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Stop uploading video files directly to WordPress! Are you planning to use video content but need help embedding a video on WordPress? Well, you have landed on the correct page. Including videos on your WordPress website is beneficial in many ways.
That’s why 92% of marketers value video as a vital part of their marketing strategy, and 86% of businesses use it as a marketing tool. But how do you add videos to your WordPress website?
That’s precisely what I’m going to discuss here. This article will cover different methods for how to embed a video to your WordPress website:
Why You Should Embed Videos Instead of Uploading Directly to WordPress
Even though including videos on your WordPress website has many benefits, uploading them directly can consume a lot of storage space, add to your hosting costs, and drag down your page loading speed. This can lead to a poor user experience and harm your video strategy.
It would help if you also had good-looking thumbnails.
In a nutshell, uploading videos directly to your WordPress site can hurt your SEO and website performance.
That’s why I recommend embedding instead of uploading videos. By embedding videos, you can increase YouTube views through your website.
Let’s see how you can go about that.
Step By Step Guide to Embed a Video on WordPress Website
Videos can drive your website engagement and deliver your messages smoothly. You can embed videos on your WordPress website in three major ways using the powerful Gutenberg block editor. Let’s take a look at them.
How to Embed YouTube and Vimeo Videos in WordPress
Embedding a YouTube or Vimeo video is simple, regardless of your WordPress theme. If you’re using the Gutenberg block editor, you only need to copy the video URL (from YouTube or Vimeo) and paste it inside the block editor.
WordPress offers multiple ways to embed videos in blog posts or pages. The content management platform supports various video hosting services such as YouTube, Vimeo, Animoto, TED, etc.
Method 1: The Quick Paste (oEmbed)
To add YouTube or Vimeo videos using the copy-paste method, follow the steps below:
To add YouTube or Vimeo videos using the copy-paste method, follow the steps below:
- Navigate to the video you want to embed and copy the URL.
- Head over to the blog post or page on which you want to include the video and paste the URL where you want to insert your video. WordPress’s built-in oEmbed functionality will automatically convert the URL into an embedded player.
For a YouTube video:
Image via YouTube
For a Vimeo video:
Image via Vimeo
2. Next, copy the URL to your clipboard. You can directly copy the URL from the address bar.
Image via YouTube
Method 2: Using the Dedicated Embed Block
If Method 1 doesn’t work, or you prefer more control, you can use the dedicated block for your video service.
- Copy the video’s URL, and then go to the blog post where you want to insert the video.
- Click the “+” icon to add a new block. Search for and choose the block related to your video service (e.g., “YouTube” or “Vimeo”).
- Paste your video’s URL into the field and click Embed.
Image via Hostinger
Image via Hostinger
Method 3: The Video Block Method (For Direct Embeds)
This option is useful when adding videos from a service that WordPress does not support or if you are inserting a URL from a specific video file (e.g., MP4) hosted elsewhere.
- Go to the WordPress editor and click the “+” icon to add a new block.
Image via WordPress
2. Click on the Video block.
Note that when you use this option, you will have three options (Upload, Media Library, and Insert from URL) to add a video to your WordPress blog post or page.
Image via WordPress
3. Click Insert from URL and paste the video’s URL below.
4. Click Return to embed your video on the post or page.
Method 4: The Manual HTML Embed (Best for Unsupported Platforms)
Use this option if your video is hosted on a platform for which WordPress doesn’t have a specific block, or if you need to use specific custom player parameters (like muted or start time).
- Go to the video hosting platform (e.g., YouTube), click the Share button, and then click Embed to get the full
<iframe>code.
2. Click the plus sign “+” to add a new block to your WordPress page editor
Image via YouTube
3. You will see this popup
4. Copy the entire embed code from here.
5. Click the plus sign “+” to add a new block to your WordPress page editor.
6. Type “HTML” in the search bar and click the “Custom HTML” block.
Image via WordPress
7. Paste the embed code you copied in step 4, which says “Write HTML.”
8. Once you’ve pasted the embed code, click the preview button to view your embedded video.
Note on the Classic Editor: If you are still using the Classic Editor, you must paste the embed code into the “Text” tab of the editor for it to render correctly.
How to Embed Facebook Videos on WordPress
Embedding Facebook videos in WordPress is simple:
- Go to the Facebook video, hover over it, click on the three dots at the top right corner, and copy the URL.
Image via Facebook
- Go to your WordPress dashboard and paste the URL where you want the video to appear.
- WordPress will embed the video automatically and display the thumbnail.
How to Embed Instagram Videos on WordPress
The process for embedding Instagram videos in WordPress is similar to Facebook’s but a bit more complex than YouTube and Vimeo.
Here’s how to do it:
- Locate the Instagram video you want to embed on the Instagram website and click the three dots at the top right corner.
Image via Instagram
- Click the Embed Code button.
- Go to the post or WordPress page where you would like to embed the video and paste the embed code in the HTML block or text editor.
- Paste the code and preview it to see the embedded video.
Embedding Videos Using Plugins
Videos are a great way of contactless marketing. To simplify the process of embedding videos in WordPress, you can use plugins like Advanced Responsive Video Embedder, Easy Video Player, EmbedPlus for YouTube, and many more.
Improving Video Performance and Page Speed
While embedding is far better than uploading, a standard YouTube or Vimeo embed can still add significant load time to your page. To ensure videos don’t negatively impact your Core Web Vitals, consider these optimization tips:
- Use Lazy Loading: Install a performance plugin (like WP Rocket, LiteSpeed Cache, or a dedicated solution like EmbedPress) that automatically lazy-loads your embedded videos. This feature replaces the full player with a lightweight thumbnail until the user clicks “play,” drastically reducing initial page load time.
- Check Aspect Ratio: When using the Gutenberg editor, ensure the video block is set to a standard aspect ratio (e.g., 16:9). This helps prevent content jumping (a Cumulative Layout Shift issue) that occurs when the player’s dimensions load too late.
- Avoid Autoplay: Never use autoplay settings in your embed code unless absolutely necessary. This immediately consumes bandwidth, can negatively impact user experience, and may lead to higher bounce rates.
Final Thoughts
Embedding a video on WordPress can help you drive engagement on your website. The videos also build toward your website’s SEO and play a significant role in driving traffic.
If you follow these embedding strategies well, the videos will render quickly on your website and improve visitors’ overall browsing experience. Once you get the hang of it, consider embedding the video elsewhere, like your email.
So, go ahead and start embedding videos on your website.
Need help optimizing your embedded videos for speed, or are you running into a stubborn embed code issue? As WordPress technical experts, we can handle the complexities of video integration and site performance. Contact WP Tech Support today for quick, expert assistance. View our care plans
Author Bio – Gaurav Sharma is the founder and CEO of Attrock, a results-driven digital marketing company. Grew an agency from 5-figure to 7-figure revenue in just two years | 10X leads | 2.8X conversions | 300K organic monthly traffic. He also contributes to top publications like HuffPost, Adweek, Business 2 Community, TechCrunch, and more. Social Accounts: Twitter, LinkedIn & Instagram
Photo by CardMapr.nl on Unsplash