# Manage and block video linkouts

Manage the links attached to videos from one library in Brand Control Center (BCC), block URLs or whole domains, and set which domains the SDKs allow.

Linkouts are the links and call-to-action (CTA) buttons attached to your videos. They drive traffic, support campaigns, and connect viewers to the wider web. Without rules, they can also bring broken links, off-brand domains, and compliance issues.

Linkout management lets you decide which links and domains are allowed, how links look, when they appear, and what gets blocked. Genuin matches links to each video by context, and the Genuin SDKs enforce your rules wherever your content plays. Linkout management is part of Control; for the rest of the product, see [Control: what it does and where to start](https://begenuin.com/developers/browse-by-products/control/control-what-it-does-and-where-to-start).

## Open the links library

In BCC, go to **Manage** > **Links**.

![The Links tab under Manage in Brand Control Center, with the Lists panel, + New List, Filter, + Add Link, and the All Links table of URLs, posts, in-views, clicks, and CTR.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/b1492a899f28c3c807459f1b8064b9ebdcc1273e-1871x923.jpg)
*The links library opens on All Links under Manage > Links.*

The page has these parts:

- **All Links**: the default view, with every link.
- **Global Block List**: every blocked URL and domain.
- **Custom Lists**: the lists you create to group links.
- **Filter**: show **Blocked links** or **Unblocked links**.
- **+ New List** and **+ Add Link**: add a list or a link.

In **All Links**, each link shows:

- The full URL, never truncated.
- Its associated posts.
- **In-View**, **Clicks**, and **CTR**.
- **Added On** and **Updated On** dates.
- A three-dot menu with **Edit link** and **Block link**. On a blocked link, **Block link** becomes **Unblock link**.

> **Note** You can't sort by In-View, Clicks, or CTR, because these values come directly from analytics.

## How Genuin matches links to videos

Genuin uses contextual matching to find the links most relevant to each video. Each match shows a percentage and a color, and links are ordered from the highest match rate to the lowest.

| Match rate | Color |
| --- | --- |
| Above 95% | Green |
| 90–95% | Yellow |
| 80–90% | Red |

When a new video is uploaded, the highest-matching link is suggested automatically. A post can carry up to 4 links. If more than 4 links qualify, Genuin selects the top 4 matches.

![The Add Link panel on a post, with an empty URL field, a Suggested Links list showing one link at an 82% Match, Re-sync links, and a link thumbnail upload.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/6c0e6e94c6a66b174d9cf43622b5b40e66514014-3024x1647.png)
*Genuin suggests matching links, each with its match percentage.*

### Edit a post's links

When you edit a post's links, the top 3 matches appear in a dropdown with their match percentage. You can:

- Edit the link URL, the link title, and the thumbnail.
- Change the link's categories, topics, and keywords, after the link is approved and the post is done.

Your edits sync back to the **All Links** library.

To edit keywords, click the keywords listed under **Category, Topic and Keywords**. The **Edit Topic** side drawer opens.

![Post Details for a post, with the Category, Topic and Keywords row highlighted, showing the Electronics category, the TVs & Home Theater topic, and keyword chips with pencil icons.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/08eb2b1140e71e667046f0873dcbb05968fea933-1122x704.jpg)
*Click a chip under Category, Topic and Keywords to edit it.*

![The Edit Topic side drawer, with required Category and Topic fields, a Keywords field holding five keywords, a warning that deleting keywords stops content creation, and Save and Cancel.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/7a2f1f9c0c9efad3a36286a30118bfd0b61efcfd-1078x675.jpg)
*The drawer warns that deleting keywords stops ongoing and scheduled content creation.*

## Add a call-to-action button

Each post can include a **Call-to-Action Button**. It uses the same suggestion dropdown and the same matching as links.

- **Button URL**: required.
- **Button Text**: up to 24 characters.
- **Add Button**: the toggle that turns the button on or off.
  ![A post's Post Details page with a Buy Headset link at a 97% Match, Add Button switched on, and the Button URL dropdown suggesting three links at 97%, 92%, and 88%.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/f90cffde7fd8b0a58c0f065cc906a4349584bc70-1136x716.jpg)
  *The Button URL dropdown suggests links ranked by match percentage.*

### When the only link is blocked

If a post has only one link, that link is also its CTA button URL, and you later block the link or its domain, Genuin removes the whole linkout configuration from the post.

