Mastering YouTube: Ultimate Guide to Live 360-Degree Streams

How to live streaming 360 video to youtube

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

• Part1.Stream 360 to Youtube via Ricoh Theta S and OBS on PC
• Part2.Live Stream from Allie 360 Camera to YouTube on Mobile

1. Stream 360 to Youtube via Ricoh Theta S and OBS on PC

Step 1: First of all you need to get ready with your Ricoh Theta S 360 camera unit.

Step 2: Now visit the official website of Theta 360 in order to download your dedicated live streaming application.

Step 3: Get your application and install it on your Mac or PC as per need.

Step 4: It is time to plug in to your Ricoh Theta S 360 camera using your PC.

Step 5: Now select your device ‘Ricoh Theta S’ and then hit Okay.

Step 6: You will find option to register to application with your respective device. Select and hit register.

Step 7: As soon as your registration process is complete then un-plug your USB cable.

Step 8: It is time to turn the Ricoh Theta device to Live Mode; you simple need to press the top power and lower video button simultaneously to directly switch to the live mode.

Step 9: Once your device enters into Live Stream mode then a Led will start blinking on your device that represents your device is live at this moment.

Step 10: Now you need to plug in the USB cable again with your computer.

Step 11: Visit the official site of OBS and download your software; install it on your system.

Step 12: Go to create scene option and then switch to create sources.

Step 13: Select video capture device as your source from drop down menu.

Step 14: Now from available list select Theta UVC as your active video capture source.

Step 15: You need to adjust screen as per your requirements.

Step 16: Now move to YouTube and then hit New Live Events option.

Step 17: Complete the basic information.

Step 18: You need to move to advanced settings now; select 360 live stream option and then create event.

Step 19: Now complete the ingesting settings and finally select create new stream option.

Step 20: As soon as your event is created then you will be able to find your stream name on screen, copy it and simply paste it on OBS window.

Step 21: It is time to return to OBS settings and then you need to paste that copied name on stream key option.

Step 22: Once all above settings are complete then click start stream option from your OBS window and you will soon be able to find your 360 live on YouTube.

2.Live Stream from Allie 360 Camera to YouTube on Mobile

Step 1: Get ready with your Allie 360 camera unit.

Step 2: Visit YouTube and then hit the option to create your live event.

Step 3: It is time to download your Allie Application and then get it installed on your device.

• Prefer to use this link if you are working on iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/app/allie-home/id1063986074
• Android users need to visit: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.icrealtime.allie

Step 4: As soon as you have downloaded your app then simply turn on the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and air plane mode on your device.

Step 5: Simply open your Allie application and then connect your camera.

Step 6: Now users need to hit stream icon on screen.

Step 7: You will be asked to fill the necessary information about your video. It is also possible to make adjustments regarding video quality. Once you are done with all required settings then hit Submit option.

Step 8: Soon your video will become live; note that you can also share your live video via SNS platform with other viewers.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

• Part1.Stream 360 to Youtube via Ricoh Theta S and OBS on PC
• Part2.Live Stream from Allie 360 Camera to YouTube on Mobile

1. Stream 360 to Youtube via Ricoh Theta S and OBS on PC

Step 1: First of all you need to get ready with your Ricoh Theta S 360 camera unit.

Step 2: Now visit the official website of Theta 360 in order to download your dedicated live streaming application.

Step 3: Get your application and install it on your Mac or PC as per need.

Step 4: It is time to plug in to your Ricoh Theta S 360 camera using your PC.

Step 5: Now select your device ‘Ricoh Theta S’ and then hit Okay.

Step 6: You will find option to register to application with your respective device. Select and hit register.

Step 7: As soon as your registration process is complete then un-plug your USB cable.

Step 8: It is time to turn the Ricoh Theta device to Live Mode; you simple need to press the top power and lower video button simultaneously to directly switch to the live mode.

Step 9: Once your device enters into Live Stream mode then a Led will start blinking on your device that represents your device is live at this moment.

