YouTube End Screen: How to Turn Viewers into Leads

I'm going to show you how to implement YouTube end screens effectively and share the strategy I use to build my business through this channel. While my channel is still relatively junior, I've managed to create a six-figure business by applying a tested strategy that works for my brand.

End screens are tools that direct viewers to take another action, whether that's watching another video, subscribing to your channel, or visiting a landing page. The approach you take should depend on your subscriber count and business goals. If you have under 1,000 subscribers, focus on encouraging subscriptions and keeping viewers engaged with your content. Once you reach 1,000 subscribers and join the YouTube Partner Program, you can add links to your website or landing pages, which is how you start growing a business off your channel.

Key Takeaways

• End screens direct viewers to next actions like watching more videos, subscribing, or visiting your website.
• Channels under 1,000 subscribers should focus on subscribe buttons, while larger channels can add website links to capture leads.
• Always ensure your landing page or call-to-action is relevant to the video content for maximum conversion.

Understanding YouTube End Screens

Purpose and Benefits

An end screen signposts viewers to either a next video, another action, or a playlist on your channel. The aim is YouTube wants those eyeballs and wants you to create binge-worthy content for people to watch the next video and the next one.

If you're trying to grow a business off the back of your YouTube channel, end screens become a strategic tool. I've managed to build a six-figure business off the back of my channel by applying a strategy that I've tested and know works for my brand.

Before you start to create any kind of video, you need to understand what the video is for, who it's helping, what the action steps are at the end of it, and how you can position your business in order to grow it off the back of your channel. If viewers got immense value from watching your video, you need to position the most logical next step for them.

Core Elements and Options

When you scroll down on the right-hand side in your YouTube studio content section, you'll see end screens. There are several elements you can add by clicking on the top left-hand corner:

• Video
• Playlist
• Subscribe button
• Another channel
• Link

End Screen Templates

You have multiple options for creating your end screen:

1. Import from a previous video - If you've already built out a template and used it for a previous video, you can simply import from another video
2. Build one by one - Click playlist, video, subscribe, channel, or link individually
3. Select YouTube templates - YouTube provides a series of pre-made templates

Strategy Based on Subscriber Count

Under 1,000 subscribers: I would say you may want to invite viewers to subscribe to your channel. Use the subscribe button along with another video. I would just say use the subscribe button so you're encouraging people to subscribe to your channel so you can get over 1,000 subscribers so then you can actually link out to your website.

Over 1,000 subscribers: You can actually use the link out option. If you have any kind of landing page and you're part of the YouTube partner program, you can link out to your website.

Video Options

For video elements, you can choose:

• Most recent upload - Rotates through your latest content
• Best for viewer - YouTube recommends based on what content your viewer is watching
• Choose a specific video - Push people to one call to action for all your videos

My advice would be if you don't have an idea of this, just click best for viewer. The idea is somebody watching your video will then get recommended a relevant next video and they can click onto that.

Link Out Strategy

If you're going to offer a free opt-in product in the way of generating leads then sales down the line, it's got to be super relevant to the content in your video. I'm capturing leads for my business and growing a business off the back of my YouTube channel.

You can customize your link with a custom message and a quick logo of your brand. You can click and drag where you want these elements or when you want them to appear in the window.

I would actually say if you have one call to action that's more weighted over the other, you could have the click out appear a little bit ahead of the best video for viewers. You can't just have a link out to your website - you have to signpost to another video best for viewer.

Time-Saving Tools

I have a TubeBuddy template attached and have set up a number of templates within my TubeBuddy account. I can just click on different templates based on the video topic, and it loads in my dynamic element and link.

The whole aim of my YouTube channel is to grow some kind of online footprint and online following to serve people, help people, add value, and get results upfront. Then I offer the next step for those small percentage of people who will want to learn a little bit more from me.

Step-by-Step Setup in YouTube Studio

Navigating to End Screens

I click on content in my YouTube studio. Then I go to my latest upload.

When I scroll all the way down on the right hand side, I see end screens. An end screen is something that I use to signpost a viewer to either a next video or to take another action or watch a playlist on my channel.

The aim is YouTube wants those eyeballs. It wants me to create binge-worthy content for people just to watch the next one and the next one.

Adding and Customizing Elements

If I click on the top left hand corner, I can add several elements:

• Video
• Playlist
• Subscribe button
• Another channel
• Link

I look at the right hand side where my video appears with a little bit of a hashed mark. This is where my end screens are going to appear.

For channels under 1,000 subscribers: I use the subscribe button and another video element. I set the video to best for viewer so somebody watching my video will then just get recommended a relevant next video and they can go and click onto that.

For channels over 1,000 subscribers: I can use the link out option. I create a custom message like "free jump start guide" and add a quick logo of my brand. If I'm going to offer a free opt-in product in the way of generating leads, then sales down the line, it's got to be super relevant to the content in my video.

I click and drag where I want these or when I want these to appear in the window. If I have one call to action that is more weighted over the other, I can have the click out appear a little bit ahead of the best video for viewer. I can't just have a link out to my website. I have to signpost to another video or best for viewer.

