How To Embed A YouTube Playlist In WordPress?

My simple and quick step-by-step instructions will teach you how to embed a YouTube playlist in WordPress.

Embedding a YouTube playlist to your site is an EXCELLENT way to showcase your video content, engage your audience, and promote your YouTube (YT) channel.

Video. Works!

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore different methods for embedding a YT playlist in WordPress and provide step-by-step instructions on how to do so.

As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” video content can express complex ideas and emotions in a more engaging and relatable way than text or images alone.

This post covers:

• What exactly is a YouTube playlist?
• Preparing your YouTube playlist for embedding
• Can I embed a YouTube playlist in WordPress?
• How to embed a YouTube playlist to your WordPress site with a plugin
• Other methods to embed a YouTube playlist to your WordPress
• Troubleshooting common issues with YouTube playlist embedding
• Conclusion: I recommend using a plugin to embed YouTube playlist
• FAQs about adding a YouTube playlist in WordPress

With the popularity of platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, and Facebook Video, creating (thanks, iPhone!), sharing, and consuming video content online has NEVER been easier.

As a website owner or content creator, incorporating video content into your online presence can significantly boost user engagement, increase on-page time, and improve your search engine rankings.

Remember, if you only want to embed a single video, then you may be interested in my other tutorial on how to add YouTube in WordPress.

What Exactly Is A YouTube Playlist?

YouTube playlists are a simple yet powerful feature that allows you to organize and curate your favorite videos into a coherent and EASILY shareable collection.

Playlists can be created for various purposes, such as grouping videos by topic or simply collecting your favorite music videos from different artists.

The beauty of YT playlists lies in their versatility and the fact that they can be easily updated and shared with your audience.

They are ENGAGING and help you build a community around your YouTube channel. But also contribute to the growth of your website or blog.

Preparing Your YouTube Playlist For Embedding

Before you can embed a YT playlist in your WordPress site, you need to ensure that your playlist is properly set up and optimized for sharing.

Here are some essential steps to follow when preparing your YouTube playlist for embedding:

1. Create or curate your playlist: The first step is to create a new one or curate an existing one you’d like to embed on your site. Select videos relevant to your site’s theme or topic and offer value and entertainment to your audience.
2. Optimize your playlist’s title and description: To ensure that your playlist is easily discoverable and appealing to your audience, choose a descriptive and engaging title and write a compelling description highlighting the key themes or topics covered in your playlist.
3. Order your videos strategically: Arrange the videos in your playlist in a logical and coherent order, keeping in mind the user experience and the narrative you want to tell. Consider starting with an engaging or informative video that sets the tone for the rest of the playlist and encourages users to continue watching.
4. Ensure that your videos are public and shareable: Finally, ensure that all the videos in your playlist are set to “public” and that their respective creators have enabled the sharing and embedding features. This will guarantee that your playlist can be easily embedded and viewed on your WordPress site. But allows others to share it, too.

Can I Embed A YouTube Playlist In WordPress?

By default, WordPress does not support embedding YouTube playlists directly.

However, several methods EXIST, including plugins, oEmbeds, and iframes, to easily add a YT playlist to your WordPress site.

And all are beginner-friendly methods.

How To Find Your YouTube Playlist URL

Before you can embed a YouTube playlist in WordPress, you need to find its URL.

1. Go to your YouTube channel and click on the Playlists tab.
2. Select the playlist you want to embed on your WordPress site.
3. Click on the Share button beneath the playlist video player.
4. Copy the playlist URL provided in the Share options.

Now that you have your YouTube playlist URL, you can proceed with embedding it on your WordPress site.

How To Embed A YouTube Playlist To Your WordPress Site With A Plugin

As mentioned above, WordPress doesn’t allow embedding YT playlists by default.

That’s why we will use the Feeds For YouTube by Smash Balloon (my favorite tool for YT playlists).

It’s a POWERFUL and user-friendly plugin that allows you to create custom YouTube feeds and playlists for your WordPress site.

The plugin offers various customization features, such as adjusting the layout, adding a call to action, and more.

Step 1: Install The Feeds For YouTube Plugin

To install and activate the Feeds For YouTube plugin, follow these steps:

1. Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins > Add New.
2. Search for “Feeds For YouTube” in the search bar.
3. Click on Install Now and then Activate.

Note: You can also check my guide on how to install a WordPress plugin if you need more info.

With the Feeds For YouTube plugin installed and activated, you can now connect your YouTube account and embed a playlist on your WordPress site.

Step 2: Connect Your YouTube Account To WordPress

Connecting your YT account to your WordPress site is very easy and can be done in three simple steps.

1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to YouTube Feed » Settings.
2. Click on the Add Source button and connect your Google account.
3. Authorize the plugin to access your YouTube channel information.

Once connected, you can add your YouTube playlist to the plugin.

Please note that some features now require creating a FREE YouTube API key from Google.

The instructions for this are very specific, so please follow this video tutorial that the plugin author made to make our lives easier.

Thanks, legend!

