YouTube Video Annotations Evolve

Many YouTube creators leverage annotations to add clickable text overlays to their video, but now the video-based social network is unveiling a new way for creators to engage their audience.

The new feature, dubbed cards, can be leveraged to inform viewers about other videos, merchandise, playlists, websites and more. Plus, the cards are available on mobile devices. According to YouTube, creators should think of cards as an evolution of annotations.

At launch, creators can choose from six different types of cards, including merchandise, fundraising, video, playlist, associated website and fan funding. To leverage the feature, creators can visit the new “Cards” tab in the Video Editor.

“Because cards work across mobile and desktop and give you more flexibility to share what you want, our goal is to have these eventually replace annotations,” the YouTube blog post states. “But this will happen only once they can do everything annotations can do today, and more. Until then, we’re looking forward to your feedback on cards, including what you want them to do for you in the future.”

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