
Video SEO: The Complete Beginners Guide (2025)
The complete playbook for getting your videos to rank higher on YouTube and Google search in 2025
Written by Ed Smit
Last Updated: 16/13/2025
It’s fair to say that video is the official king of marketing on the internet!
But if video is king, video SEO is the throne that holds it…
By 2025, videos are projected to account for over 82% of all consumer internet traffic.
On YouTube alone, over 500 hours of video are uploaded every minute.
In other words, every minute your competitors (and millions of creators) are adding an ocean of new content.
So if you want any chance of standing out amongst the sea of content, it’s time you took video SEO seriously.
This complete guide will explore everything you need to know to become a Video SEO expert.
Click here to jump to the contents
About the Author
Hey, I’m Ed!
I founded Here Now Films – One of the UK’s leading video production companies – over 6 years ago.
Today we’ve become leading experts on all things video and how best to use video to get seen on the internet, and ultimately drive return on investment.
This guide is the accumulation of over 6 years of learning through trial and error and from the many pieces of advice given to us by SEO experts along the way.
We hope it helps you as much as it’s helped us!
Quick Tips & Takeaways
Here’s a distilled “cheat sheet” of the most important lessons from the guide:
- Start With Smart Keyword Research
- Use YouTube’s autocomplete, Google’s “video intent” queries, and tools (TubeBuddy, Ahrefs, etc.) to find topics people actually search for.
- Use YouTube’s autocomplete, Google’s “video intent” queries, and tools (TubeBuddy, Ahrefs, etc.) to find topics people actually search for.
- Optimise Your YouTube Metadata
- Title: Include the main keyword and make it compelling (under ~60 characters).
- Description: Write a detailed, keyword-rich summary (with timestamps if it’s long).
- Tags: Add a handful of relevant tags (main keyword + variations).
- Create Irresistible Thumbnails
- Use a clear, high-resolution image and minimal on-screen text.
- Make it pop so viewers click when they see it in search results.
- Engagement Signals Matter
- Encourage likes, comments, and shares.
- The more people watch, interact, and stay on your channel, the more YouTube will recommend your content.
- Boost Audience Retention
- Hook viewers in the first 5–10 seconds; get straight to the point.
- Use clear structure, “pattern interrupts” (graphics, B-roll), and timestamps to keep them watching.
- The longer they watch, the more YouTube favours your video.
- Leverage YouTube Features
- Use end screens and cards to guide viewers to more of your videos or playlists.
- Organise related videos into playlists so viewers can easily binge your content.
- High-Quality Content Is Non-Negotiable
- Good lighting, clear audio, and tight editing = better engagement.
- Stay on-topic and deliver real value (tutorial, story, etc.) so viewers don’t click away.
- Get Your Videos Found on Google
- If embedding on your website, add VideoObject schema, a video sitemap, and a text summary or transcript so Google can index the content.
- Target queries with “video intent” (e.g., how-tos, reviews, demos).
- On-Page Video SEO
- Place your video prominently (near the top) on the page.
- Surround it with relevant text, a descriptive title, headings, and a strong thumbnail image.
- Choose the Right Hosting Platform
- YouTube for maximum reach and easy discovery.
- Vimeo/Wistia (or self-hosting) for branding control and custom player options.
- Often, combining YouTube + an embedded version on your site works best.
- Keep an Eye on Emerging Trends
- Short-form (YouTube Shorts, TikTok) can boost channel awareness.
- Chapters/key moments are increasingly featured in Google results—use them.
- Multi-language captions can open up global audiences.
- Analyse & Iterate
- Monitor YouTube Analytics and Google Search Console Video reports.
- Check where viewers drop off and improve future videos based on retention data.
- Update old titles, thumbnails, and descriptions if performance lags.
- Always Focus on User Satisfaction
- Algorithms reward happy viewers.
- Deliver what your title promises, keep it engaging, and build real trust.
Putting it all together: make videos on topics people search for, optimise every detail (titles, descriptions, thumbnails), keep viewers engaged and watching, and ensure Google can crawl and understand your content. If you do those things well, you’ll stand out in both YouTube and Google search.
What’s in this blog?
- What is Video SEO & Why Is It Important?
- How Do Google & YouTube Rank Videos?