Step 3: Add Your YT Playlist To YouTube Feed Plugin

And now to the main part.

Adding a playlist to your YT feed in WordPress is completed in a few moments.

1. Go to YouTube Feed > All Feeds in your WordPress dashboard and click the +Add New button.
2. Select Playlist and click on the Next button.
3. Enter your YouTube Playlist URL in the Add Source section and click Next.

Now that your YouTube playlist has been added to the plugin, you can customize its appearance and embed it on your WordPress site.

I encourage you NOT to skip this step.

Make adjustments (if necessary) so the playlist integrates with your site more naturally.

Step 4: Customize Your YouTube Playlist

Using the plugin, you can modify the appearance of your playlist.

That includes editing the layout, color scheme, and additional elements like headers, video styles, and subscribe buttons.

To customize your YT playlist, go to the Customize section of the plugin and make the desired adjustments.

Step 5: Embed YouTube Playlist To Your WordPress Site

To embed your customized YouTube playlist to your WordPress site, follow these steps:

1. Click the Embed button next to the Save button in the YouTube Feed plugin.
2. Copy the provided WP shortcode.
3. Navigate to the page or post on your WordPress site where you want to embed the playlist and paste the shortcode.
4. Update or publish the page or post to save your changes. (You can also preview it first to ensure it displays correctly.)

CONGRATULATIONS!

Your YouTube playlist is now embedded on your WordPress site.

Other Methods To Embed A YouTube Playlist To Your WordPress

In addition to the methods mentioned above, there are other ways to embed a YT playlist in your WordPress site.

Embed A YouTube Playlist With oEmbeds

WordPress supports the oEmbed format for embedding media content, including YT playlists.

To embed a YouTube playlist using oEmbeds, COPY and PASTE the playlist URL into the WordPress editor.

WordPress will automatically convert the URL into an embedded playlist.

However, this will simply add the video placeholder in the content where all the videos will play out.

You will have a hard time customizing the design of the playlist.

That’s why I recommend sticking to the plugin described above.

Embed A YouTube Playlist Using <iframe>

Another method to embed a YT playlist in WordPress is by using a <iframe> code.

It might not be the cleanest approach, but it does the job.

1. Go to your YouTube playlist and click on the Share button.
2. Click on the Embed tab and copy the provided <iframe> code.
3. In your WordPress editor, switch to the Text or HTML view (or pick the Custom HTML block in Gutenberg), and paste the <iframe> code where you want the playlist to appear.

Troubleshooting Common Issues With YouTube Playlist Embedding

Occasionally, you may encounter issues or challenges when embedding a YouTube playlist in your WordPress site.

Here are some common problems and their solutions:

1. Playlist not displaying or showing an error message: If your embedded playlist is not displaying or showing an error message, ensure that all the videos in the playlist are set to “public” and that their respective creators have enabled the sharing and embedding features.
2. Playlist not responsive or resizing correctly: If your embedded playlist is not responsive or resizing correctly on different devices, consider using a plugin like Feeds For YouTube or adding custom CSS to make your playlist responsive.
3. Playlist not auto-playing as desired: If your embedded playlist is not auto-playing as desired, double-check the playlist URL parameters or the plugin’s settings to make sure the autoplay feature is configured correctly.

Conclusion: I Recommend Using A Plugin To Embed YouTube Playlists

While there are multiple ways to embed a YouTube playlist in WordPress, a plugin like Feeds For YouTube offers the most flexibility and customization options.

With a plugin, you can easily connect your YT account, customize the appearance of your playlist, and embed it on your site without any coding knowledge.

This approach ensures a visually appealing and engaging presentation of your YouTube content, ultimately driving more traffic to your YT channel and enhancing your visitor’s experience.

FAQs About Adding A YouTube Playlist In WordPress

How can I embed a YouTube playlist into a WordPress post?

To embed a YouTube playlist, go to the playlist on YouTube, click “Share” under the video player, and then click “Embed.” This will give you an HTML code. Copy this code and paste it into the HTML editor of your WordPress post or page.

Is there a way to make the YouTube playlist responsive in WordPress?

Yes, to make the embedded playlist responsive, you can use plugins like “Advanced Responsive Video Embedder” or manually wrap the embed code in a div with a responsive aspect ratio. This will ensure the playlist adjusts to different screen sizes.

Can I customize the appearance of the YouTube playlist on my WordPress site?

While customization options are somewhat limited, you can control the appearance through the embed code parameters such as “controls,” “autoplay,” and “loop.” Alternatively, some plugins might offer additional styling options.

How do I ensure that the YouTube playlist starts playing a specific video in the list?

You can specify which video to start with by modifying the embed URL. Append “&index=[number]” to the URL where “[number]” is the position of the video in the playlist (starting with 1).

What should I do if the YouTube playlist is not embedding properly in WordPress?

Ensure you’re using the correct embed code and pasting it into the HTML editor, not the visual editor. If problems persist, clear your browser cache, check for conflicts with other plugins, or use a dedicated video embedding plugin for better compatibility.