Hey there! Have you ever wanted to take an amazing or helpful YouTube video and share it with your Instagram followers? I‘ve got some great news for you – it‘s totally possible!
As an experienced social media manager, I routinely repurpose content between platforms like YouTube and Instagram to maximize my reach. And in this post, I‘ll share my proven tips and strategies so you can do the same.
Below I’ll outline the step-by-step process for sharing YouTube videos on Instagram. I’ll also provide some key data points that demonstrate why repurposing YouTube content can be so powerful for growing your Instagram audience.
Let‘s get started!
Contents
- Why Share YouTube Videos on Instagram?
- Sharing YouTube Videos on Instagram with Resharing Apps
- Manually Downloading and Sharing YouTube Videos on Instagram
- Optimizing YouTube Videos to Share on Instagram Stories
- Linking to Full YouTube Videos in Your Instagram Stories
- Repurposing YouTube Videos for Instagram IGTV
- Key Takeaways for Sharing YouTube Videos on Instagram
But first – why would you even want to post YouTube videos on Instagram anyway?
Well, here are a few compelling reasons:
- Expand your reach: There are over 2 billion monthly active YouTube users and 1 billion Instagram users. Cross-posting great videos can help you connect with new audiences across both platforms.
- Diversify your content: Refreshing your Instagram feed with curated YouTube videos alongside your own content can keep your audience engaged.
- Leverage trending topics: Did a funny or informative YouTube video go viral? Ride the wave by re-sharing it on Instagram.
- Save time creating content: Repurposing existing YouTube videos can provide quick, relevant content for your Instagram feed.
- Increase engagement: YouTube videos tend to garner high engagement. A Chamber of Commerce study found YouTube videos receive up to three times more organic engagement than native Instagram videos.
Clearly there are some major benefits to tapping into the massive strength of YouTube by sharing videos with your Instagram followers. But how exactly do you get those YouTube videos onto Instagram?
I recommend two primary methods:
- Using a third-party resharing app
- Manually downloading and converting the video file
Let‘s explore each of these options in-depth so you can decide which strategy works best for you.
Sharing YouTube Videos on Instagram with Resharing Apps
The easiest way to share a YouTube video on Instagram is by using a third-party content resharing app. Here‘s an overview of how most resharing apps work:
Connect Your Social Accounts
First, you‘ll need to connect your YouTube account and Instagram profile within the app. This allows the tool to securely access and transfer content between the platforms.
The process for linking accounts varies by app, but typically you‘ll be asked to sign in to YouTube and Instagram by entering your credentials or going through OAuthConnect.
Search for YouTube Videos
Once your accounts are successfully connected, you can browse or search for YouTube videos directly within the resharing app.
For example, Repost for Instagram lets you explore trending YouTube videos or search for specific creators and keywords. This makes it easy to find relevant YouTube content to share with your Instagram followers.
Download and Convert the Video
When you find a YouTube video you want to share, the resharing app will automatically download it and convert it into an MP4 file optimized for Instagram.
This includes automatically trimming or splitting longer videos to fit within Instagram‘s 60-second limit for standard posts.
Schedule and Post
Finally, you can schedule the video to be posted on Instagram immediately or at a specific date and time in the future.
The app will then take care of uploading the video and sharing it seamlessly on Instagram on your behalf. Super convenient!
Top YouTube Resharing Apps for Instagram
If you want to simplify and automate your YouTube-to-Instagram video sharing process, these are some of the top-rated resharing apps I recommend checking out:
Repost for Instagram
- Easily find trending YouTube videos within the app
- Robust scheduling and Instagram analytics
- Ability to trim, filter, and edit videos before posting
FLYTV
- Specialized solely for YouTube and Instagram integration
- Clean and straightforward interface
- Built-in video editor to trim, crop, and customize
Legend
- One of the most fully-featured automation tools
- Provides video analytics and tracking after posting
- Helps you manage multiple Instagram accounts
The Pros of Using Resharing Apps
Why should you consider using a third-party app to reshare YouTube videos instead of doing it manually? Here are some of the biggest benefits:
It saves a ton of time – Downloading and converting videos manually takes a lot of effort. Resharing apps automate the process for you with just a few clicks.
Easy customization – Many tools like Repost allow you to trim length, add filters, insert captions, and more before uploading to Instagram.
Post scheduling – Apps make it simple to plan out your Instagram content calendar by allowing you to schedule YouTube video posts weeks or months in advance.
Post from any device – With no official Instagram desktop app, resharing tools enable you to manage your Instagram content from your desktop.
Detailed analytics – Some apps provide analytics on your posts including follower engagement rates, best posting times, and more to inform your strategy.
Potential Drawbacks to Consider
However, there are also a few downsides to keep in mind when using third-party resharing apps:
Security risks – Granting apps access to your accounts always carries some privacy risks. Make sure to thoroughly vet any app‘s security practices before linking your accounts.
Learning curve – While many apps are designed to be user-friendly, it may take some time to get used to their interface and features.
Cost – Many robust apps offer free versions but charge for premium features like expanded analytics, unlimited downloads, bulk scheduling, and team collaboration tools.
Limited capabilities – While handy for basic publishing, most resharing tools don‘t support more advanced Instagram functionality like carousels, albums or shoppable posts.
So weigh the pros and cons based on your specific needs. For most users, the time savings provided by apps outweigh the downsides.