A blocked link can't appear in the link list, as a button, or in the SDK. With no other link on the post, Genuin removes the linkout entirely to keep blocked domains from showing, even indirectly.

For example, a product demo video has one link, `www.partnerbrand.com/demo`, also used for its "Watch Demo" CTA button. You then block the domain `partnerbrand.com`. The link and the CTA button both disappear, and the post shows with no linkout.

## Add links

You can add links from the **Links** tab or edit them from the **Posts** tab.

### Add links to the library

1. Go to **Manage** > **Links** and click **+ Add Link**.
   ![The Links tab under Manage, with the + Add Link button highlighted and a link's three-dot menu open, showing Block link and Edit link.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/1991e27bca3a31ce4ae00a7e6c61fbe1a23f3d34-1875x912.jpg)
   *Step 1: Click + Add Link at the top right of All Links.*
2. Choose how to add links:
   - **Import CSV**: download the sample template, add your links, and upload the file for a bulk upload.
   - **URL**: click the URL option and paste one link.
     ![The Add Link panel with Import CSV selected, a drag-and-drop area for one CSV file of up to 50 MB, a Sample Template link, a URL option, and Add and Cancel.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/36066e254117aa51895c14161adc7059b1d4dca3-1918x949.jpg)
     *Step 2: Choose Import CSV for a bulk upload or URL for a single link.*

### Edit a link from the Posts tab

1. Open the **Posts** tab.
2. Click the pencil icon on the link to open the **Edit Link** window.
   ![A post's Post Details page with its Links section, where the + Add Link button and the pencil icon on the attached link are highlighted.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/d714d1ae9eb2475cb4d055cbe59835693f9c2a11-1860x910.jpg)
   *Step 2: Click the pencil icon on a post's link to edit it.*
3. Enter the URL.
4. (Optional) If the link is unique, add a **Link title** and a **Link thumbnail**.
   ![The Edit Link window, with a required URL field, a Link title field with a 56-character counter, a Link thumbnail in .jpg, .png, or .jpeg, and Done and Cancel.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/533dd81ad5614c594ae9e0487c0c6ac04a5b18e0-1188x741.jpg)
   *Step 4: Change the URL, title, or thumbnail, then click Done.*

### Rules for adding links

- A post can have up to 4 links.
- You can add up to 10 manual URLs.
- BCC validates each URL inline.
- The same link can be in different lists. A duplicate inside one list is blocked.

## Create a custom list

Custom lists group links for campaigns, product categories, partnerships, or seasonal initiatives. A link can appear in more than one list, but not twice in the same list.

1. Click **+ New List**.
2. Enter the **List Title**.
3. Add links in bulk with **Import CSV**, or choose **URL** and paste links one at a time.
   ![The Create a New List panel with the URL option selected and a column of pasted links, each in its own field with a delete icon.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/be8872222111f071916061d3a5aa04b4f8ae8489-1127x702.jpg)
   *Step 3: With URL selected, each pasted link gets its own field.*
4. (Optional) Under **Assign linkouts to**, choose a **Community** and a **Group**.
   ![The Create a New List panel with a list title, an imported CSV file, and the Assign linkouts to section with four communities and one group selected.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/ec8c8afbf7130dff3e529ee59ed9e59f49275c66-1129x527.jpg)
   *Step 4: Choose the communities and groups that use the list's links.*

To change a list, choose **Edit List** from its three-dot menu, make your changes, and click **Save**. The message **List updated successfully** confirms the save.

![The Edit List panel, opened from a custom list's three-dot menu, with the List Title, the Assign linkouts to community and group pickers, and Save and Cancel.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/a9ee18f902b301634c3ac3099995d05ed620415e-1119x699.jpg)
*Community and group changes apply only to videos uploaded after the save.*

![The All links table with a List updated successfully notification at the top right, confirming that your changes have been saved.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/5ea9b2fe71486ba79ea18f87c586dfac5adc8c58-1149x719.jpg)
*A notification confirms the list is updated.*

## Import links from a CSV file

A CSV import accepts one file of up to 50 MB. You can import into link lists, the **Global Block List**, and the domain block list.

