> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.contentgrove.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Generate tracking links for your videos

> Generate contentgrove tracking links for one video or all of them at once, and manage your video descriptions in bulk from the Create links tab.

The **Create links** tab is your main workspace for creating tracking links. Generate a link for a single video, or generate links across all videos that point to the same destination. The tab has two sides: link generation on the left, bulk actions on the right.

<Frame>
  <iframe className="w-full aspect-video rounded-xl" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J_6aL0ja9bA" title="How to create tracking links in contentgrove" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowFullScreen />
</Frame>

## Generate a tracking link

<Steps>
  <Step title="Enter a destination URL">
    Type the URL where you want to send traffic, usually your landing page. The field validates as you type and adds `https://` if you leave it off.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/contentgrove/M4nyy69B00uCNdVa/images/quick-generate/01-destination-url.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=M4nyy69B00uCNdVa&q=85&s=4dacf74a59bb80d38250234612428774" alt="Entering a destination URL in the Create links tab" width="1184" height="672" data-path="images/quick-generate/01-destination-url.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select a video">
    Choose a single video, or switch to **All videos** mode (see below).

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/contentgrove/M4nyy69B00uCNdVa/images/quick-generate/02-select-video.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=M4nyy69B00uCNdVa&q=85&s=c0c731758fbd762cba70ce5cc03c4122" alt="Selecting a YouTube video to create a tracking link for" width="1198" height="620" data-path="images/quick-generate/02-select-video.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure link settings">
    Pick the link type, the domain, and an optional custom back-half.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/contentgrove/M4nyy69B00uCNdVa/images/quick-generate/03-select-offer.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=M4nyy69B00uCNdVa&q=85&s=782ff96e3756a100518fc2e6b3c02320" alt="Choosing an offer or affiliate link type for the tracking link" width="1186" height="592" data-path="images/quick-generate/03-select-offer.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Generate">
    Click **Generate link**, then copy the result.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Single video vs all videos

Use the toggle in the video step to switch modes:

* **Single video** — create one link for a specific video. You can set a custom back-half and optionally auto-update that video's description.
* **All videos** — contentgrove finds every video whose description contains the destination URL and creates a unique link for each. Custom back-halves are off in this mode (links are auto-generated), and descriptions are updated automatically.

<Note>
  All-videos mode relies on the destination URL already appearing in each video's description.
</Note>

### Link type

* **Offer link** — tied to a specific offer, so conversions are tracked. Select the offer from the dropdown (you can create one inline). See [Offers](/links/offers).
* **Affiliate link** — a general tracking link with no offer, so it tracks clicks only.
* **Bio link** — a link for your YouTube channel bio rather than a specific video. Bio links are grouped separately in the [All links](/links/all-links) tab and in analytics.

### Short link builder

Choose which **domain** to use, and in single-video mode set a **custom back-half** for a memorable URL.

| Part             | Example                         |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------- |
| Domain           | `track.example.com`             |
| Custom back-half | `free-course`                   |
| **Result**       | `track.example.com/free-course` |

### Auto-update YouTube description

In single-video mode, check the auto-update box to update the video's YouTube description directly. This only works when the destination URL is already in the description — contentgrove replaces that URL with your new tracking link rather than appending a new one. In all-videos mode, matching descriptions update automatically.

## Bulk actions

The right column handles your videos and links at scale.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Replace links in descriptions">
    Swap an existing link — like a genius link or a Bitly link — for another one across all your YouTube video descriptions. Useful when you're migrating off a third-party shortener before you create tracking links.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Refresh video descriptions">
    Re-sync titles, thumbnails, descriptions, and other metadata from YouTube. Use it after uploading new videos, editing descriptions on YouTube, or if you notice a mismatch.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Verify links in descriptions">
    Check that each tracking link is still present in its video's description, so you can catch links that were accidentally removed.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Tips

* Test your destination URL before generating links.
* Use descriptive custom back-halves so links are easy to recognize.
* Use auto-update when generating a single-video link to drop the tracking link straight into that video's description — it replaces the destination URL you already placed there.
* Use all-videos mode only when the destination URL is already in each description.

To view and manage what you've created, see [All links](/links/all-links).