ube Search by Comments: New Test Adds Links to Keywords //

YouTube is testing out a new feature which could help brands, creators and viewers engage with each other while causing the least disruption.

YouTube has enabled hyperlinking in the comment section.

The links will take viewers to the YouTube search results while playing their original video.

Why do we care? Viewers will be more likely to click on a link when their streaming experience hasn’t been interrupted. Marketers may be able to reach more people, and engage more effectively with their potential customers.

But. Although this could be a good thing, some marketers worry that it could cause more harm than benefit. Search from comments could take viewers directly to YouTube’s search results, which then lead them to competitor brands and videos.

How the pilot works. Over the next few days, the pilot will be rolled out as follows:

• Hyperlinks will be added to phrases or words that encourage further exploration.
• By clicking on the link, users will be taken to a search page for that particular term.
• The video will continue to play in the Miniplayer if you do not want it to stop.
• YouTube determines the linked words based on what its users will want to explore more.
• Commenters cannot add or modify links, but creators may remove links from their comments.
• The experiment will allow viewers to opt-out if they do not want their comments to be linked.

What did YouTube say? YouTube announced the pilot via its creator Insider YouTube channel:

• We’re trying out a new method of exploring topics and making recommendations in the comments.
• “At the moment, viewers who want to know more about a subject or product that they found in a comment have to leave the video to do so.
• “We are experimenting with hyperlinked keywords to make it easier for users to find new content and to be able to search the platform.
• We’ll be testing this out in the next few weeks, but we’d love to hear your feedback whether you are participating or not.

Other News Hyperlinking within the comments isn’t YouTube’s only announcement this week. Three other announcements were made by the social media platform:

• Visibility for tablets. Although creators were able to create posts using tablets, they weren’t visible to viewers or creators. YouTube has acknowledged that many creators and users have requested this feature. It is now allowing all Android tablet and iPad users to see their posts. Now, YouTube users who use tablets can see your posts.
• Reminders of live streams and premieres : At present, YouTube users can set up reminders to receive email or push notifications when a live stream or premiere begins by clicking on the “notify me” button. YouTube Analytics will now show creators the number of reminders set for upcoming premieres or live streams. The Reminders Sets metric can be found in YouTube Analytics’ Deep Dive.
• Manage channel membership: Creators who are eligible can now manage their channel memberships, as well as other fan-funding offerings through Studio Mobile. This feature was previously only available for desktop. Previously, videos for members only were not available in the tabs of channel pages, subscription feeds, or home feeds. Members-only videos are now available on the channel page, subscription feeds and members’ home feeds.

Important reminder. YouTube recommends that you accept the new YPP terms in Studio if your current YPP account has not done so yet.

If the terms of the YouTube Partner Program are not accepted before July 10, marketers’ content will no long be eligible for monetization on the platform. All previously monetized material will cease to generate revenue on July 11, and all monetization tools, including but not limited channel memberships and SuperChat, will be disabled.

Please follow these steps to see if you have already accepted or need to take any action.

• Go to studio > Settings > Agreements.
• If you see View Agreement, you are all set.
• Review and Agree means you need to accept.

Dig deeper: To learn more about the changes to the YouTube Partner Program Terms, please read the complete announcement in the YouTube Help Center.

The post Search YouTube from Comments: New Test Adds Links to Keywords appeared initially on Search Engine Land.