Wordpress.org’s main video insert option is rather lame in that it just gives you a link to click on, rather than embedding the video directly in the post. I knew there had to be something better out there. After a quick search through the available plugins I found Smart YouTube which “allows you to easily insert Youtube videos/playlists into your post, comments and in your RSS feed. The plugin is designed to be small and fast and not use any external resources.” Sounds good to me, but does it work?
After fiddling around, trying to figure out how it works and thinking it didn’t work and almost walking away, SUCCESS! I suddenly figured it out. Here’s how it works:
- Look under your dashboard’s “settings” options & you will find settings for Smart YouTube (assuming you’ve installed and activated the plugin)
- At the top of the page will be a link for instructions, click that! You can also make any customizations you’d like here.
- It will tell you pretty simply to just type httpv://[youtube address]. It should be that simple unless, like me, you’re a bit dense.
- Do not try to turn it into a hyperlink, just type httpv (the v is for video and it’s important) :// [video address] in your visual editor. Trust me.
- The youtube address you use should be the “shareable” link like “http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meT2eqgDjiM” and not one of those weird long links you sometimes see like “http://www.youtube.com/user/PomplamooseMusic#p/c/F125407272F3C1A4/1/2vEStDd6HVY” Make sure you use the short ones that you’ll find under the “share” options or it won’t work and you’ll think it’s Smart YouTube’s fault except it’s really yours.
- If you get it all right, when you hit publish the video will be embedded, perfectly like this:
So in short -- remember the v and make sure you are using the right youtube link. Happy video embedding!