- YouTube SEO: How To Rank Higher on YouTube
- Conduct Smart Keyword Research
- How To Optimise Your Video for YouTube?
- Writing Descriptions For YouTube Video SEO
- Using Tags For YouTube Video SEO
- Great Thumbnails For YouTube SEO
- Using Engagement Signals To Boost YouTube Video SEO
- Audience Retention & YouTube Video SEO
- Leverage YouTube Features For Improved Video SEO
- Quality Content Improves YouTube Video SEO
- Video SEO for Google Search: Get Your Videos to Rank on Google
- On-Page Video SEO ( How To Optimise Your Website for Video Content)
- Video Hosting Platform Comparison: YouTube vs Others
- Emerging Trends and Latest Updates in Video SEO
- Conclusion: Putting It All Together for Video SEO Success
What Is Video SEO? (And Why It’s Critical)
Video SEO is the practice of optimising your video content to improve its visibility and ranking on search engines and video platforms.
It’s not just about YouTube – Video SEO also means getting your videos to show up in Google’s search results, on social media feeds, and anywhere your audience is looking.
Essentially, Video SEO helps search engines understand your video content and helps viewers discover it when they search for relevant topics.
Why is this so important?
Consider how users behave today: when searching on Google, they often see a “Videos” carousel or video results for queries like how-tos, reviews, tutorials, and more.
For example…
A Google search for “Xbox X review” returns a special video section on the results page.
A screen shot of google search results when searching for “Xbox X review”.
If your video isn’t optimised, it won’t appear in these high-visibility sections!
And on YouTube (the world’s second-largest search engine), good SEO can be the difference between a video that gets 100 views and one that gets 100,000 views.
In short, Video SEO ensures your hard work in creating videos pays off by actually reaching viewers.
It combines traditional SEO principles (like keyword research and metadata) with video-specific strategies (like optimising for YouTube’s algorithm and using video schema markup on your pages). This guide will break down all those strategies in detail.
How Do YouTube and Google Rank Videos?(Algorithm 101)
To master Video SEO, you need to understand how videos get ranked. Let’s briefly peek behind the curtain of the two biggest players: YouTube’s algorithm and Google’s search algorithm for video results.
YouTube’s Algorithm in a Nutshell
YouTube’s recommendation and search algorithm’s number one goal is to keep viewers watching and satisfied.
It evaluates videos on key factors relevant to the search query, video quality, and especially viewer engagement.
Key metrics include:
- Total watch time & audience retention: How much of your video people watch on average?
- Click-through rate (CTR): Do people click your thumbnail when it’s shown?
- Engagement signals: Likes, comments, shares, and subscribes.
In practical terms, videos that keep people watching longer and interacting positively tend to get promoted more.
High audience retention and strong engagement send signals to YouTube that your video is satisfying viewers, so YouTube will show it to more people.
Here’s a video from YouTube’s official creator channel that walks you through how their algorithm works.
Google’s Video Search Algorithm in a Nutshell
Google treats videos differently than regular text results.
It will include video results (thumbnails with a play button) for searches when it believes a video is the best way to answer the query – we call this “video intent.”
For example, searches like “how to tie a tie” or “iPhone 15 review” have a strong video intent, so Google shows video clips or a video carousel.
Google Search Results for “How to tie a tie?”
To rank in Google’s video results, your video (or the page hosting it) must be optimised for Google’s crawlers.
This optimisation means allowing Google to access your video content, using proper VideoObject structured data (more on this later), providing a transcript or detailed description, and creating a video sitemap.
We’ll dive deeper into the technical steps above later.
Google’s algorithm looks at factors like:
- Page relevance: What does the text on the page around the video say?
- Authority: What is the overall SEO strength of the site or YouTube channel?
- Engagement: If your website video is a YouTube video, Google will consider its YouTube performance when ranking the page itself.
One crucial point: If your topic doesn’t have video intent, Google might not show any video results at all, so picking the right topics is key.
Here’s a quick video walk through from Google Search Central.
Algorithm Insights & Recent Trends
Both YouTube and Google continuously refine their algorithms.
YouTube in 2025 is heavily emphasising viewer satisfaction – even surveying users about video quality.
It’s not just about clicks; it’s about making people glad they watched your video.