Step 10: Now you need to plug in the USB cable again with your computer.

Step 11: Visit the official site of OBS and download your software; install it on your system.

Step 12: Go to create scene option and then switch to create sources.

Step 13: Select video capture device as your source from drop down menu.

Step 14: Now from available list select Theta UVC as your active video capture source.

Step 15: You need to adjust screen as per your requirements.

Step 16: Now move to YouTube and then hit New Live Events option.

Step 17: Complete the basic information.

Step 18: You need to move to advanced settings now; select 360 live stream option and then create event.

Step 19: Now complete the ingesting settings and finally select create new stream option.

Step 20: As soon as your event is created then you will be able to find your stream name on screen, copy it and simply paste it on OBS window.

Step 21: It is time to return to OBS settings and then you need to paste that copied name on stream key option.

Step 22: Once all above settings are complete then click start stream option from your OBS window and you will soon be able to find your 360 live on YouTube.

2.Live Stream from Allie 360 Camera to YouTube on Mobile

Step 1: Get ready with your Allie 360 camera unit.

Step 2: Visit YouTube and then hit the option to create your live event.

Step 3: It is time to download your Allie Application and then get it installed on your device.

• Prefer to use this link if you are working on iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/app/allie-home/id1063986074
• Android users need to visit: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.icrealtime.allie

Step 4: As soon as you have downloaded your app then simply turn on the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and air plane mode on your device.

Step 5: Simply open your Allie application and then connect your camera.

Step 6: Now users need to hit stream icon on screen.

Step 7: You will be asked to fill the necessary information about your video. It is also possible to make adjustments regarding video quality. Once you are done with all required settings then hit Submit option.

Step 8: Soon your video will become live; note that you can also share your live video via SNS platform with other viewers.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

• Part1.Stream 360 to Youtube via Ricoh Theta S and OBS on PC
• Part2.Live Stream from Allie 360 Camera to YouTube on Mobile

1. Stream 360 to Youtube via Ricoh Theta S and OBS on PC

Step 1: First of all you need to get ready with your Ricoh Theta S 360 camera unit.

Step 2: Now visit the official website of Theta 360 in order to download your dedicated live streaming application.

Step 3: Get your application and install it on your Mac or PC as per need.

Step 4: It is time to plug in to your Ricoh Theta S 360 camera using your PC.

Step 5: Now select your device ‘Ricoh Theta S’ and then hit Okay.

Step 6: You will find option to register to application with your respective device. Select and hit register.

Step 7: As soon as your registration process is complete then un-plug your USB cable.

Step 8: It is time to turn the Ricoh Theta device to Live Mode; you simple need to press the top power and lower video button simultaneously to directly switch to the live mode.

Step 9: Once your device enters into Live Stream mode then a Led will start blinking on your device that represents your device is live at this moment.

Step 10: Now you need to plug in the USB cable again with your computer.

Step 11: Visit the official site of OBS and download your software; install it on your system.

Step 12: Go to create scene option and then switch to create sources.

Step 13: Select video capture device as your source from drop down menu.

Step 14: Now from available list select Theta UVC as your active video capture source.

Step 15: You need to adjust screen as per your requirements.

Step 16: Now move to YouTube and then hit New Live Events option.

Step 17: Complete the basic information.

Step 18: You need to move to advanced settings now; select 360 live stream option and then create event.

Step 19: Now complete the ingesting settings and finally select create new stream option.

Step 20: As soon as your event is created then you will be able to find your stream name on screen, copy it and simply paste it on OBS window.

Step 21: It is time to return to OBS settings and then you need to paste that copied name on stream key option.

Step 22: Once all above settings are complete then click start stream option from your OBS window and you will soon be able to find your 360 live on YouTube.

2.Live Stream from Allie 360 Camera to YouTube on Mobile

Step 1: Get ready with your Allie 360 camera unit.

Step 2: Visit YouTube and then hit the option to create your live event.

Step 3: It is time to download your Allie Application and then get it installed on your device.

