How to Embed a Video Into a Blog

Here in the library, we get a lot of questions on how to embed videos into blogs. The process isn't too complicated and I've created a simple, step-by-step guide with pictures on how to do it. This post is on how to embed videos from YouTube.

1. Find the video on YouTube you want to embed.
2. Click "Share"

3. Click "Embed"

Now, a box underneath the video should show that looks like this:

Before, we go any further, I should explain what all of this means.

The highlighted part is the actual embed code. This changes as you change your settings. It's important to make sure you're completely done before you copy the code, otherwise any changes you made after copying will be lost (since the code won't reflect those changes).

These four check boxes are the the semi tricky part.

- The first one, "Show suggested videos when the video finishes", is checked by default. What it does is, well, shows videos that it thinks you might want to watch, based on this video. It doesn't really matter if it's checked or not.

- Have you ever been browsing the Web when, after going to a new page, you've gotten that little box that pops up saying something like "Not all content is secure. Would you like to display the non secure items?" with two little boxes, to click either yes or no? Basically, that non secure stuff is not accessed using HTTPS. What that means is that HTTPS wraps a layer of encryption around the information and enhances the privacy (a lot of times it's used for making online payments). Checking the "Use HTTPS" box, can help you avoid that annoying secure content box. Again, it doesn't really matter if you check it or not.

- This third box, "Enable privacy-enhanced mode", has to do with cookies (no, not the kind you eat). Cookies basically collect information. By checking this box, you're restricting YouTube's ability to set those cookies - as long as the user doesn't click on the video (to go to YouTube directly, for example). Once it's been clicked on and you've been taken to the site, YouTube can set cookies, but it doesn't store any personal information.

- The fourth - and final - box, "Use old embed code", gives you, well, the option of using the old embed code. The old code only supports Flash playback, while the new code supports both Flash and HTML5 video, which has to do with web developers being able to add video like they would an image. It doesn't require a second application in order to watch the video. It's pretty cool, the only drawback being that some services only support the older code. If you get an error, my advice would be to go back and try the old code.

And now we come to the last part before we can copy the code. Here is the part where you get to pick how big your video will be. You have a choice of four preset sizes, or you can make your own custom size.

4. Copy the embed code.
5. Log onto your Blogger account.
6. Select "New Post" on the blog where you want your video to be.

7. Paste the embed code into your blog. Before you do though, make sure you're in the "Edit HTML" tab and not the "Compose" tab, otherwise instead of a video, you'll just get the code.

8. Click "Preview" to make sure everything looks how you want it to.

9. Click "Publish Post"

10. You're done!