That means clickbait without substance doesn’t work for long – if people click and then leave quickly, the algorithm notices.
Meanwhile, Google has rolled out features like “Key Moments” (chapter segments) in search results, highlighting specific timestamps in your video.
Google also added a Video Indexing Report in Search Console to help creators see which videos on their site are indexed.
The takeaway: search algorithms are getting smarter about video, trying to surface quality, relevant content. Optimise accordingly – focus on quality and relevance, not gimmicks.
YouTube SEO: How To Rank Higher on YouTube (and Gain More Views)
Optimising for YouTube search and discovery is a huge part of Video SEO.
YouTube SEO involves tweaking your video elements and strategy so that your videos rank higher for relevant searches on YouTube, appear in suggested video lists, and attract more clicks.
Here are the most effective YouTube SEO tactics, step by step:
1. Conduct Smart Keyword Research (Find Video Topics People Search For)
Just like traditional SEO, YouTube SEO starts with keyword research – except you’re looking for terms people search for on YouTube or Google that return video results.
If nobody is searching for your video’s topic, it won’t get many views from search, even if it’s great
How to search for keywords that will get your YouTube videos to rank:
Use YouTube’s Search Suggest:
Start typing a topic or question into the YouTube search bar and see what auto-completes.
Those suggestions are actual user queries!
For example, typing “SEO for video” might suggest “SEO for videos on YouTube” – indicating a popular search.
Predictive search results on YouTube for “SEO for Video”
If your content fits, consider targeting those suggested phrases.
Check Video Intent on Google:
Think of queries in your niche and Google them!
Does Google show a video carousel or video snippets?
If yes, that’s a clue the query has “video intent” and making a video on that topic has a shot at ranking on Google as well.
For instance, Google often shows videos for “product reviews” – e.g., “iPhone 15 Pro review” has a dedicated videos section.
Google search results showing video carousels
Use this to your advantage by creating content on topics where Google wants to show videos.
Leverage Tools:
You can use keyword research tools (like Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool or Ahrefs Keyword Explorer) and filter for keywords that have a video carousel in search results.
Some tools let you toggle a “video” filter to find keywords likely to trigger video results.
Also, tools like TubeBuddy or VidIQ can help you see search volumes and competition for YouTube-specific keywords.
Tube Buddy’s homepage showing their Video SEO optimisation tools
Spy on Competitors:
Look at top-performing videos in your niche!
What keywords do their titles/descriptions have? What topics get the most views?
This can spark ideas for keywords or content angles you haven’t covered yet.
Competition for the search team “SEO for Video” on YouTube
Once you have a list of potential keywords or topics, choose one primary keyword/topic per video that has decent search volume and is directly relevant to your content.
This will be the anchor for optimising your title, description, etc.
2. Optimise Your Video Title (Make It Compelling and Keyword-Rich)
Your video’s title is arguably the most important SEO element on YouTube.
It’s the first thing users see and it tells YouTube’s algorithm what your video is about.
Here are five tips for optimising your YouTube video title!
Include Your Main Keyword Naturally:
If your video is a “SEO Tutorial,” don’t get cute with a vague title.
Something like “SEO Tutorial 2025: Step-by-Step SEO Guide” is clear and keyword-rich.
Google and YouTube both look at the title to understand the topic.
Putting the keyword up front can help, as long as it reads naturally (avoid keyword stuffing).
Keep It Under ~60 Characters:
This is about the length at which Google will truncate a title.
YouTube allows longer titles, but shorter is often better for quick understanding.
Aim for a concise title that doesn’t get cut off in search results.
Make It Click-Worthy:
Remember, ranking high is only half the battle – you need people to click.
Good titles often tease a benefit or outcome, or spark curiosity.
Numbered lists (“7 Tips…”) or asking a question (“How do I…?”) can improve CTR.
For example, “10 Pro Video SEO Tips for 2025 (Rank #1 on YouTube)” is specific and enticing.
An example of how to use numbers to make YouTube video titles more enticing
Avoid clickbait that’s unrelated to content (it might get clicks but will hurt retention/satisfaction).
Instead, deliver a clear, compelling promise and fulfil it in the video.
Use Title Caps and Emojis (Judiciously):
Use proper capitalisation (Title Case) to make it look professional.
