Why cross-post from YouTube to Twitter (X)?
Twitter is one of the best platforms for driving YouTube views because Twitter users love sharing and discussing video content. Unlike Facebook, Twitter does not heavily penalize YouTube links—but native video clips with a "Full video" link still outperform. The strategy: tease on Twitter, deliver on YouTube.
YouTube Specs
- Caption limit
- 5,000 chars
- Max hashtags
- 5
- Aspect ratios
- 16:9, 9:16
- Media formats
- MP4, MOV
- Max video length
- 12h
- Max file size
- 2000 MB
- Best times
- 2-4 PM, 6-8 PM
- Links in posts
- Yes
YouTube Specs
- Caption limit
- 5,000 chars
- Max hashtags
- 5
- Aspect ratios
- 16:9, 9:16
- Media formats
- MP4, MOV
- Max video length
- 12h
- Max file size
- 2000 MB
- Best times
- 2-4 PM, 6-8 PM
- Links in posts
- Yes
Twitter Specs
- Caption limit
- 280 chars
- Max hashtags
- 2
- Aspect ratios
- 16:9, 1:1
- Media formats
- JPG, PNG, GIF, MP4
- Max video length
- 2 min
- Max file size
- 15 MB
- Best times
- 8-10 AM, 6-9 PM
- Links in posts
- Yes
How to cross-post from YouTube to Twitter (X)
- 1
Clip the best 30-60 second moment
Find the most compelling hook, insight, or reaction from your YouTube video. This clip needs to make people want more.
- 2
Upload as native Twitter video
Upload the clip directly to Twitter (max 140 seconds). Native video autoplays in the feed, getting far more attention than a YouTube link.
- 3
Write a 280-character hook
Your tweet needs to stop the scroll. Lead with the most compelling statement or question from your video.
- 4
Add the YouTube link in a reply
Post the native video clip as your main tweet, then immediately reply with "Full video:" and the YouTube link. This gets the best of both worlds.
- 5
Pin and promote your best clips
Pin your highest-performing YouTube clip tweet to your profile so new visitors see it first.
Formatting tips for YouTube to Twitter (X)
Tweet + clip + link-in-reply strategy
Post native video clip in the main tweet, YouTube link in the first reply. This maximizes both engagement and click-throughs.
Twitter videos max at 2:20
YouTube has no limit. Trim your clips to the best 30-60 seconds for Twitter.
280 characters for the hook
YouTube titles can be 100 chars. Twitter gives you 280. Make every character count with a compelling hook.
Common mistakes to avoid
Only sharing YouTube links
YouTube link tweets get decent previews on Twitter, but native video clips with links in replies perform 3-5x better.
Clips that do not stand alone
Your Twitter clip needs to be entertaining on its own, not just a teaser that makes no sense without context.
No call-to-action for YouTube
Always mention that the full video is available and where to find it. Reply with the YouTube link immediately.
Pro Tip
Create a weekly "clip thread" on Twitter where you post 3-5 clips from your latest YouTube video as a thread. Each clip stands alone but together they drive massive traffic to the full video.
Frequently asked questions
Should I post YouTube links or native video on Twitter?
Both work. The best strategy is posting a native video clip as the main tweet, then adding the YouTube link in the first reply. This maximizes both Twitter engagement and YouTube click-throughs.
How long can Twitter videos be?
Twitter allows videos up to 140 seconds (2 minutes 20 seconds). Clip the best 30-60 seconds of your YouTube video.
Does Twitter suppress YouTube links?
Twitter does not suppress YouTube links as aggressively as Facebook. YouTube link previews work reasonably well, but native video always gets higher engagement.