How to Add Hotspots to Any Image or Video

Kyla Ball July 21, 2026

You have a great image or video. You know there is more to say about it. But a static file sitting inside a course or on a webpage can only do so much. What if learners could click into the parts that matter most, explore at their own pace, and get exactly the context they need right where they need it?

That is exactly what hotspots do. And if you are a learning designer, instructional designer, or learning technologist looking to make your content more interactive, this guide is for you.

What Is a Hotspot?

A hotspot is a clickable, tappable point placed directly onto an image or video. When a learner interacts with it, a panel opens to reveal additional content. That content could be text, an image, a video clip, an audio file, a link, a quiz question, or almost anything else you want to layer in.

Hotspots transform passive content into an active learning experience. Instead of reading through a wall of text, learners explore a visual and uncover information on their own terms. This approach is grounded in cognitive load theory: presenting information contextually, at the moment of relevance, reduces overload and supports retention.

Why Learning Designers Love Hotspot-Based Content

In action! Explore this example.

Hotspots are incredibly versatile. You can use them to:

• Label and annotate a diagram, technical image, or process map
• Layer scenario content onto a realistic workplace photo or 360° environment
• Add reflection prompts at key moments in a training video
• Guide navigation between scenes in a virtual tour
• Embed supporting resources without cluttering the main screen

For instructional designers working across corporate learning, healthcare, safety training, or education, hotspots offer a way to build richer experiences without rebuilding your entire content architecture.

How to Add Hotspots in ThingLink: Step by Step

ThingLink makes adding hotspots straightforward, whether you are working with a flat image, a video, or a 360° photo or tour.

Step 1: Create a Free Account or Log In

Head to ThingLink and sign up or log into your account. If you have forgotten your credentials, you can reset your password here.

Step 2: Upload Your Image or Video

From your dashboard, select the option to create a new experience. You can upload:

• A standard image (JPG, PNG, GIF)
• A video file
• A 360° equirectangular image
• A 360° video

ThingLink supports a wide range of file types, so you can start with almost any asset you already have.

Step 3: Click to Place Your First Hotspot

Once your media is loaded into the editor, simply click anywhere on the image or video to place a hotspot. A menu will appear asking what type of content you want to add.

This is where the real creative work begins. You can choose from content types including:

• Text and rich text for explanations, instructions, or reflections
• Images to show additional visuals or diagrams
• Video to embed a clip or link to a YouTube or Vimeo resource
• Audio for narration or sound effects
• Links to external pages or documents
• Embedded content such as forms, quizzes, or other web apps

Step 4: Customise Your Hotspot Style

You can adjust the visual appearance of each hotspot icon. Choose from different icon styles, colours, and sizes to match your brand or signal the type of content inside. Consistent visual design helps learners understand what to expect before they click.

For more complex experiences, you can also group hotspots into tags, making it easier to manage large projects with dozens of interaction points.

Step 5: Preview and Test the Learner Experience

Before you share or publish, use the preview mode to experience your content exactly as a learner will. Check that every hotspot opens correctly, that the content inside is accurate, and that the flow feels intuitive.

This is also a good moment to consider accessibility. See the accessibility notes at the end of this post for guidance on making your hotspot content inclusive.

Step 6: Publish and Share or Embed

When you are happy with your interactive image or video, publish it. ThingLink gives you several options:

• Copy a shareable link to send directly to learners
• Use the embed code to drop it into an LMS, website, or intranet
• Export as SCORM (on eligible plans) for full LMS integration with tracking

Taking It Further: Hotspots in 360° and Immersive Experiences

Hotspots are not limited to flat images. One of ThingLink’s most powerful applications is placing hotspots inside 360° environments, building virtual tours and immersive scenario-based learning that learners can explore in all directions.

If you are ready to go beyond the basics, take a look at how to make a virtual tour with ThingLink for a deeper dive into immersive content.

For inspiration on what immersive training can look like in practice, the post on how ThingLink virtual environments enhance child protection training is well worth a read.

What Makes a Great Hotspot Experience?

Adding hotspots is simple. Designing a great hotspot experience takes a little more thought. Here are a few principles to keep in mind:

Less is more. Avoid cluttering an image with so many hotspots that learners feel overwhelmed. Prioritise the interactions that add genuine learning value.

Match content to context. The information inside a hotspot should feel relevant to exactly where it is placed. If a learner has to work hard to understand why a hotspot is there, reconsider its placement.

Use progressive disclosure. Hotspots are ideal for layering complexity. Start with a simple overview and let learners dig deeper through the content panels.

Design for your learner’s device. Hotspots work across desktop and mobile, but make sure text panels are readable on smaller screens and touch targets are large enough to tap comfortably.

Want to see how interactive content can elevate your entire training programme? The guide on how to create five-star interactive online training brings together many of the principles behind great hotspot-driven design.

Ready to Start?

Adding hotspots to your images and videos is one of the fastest ways to increase learner engagement without a complete content redesign. You can build your first interactive image in minutes, and the skills transfer directly to more complex virtual tours and scenario-based learning experiences.

Sign up for ThingLink and create your first interactive experience today.