There are several ways to add video content to your guide. The best option depends on where the video is hosted and how prominently you want to feature it. Below are your choices, ordered by recommended approach.
Video Links Tab (YouTube, Vimeo, and Twitch)
For videos hosted on YouTube, Vimeo, or Twitch, the Video links tab is the most polished option. Videos added this way are embedded directly into your Guidebook Web page and can be docked, so users can keep watching while they navigate the rest of the guide.
To add a video, open the Schedule or Custom List in Builder, select a session or custom list item, and click on the Videos tab. Enter the URL to add a new video.
You can also synchronize the video's data from this tab. Syncing updates the video's title, as well as its start and end times. If a video is currently active, it displays a Live badge. If it has a future start time, it displays an Upcoming badge.
Many video platforms support generating a YouTube or Vimeo live stream link, which means you can use this method for live streams too.
Webview Module
If your video is hosted somewhere we don't support directly in the Video links tab, a Web View module is a good choice. It surfaces the video as a top-level menu item in your guide, making it easy for attendees to find from the home page.
To set this up, add a Web View module to your guide and point it at the URL where the video is hosted. We recommend testing the URL on both mobile and Guidebook Web before publishing, since not every site renders correctly inside a web view.
You may need to toggle the option for the web view to open in a browser via the Settings tab for your link to work on mobile.
Hyperlink in a Description
You can add a video link directly to a Schedule session or Custom list item description field. This works well when the video is one piece of a session's content alongside other context, such as virtual meetings held through platforms like Microsoft Teams or Google Meet where additional information like a meeting ID or passcode might be needed.
When creating the hyperlink, make sure to check the option to open the link in the device's native browser. This will redirect mobile users to the proper app for a smooth transition to the meeting. On Guidebook Web, it will open the link in a new browser tab, allowing the user to keep their Guidebook Web page tab.
This is a great option if you want to push the audience into a specific app or software so that they have the full functionality offered there. The Guidebook Web page will act as the home page for the event where all of the meeting links for sessions can be accessed.
Some video platforms require the link to open in the native browser so the relevant mobile app can take over playback. Always test your URL on both iOS and Android before publishing.
If you have a large number of links to add to descriptions, you may prefer to import them with a custom list item template or schedule session template. To ensure the links open in a new tab, your HTML should look like this: <a href="URL" target="_blank">Text that is hyperlinked<a>. Additional HTML assistance can be found in this support article or by emailing us at support@guidebook.com.
Links Tab
The Links tab places a URL below the description field of a Schedule session or Custom list item. This is a good option when you want the video to stand out as a separate, easy-to-spot link rather than sitting inside descriptive text.
To add a link manually, open a session or custom list item in Builder. Click on the Links tab, choose the URL button, paste the link, and save. You can also import links using a linking template. Set the link to open in the device's native browser, and test the URL on mobile and Guidebook Web before publishing.
FAQs
What if I want to link to a video on a platform you don't support in the Video links tab?
The Video links tab supports YouTube, Vimeo, and Twitch. For other platforms, you can use a Webview, a description hyperlink, or the Links tab, depending on how prominently you want to feature the video.
Why does it matter whether a link opens in the device's native browser?
Setting a link to open in the native browser allows mobile devices to hand off to the relevant app — for example, the YouTube app — which gives the best playback experience. On Guidebook Web, the link opens in a new tab, so the user keeps their place in your guide.
Can I use these options for virtual meeting links too?
Yes. Hyperlinks in descriptions and the Links tab work well for meeting URLs from platforms like Microsoft Teams, Webex, or Google Meet. Set the link to open in the native browser so attendees on mobile are routed into the meeting platform's app.