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YouTube Shorts Related Video Link: Grow Long-Form Fast

ShortsFireDecember 13, 20252 views
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Why the Shorts "Related Video" Link Changes Everything

Shorts are great for views, but views alone don't grow a real channel.

If people watch your Short, swipe away, and never see you again, your hard work stops there. No binge watching. No deep connection. No real revenue.

The YouTube Shorts related video link fixes that.

It gives you a direct, built-in way to send viewers from a 10-second clip to a full long-form video. No hoping they open your channel page. No relying on the algorithm to recommend your stuff again.

You control where they go next.

Used right, this single feature can become the best growth engine for your long-form content.

In this post, you’ll learn:

  • What the Shorts related video link is and where it appears
  • How to set it up step by step
  • Smart strategies for which long-form videos to link
  • How to structure Shorts so people actually tap the link
  • Common mistakes that kill your click-through rate

What Exactly Is the YouTube Shorts Related Video Link?

When you post a Short, YouTube lets you connect it to one other video on your channel:

  • A regular long-form video
  • A live stream
  • Another Short (not recommended if your goal is long-form growth)

YouTube then shows that linked video:

  • In the “Related video” button under your Short
  • As a “Watch full video” type of prompt in some layouts
  • Sometimes on the watch page outside the Shorts feed

Think of it as a built-in funnel:

Short → Related video tap → Long-form watch → More recommended content

This link is persistent, which matters. Unlike a pinned comment or a verbal call to action, YouTube keeps this connection tied to the Short. As the Short continues to get views over weeks or months, your long-form gets a steady drip of traffic.

How To Add a Related Video Link to a Short

You can add the related video link during upload or after the fact. Here’s how.

On Desktop (YouTube Studio)

  1. Go to YouTube Studio
  2. Click Create → Upload videos
  3. Upload your Short as usual
  4. On the Details page, scroll to Shorts options
  5. Look for Add related video
  6. Click it, then choose:
    • A specific video on your channel
    • Or search within your own uploads
  7. Click Save

To add it to an existing Short:

  1. In YouTube Studio, go to Content
  2. Filter by Shorts
  3. Hover over the Short and click the pencil icon (Details)
  4. Scroll to Shorts options → Add related video
  5. Choose your long-form video
  6. Click Save

On Mobile (YouTube App)

  1. Tap the + button and upload your Short
  2. Fill in title, visibility, etc.
  3. Look for an option like Add related video or Add a link under the advanced options section
  4. Pick the long-form video from your uploads
  5. Publish

Note: The exact wording and layout can shift as YouTube experiments, but the feature lives in the upload / edit screen for Shorts.

What Type of Video Should You Link?

Randomly linking any video on your channel is a waste.

You want the related video to feel like the obvious next step after watching the Short. Think of it like this:

The Short answers “What is this?”
The long-form answers “How do I actually do this?” or “Tell me the full story.”

Some smart pairings:

  • Tutorial Short → Deep-dive tutorial

    • Short: “3 keyboard shortcuts that double your editing speed”
    • Long-form: “Full Premiere Pro workflow for fast editing”

  • Story hook Short → Full story breakdown

    • Short: “How I went from $0 to $10k/month editing videos”
    • Long-form: “Exact systems, clients, and mistakes from my first $10k month”

  • Tip compilation Short → Expanded guide

    • Short: “5 hooks that keep people watching”
    • Long-form: “20 hook templates + script examples for viral videos”

  • Teaser Short → Full video or series

    • Short: Quick highlight, twist, or result
    • Long-form: Full context, step-by-step, or behind the scenes

If you only have a few long-form videos, start by connecting multiple Shorts to the same “pillar” video. That builds a traffic hub and gives YouTube clear signals about which long-form video represents your channel.

How To Structure Shorts That Actually Drive Clicks

The related video link alone isn’t magic. The Short itself needs to make viewers want more.

Here’s a simple structure that works across niches:

1. Strong hook that sets up a gap

Your first 1 to 2 seconds should create curiosity and point toward something bigger.

