How to Generate Real Estate Leads on YouTube Shorts (When Links Are Blocked)
YouTube has disabled clickable links in Shorts descriptions and comments. Here are the only two ways to drive traffic to your real estate listings in 2026.
⚠️ The "Dead Link" Rule
To fight spam, YouTube made a drastic change: Links in Shorts descriptions and comments are NO LONGER CLICKABLE.
If you paste the link to your listing we provide you in the comments, it will appear as plain text. Users cannot click it, and on mobile, they cannot even copy-paste it. Do not waste your time doing this.
The 2 Proven Solutions
Method A: The "Channel Link" (Easiest)
YouTube now creates a prominent "Link Button" on your Channel Profile, right near the Subscribe button.
- Go to your Channel Customization settings on Desktop.
- Under "Basic Info," add the link to your listings page we provide you.
- In your video, say (and show text): "Click my profile picture, then click the link!"
Method B: The "Related Video" Bridge (Best for specific properties)
Shorts allow ONE specific link: a link to another YouTube video. You can use this as a bridge.
- Upload a "Long Form" video (horizontal) that is just 1 minute long, showing the property.
- Put the link to your listing in the Description of the long video (Links work there!).
- Go to your Short in YouTube Studio > Details.
- Find the "Related Video" field and select that long video.
- Now, a button appears on your Short saying "▶ Created from [Video Title]". Users click that, go to the long video, and find the link.
YouTube is a Search Engine
Unlike TikTok (which is about viral trends), YouTube is about Search. Your video can get views 6 months from now if someone searches for a property in your area.
- The Title Formula: Don't try to be cute. Be descriptive.
Bad: "Wow look at this!"
Good: "4 Bed, 3 Bath Home for Sale in Austin, TX - Virtual Tour" - Description Keywords: Even though the link isn't clickable, write a full description with keywords. Google indexes this text.
- Community Posts: If you have 500+ subscribers, you can post a "Community Post" with a photo of the property and a clickable link. This will show up in your subscribers' feeds.