Some creators add emojis or symbols to stand out (✔️ 🔥 etc.).
A tasteful emoji can draw the eye, but overusing them can look spammy.
Focus first on clear text.
Test if Possible:
Larger channels can use YouTube’s new A/B thumbnail and title testing (in YouTube Studio’s Test & Compare tool) to try alternative titles.
If you have access, experiment to see which title yields better CTR.
If not, you can still manually observe performance: if a video isn’t getting views, sometimes tweaking the title can help.
In summary, craft titles that contain the keyword, grab attention, and set accurate expectations.
A great title gets the click and ensures the right viewers (who actually want your content) are clicking.
3. Write Detailed, Keyword-Rich Descriptions
The video description is another essential piece of metadata for both YouTube and Google.
A well-optimised description can boost your SEO, provide context for algorithms, and persuade users to watch.
Here’s how to make the most of it:
Lead with a Hook:
The first sentence of your description should be a hook or summary of the video, because on YouTube this is partly visible above the “Show More” fold.
And on Google, the first ~120 characters may appear in the snippet. Make it count.
For example:
“Learn 5 proven Video SEO strategies to rank #1 on YouTube and Google.
This tutorial covers algorithm hacks, keyword research, and more!”
This both intrigues the reader and contains keywords (“Video SEO strategies”, “rank #1 on YouTube and Google”).
Include Your Primary Keywords and Variations:
Work your main keywords and related terms into the description in a natural way.
Don’t just list keywords – instead, write a coherent summary or transcript snippet that naturally includes those terms.
For instance, if the video is about “baking sourdough bread”, mention related concepts like “starter”, “dough proofing”, etc., in a flowing description.
Make It Long and Informative:
While you want the top line or two to hook, don’t shy away from writing a longer description (200+ words).
Detailed descriptions give the algorithm more context about your video’s content.
They can also help you rank for additional long-tail keywords.
YouTube allows up to 5,000 characters; you don’t have to use all of that, but don’t limit yourself to one sentence.
Many top creators include a mini blog-post style synopsis under their videos – this can include an outline of points, resources mentioned, etc.
The extra content can help your video show up for more searches.
Hoot suite has written a great article on how to write great YouTube descriptions for YouTube Video Seo!
Add Timestamps/Chapters:
If your video is long or covers multiple sub-topics, include timestamps in the description (e.g., “0:00 Intro; 1:30 Tip #1; 3:45 Tip #2; 5:00 Conclusion”).
This creates YouTube Chapters, which not only improve user experience but also can show up as Key Moments in Google search results.
Google sometimes highlights these timestamps directly on the SERP, allowing users to jump to specific sub-sections of your video.
It looks professional and signals thoroughness.
Just ensure you format them correctly (each timestamp on a new line, in ascending order, with a short label).
Include Links and CTAs:
After the descriptive text, you can add relevant links – for example, link to your website, blog post, or social media.
If the video is part of a series or based on a blog article, link to it (“👉 Read the full guide here: [URL]”).
Also consider a call-to-action: encourage viewers to subscribe, or check another video (you can even put a timestamp link to a next video if doing a series).
But be cautious not to send people away from the video too early – place these lower in the description so they see them after (or while) watching.
Hashtags (Optional):
YouTube allows hashtags in descriptions. Adding a couple of relevant hashtags (e.g., #VideoSEO, #YouTubeTips) can make them appear above your title. This is a minor discovery feature – it’s not a huge SEO factor, but can slightly increase visibility via hashtag search. Don’t overdo it (1-3 hashtags are plenty; if you use more than 15, YouTube will ignore all hashtags).
A well-optimised description helps YouTube and Google understand your video’s content, and it can improve click-through by giving viewers more reason to watch. It’s worth the extra effort to write a thorough description rather than a single line.
4. How To Use Tag Your YouTube Videos (Use Tags and Categories Wisely)
YouTube tags (the old-school kind you enter in the tags field) are not as critical as they once were, but they still serve a purpose. Tags help YouTube understand synonyms and common misspellings for your topic. Here’s how to handle tags:
Include Your Main Keyword and Variations:
Add a few tags that match your primary keyword and close variations. For example, for a video titled “Video SEO Tips”, you might include tags like “video SEO”, “YouTube SEO tips”, “rank videos higher”, etc. This covers different ways people might search for similar content.