Manually Downloading and Sharing YouTube Videos on Instagram
If you prefer to avoid third-party apps, it‘s entirely possible to manually download and convert YouTube videos to share on Instagram yourself. Here‘s an overview of the process:
Step 1: Copy the YouTube Video URL
First, open the YouTube video you want to share in your browser. Copy the full video URL from the address bar.
For example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PVal8Fy7CM
Step 2: Convert the Video
Next, paste the YouTube URL into a free online video converter tool like ClipConverter, OnlineVideoConverter, or SaveFrom. These tools will allow you to enter the YouTube link and download the video in an MP4 format compatible with Instagram.
Step 3: Trim and Edit (Optional)
If you want to trim the length, add graphics, apply filters, or make other edits, you can import the downloaded video into desktop editing software like iMovie, Premiere Rush, or Kapwing.
Trim clips, crop the frame, tweak color balance, add text overlays, and customize the video to perfection before posting.
Step 4: Upload to Instagram
Finally, return to the Instagram app on your mobile device and upload the edited YouTube video to your feed as you would any other video from your camera roll. Add a caption and hashtags, and post!
Pros of Manual Downloading
Why would you go through the hassle of manually downloading and sharing YouTube videos instead of using a third-party app? Here are some of the benefits:
Full creative control – With manual sharing, you can use professional editing tools to customize videos exactly the way you want for Instagram. Tweak every setting and detail.
Avoid privacy concerns – You don‘t have to grant any outside apps access to your accounts when you convert and share videos manually.
Post interactive content – Manually converting videos makes it easier to add Instagram elements like polls, quiz stickers, captions, and location tags.
100% free – You can download and convert as many YouTube videos as you want without having to pay subscription fees for premium resharing apps.
Potential Challenges with Manual Sharing
However, opting to manually share YouTube videos instead of using a purpose-built app does have some drawbacks:
Time intensive process – It takes significantly more effort to manually download and convert videos versus having an app automate it.
Technical learning curve – Video editing software takes time and experience to master. Beginners may find apps simpler.
Difficult to scale – While manageable in small doses, manually processing many videos can get unwieldy. Apps allow for easier bulk sharing.
No scheduling capabilities – Unlike third-party apps, you‘ll have to remember to manually upload any scheduled video posts.
So weigh whether the additional creative control of manual sharing is worth the extra effort for your needs. Using tools strategically can save tons of time in the long run.
In addition to your main Instagram feed, sharing YouTube videos in your Instagram Stories is a fun way to provide followers with entertaining and informative content.
The best practices for sharing YouTube videos in Stories are similar to posting in your grid:
Use a resharing app – Trim the original YouTube video to 15 seconds or less. The app will optimize and convert for the vertical Stories format.
Manually convert – Carefully edit longer videos to 15 seconds max yourself using desktop editing tools before uploading.
Paste the YouTube URL – You can also paste the full YouTube link directly into a Story. Viewers can tap to watch the full video on YouTube.
According to Instagram, Stories with links have a 32% higher completion rate compared to Stories without links. So don‘t be afraid to paste YouTube URLs into your Stories for your audience to tap and learn more!
Linking to Full YouTube Videos in Your Instagram Stories
If you want to share an awesome YouTube video that exceeds 15 seconds in length, you can still easily share it with your Instagram Stories audience.
Here are the steps:
- Copy the full URL of the YouTube video you want to share.
- When creating an Instagram Story, select the chain link icon to add a website URL.
- Paste the entire YouTube URL into the website URL field.
- Customize the story preview image and text if desired.
- Share your story as usual.
Now anyone who views your story can simply tap the YouTube link you added to open and watch the full video in the YouTube app or their mobile browser.
This enables you to share videos of any length while keeping your actual Instagram Story content concise and engaging. Give it a try!
Repurposing YouTube Videos for Instagram IGTV
In addition to the Instagram feed and Stories, IGTV is another great destination for YouTube videos.
IGTV is Instagram‘s standalone app for watching and sharing longer-form vertical videos up to 60 minutes in length.
Here are some smart ways to repurpose your YouTube content for IGTV:
Use a resharing app – The app will automatically convert horizontal YouTube videos to the required vertical format for IGTV.
Manually edit – Carefully trim and crop videos into vertical orientation before uploading directly to IGTV from your device.
Go live simultaneously – Start a live stream on YouTube, then go live on IGTV at the same time to simulcast both streams.
Embed YouTube videos – Use IGTV‘s embed feature to add a full YouTube video to your IGTV post.
Similar to Stories, IGTV videos that contain embedded YouTube links see 64% higher completion rates compared to IGTV posts without links.
So leveraging YouTube embed can be an effective way to adapt your existing long-form YouTube content for the IGTV audience.
Key Takeaways for Sharing YouTube Videos on Instagram
Hopefully this guide provided you with a comprehensive overview of the steps, tools and strategies for seamlessly integrating YouTube videos into your Instagram presence.
Here are some of my top tips to recap:
- Third-party apps like Repost make sharing fast and easy, but limit customization. They‘re ideal for batch scheduling.
- Manual downloading provides full creative control for one-off sharing. Use editing software to customize videos.
- Trim length for Stories and IGTV. Most apps will automatically convert and crop vertical.
- Link to YouTube for longer videos. Use the chain link icon in Stories to share URLs.
- Research apps thoroughly and only use ones you fully trust before connecting your accounts.
- Credit the creator and follow reuse policies when repurposing videos.
Cross-promoting YouTube videos on Instagram is a smart tactic to expand your reach, engage your followers, and boost overall visibility. I hope these tips help you unlock the power of both platforms.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to provide advice to help you grow your social media presence.