Examples:

  • “This is the reason your thumbnails don’t get clicks.”
  • “I spent 30 days doing this, and the final result shocked me.”
  • “Most beginners ruin their channels with this one setting.”

You’re not just grabbing attention. You’re planting a question in the viewer’s mind that your long-form will answer fully.

2. Deliver a real win in the Short

Don’t hold everything back. If viewers feel you clickbaited them, they won’t tap anything.

Give them:

  • One clear tactic
  • One strong insight
  • One surprising before/after

The goal is:
“This was actually helpful. What else does this person know?”

3. Open a loop that only the long-form closes

Now you create a second, deeper question.

For example:

  • In a Short about YouTube titles, you show one title makeover, then say:
    “I break down 10 more real examples in the full video linked below.”

  • In a fitness Short, you show a quick transformation clip and say:
    “The full 30-day plan and exact workouts are in the video under this Short.”

You’re telling viewers:
You got value here, but this is just the surface.

4. Call out the related video explicitly

Yes, YouTube shows the related video button, but people still need a nudge.

Use clear language like:

  • “Tap the video under this Short for the full breakdown.”
  • “The complete tutorial is linked as the related video.”
  • “Want the full story? It’s the video attached to this Short.”

Say it near the end when you’ve delivered something meaningful.

You can also add text on screen:

“Full video: tap ‘Related video’ below”

Short, direct, and tied to the feature they will actually see.

Where This Beats Other Long-Form Growth Tactics

YouTube gives you a few ways to move people from Shorts to long-form:

  • Channel page visits
  • End screens on long-form videos
  • Links in descriptions and comments
  • The “Remix” and “Cut” connections

The related video link has a few advantages:

  • It’s integrated with the Short and visible in the feed
  • It’s persistent over time
  • It doesn’t depend on viewers leaving the feed or opening your channel
  • It can be tailored Short-by-Short for context

Think of it as your most direct upgrade path from casual swipe to deeper watch.

Combine it with other tools, but if you want a single habit that consistently feeds long-form content, this is the one.

Common Mistakes That Kill Performance

If you try this and don’t see results, it’s usually for one of these reasons.

1. Linking to a totally unrelated video

If your Short is about YouTube growth and your related video is a random vlog, viewers feel baited. They won’t click, and those who do won’t stay.

Fix:
Keep topic, style, and promise aligned between Short and long-form.

2. No verbal call to action

Relying only on the button is lazy. People are half-distracted in the Shorts feed.

Fix:
Write and record a simple one-sentence CTA for the last 2 seconds of your Short.

3. Weak long-form intros

If people tap through but drop in the first 10 seconds, YouTube notices.

Fix your long-form openers:

  • Start with the payoff or result, not your life story
  • Re-state the promise of the Short and tell viewers what they’ll get
  • Remove boring intros and branding fluff

Example opener:

“You just saw how one title change doubled views. In this video, I’ll show you 10 more real examples and the simple framework that makes them work.”

4. Spreading traffic across too many long-form videos

If every Short points somewhere different, nothing builds momentum.

Fix:
Create 1 to 3 pillar long-form videos and send most of your Shorts traffic into those.

Simple Action Plan You Can Use This Week

If you want to turn Shorts into real long-form growth, try this:

  1. Pick 1 pillar video

    • Your best long-form tutorial, case study, or story
    • Good thumbnail
    • Strong first 30 seconds

  2. Create 3 to 5 Shorts tied to that video

    • Each Short covers one small piece or teaser
    • All of them link to the same long-form

  3. Add the related video link to every Short

    • Use the Shorts options in YouTube Studio
    • Double-check it’s the correct video

  4. Write a simple CTA script

    • “If you want the full breakdown, tap the video attached to this Short.”
    • Record it at the end of each Short

  5. Publish, then check your analytics after a few days

    • Look inside the long-form video → Traffic source: Shorts feed / Related Shorts
    • Watch your audience retention
    • Keep the formats that get the highest click-through and best watch time

Repeat this process with your next pillar video.

You don’t need a complicated funnel. You just need a clear bridge from a great Short to a great long-form video.

Used consistently, the YouTube Shorts related video link becomes that bridge.

YouTubeShortsCreator Growth