- Use Specific and Broad Tags: Mix specific tags (targeted phrases) with broader category tags. E.g., specific: “sourdough bread recipe”, broad: “baking”, “cooking tutorial”. The broad ones help categorise your video’s niche.
- Include Common Misspellings or Alternate Terms: If your topic has synonyms or likely misspellings, tag them. E.g., “search engine optimisation” vs “SEO” vs “YouTube algorithm”. If your brand or name is often misspelled, you can include that too.
- Don’t Overstuff: YouTube’s tag character limit is generous (up to 500 characters total), but you don’t need to use all of it. Quality over quantity – 5 to 8 relevant tags are typically enough. Overloading tags (especially unrelated ones) doesn’t help and can even confuse the algorithm about your video’s focus.
While tags aren’t publicly visible, they can marginally assist in ensuring YouTube knows what your video is about. Think of them as a supporting cast to your title and description. Set them, but don’t obsess – focus more on your title, description, and content itself. (Fun fact: You can view a competitor’s tags using tools or by checking the page source for “keywords”. This can give you ideas, but always use tags that truly match your video.)
5. Create an Eye-Catching Thumbnail (Boost That CTR)
Your video’s thumbnail is make-or-break for attracting clicks. Along with the title, it’s the first impression and determines whether someone chooses your video among the many options. In fact, a compelling thumbnail can significantly increase your click-through rate (CTR) on both YouTube and Google. Here’s how to optimise your thumbnails for SEO (and human appeal):
Use High-Quality Images:
Blurry or dimly lit thumbnails get skipped. Ensure your thumbnail image is clear, high-resolution (1280×720 minimum), and looks good at both large and small sizes. It should not be too cluttered; it must stand out even as a small preview.
Incorporate a Bold, Relevant Visual:
Choose a strong image or graphic that represents the content. If the video features a person (like you, the creator, or a host), showing a face with an expressive reaction can draw attention and convey emotion. If it’s a product or tutorial, show a crisp photo of the product or an end result (e.g., the finished cake in a baking video). Use contrast and colour to your advantage – thumbnails with bright or contrasting colours catch the eye. For example, travel vloggers often show a beautiful landscape or a surprising moment; tech reviewers might show a close-up of the gadget.
Add Text (Carefully):
Many effective thumbnails include a few words of text to reinforce the topic. This text should be short, large, and readable at a glance. It might be a shortened version of your title or an intriguing phrase. For instance, if the title is “5 DIY Video SEO Hacks,” the thumbnail text might just say “Video SEO Hacks” with a bold style. Use a clean, thick font and add an outline or drop-shadow so it’s readable against the background. Stick to 2-4 words if possible. Remember, the thumbnail text doesn’t have to be the exact title – sometimes a punchier phrase or even a question works (“Rank #1 Fast?”). But it should be relevant and not misleading.
Avoid Misleading Clickbait:
Your thumbnail should accurately represent the video. Don’t use an image of something shocking that isn’t in the video just to get clicks – it might work briefly, but viewers will abandon the video and YouTube will punish the retention drop. A high CTR is good only if viewers actually watch the video after clicking. YouTube’s AI is very good at measuring when thumbnails/titles might be clickbait and not delivering.
A/B Test When Possible:
As with titles, if you have access to experimentation tools, test different thumbnails. Or manually swap after a few days if CTR is low and see if it improves. Sometimes a small tweak (e.g., brighter background or different text) can uplift clicks.
On Google’s search results, thumbnails also show up for video listings, so a compelling thumbnail can make your result more attractive there too. Think of your thumbnail as billboard advertising for your video – spend time to make it professional and enticing. A great exercise is to imagine your thumbnail among several others: Would you click yours? If not, revise it.
6. Encourage Engagement On YouTube: Likes, Comments, Shares, and Subscribes
Engagement signals – such as likes (the thumbs up 👍), comments, shares, and channel subscriptions – are crucial for YouTube SEO. Now, this isn’t what you will likely see as Video SEO tips, but it all feeds in to each other. So here are a few quick tips, without lingering too long.