After the upload, a notification summarizes the result. These sample notifications show 94 links added and some skipped:

| Result | Notification |
| --- | --- |
| Mixed issues | Import completed: 94 links added to {List Name}, 4 duplicate links, 2 invalid links, 2 blocked, and 2 failed links were skipped. |
| Duplicates only | Import completed: 94 links added to {List Name}, 4 duplicate links were skipped. |
| Invalid links only | Import completed: 94 links added to {List Name}, 2 invalid links were skipped. |
| Blocked links only | Import completed: 94 links added to {List Name}, 2 blocked links were skipped. |
| Invalid and blocked | Import completed: 94 links added to {List Name}, 2 invalid links and 2 blocked links were skipped. |
| Duplicates and blocked | Import completed: 94 links added to {List Name}, 4 duplicate links and 2 blocked links were skipped. |
| Duplicates and invalid | Import completed: 94 links added to {List Name}, 4 duplicate links and 2 invalid links were skipped. |
| All added | Import completed: 94 links added to {List Name}. |

When no links are added, the notification gives the reason:

| Result | Notification |
| --- | --- |
| General failure | Import failed: No links could be added to {List Name}. Please check the links and try again. |
| All duplicates | Import failed: No links could be added to {List Name}. All links already exist and were skipped as duplicates. |
| All invalid | Import failed: No links could be added to {List Name}. All links are invalid. Please check the URLs and try again. |
| All blocked | Import failed: No links could be added to {List Name}. All links are blocked and cannot be added. |

![A custom list's link table with the notification Success! A new list has been created with your imported link(s) at the top right.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/e5996e8574707aee29f38254bce07145f56b39f3-1175x553.jpg)
*A notification confirms the import once the list is created.*

You can also add links through a **URL**. If any single URL isn't correct, BCC outlines it in red and shows **This URL seems incomplete or incorrect.** Fix the URL to add it.

![The Create a New List panel in URL mode, where one pasted link is outlined in red with the error This URL seems incomplete or incorrect.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/4749a689b6a0fb995677e0cc65b31b9396b19674-1097x683.jpg)
*An invalid URL stays outlined in red until you fix it.*

## Block links

You can block a single URL or a whole domain:

| Feature | Blocked domain | Blocked link (URL) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Target | The entire domain, such as example.com | A specific path, such as example.com/page |
| Granularity | Broad | Precise |
| Effect | Blocks the whole site | Blocks selected pages |

To block one URL, choose **Block link** from its three-dot menu, then confirm in the window that appears.

![The All list table with a link's three-dot menu open, showing Block link, Edit link, and Delete link from the list, with Block link highlighted.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/a2ed6c5ec4bd2930e8c2971f38f0284f3cf94eab-1110x694.jpg)
*Choose Block link from the link's three-dot menu.*

![The window asking if you want to block the selected link(s), with options to block all links under the same domain or only the selected links, and a Block button.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/477b524f17370bfbd559912f167d157a1bbd5acc-1109x693.jpg)
*Pick the scope of the block, then click Block.*

Blocking at the domain level blocks every link from that domain.

![The Add Domain to Block List panel over the Global Block List, with Import CSV and Domain options, a CSV drop area of up to 50 MB, and a Sample Template link.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/e01467de30a12161dca96a834ae76e553a5d30e4-1092x580.jpg)
*Blocked domains don't appear in suggestions or future linkouts.*

### Block links from All Links

1. In **All Links**, select one or more links.
2. Click **Block**.
   ![A custom list's link table with two links selected, the 2 Links Selected count at the top, and the Block and Cancel buttons at the top right.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/a3300bcd2145fc59da6f2ffee27280eb17ad1c78-1189x746.jpg)
   *Step 2: Select the links, then click Block.*
3. Choose **Block only selected link(s)** or **Block all link(s) under the same domain**.
   ![The Block selected link(s) window, warning that links are removed from existing posts, with Block all link(s) under the same domain and Block only selected link(s) options.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/b60d717eab341dec5e784e5a79f0a710eb884116-1182x739.jpg)
   *Step 3: Choose whether to block only the selected links or their whole domain.*

When you choose domain blocking, a confirmation note appears, whether you selected one link or several.

With this option, every link from the same domain is blocked.

![The Block selected link(s) window with Block all link(s) under the same domain selected and a note that links already in the block list are skipped.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/5e31c079670454998a057c8ed20e7e797dfe41f2-1158x724.jpg)
*The window notes when some selected links are already blocked.*

### What blocking does

When you block a link, Genuin:

- Removes it from all posts.
- Removes it from buttons.
- Removes it from thumbnails.
- Prevents it from being added again.
- Lists it in the **Global Block List**.

