How to Guide Viewers from YouTube Shorts to External Links in 10 SecondsThe Ultimate Tutorial for Substack, Gumroad, Linktree and More

Intro:

Getting someone to leave YouTube Shorts and visit your external site is harder than it looks.

Most creators assume putting a link in the description or comments will do the trick.
It won’t.

This guide shares a practical method I use to drive viewers from Shorts to my external page—whether that’s Substack, Gumroad, Linktree, or any blog.
In my case, I use a Japanese content platform called note (https://note.com), but the same structure applies anywhere.

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Why links often fail in Shorts
• Description links aren’t tappable in the Shorts player
• Comment links don’t work either
• There’s no clickable title or end screen
→ The only reliable exit: viewer taps your channel icon, visits your profile, and clicks your external link.

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The “10-Second Ending” Structure

Here’s how to teach that action clearly, inside your Shorts:

0–2 sec:

Solid black background
Red arrow pointing to the lower-right channel icon
White text: “Tap here first”

2–5 sec:

Static screenshot of your YouTube profile page
Red arrow pointing to your external link
Text: “Then tap this link”

5–7 sec:

Image of the browser selection popup (Chrome / Safari, etc.)
Text: “Choose your browser…”

7–10 sec:

Screenshot or mockup of your landing page (Substack, note, Gumroad, etc.)
Text: “You’ll land here!”
• highlight word “Goal!” in yellow

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Optional Narration (10 sec)

“To view the full article, tap the channel icon below, go to my profile, and tap the link. Choose your browser, and it’ll open directly.”

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Why this works
• Creates a consistent and visualized path out of Shorts
• Trains your audience to expect where the link is
• Removes friction → more taps
• Works with any platform (Substack, Gumroad, blog, newsletter, etc.)
• Saves time from explaining in every video

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Conclusion

YouTube Shorts aren’t built for link clicks.
But if you create a simple visual routine, you can turn Shorts into a real content funnel.

This isn’t just about links—it’s about control.
Control how people exit your video.
And make sure they land where you want them.

Try this method, adapt it to your platform, and watch your clicks go up.