Ask Viewers to Like & Subscribe (At the Right Time):
A direct call-to-action in your video can remind viewers to interact. For example, many creators say something like, “If you found this tip helpful, please hit the Like button and consider subscribing for more SEO tricks every week.” Don’t overdo it or beg; a friendly reminder is enough. Also, time it wisely – asking after you’ve delivered value (e.g., after a key tip, or at the end) is more effective than an ask in the first 5 seconds before you’ve shown anything worthwhile.
Prompt Comments with Questions:
Encourage viewers to comment by asking a specific question or their opinion. For instance, “What’s one video SEO tactic that worked for you? Let me know in the comments!”. When viewers comment, reply to them – fostering a community boosts engagement further and can lead to more comments (people are more likely to comment if they see the creator actively responds).
Encourage Shares:
If appropriate, remind viewers they can share the video. For example, “Know someone struggling with their YouTube views? Share this video with them!” People might not think to share until prompted. Social shares (on Twitter, Facebook, etc.).
Engage Early Viewers:
The first 48 hours of a video’s life are key for momentum. When you publish, be available to engage. Heart and reply to comments. Early engagement can give an algorithmic push.
Use Community Posts & End Screens:
Encourage further action through YouTube’s features. For instance, use an end screen to prompt subscribe (include the subscribe element) and link to another related video or playlist (to keep them watching – more on this later). Also, utilise the Community tab (if you have it) to poll or ask viewers which video to make next, etc., creating more bonds and anticipation for your content.
Deliver Value (the Ultimate Engagement Hack):
All the prompts in the world won’t help if the video itself isn’t engaging. Focus on delivering what the title promised, and do it in an interesting way.
Keep in mind that engagement isn’t just an algorithm game – it’s part of building a community. So aim for meaningful interactions. As YouTube’s algorithm evolves, it’s getting better at evaluating viewer satisfaction beyond raw numbers, so authenticity wins in the long run.
7. Maximise Audience Retention (Keep People Watching)
“Watch time” and “audience retention” are YouTube gold. YouTube explicitly rewards videos that keep viewers on the platform longer
A high average watch duration signals that your content is engaging and relevant. In practical terms: if viewers consistently watch a large portion of your video, YouTube is more likely to boost it. Here’s how to maximise retention:
Hook Viewers in the First 5-10 Seconds:
The intro of your video is critical. If you lose viewers early, YouTube won’t recommend your video as much. Ditch any long, boring intros. Instead:
- Jump straight into the content or tell viewers what they’ll get if they watch on. Example: “Today I’m showing you 5 proven tricks to rank your videos higher – by the end of this video, you’ll know how to get on page 1 of YouTube search.” This sets expectations and promises a benefit.
- Use a quick teaser of what’s coming. Some creators even show a 5-second montage of highlights or a particularly interesting moment to hook interest.
Deliver Value Throughout:
Make sure the content of the video actually lives up to its title and keeps delivering useful or entertaining moments. If it’s an educational video, don’t spend minutes on off-topic tangents – stick to the useful info and save extras for the end. If it’s entertainment, keep the pacing tight – edit out dead air or repetitive bits.
Use Pattern Interrupts:
This is a fancy term for changing things up on-screen to re-capture attention. Human attention can drop after a while of the same shot. So:
- Switch camera angles or scenes periodically.
- Add text overlays or graphics to emphasise points.
- Incorporate B-roll (supplementary footage) or images relevant to what you’re saying.
- Add a bit of humour or a surprising fact at intervals if appropriate. Even a quick on-screen meme or GIF (used appropriately) can reset viewer attention.
These little shifts help re-engage viewers’ brains so they don’t click away out of boredom.
Use Chapters/Structure to increase retention:
We mentioned adding timestamps in descriptions for SEO, but it’s also great for retention. Structured videos (with clear sections or chapters) perform better, especially longer ones. If someone sees there are defined sections, they might stick around longer to “get to the next chapter” as opposed to an amorphous rant. Plus, if a viewer knows they can skip ahead to a chapter that interests them, they might do that instead of leaving entirely. In essence, chapters can keep partial engagement rather than losing the viewer completely.
Recap and Tease Forward:
In longer videos, occasionally recap what was covered and hint at what’s coming. E.g., “So those were the first 3 tips; in a moment we’ll cover two advanced strategies that tie it all together.” This keeps viewers oriented and looking forward to the next part, improving the chance they stick around.