### Unblock a link

An unblocked link returns to its original list. You can unblock a link from **All Links** or from the **Global Block List**, then confirm.

![The All links table with a blocked link's three-dot menu open, showing the single option Unblock link.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/8e28f160d2896549448094b049bd45730fdd30d7-1120x699.jpg)
*A blocked link's menu offers Unblock link.*

![The Global Block List on its Blocked Links tab, with one blocked URL selected and the Unblock button highlighted next to Cancel.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/e2c0467c712c62b88bfbd82f2dce61bd5c65f89a-1873x908.jpg)
*Select blocked links in the Global Block List, then click Unblock.*

![The window asking if you want to unblock the selected link(s), explaining that they return to your list and to linkout suggestions, with Cancel and Unblock.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/488f7b8bf77e3965e71a6ba133862b8d917bea51-1168x731.jpg)
*Unblocked links return to your list and to linkout suggestions.*

## Manage the Global Block List

The **Global Block List** shows blocked URLs, blocked domains, the date each was added, a bulk unblock option, and a three-dot menu on each entry. It overrides everything, including edits made on a post.

1. In the **Global Block List**, click **+ Add Link**.
   ![The Global Block List with its blocked URLs and Blocked on dates, and the + Add Link button highlighted at the top right.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/f5b8a1e11f606e93b0be83b2f9bdc6dc15f5d75f-1164x726.jpg)
   *Step 1: Click + Add Link to block more links.*
2. Choose **Import CSV** to block links in bulk, or paste a URL.
   ![The Add Link to Block List panel with Import CSV selected, a CSV drop area of up to 50 MB, a Sample Template link, a URL option, and Add and Cancel.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/219945f0041183915c55558c9fc62c5489c1ecaa-1918x949.jpg)
   *Step 2: Links added here are blocked and don't appear in suggestions or future linkouts.*
3. Review the pop-up that appears.
   ![The Global Block List with the notification Selected link(s) blocked and added to the Global Block List at the top right.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/529cc36eef18900d921fb674d1bc12c9c042773e-1157x726.jpg)
   *Step 3: A notification confirms the links are blocked.*

Use the **Filter** option to view **Unblocked links** and **Blocked links**.

![The All list table with the filter icon open on Filters, where Blocked links is checked and Unblocked links isn't, so only blocked links show.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/67230724ff5e64e349185fc5a20c74ae88de66f6-1171x729.jpg)
*Check Blocked links or Unblocked links to filter the list.*

## Set linkout rules in Settings

Go to **Settings** > **Linkout Controls** to choose which domains are allowed, how links look, when they appear, and where they open.

![The Linkout Controls page under Settings, with a player preview, a Web and Mobile App platform menu, and the Allow adding URLs from checkboxes for the four domain sources.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/0b2d96725f5707c15c51fc56842c9d43ea7d8d55-1874x908.jpg)
*Linkout Controls sets the allowed domain sources separately for Web and Mobile App.*

### Choose the allowed domain sources

By default, all four domain sources are selected:

- **My Own Brand Domains**
- **My Network of Brand Domains**
- **Genuin In-Network Brand Domains**
- **Any Relevant Open Web Domains**

When you select **Genuin In-Network**, **My Own** and **My Network** are selected automatically and become disabled. Clear **Genuin In-Network** to make them editable again.

You can combine sources: Own + Network, Own + Genuin, Network + Genuin, or Own + Network + Genuin. The SDK merges the allowed domains of every source you select.

When a link breaks your rule, the person adding it sees a message for the source preference:

| Source preference | Message |
| --- | --- |
| My Own Brand Domains only | "Only links from the {Brand Name} domain are allowed. Please add a relevant link." |
| My Network only | "Only links from brands within {Brand Name}'s network are allowed. View allowed brands." |
| Genuin only | "Only links from brands within Genuin's ecosystem are allowed. View allowed brands." |
| Any Relevant Open Web | No domain validation error |

For an invalid link, a bottom sheet shows the allowed brand sections, and the person must replace the link.

### Customize the linkout style

- Colors use 6-digit hex values, which BCC validates.
- An arrow toggle shows or hides the arrow.
- The preview shows mobile by default, with a landscape reference available.
- You style four states: Default, Selected, Disabled, and Selected Disabled.

