In this article we’ll provide some general statistics on YouTube usage, the best way to quickly and easily share a YouTube link with a start time, and more detailed instructions on how to make YouTube video URLs with timecodes.
For the purposes of this site, we are primarily concerned with users that want to share a link to a video. With that in mind, YouTube is a primary focus of this site, because of the sheer volume of videos they host and number of videos shared on YouTube.
YouTube is the largest online video platform on the web, and by some measurements has the 2nd highest website traffic on the internet. That’s a lot of videos.
YouTube first came online in Feb, 2005. It was founded by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim. It was originally an independent web property, but was then acquired by Google (stock symbol: GOOGL).
YouTube has approximately 2.6 billion annual users (2022). YouTube is ad supported, and also operates with a subscription model. Recent revenue was approximately $28.8 billion (2021). YouTube’s CEO is Susan Wojcicki.
While YouTube is often a form of entertainment, videos on YouTube are also used for education, and evidence or examples in discussions or debates. Because videos can be used to help in explanations and persuasion, YouTube videos are often shared with others.
For many reasons, the videos on YouTube are shared. Sharing video URLs is the focus of this site.
YouTube visitors often want to link not just to a particular video, but they might also want to link directly to a specific time in a YouTube video – so they can direct other people exactly to the part of the video they want them to see.
Many of us have had the experience where we want to send someone a YouTube video link. We want to show a particular part in a YouTube video, but maybe the video was several minutes (or hours) long. If you have to tell the person to go to a particular hour and minute of the video, the process of sharing the video is more difficult. If it’s harder for them to see the part you want, linking to the video is a less effective way to communicate an idea.
It is a much better experience for the person receiving the video you want them to see, if the link to the YouTube video starts at the exact time you want.
For the easiest, best way to make a video link with a start time, our YouTube timestamp generator helps you share videos, and works for all major video platforms.
If you want to know the technical explanation for how to share a YouTube video at a certain time, the process involves the use of a timestamp parameter in the URL.
A timestamp for a YouTube video (or YouTube timecode) is a bit of code (called a parameter) that is added to the URL of a video that tells YouTube at what time to start the video. A YouTube video with a timestamp is made as you add a timecode parameter to a video URL. That can be a little complicated for some people, so we developed our video URL sharing tool to add the time for you – try it now, it’s free and easy to use.
To share a YouTube URL is easy: You start with the YouTube URL you want, you specify that you want to start the video at a specific time, we create the link for you, and you copy the YouTube timecode link and send it to a friend.
Create Video LinksOur video URL with timestamp tool works for all the major video platforms, including YouTube, Vimeo, Twitch.tv, Facebook, and DailyMotion.
For a specific example of how to make a link to a YouTube video at a certain time, see our article that documents the process of sharing YouTube links with timestamps.
YouTube is located in San Bruno, CA.
Simple to make a link
Easy to share
Works with all major video sitesA: A user may generate a YouTube link that starts at a specific time using the MakeVideoLink tool, or YouTube’s share function.
A: A video timestamp is information about a specific time in a YouTube video. This is useful when you are trying to share a certain part of a YouTube video without having to watch the rest of it.
A: After you create a new Youtube link that starts where you want at MakeVideoLink.com, you can either copy the new link or directly share to Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