Using End Screen Templates

I can use end screen templates in several ways. I either import from a previous video if I've already built out a template and used it before. I simply find that video and click it to import that template.

Or I can do it one by one just by clicking playlist, video, subscribe, channel, or link. I can also select YouTube templates that give me a series of pre-made options.

Available template options:

I have a TubeBuddy template attached which saves me time. I've set up a number of templates within my TubeBuddy account. I can just click on the relevant template for my content. If I'm talking about YouTube end screens, I click that template and it loads in my dynamic element and my link. I click apply section to this video. It refreshes and then I go back in and double check that the end screen has loaded up properly.

Before I create any kind of video, I understand what this video is for, who it's helping, what the action steps are at the end of it, and how I can position my business in order to grow it off the back of my channel.

Strategic Placement for Maximum Engagement

Optimizing for Viewer Retention

I use a specific strategy when choosing what elements to include in my end screens. If you have under 1,000 subscribers, I'd include a subscribe button alongside another video element. This encourages people to follow your channel while keeping them engaged with your content.

Once you're over 1,000 subscribers and part of the YouTube partner program, you can add a link-out card to your website. I always pair this with a "best for viewer" video recommendation. You can't just have a link to your website on its own—you must signpost to another video as well.

For the video element, you have three options:

• Most recent upload - Shows your latest video
• Best for viewer - YouTube recommends relevant content based on what the viewer watches
• Choose a specific video - You manually select which video to promote

I recommend using the best for viewer option if you don't have a specific call to action. YouTube will recommend a relevant next video, which helps create that binge-worthy experience the platform wants.

If you're trying to grow a business, make sure any link you include is highly relevant to the video content. I only link to landing pages that directly relate to what I'm discussing in that specific video.

Configuring Timing and Layout

I adjust when my end screen elements appear by clicking and dragging them within the timeline. The last few seconds of your video is where these elements show up, marked by a hashed section on the right side of your editor.

If one call to action is more important than the other, I make it appear first. In my videos, I have the click-out card to my website appear slightly ahead of the best video for viewer element. This gives priority to the business-building action while still offering viewers another video option.

TubeBuddy templates save me significant time. I've set up multiple templates within my TubeBuddy account for different topics:

I simply click the relevant template, apply it to the video, and the dynamic elements load automatically. I always double-check that the end screen has loaded properly before finalizing.

You can also add graphical overlays that appear during your end screen. I coordinate my spoken words with these visual elements, verbally calling people to action as the cards appear on screen.

Tailoring Calls to Action by Channel Size

Inviting Subscribers for Newer Channels

If you have under 1,000 subscribers, I would say you may want to invite them to subscribe to your channel. This approach focuses on building your audience first before you can access other features.

When setting up your end screen template, I'd probably choose one that includes a subscribe button and another video element. You have a few options for the video component:

• Most recent upload - Shows your latest content
• Best for viewer - YouTube recommends content based on what the viewer is watching
• Choose a specific video - Push people to one specific call to action across all videos

My advice would be if you don't have an idea of this, just click best for viewer. The idea is somebody watching your video will then just get recommended a relevant next video and they can go and click onto that.

I would say use the subscribe button here so you're encouraging people to subscribe to your channel so you can get over 1,000 subscribers so then you can actually link out to your website. You can't just have a link out to your website at this stage. You have to signpost to another video best for viewer.

Linking to External Pages for Established Channels

If you have over 1,000 subscribers, you can actually use the link out option. This is where the real business growth happens if you're part of the YouTube partner program.

I use a click-out card that links to my landing page where I capture leads for my business. This is me growing a business off the back of my YouTube channel. For example, I link to my free jump start guide, which is super relevant to the content I'm sharing in the video.

Setting up the link element:

1. Add a custom message (e.g., "free jump start guide")
2. Include a quick logo of your brand
3. People can then click out onto a landing page

You can click and drag where you want these elements or when you want them to appear in the window. I would actually say if you have one call to action that is more weighted over the other, you could actually have the click-out appear a little bit ahead of the best video for viewers.

As you can see in my setup, the last few seconds I have got my link out to my website appear first and then a link out to another video. This is how you grow a business off the back of your channel.

For me in my business, the whole aim of this YouTube channel is to grow some kind of online footprint, grow some kind of online following to serve people, to help people, to add value and get results upfront and then offer the next step for those small percentage of people who will want to learn a little bit more from you. That is how I link out my landing pages.

If they got immense value from watching your video, what could you position as the most logical next step for them? If it is something about your teaching, if they want to go deeper with you, offer something like a free opt-in product and link out to your website if you have over a thousand subscribers.

Leveraging End Screens for Business Growth

Promoting Lead Magnets

If you have over 1,000 subscribers, you can use the link element on end screens. This is where I capture leads for my business and grow it off the back of my YouTube channel.

My free jump start guide serves as an example of this strategy. When offering a free opt-in product to generate leads and sales down the line, it must be super relevant to the content in your video.

I position the click-out card to appear first, with the best video for viewer element appearing after. You cannot just have a link out to your website alone. You have to signpost to another video option as well.