### Set when the link appears

Choose **Immediate**, **Always Visible**, or **Custom Delay**. A custom delay can be up to 10 seconds, and validation rejects longer delays.

### Choose where links open

Set the **Redirection Type** to **In-App Browser** or **External Browser**.

## Review linkouts in Curate

In **Curate** > **Activity** > **Awaiting to post**, posts waiting for approval already carry their linkouts:

![The Curate Activity page with counts for Awaiting to post, Processing, Approved, and Rejected, and an Awaiting to post batch of TED videos with Approve, Move, and Reject.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/40449826c723c5e62aa8d1a63b0ae0ded8eb25e8-1085x729.jpg)
*Click View on a post to open it and check its links.*

- Links are suggested automatically.
- The match percentage is visible.
- The CTA button is associated automatically.
- The limit of 4 links per post applies.
  ![The View Post Details page in Curate, showing a link at a 97% Match, Add Button switched on, an Add to Cart button at a 97% Match, and Approve & Post.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/9604c18c1f400b1265b3799f810d4c2713747515-1120x703.jpg)
  *The post arrives with suggested links, match percentages, and a button.*

## How the SDKs enforce your rules

Your linkout rules apply in the mobile SDKs and the Web SDK. If a link breaks the domain sources you selected, the SDK blocks it.

In the mobile SDK, the blocked link prompts a message, and the **Allowed brands** view lists the brands whose links are permitted.

![The mobile Add Link screen, where the URL youtube.com/@TED is outlined in red with the message that only links from network brands are allowed, plus View allowed brands.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/0c39ad33bfeb3deb80654891cbf2894fd92213ed-334x715.jpg)
*A link outside the allowed domains shows an error with a View allowed brands link.*

![The Allowed brands bottom sheet over the mobile Add Link screen, with a search field and the allowed domains begenuin.com, ted.com, walmart.com, and samsung.com.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/7e3a972a4a701bedc08ef776aa8fec61f1c7d99b-334x716.jpg)
*Allowed brands lists the domains whose links are permitted.*

![The mobile Add Link screen after the link is accepted, with no error, a link preview, a New link option, and the Done button enabled.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/ee44dd6acb4611f3b8ee6cad77cf649004034dbd-331x715.jpg)
*Once the link is allowed, the error clears and you can save it.*

The Web SDK applies the same check. Learn more about [embedding the Genuin Web SDK on your website](https://begenuin.com/developers/developer-resources/sdk/how-do-you-embed-and-configure-the-genuin-web-sdk-on-your-website).

![The web Create New Post page, where the Add Linkouts URL youtube.com/@TED is outlined in red with the message that only links from network brands are allowed.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/1206864a6ff3735ffbc140361b1fef3e57a42222-1078x670.jpg)
*The Web SDK blocks a link outside the allowed domains.*

![The web Create New Post page with the Add Linkouts URL accepted, no error, a Buy Headset link title, a link thumbnail, and Cancel and Save.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/lnrtvsvr/development/9c2dadf14924fc2c263fffd50eda2c219ee05ad4-1139x712.jpg)
*With an allowed link, the error clears and you can save the post.*

Because the SDKs enforce these rules, your policies apply everywhere your content plays. To attach products and offers to moments in a video at serve time, see [Dynamic In-Video Linkout](https://begenuin.com/developers/browse-by-products/monetize/dynamic-in-video-linkout).

## Limitations

- **Links per post**: up to 4.
- **Manual URLs**: up to 10.
- **CTA button text**: up to 24 characters.
- **CSV import**: one file, up to 50 MB.
- **Display delay**: up to 10 seconds.
- **Sorting**: you can't sort by In-View, Clicks, or CTR.

## See also

- [Dynamic In-Video Linkout](https://begenuin.com/developers/browse-by-products/monetize/dynamic-in-video-linkout)
- [Configure Brand Control Center settings](https://begenuin.com/developers/browse-by-products/control/how-do-you-configure-settings-in-the-brand-control-center-for-full-control-and-governace)
- [Keyword and Topic Blocklists](https://begenuin.com/developers/browse-by-products/control/keyword-and-topic-blocklists)
- [Customize the Genuin video player](https://begenuin.com/developers/browse-by-products/control/how-does-a-brand-customize-the-genuin-video-player-controls)