• Prefer to use this link if you are working on iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/app/allie-home/id1063986074
• Android users need to visit: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.icrealtime.allie

Step 4: As soon as you have downloaded your app then simply turn on the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and air plane mode on your device.

Step 5: Simply open your Allie application and then connect your camera.

Step 6: Now users need to hit stream icon on screen.

Step 7: You will be asked to fill the necessary information about your video. It is also possible to make adjustments regarding video quality. Once you are done with all required settings then hit Submit option.

Step 8: Soon your video will become live; note that you can also share your live video via SNS platform with other viewers.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

• Part1.Stream 360 to Youtube via Ricoh Theta S and OBS on PC
• Part2.Live Stream from Allie 360 Camera to YouTube on Mobile

1. Stream 360 to Youtube via Ricoh Theta S and OBS on PC

Step 1: First of all you need to get ready with your Ricoh Theta S 360 camera unit.

Step 2: Now visit the official website of Theta 360 in order to download your dedicated live streaming application.

Step 3: Get your application and install it on your Mac or PC as per need.

Step 4: It is time to plug in to your Ricoh Theta S 360 camera using your PC.

Step 5: Now select your device ‘Ricoh Theta S’ and then hit Okay.

Step 6: You will find option to register to application with your respective device. Select and hit register.

Step 7: As soon as your registration process is complete then un-plug your USB cable.

Step 8: It is time to turn the Ricoh Theta device to Live Mode; you simple need to press the top power and lower video button simultaneously to directly switch to the live mode.

Step 9: Once your device enters into Live Stream mode then a Led will start blinking on your device that represents your device is live at this moment.

Step 10: Now you need to plug in the USB cable again with your computer.

Step 11: Visit the official site of OBS and download your software; install it on your system.

Step 12: Go to create scene option and then switch to create sources.

Step 13: Select video capture device as your source from drop down menu.

Step 14: Now from available list select Theta UVC as your active video capture source.

Step 15: You need to adjust screen as per your requirements.

Step 16: Now move to YouTube and then hit New Live Events option.

Step 17: Complete the basic information.

Step 18: You need to move to advanced settings now; select 360 live stream option and then create event.

Step 19: Now complete the ingesting settings and finally select create new stream option.

Step 20: As soon as your event is created then you will be able to find your stream name on screen, copy it and simply paste it on OBS window.

Step 21: It is time to return to OBS settings and then you need to paste that copied name on stream key option.

Step 22: Once all above settings are complete then click start stream option from your OBS window and you will soon be able to find your 360 live on YouTube.

2.Live Stream from Allie 360 Camera to YouTube on Mobile

Step 1: Get ready with your Allie 360 camera unit.

Step 2: Visit YouTube and then hit the option to create your live event.

Step 3: It is time to download your Allie Application and then get it installed on your device.

• Prefer to use this link if you are working on iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/app/allie-home/id1063986074
• Android users need to visit: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.icrealtime.allie

Step 4: As soon as you have downloaded your app then simply turn on the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and air plane mode on your device.

Step 5: Simply open your Allie application and then connect your camera.

Step 6: Now users need to hit stream icon on screen.

Step 7: You will be asked to fill the necessary information about your video. It is also possible to make adjustments regarding video quality. Once you are done with all required settings then hit Submit option.

Step 8: Soon your video will become live; note that you can also share your live video via SNS platform with other viewers.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Master the Art of Budget-Friendly YouTubes Intros and Ends

How to Create YouTube Intros & End Cards - Free and Easy

Shanoon Cox

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Part 1: Intros

Elements of an Intro

Top Intro Sites

Creating an Intro in Filmora

Part 2: End Cards

Elements of an End Card

How To Make an End Card

Part1: Intros

Elements of an Intro

Intros should only last about five seconds, and that can be cut down to two or three if you have a larger following.