End with a Strong Closing (and maybe a cliffhanger or next video teaser):
While you want them to watch to the end, you also want them to take an action at the end (like subscribe, or watch another video). Summarise key points quickly (so they feel the video had a clear conclusion and they got what they came for, which improves satisfaction) and then invite them to something else (another related video or your site). But don’t abruptly cut off; a sudden end can leave viewers unsatisfied. A tactic some use is to say, “If you enjoyed this, check out my next video [Title] where I do XYZ” – this not only encourages another view, it also psychologically signals the viewer that the value continues, making them less likely to feel the need to click away to some other channel.
Analyse Your Retention Graph:
In YouTube Analytics, you can see exactly where viewers drop off. Use this data! If you notice a big drop 20 seconds in, that’s a sign your intro needs improvement. If people skip a certain segment, maybe it was off-topic or too long. Over time, these insights will help you tailor your content for better retention. The goal is to achieve a high average percentage viewed – for instance, if you can get 50-60% average view duration on an 8-10 minute video, that’s really solid in most cases.
Deliver Value Throughout:
Make sure the content of the video actually lives up to its title and keeps delivering useful or entertaining moments. If it’s an educational video, don’t spend minutes on off-topic tangents – stick to the useful info and save extras for the end. If it’s entertainment, keep the pacing tight – edit out dead air or repetitive bits.
Remember, YouTube’s algorithm prioritises viewer satisfaction and viewing time. A video that viewers watch until the end sends a huge positive signal. Keep the viewers’ experience front-and-center, and you’ll be rewarded with higher retention and more promotion by YouTube.
8. Leverage YouTube Features: Playlists, End Screens, and Cards
To boost both SEO and viewer retention/engagement, take advantage of the extra features YouTube provides. These can increase watch time per viewer by guiding them to more of your content, which in turn signals the algorithm that your channel is a great destination. Plus, they enhance user experience.
Create Binge-Worthy Playlists:
Organise your videos into playlists based on topics or series. For example, if you have multiple videos about Video SEO, put them in a “Video SEO Mastery Series” playlist. Playlists can rank in search on their own, and they auto-play videos one after another, which can dramatically increase session time. In fact, playlists are known to increase session watch time (one of the top algorithm signals). Make sure to craft a good playlist title and description with keywords (yes, playlists have descriptions – use them to tell what the list is about). Also, feature your playlists on your channel page and occasionally mention them in videos. E.g., “If you want all my YouTube SEO videos in one place, check out the playlist linked in the description.” When a viewer watches via a playlist, YouTube’s player will automatically cue the next video – keeping them on your content longer.
Use End Screens to Keep Viewers Watching:
In the last 5-20 seconds of your video, YouTube allows you to show end screen elements – these can be thumbnails linking to another video or playlist, a subscribe button, or a link (if you’re in the Partner Program with external link privileges). Always utilise end screens. Below is a great video by Think Media outlining how to add end screens to increase engagement and boost video SEO.
Add Cards (Info Cards) Strategically:
Cards are the little “i” info buttons or slide-in suggestions that appear during a video. You can use them to suggest other videos, playlists, or even poll your audience. Use cards to point viewers to related content at just the right moments. For example, if you briefly mention a topic that you have a full video on, a card can pop up saying “Watch: [Video Title]” at that moment. Don’t overdo it (too many pop-ups can annoy).
YouTube Chapters and Search:
We talked about adding timestamps for chapters in descriptions, but note: YouTube also sometimes pins the chapters in the progress bar and in search results. A video with clear chapters might get multiple search result entries (for different segments). This means a single video can capture more search real estate. So definitely use that feature for longer videos – it’s not just user-friendly, it’s an SEO edge.
Using these YouTube-native features makes your content more sticky. The more content a single viewer watches from you, the more YouTube will promote your videos – it sees that viewers who start on one of your videos tend to stay on your channel (that’s gold to YouTube). End screens, playlists, and cards are your tools to achieve that. As a bonus, they create a more professional feel to your videos, showing you care about the viewer’s journey.
9. Focus on Quality (Video Production Matters)
This should go without saying, but it’s worth emphasising: No amount of clever keywords or tags can substitute for a high-quality video that people actually want to watch. “Quality” in terms of YouTube SEO means both content value and production value:
Provide Value & Accuracy:
If your video is teaching something, make sure your information is accurate and up-to-date. If it’s a review or opinion, be insightful and honest.
