How to Embed YouTube Videos in Google Sites
TL;DR:
- Embedding YouTube videos in Google Sites is straightforward using the 'Embed' option
- You can customize video size and playback settings after embedding
- Embedded videos automatically adjust to different screen sizes
- Too many videos on one page can slow down loading times
- Use the 'By URL' method for the most reliable embedding
Adding YouTube videos to your Google Sites page is one of the quickest ways to make your content more engaging. The process is built right into Google Sites, so you don't need any technical knowledge or third-party tools.
How to Embed a YouTube Video
Here's how to get a YouTube video onto your Google Sites page:
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Find your YouTube video and copy the URL from your browser's address bar. You can also click the 'Share' button under the video and copy the link from there.
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Open your Google Sites page in edit mode by clicking the pencil icon.
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Click where you want the video to appear on your page.
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Look for the 'Embed' option in the right-hand panel. It looks like angle brackets
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Select 'By URL' and paste your YouTube link into the field.
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Click 'Insert' and your video will appear on the page.
Once the video is embedded, you can click and drag the corners to resize it. Google Sites will automatically maintain the video's aspect ratio, so you don't need to worry about it looking stretched or squashed.
Customizing Your Video Settings
Google Sites gives you a few useful options to tweak how your video appears:
Video Size: Click on the embedded video and drag the corner handles to make it larger or smaller. The video will stay proportional as you resize it.
Playback Options: Before you embed the video, you can modify the YouTube URL to add custom settings. For example, adding &t=30s to the end of the URL will make the video start 30 seconds in.
Positioning: You can align the video left, center, or right on your page using the alignment options that appear when you select the video.
The embedded videos are responsive by default, which means they'll automatically adjust to look good on phones, tablets, and desktop computers.
Things to Keep in Mind
Page Loading Speed: Each video you embed adds to your page's loading time. If you're planning to add several videos to one page, consider whether they're all necessary or if some could be moved to separate pages.
Mobile Experience: Always preview your page on mobile after adding videos. What looks good on desktop doesn't always translate well to smaller screens.
Video Availability: If the original YouTube video gets deleted or made private, your embedded video will stop working. There's no way around this, so try to use videos from reliable sources.
FAQs
Can I customize how the YouTube player looks on my site?
Your customization options are limited to sizing and positioning. You can't change the player's color scheme or remove YouTube branding, as these are controlled by YouTube itself.
How many videos can I put on one page?
There's no hard limit, but each video slows down your page loading time. Most pages work well with 2-3 videos, but beyond that you might notice performance issues.
Can I track how people interact with my embedded videos?
YouTube provides analytics for video views, but you'll need to set up Google Analytics on your site to track more detailed engagement metrics like how long people stay on your page after watching.
What happens if I paste a YouTube playlist URL?
Google Sites will embed the entire playlist, allowing visitors to navigate between videos. This can be useful if you want to showcase multiple related videos.
Jargon Buster
Embedding: The process of adding content from another website (like YouTube) to your own site without having to upload or host the files yourself.
Responsive: Design that automatically adjusts to look good on different screen sizes, from phones to desktop computers.
Aspect Ratio: The relationship between a video's width and height. YouTube videos are typically 16:9, which means they're wider than they are tall.
Wrap-up
Embedding YouTube videos in Google Sites is a solid way to make your content more engaging without any technical complexity. The process is straightforward, and the videos will automatically work well across different devices. Just remember to balance the number of videos with your page's loading speed, and always check how things look on mobile devices.
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