When your intro video is longer than five seconds viewers are more likely to click away. The first 15 seconds of a video is when viewers are most likely to decide to click on one of the recommended videos, or go back to their search results and choose something else. The odds of them leaving within these first 15 seconds are greater if you do not get right to the main point of your video. That is why long intro sequences are bad for your watch time.

Whether it is better to put your intro at the very beginning of your video, or after you introduce your topic, will depend on your viewers. You may want to try it both ways and then look at your retention report (found in your YouTube Creator Studio under Analytics) to see which works best for you.

Top Intro Sites

There are a few different sites where you can download animated intros, customized to include your username or logo. Here are two of the best:

FlixPress.com

This is probably the most popular intro site. There are a lot of great animated intros available for under $5, or even for free.

IntroMaker.net

This is another site with really professional looking intros for $5. They only have two free options, though.

Creating an Intro in Filmora

You can create a simple intro card in Filmora.

1. Choose your background. You may want to use a short clip as your intro, or you may just want a colored background.
2. Drag your clip or background into the video track of your timeline and trim it down to five seconds.
3. If you have a logo, import it into Filmora and drag it into your picture-in-picture track.
4. With your logo selected, click on the Green Screen icon. In the pop-up, select the background of your logo to make it transparent. For this to work your logo cannot be the same color as its background.
5. Click on the editing icon with your logo selected and choose an animation.
6. Go to the Text/Titles menu and choose an animated title that suits your channel. Drag it into your text track and edit it to include your name.
7. The last piece of your intro is sound. You can choose a song from Filmora’s library and cut it down to five seconds, or import your sound effect.
8. Export your video and save it for use in all of your other videos.

Part 2: End Cards

When your video ends, YouTube will recommend a selection of videos users may want to watch next. Often, these recommendations will not include more of your videos.

To keep viewers on your channel, you can create your End Card which recommends other content you have created.

Elements of an End Card

An end card includes clips from two or three of your videos, muted, and shrunk down to thumbnail-size. Using spotlight annotations you can make these thumbnails click-able.

It is also important that your end card includes multiple calls to action. A call to action is meant to spur a viewer to some kind of action. Writing ‘Check out this video’ above one of your thumbnails is a call to action.

You should also have a subscribe link somewhere in your end card, ideally a very noticeable button with a proven call to action like ‘Subscribe Now!’.

Some creators will leave their end cards at that and play music overtop, but it can be even more effective to include a voiceover where you ask viewers to subscribe and watch your other videos.

How To Make an End Card

1. Choose a static background. You may want to download an end card template or create one in a drawing program. If you do, make sure to include calls to action like ‘Watch more!’ and ‘Subscribe’.
2. Drag your background into your timeline at the end of your video.
3. Import two or three of your previous videos and drag them into your picture in picture tracks. Each clip should be on its track.
4. Trim the clips in your picture in picture track down to the same length as your end card.
5. Shrink your clips down to thumbnail-size by dragging their corners in the preview window.
6. Position your clips so they are spaced evenly by dragging them in the preview screen.
7. Mute your clips.
8. If your background does not include any calls to action, choose a title from the Text/Titles menu in Filmora and create at least two – one asking viewers to subscribe, and one asking them to watch your suggested videos.
9. Export your video from Filmora and upload it to YouTube.
10. Go to your Video Manager and select Annotations in the drop-down menu next to your video.
11. Go to your end card in the previewer, as that is where you want to add your annotations.
12. Click Add Annotation and add a spotlight annotation to your video. Stretch it over one of your thumbnails and then check the Link box under your Annotation’s timing. Insert a link to the video you are previewing.
13. Repeat for any other thumbnails. For your subscribe button, change where it said ‘Video’ to ‘Subscribe’ and enter your channel URL.
14. Click Apply Changes.

Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Part 1: Intros

Elements of an Intro

Top Intro Sites

Creating an Intro in Filmora

Part 2: End Cards

Elements of an End Card

How To Make an End Card

Part1: Intros

Elements of an Intro

Intros should only last about five seconds, and that can be cut down to two or three if you have a larger following.

