent sublinks, scrollable CTAs, and additional sublinkable files, and interlinks to the video.
Place The Video URL at The Beginning of The YouTube Video Description
Post and share both.
- Use the Video file on certain posts on YouTube to help the channel grow.
- Use the article on the site post, emphasizing SEO & leads on certain posts.
On Forums and Pinterest, Remote More Your Website URL Where The Video File is Uploaded
As the next step, if you’d like,
- I can take any existing YouTube file you have and
- Write out an approximate first draft blog post for gustancho.com, providing a blog post template with the included H2s and internal linking suggestions, along with CTAs and an FAQ block.
- I can create a basic Video SEO hub template that you can use for uploading additional videos.
https://gustancho.com/seo-marketing-for-loan-officers/
Log in to reply.