Remove Related Videos from YouTube Embeds in Squarespace
Do you use YouTube videos on your Squarespace website, especially for educational videos or cross-promoting social content? YouTube shows “related videos” after your video ends playing. Such videos tend to be about similar subjects, coming from various creators around the platform.
So, while this feature is totally fine when you just scroll around YouTube in your free time, it can be very annoying if you share business-related content. Well, as a business owner, you don't want YouTube to place your potential leads on other content, maybe even on your competition!
While you may not be able to avoid them entirely, there is a way to make sure your content is front and center. So let us discuss how to make sure such videos are not showing and only related videos from your channel.
Here are the Process
Start by going to the YouTube video you want to share.
Click on the "embed" icon provided by YouTube.
To acquire the embed code, click on "copy" located in the bottom right corner.
On your Squarespace website, navigate to the specific page where you intend to embed the video.
Add an embed block to your page and position it according to your preferred location for the video.
Within the "embed as" options, you'll have a choice between "link" and "code snippet."
While it may seem simpler to paste the YouTube video URL in the "link" section, we will opt for "code snippet" to give us more control over the embedded video and ensure that only related videos from our YouTube channel are showcased.
Click on "embed data."
Paste the YouTube embed code into the provided space.
In the code, insert "?rel=0" after the URL (prior to the quotation marks).
Return to the previous screen.
Enable the "custom featured image" toggle.
These steps will help you embed your YouTube video on your Squarespace website while ensuring that only related videos from your channel are displayed.
Add a thumbnail image to your content.
This step is crucial! When you use the embed block to add a YouTube video, Squarespace sometimes struggles with scaling it correctly. You might notice that as you adjust the screen size, the video doesn't adapt, making it non-responsive – not an ideal situation!
However, there's a simple solution.
By uploading a Custom Featured Image, Squarespace will make the video scale responsively, just like it does when you add a video via a link.
You have the flexibility to upload various types of content in this section, whether it's a regular image or a custom thumbnail like the ones you use on
YouTube (Canva is great for creating these!). A friendly reminder, the recommended specs for a YouTube thumbnail are 1280px by 720px.
Once you've uploaded this image, you're all set!
Don't forget to hit "Save" in the top left corner to save your changes.
While this trick doesn't completely eliminate related videos at the end of your embedded YouTube video, it significantly increases the chances of your audience sticking around on your channel instead of wandering off to someone else's.
FAQs About Removing Related Videos on Embedded YouTube Videos in Squarespace
1. Can I remove all YouTube branding from embedded videos?
No, YouTube branding cannot be completely removed from free accounts. However, premium video hosting platforms like Vimeo or Wistia offer options for branding customization and ad-free playback.
2. Are there better alternatives to YouTube for embedding videos in Squarespace?
Yes, Vimeo and Wistia are excellent alternatives for embedding videos. They offer ad-free playback, greater branding control, and higher customization options compared to YouTube.
3. Can I control autoplay and video size in the embed code?
Yes, you can customize autoplay and video dimensions by modifying the embed code. For example, add autoplay=1 to enable autoplay or adjust the width and height attributes to set the video size.