When your intro video is longer than five seconds viewers are more likely to click away. The first 15 seconds of a video is when viewers are most likely to decide to click on one of the recommended videos, or go back to their search results and choose something else. The odds of them leaving within these first 15 seconds are greater if you do not get right to the main point of your video. That is why long intro sequences are bad for your watch time.

Whether it is better to put your intro at the very beginning of your video, or after you introduce your topic, will depend on your viewers. You may want to try it both ways and then look at your retention report (found in your YouTube Creator Studio under Analytics) to see which works best for you.

Top Intro Sites

There are a few different sites where you can download animated intros, customized to include your username or logo. Here are two of the best:

FlixPress.com

This is probably the most popular intro site. There are a lot of great animated intros available for under $5, or even for free.

IntroMaker.net

This is another site with really professional looking intros for $5. They only have two free options, though.

Creating an Intro in Filmora

You can create a simple intro card in Filmora.

1. Choose your background. You may want to use a short clip as your intro, or you may just want a colored background.
2. Drag your clip or background into the video track of your timeline and trim it down to five seconds.
3. If you have a logo, import it into Filmora and drag it into your picture-in-picture track.
4. With your logo selected, click on the Green Screen icon. In the pop-up, select the background of your logo to make it transparent. For this to work your logo cannot be the same color as its background.
5. Click on the editing icon with your logo selected and choose an animation.
6. Go to the Text/Titles menu and choose an animated title that suits your channel. Drag it into your text track and edit it to include your name.
7. The last piece of your intro is sound. You can choose a song from Filmora’s library and cut it down to five seconds, or import your sound effect.
8. Export your video and save it for use in all of your other videos.

Part 2: End Cards

When your video ends, YouTube will recommend a selection of videos users may want to watch next. Often, these recommendations will not include more of your videos.

To keep viewers on your channel, you can create your End Card which recommends other content you have created.

Elements of an End Card

An end card includes clips from two or three of your videos, muted, and shrunk down to thumbnail-size. Using spotlight annotations you can make these thumbnails click-able.

It is also important that your end card includes multiple calls to action. A call to action is meant to spur a viewer to some kind of action. Writing ‘Check out this video’ above one of your thumbnails is a call to action.

You should also have a subscribe link somewhere in your end card, ideally a very noticeable button with a proven call to action like ‘Subscribe Now!’.

Some creators will leave their end cards at that and play music overtop, but it can be even more effective to include a voiceover where you ask viewers to subscribe and watch your other videos.

How To Make an End Card

1. Choose a static background. You may want to download an end card template or create one in a drawing program. If you do, make sure to include calls to action like ‘Watch more!’ and ‘Subscribe’.
2. Drag your background into your timeline at the end of your video.
3. Import two or three of your previous videos and drag them into your picture in picture tracks. Each clip should be on its track.
4. Trim the clips in your picture in picture track down to the same length as your end card.
5. Shrink your clips down to thumbnail-size by dragging their corners in the preview window.
6. Position your clips so they are spaced evenly by dragging them in the preview screen.
7. Mute your clips.
8. If your background does not include any calls to action, choose a title from the Text/Titles menu in Filmora and create at least two – one asking viewers to subscribe, and one asking them to watch your suggested videos.
9. Export your video from Filmora and upload it to YouTube.
10. Go to your Video Manager and select Annotations in the drop-down menu next to your video.
11. Go to your end card in the previewer, as that is where you want to add your annotations.
12. Click Add Annotation and add a spotlight annotation to your video. Stretch it over one of your thumbnails and then check the Link box under your Annotation’s timing. Insert a link to the video you are previewing.
13. Repeat for any other thumbnails. For your subscribe button, change where it said ‘Video’ to ‘Subscribe’ and enter your channel URL.
14. Click Apply Changes.

Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Part 1: Intros

Elements of an Intro

Top Intro Sites

Creating an Intro in Filmora

Part 2: End Cards

Elements of an End Card

How To Make an End Card

Part1: Intros

Elements of an Intro

Intros should only last about five seconds, and that can be cut down to two or three if you have a larger following.

