How to Use YouTube Shorts Related Video Link to Get More Views in 2026

Here is the brutal truth about YouTube in 2026: If you are only posting Shorts, you are leaving 90% of your potential revenue on the table.

Yes, Shorts generate massive views. A YouTube Shorts Growth Tool can help you hit millions of eyeballs. But let's talk about RPM (Revenue Per Mille), which we cover extensively in our YouTube Shorts RPM calculator. For Shorts, you might make $0.05 to $0.15 per 1,000 views. For long-form content? That number jumps to $5.00, $10.00, or even $50.00 in niches like finance or B2B.

The math is simple: 1 Long-Form View = 100 Shorts Views.

The smartest creators aren't choosing between the two. They are building a Bridge. YouTube's "Related Video" feature is the single most powerful tool for converting casual scrollers into loyal, high-value subscribers. It allows you to link a Short directly to a long-form video, creating a seamless funnel from discovery to depth. If you want to automate this funnel, Joyspace AI is the essential tool for identifying these bridge moments instantly.

In this guide, we will break down the psychology of the bridge, how to structure your content to force the click, and why this strategy is the backbone of any serious monetization plan.

The Psychology of the Bridge

Why does a user, doom-scrolling through 60-second dopamine hits, suddenly decide to commit to a 15-minute video?

The answer lies in the Information Gap Theory.

As we explored in our guide on curiosity gap headlines, the human brain hates unresolved tension. When you present a fascinating premise in a Short but withhold the complete resolution, you create a psychological itch. The "Related Video" link is the only way to scratch it.

Most creators fail because they treat Shorts as standalone content. They give away the punchline. To build a successful bridge, your Short shouldn't be a summary; it should be a trailer.

The "Teaser" Structure

To maximize your Click-Through Rate (CTR) on the bridge, your Short needs to follow a specific structure that aligns with the retention curve anatomy of a viral video:

1. The Hook (0-3s): Use the 3-second rule to grab attention visually. Combine this with audio psychology to trigger instant engagement.
2. The Value (3-50s): Deliver genuine value, but keep it rapid-fire. Use pattern interrupts to keep them glued.
3. The Cliffhanger (50-60s): This is the bridge. Introduce a deeper, more complex problem that cannot be solved in 60 seconds.
4. The CTA: Point physically to the "Related Video" button (triangle icon) and tell them the answer is there. Make sure your text-on-screen clearly directs them.

Engineering the Click: The Open Loop

The mechanism that powers the bridge is the Open Loop Technique. You are opening a loop in the Short that can only be closed in the long-form video.

Example of a Bad Bridge:

• Short: "Here are 3 tips to lose weight. Eat less, move more, sleep better. Thanks for watching!"
• Result: Loop closed. User scrolls.

Example of a Viral Bridge:

• Short: "I tried the most dangerous diet in the world for 30 days. I lost 15 pounds, but the side effects were terrifying. You won't believe what happened to my blood work..."
• CTA: "Click the related video to see the full medical results."
• Result: Loop open. The user needs to know the results.

This strategy shifts your goal from "getting likes" to "getting clicks." It changes the metrics that matter from vanity views to funnel velocity.

Automating the Bridge with AI

Creating a unique Short for every long-form video can be exhausting. This is where Automated Video Editing becomes your competitive advantage.

Using an AI Video Clipper like Joyspace AI, you can instantly scan your long-form content to identify the most engaging "hook points." The AI detects the moments of highest emotional intensity or highest information density, ensuring your bridge is built on solid ground.

The Joyspace Workflow:

1. Upload your 20-minute video to Joyspace.
2. The AI identifies 5 potential Shorts using advanced virality scoring.
3. It automatically reframes them to 9:16.
4. It adds text-on-screen captions optimized for silent viewing.
5. Crucial Step: You edit the ending to cut off right before the big reveal, inserting a "Watch the full video below" visual overlay.

This creates a Content Repurposing machine that turns one asset into dozens of traffic drivers.

The "Context" Problem

One major mistake creators make is linking unrelated content. If your Short is about "Productivity Hacks," do not link to a long-form video about "My Morning Routine." The relevance must be 1:1.

The algorithm tracks the satisfaction signal of the user who clicks. If they click the bridge and immediately click off the long-form video, YouTube punishes both videos. This connects back to the concept of dopamine loops—the reward (long video) must match the anticipation (short video). See our guide on YouTube Shorts analytics to understand how these metrics impact growth.

Converting Traffic to Subscribers

The bridge gets them to the video, but how do you keep them?

Users coming from Shorts have shorter attention spans. They are "cold traffic." You need to hook them again immediately in the long-form video. This is why the 3-second rule applies to long-form too. Don't forget that thumbnails matter even within the app experience.

The "Hook Match": Ensure the first 10 seconds of your long-form video directly address the cliffhanger from the Short. Do not start with "Hey guys, welcome back to the channel." Start with "So, here are the blood test results I promised."

This continuity creates a seamless user experience. It turns a "Shorts Viewer" into a "Channel Subscriber."

B2B Applications

For businesses, the bridge is even more powerful. You can use Shorts to answer simple FAQ questions ("What is an API?") and use the bridge to link to deep-dive demos ("How to integrate our API in 5 minutes").

As discussed in our B2B TikTok guide, business decision-makers use short-form for discovery. The bridge is how you move them from "Discovery" to "Consideration." You can also apply these principles to your LinkedIn video strategy to drive traffic off-platform.

Conclusion: Build Funnels, Not Just Feeds

In 2026, a view is not just a view. It is a data point in a funnel.

The "Related Video" bridge transforms your Shorts from a vanity metric engine into a revenue engine. It allows you to leverage the virality of the Shorts feed to feed the monetization of the search engine.

By using YouTube Automation tools to generate high-volume bridges, understanding the mathematics of sharing, and mastering the psychology of the open loop, you can build a channel that doesn't just get views—it gets paid.

Stop letting your Shorts traffic evaporate. Build the bridge with Joyspace AI today.