How to Add a YouTube Link to a Facebook Story

Driving traffic from a Facebook Story to your latest YouTube video should be simple, but it rarely is. Between algorithm changes and hidden features, just getting a clickable link to show up can feel like a win. This guide walks you through the exact steps to add that link successfully, plus some practical strategies to actually get people to tap through and boost your views.

Why Bother Linking to YouTube from a Facebook Story?

You might be wondering if it's worth the effort. Is anyone really leaving Facebook mid-scroll to watch a long-form video? The answer is a resounding yes, but only if you give them a good reason. For creators and marketers, this cross-promotion tactic is one of the most effective ways to build a strong, multi-platform brand presence. Think of it as a bridge between two different worlds.

Your Facebook Stories are ephemeral, high-engagement touchpoints. They reach your audience in a casual, behind-the-scenes format where they're already active. Your audience here is often warmer and more familiar with you.

Your YouTube channel, on the other hand, is home to your evergreen, long-form content - the videos you spend hours, or even days, producing. This is where you build authority, dive deep into topics, and often, monetize your content. Sending viewers from the fast-paced world of Stories to your thoughtfully crafted YouTube videos accomplishes a few key goals:

• Increases Watch Time & AVD: Bringing an engaged audience from Facebook can boost your video's initial performance, signaling to the YouTube algorithm that your content is worth promoting further.
• Grows Your Subscriber Base: You're tapping into a pool of followers who already like your content on one platform. Asking them to subscribe on another is a natural next step, growing a more committed community.
• Creates a Stronger Content Ecosystem: Instead of having two separate platforms, you're creating a cohesive brand experience where your content on one promotes the other. This synergy is what separates part-time creators from full-fledged media brands.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Adding a YouTube Link to Your Facebook Story

Facebook has simplified this process over the years. Gone are the days of needing 10,000 followers for a "Swipe Up" link. Today, virtually all business and creator accounts have access to the "Link" sticker. Here’s a breakdown of exactly how to use it, step-by-step, so there’s no guesswork.

Step 1: Get Your YouTube Video Link

First, you need the URL for the specific YouTube video you want to promote. Don't just link to your channel homepage - send people directly to the video you're talking about to reduce friction.

1. Open the YouTube app or website.
2. Navigate to the video you want to share.
3. Below the video player, find and tap the "Share" button.
4. From the pop-up options, tap "Copy link." The URL is now saved to your clipboard.

Step 2: Create Your Facebook Story

With the link copied, it's time to head over to Facebook. You need a background for your link - a simple photo or a short video clip works best.

1. Open the Facebook app and tap the “Create Story” button at the top of your feed.
2. Select a photo or video from your camera roll to use as the background for your Story. This visual is your "hook," so make it relevant and intriguing.

Step 3: Add and Customize the Link Sticker

This is where it all comes together. With your background media in the Story editor, you'll now add the sticker that makes your Story clickable.

1. At the top of the Story editor screen, tap the sticker icon (it looks like a square smiley face).
2. In the sticker tray, find and select the one that says “Link.” You may need to scroll or use the search bar.
3. A new screen will pop up asking for your URL. Tap the field and paste the YouTube link you copied earlier.
4. Once pasted, a button that says "Customize sticker text" will appear. This is the most important part! By default, the sticker shows the plain URL, which isn't very appealing. Tap this button to change the text to a compelling call-to-action (CTA).
5. Place the sticker somewhere visible on your Story. You can pinch to resize it or drag it to your preferred spot.
6. Hit the "Share" button to publish your Story!

That's it. Your story will now go live with a tappable link that directs viewers right to your YouTube video.

Beyond the Click: How to Make Your Links Irresistible

Simply adding a link isn't a strategy. To drive real results, you need to convince your audience that clicking through is worth their time. Remember, you’re asking them to stop what they're doing and switch apps. Here are a few proven methods to make that decision easy for them.

1. Tease Your Best Content, Don't Just Announce It

Instead of just a static image saying "New Video Online," share a short, 15-second clip from the YouTube video itself. Choose the most visually interesting, funniest, or plot-twisting moment. End the clip on a cliffhanger, making viewers genuinely curious about what happens next. Frame it with text like, "The full story is in our new video!" and place the link sticker right over the text.

2. The "Talking Head" Story

Record a quick, unfiltered video of yourself talking directly to the camera. This personal approach performs incredibly well. You could say something like:

“Hey guys, my new video on packing for a solo trip just went live. I shared the one item I absolutely cannot travel without - it’s probably not what you think. If you’re curious, tap the link right here to find out what it is.”

This method builds trust and leverages your personal connection with your audience. It feels less like an ad and more like a recommendation from a friend.

3. Use Polls or Quizzes to Warm-Up the Audience

Create a short Story sequence to build engagement before you drop the link. For example:

• Story 1 (Poll): “Working on a new DIY coffee table project. Should I paint it black or keep the natural wood?" [Poll Sticker: Black vs. Natural]
• Story 2 (Link): “Okay, the votes are in... the entire process is now live on our YouTube channel. See which one we chose and how to build your own! Tap here to watch.”

By engaging them first, you make the audience feel like a part of the process, making them more invested and likely to click.

4. Design Your Story to Guide Their Eyes

How you visually construct your Story matters. Use Facebook’s built-in tools to guide attention directly to your link sticker. You can:

• Add animated GIFs of arrows pointing toward the link sticker.
• Use the text tool to create visual emphasis, like placing a bold underline beneath the sticker.
• Pick a contrasting background color for the text inside your sticker to make it pop. "WATCH NOW" in bright yellow is a lot more effective than muted gray.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Not everything goes smoothly all the time. Here are some of the most common hiccups and what to do if you encounter them.

"Where Is My Link Sticker?"

If you open the sticker tray and can't find the link option, don't panic. This usually happens for one of a few reasons:

• Your App is Outdated: This is the most common reason. Head to the App Store or Google Play Store and check if the Facebook app has an update pending.
• You're Using a Personal Profile: While the feature is widely available now, it's prioritized for Business Pages and accounts set to Creator Mode. If you're running your brand off a standard personal profile, switch to a professional page for access to this and other valuable business tools.
• Temporary Glitch: Sometimes, apps just have bad days. Try restarting your phone or clearing the app cache. It might just be a temporary bug.

“No One is Clicking on My Link”

If the link is live but the clicks aren’t coming, the problem is most likely with your strategy, not the tech.

• Reread the “Beyond the Click” section above. Are you giving people a compelling reason to leave the platform? A single photo with a bare URL is usually not enough.
• Check your Story insights. Facebook provides data on Story views and link taps. Where in your Story series are people dropping off? If they exit on the slide with the link sticker, your call-to-action isn't strong enough. If they drop off before that, your setup isn't holding their attention.
• Weak CTA on the sticker. Defaulting to 'youtube.com...' as the sticker text feels generic. Did you customize it with something intriguing like "Read the Full Recipe" or "See the Final Transformation"?

Final Thoughts

Linking from your Facebook Story to a YouTube video is a powerful way to bridge the gap between your casual, daily audience and your high-value evergreen content. Using the link sticker is straightforward, but the real success lies in your creative approach - teasing your content and building genuine curiosity is what transforms passive Story viewers into active YouTube-watchers.

Strategically planning this kind of cross-platform promotion - from short-form clips to long-form videos - is what separates brands that grow from those that stagnate. We actually built Postbase because we lived the headache of making all these moving pieces work together. Our visual calendar was designed to map out a complete content plan, letting you see exactly how your Stories, Reels, and TikToks can support a major YouTube launch. By planning ahead, you're not just throwing links into the void, you're building a content engine where every piece supports the others.