Key requirements for linking out:

• Must have over 1,000 subscribers
• Must be part of the YouTube Partner Program
• Link content must be relevant to video topic

I use a custom message on the link element, such as "free jump start guide," along with my brand logo. The card appears in the final seconds of the video, giving viewers the option to click out to a landing page.

For the link setup, you can click and drag where you want elements to appear in the time window. If one call to action is more weighted over the other, you can have the click-out appear ahead of the best video for viewers element.

Integrating Landing Pages

I've built a six-figure business off the back of this channel by applying a strategy I've tested. The whole aim of my YouTube channel is to grow an online footprint and following to serve people, help them, add value, and get results upfront.

I then offer the next step for those small percentage of people who want to learn more from me. This is where landing pages come into play through end screens.

Before creating any video, I understand what the video is for, who it's helping, what the action steps are at the end, and how I can position my business to grow it off the back of my channel.

I also use a graphical overlay in my videos. I call people to action in my verbiage, with the words coming out of my mouth matching the end screen elements.

My landing page strategy includes:

When you reach 1,000 subscribers and become part of the YouTube Partner Program, you can link out to your website in far more places than just end screens. This expands your ability to drive traffic to landing pages throughout your content.

Best Practices for End Screen Templates

Saving Time with TubeBuddy

I have a TubeBuddy template attached that saves me so much time. I've set up a number of templates within my TubeBuddy account.

I can just click on the relevant template based on the video topic. If I'm talking about Kajabi, I have a Kajabi end screen. If I'm talking about my online revenue workshop, I have a workshop end screen.

When I'm talking about YouTube end screens, I just click that template and it loads in my dynamic element and my link. I simply click apply section to the video, let it refresh, and click okay.

Then I go back in and double check that the end screen has loaded up properly. This approach eliminates the need to manually build end screens for every single video.

Customizing for Content Themes

Before I start to create any kind of video, I understand what the video is for, who it's helping, what the action steps are at the end of it, and how I can position my business to grow it off the back of my channel.

I align my end screen templates with the specific content theme of each video. My TubeBuddy setup includes different templates for different content categories:

• Topic-specific templates for recurring themes like platform tutorials
• Product-specific templates for videos featuring particular tools or services
• Workshop templates for promotional or educational series content

Each template is pre-configured with the appropriate link and video recommendations. When the video content matches a specific theme, I select that corresponding template.

The link I use in my end screen is super relevant to the content I'm sharing in the video. If I'm offering a free opt-in product to generate leads, it has to be super relevant to the content in the video.

I also use graphical overlays that match my call to action. I say it in my verbiage—the words that are coming out of my mouth are calling people to action. This consistency between what I'm saying and what appears on screen reinforces the viewer's next step.

Actionable Tips for Effective Video Endings

I navigate to my YouTube Studio by clicking on content, then selecting my latest upload. On the right-hand side, scrolling all the way down reveals the end screens option.

An end screen is a tool to signpost viewers to either a next video, another action, or a playlist on my channel. YouTube wants those eyeballs and wants me to create binge-worthy content for people to watch the next one and the next one.

Available End Screen Elements:

• Video
• Playlist
• Subscribe button
• Another channel
• Link

I can build end screens using templates in three ways. First, I can import from a previous video if I've already built out a template. Second, I can add elements one by one manually. Third, I can select from YouTube's pre-made template options.

On the right-hand side of the editing screen, there's a hashed mark showing where end screens will appear in my video.

For channels under 1,000 subscribers: I use the subscribe button along with another video element. I select "best for viewer" to let YouTube recommend a relevant next video based on what the viewer is watching, or I can choose a specific video if I want to push people toward one call to action for all my videos.

For channels over 1,000 subscribers: I have the option to use a link-out element. I can add a landing page to capture leads for my business. The free opt-in product must be relevant to the content in the video.

I create a custom message and add my brand logo for the link-out element. I can click and drag where I want these elements to appear and when I want them to show up in the timeline.

If I have one call to action weighted over the other, I position the click-out element to appear slightly ahead of the best video for viewers. I cannot use just a link-out to my website alone; I must also signpost to another video or use the best for viewer option.

Template Options to Consider:

I think about what I want people to do if they got immense value from watching my video and position the most logical next step for them.

For my business strategy, I use this YouTube channel to grow an online footprint and following. I serve people, help them, add value, and get results upfront. Then I offer the next step for the small percentage of people who want to learn more from me.

I use TubeBuddy to save time with templates. I've set up multiple templates within my TubeBuddy account for different topics. I can click on the relevant template, and it loads in my dynamic element and link. I apply the section to the video, let it refresh, then double-check that the end screen loaded properly.

I position my link to appear first, followed by the best video for viewer. I also use a graphical overlay and call people to action with my words. Before I create any video, I understand what the video is for, who it's helping, what the action steps are at the end, and how I can position my business to grow it off the back of my channel.

The strategy focuses on linking out to my website while also offering viewers a best next video option. This approach allows me to capture leads while keeping viewers engaged with my content.