When your intro video is longer than five seconds viewers are more likely to click away. The first 15 seconds of a video is when viewers are most likely to decide to click on one of the recommended videos, or go back to their search results and choose something else. The odds of them leaving within these first 15 seconds are greater if you do not get right to the main point of your video. That is why long intro sequences are bad for your watch time.

Whether it is better to put your intro at the very beginning of your video, or after you introduce your topic, will depend on your viewers. You may want to try it both ways and then look at your retention report (found in your YouTube Creator Studio under Analytics) to see which works best for you.

Top Intro Sites

There are a few different sites where you can download animated intros, customized to include your username or logo. Here are two of the best:

FlixPress.com

This is probably the most popular intro site. There are a lot of great animated intros available for under $5, or even for free.

IntroMaker.net

This is another site with really professional looking intros for $5. They only have two free options, though.

Creating an Intro in Filmora

You can create a simple intro card in Filmora.

1. Choose your background. You may want to use a short clip as your intro, or you may just want a colored background.
2. Drag your clip or background into the video track of your timeline and trim it down to five seconds.
3. If you have a logo, import it into Filmora and drag it into your picture-in-picture track.
4. With your logo selected, click on the Green Screen icon. In the pop-up, select the background of your logo to make it transparent. For this to work your logo cannot be the same color as its background.
5. Click on the editing icon with your logo selected and choose an animation.
6. Go to the Text/Titles menu and choose an animated title that suits your channel. Drag it into your text track and edit it to include your name.
7. The last piece of your intro is sound. You can choose a song from Filmora’s library and cut it down to five seconds, or import your sound effect.
8. Export your video and save it for use in all of your other videos.

Part 2: End Cards

When your video ends, YouTube will recommend a selection of videos users may want to watch next. Often, these recommendations will not include more of your videos.

To keep viewers on your channel, you can create your End Card which recommends other content you have created.

Elements of an End Card

An end card includes clips from two or three of your videos, muted, and shrunk down to thumbnail-size. Using spotlight annotations you can make these thumbnails click-able.

It is also important that your end card includes multiple calls to action. A call to action is meant to spur a viewer to some kind of action. Writing ‘Check out this video’ above one of your thumbnails is a call to action.

You should also have a subscribe link somewhere in your end card, ideally a very noticeable button with a proven call to action like ‘Subscribe Now!’.

Some creators will leave their end cards at that and play music overtop, but it can be even more effective to include a voiceover where you ask viewers to subscribe and watch your other videos.

How To Make an End Card

1. Choose a static background. You may want to download an end card template or create one in a drawing program. If you do, make sure to include calls to action like ‘Watch more!’ and ‘Subscribe’.
2. Drag your background into your timeline at the end of your video.
3. Import two or three of your previous videos and drag them into your picture in picture tracks. Each clip should be on its track.
4. Trim the clips in your picture in picture track down to the same length as your end card.
5. Shrink your clips down to thumbnail-size by dragging their corners in the preview window.
6. Position your clips so they are spaced evenly by dragging them in the preview screen.
7. Mute your clips.
8. If your background does not include any calls to action, choose a title from the Text/Titles menu in Filmora and create at least two – one asking viewers to subscribe, and one asking them to watch your suggested videos.
9. Export your video from Filmora and upload it to YouTube.
10. Go to your Video Manager and select Annotations in the drop-down menu next to your video.
11. Go to your end card in the previewer, as that is where you want to add your annotations.
12. Click Add Annotation and add a spotlight annotation to your video. Stretch it over one of your thumbnails and then check the Link box under your Annotation’s timing. Insert a link to the video you are previewing.
13. Repeat for any other thumbnails. For your subscribe button, change where it said ‘Video’ to ‘Subscribe’ and enter your channel URL.
14. Click Apply Changes.

Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Part 1: Intros

Elements of an Intro

Top Intro Sites

Creating an Intro in Filmora

Part 2: End Cards

Elements of an End Card

How To Make an End Card

Part1: Intros

Elements of an Intro

Intros should only last about five seconds, and that can be cut down to two or three if you have a larger following.

When your intro video is longer than five seconds viewers are more likely to click away. The first 15 seconds of a video is when viewers are most likely to decide to click on one of the recommended videos, or go back to their search results and choose something else. The odds of them leaving within these first 15 seconds are greater if you do not get right to the main point of your video. That is why long intro sequences are bad for your watch time.

Whether it is better to put your intro at the very beginning of your video, or after you introduce your topic, will depend on your viewers. You may want to try it both ways and then look at your retention report (found in your YouTube Creator Studio under Analytics) to see which works best for you.

Top Intro Sites

There are a few different sites where you can download animated intros, customized to include your username or logo. Here are two of the best:

FlixPress.com

This is probably the most popular intro site. There are a lot of great animated intros available for under $5, or even for free.

IntroMaker.net

This is another site with really professional looking intros for $5. They only have two free options, though.

Creating an Intro in Filmora

You can create a simple intro card in Filmora.

1. Choose your background. You may want to use a short clip as your intro, or you may just want a colored background.
2. Drag your clip or background into the video track of your timeline and trim it down to five seconds.
3. If you have a logo, import it into Filmora and drag it into your picture-in-picture track.
4. With your logo selected, click on the Green Screen icon. In the pop-up, select the background of your logo to make it transparent. For this to work your logo cannot be the same color as its background.
5. Click on the editing icon with your logo selected and choose an animation.
6. Go to the Text/Titles menu and choose an animated title that suits your channel. Drag it into your text track and edit it to include your name.
7. The last piece of your intro is sound. You can choose a song from Filmora’s library and cut it down to five seconds, or import your sound effect.
8. Export your video and save it for use in all of your other videos.

Part 2: End Cards

When your video ends, YouTube will recommend a selection of videos users may want to watch next. Often, these recommendations will not include more of your videos.

To keep viewers on your channel, you can create your End Card which recommends other content you have created.

Elements of an End Card

An end card includes clips from two or three of your videos, muted, and shrunk down to thumbnail-size. Using spotlight annotations you can make these thumbnails click-able.

It is also important that your end card includes multiple calls to action. A call to action is meant to spur a viewer to some kind of action. Writing ‘Check out this video’ above one of your thumbnails is a call to action.

You should also have a subscribe link somewhere in your end card, ideally a very noticeable button with a proven call to action like ‘Subscribe Now!’.

Some creators will leave their end cards at that and play music overtop, but it can be even more effective to include a voiceover where you ask viewers to subscribe and watch your other videos.

How To Make an End Card

1. Choose a static background. You may want to download an end card template or create one in a drawing program. If you do, make sure to include calls to action like ‘Watch more!’ and ‘Subscribe’.
2. Drag your background into your timeline at the end of your video.
3. Import two or three of your previous videos and drag them into your picture in picture tracks. Each clip should be on its track.
4. Trim the clips in your picture in picture track down to the same length as your end card.
5. Shrink your clips down to thumbnail-size by dragging their corners in the preview window.
6. Position your clips so they are spaced evenly by dragging them in the preview screen.
7. Mute your clips.
8. If your background does not include any calls to action, choose a title from the Text/Titles menu in Filmora and create at least two – one asking viewers to subscribe, and one asking them to watch your suggested videos.
9. Export your video from Filmora and upload it to YouTube.
10. Go to your Video Manager and select Annotations in the drop-down menu next to your video.
11. Go to your end card in the previewer, as that is where you want to add your annotations.
12. Click Add Annotation and add a spotlight annotation to your video. Stretch it over one of your thumbnails and then check the Link box under your Annotation’s timing. Insert a link to the video you are previewing.
13. Repeat for any other thumbnails. For your subscribe button, change where it said ‘Video’ to ‘Subscribe’ and enter your channel URL.
14. Click Apply Changes.

Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.

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