Production Quality:
You don’t need Hollywood-level production, but do pay attention to basics:
- Clear Audio: Viewers will forgive average video quality more than poor audio.
- Good Lighting: Ensure you have enough lighting so the picture is clear.
- Resolution: Export and upload in at least HD (720p or 1080p). If possible 4K can future-proof your content (YouTube does give a “4K” tag in search filters, etc., though it’s not a major factor, it could be a minor perk).
- Editing: Trim out awkward pauses, umms, and fluff. A tight edit keeps viewers engaged.
- Branding and Style: A consistent style (intro music, on-screen graphics, fonts, colour scheme) can make your videos look professional and build brand recall.
Length Optimisation:
There is no one “perfect” length – it depends on content and audience. Longer videos can rank well if they maintain interest (and they allow more ads, etc., which YouTube likes). But a 20-minute video where 18 minutes are filler will not do as well as a tight 7-minute video that people watch all the way. Check competitors: if all top videos for a keyword are 10+ minutes, viewers might prefer depth, so a longer video could perform well.
Watch time in total minutes is important, but 50% retention on a 10-minute video (5 min avg watch) likely beats 20% retention on a 20-minute video (4 min avg watch). So don’t stretch unnecessarily.
In summary, treat Video SEO as a marriage of content strategy and content execution. The best SEO-optimised title/description in the world won’t save a poor video with low retention. Aim to be the video that you yourself would watch till the end, maybe even again or share with a friend.
Now that we’ve covered YouTube SEO in depth, let’s shift focus to how you can get your videos ranking on Google’s search results and how to optimise videos on your own website.
Video SEO for Google Search: Get Your Videos to Rank on Google
It’s fantastic to rank on YouTube, but there’s another huge search engine for your videos: Google. Google often displays video results for many queries, and not just from YouTube – videos embedded on websites can show up too. Here’s how to optimise for Google:
1. Ensure Your Videos Can Be Discovered and Indexed by Google
Google needs to find and understand your video content. The basics include:
Public Placement:
Make sure your video is on a public webpage that Google can crawl (no password protection and not hidden behind complex JavaScript). If you upload to YouTube, this is handled (just keep the video Public). If you host on your own site, the page containing the video should be accessible to Google (check robots.txt
isn’t blocking it).
Allow Crawling of Video Files:
If you self-host videos or use a platform like Wistia with custom video files, ensure you’re not blocking the actual video file (like the .mp4) via robots.txt
. Google’s video crawler might fetch the video file to understand its content (it can “listen” or generate previews). Don’t disallow your video content directory. Google’s official best practices explicitly say: make video content files accessible.
Provide an HTML5 Video Player or Embed:
If it’s on your site, use a standard <video>
tag or a well-supported embed. This way, Google’s algorithms can detect there’s a video on the page. Some interactive JavaScript players are fine, but as a rule, having a basic HTML structure (video tag, source) or YouTube embed code ensures Google sees a video is present.
Use YouTube When Appropriate:
Let’s face it, Google loves YouTube (they own it). YouTube videos tend to dominate video search results. If your primary goal is to get a video showing on the Google SERP, uploading it to YouTube is often the easiest path. Google can still index videos from other platforms (Vimeo, etc.) or self-hosted on websites, but YouTube content is very SEO-friendly by default. That said, there are reasons to host elsewhere (which we’ll discuss in the On-Page Video SEO section).
Just know that including YouTube in your strategy often gives you a leg up for Google visibility.
2. Optimise On-Page Factors for Video SEO (Video SEO on Your Website)
When embedding a video on a webpage (like a blog post or landing page), treat it with the same care you would a fully written article for SEO. In fact, think of it as on-page SEO for video content. This is so important that we’ve dedicated a whole section to it (see “On-Page Video SEO” below).
In summary for Google:
- Have a descriptive title and heading on the page that include your keywords (e.g., an H1 like “How to Tie a Tie – Video Tutorial”).
- Surround the video with relevant text content – at least a few paragraphs summarising or complementing the video. Google still relies on text to understand context. A transcript or detailed summary of the video can greatly help.
- Place the video prominently (near top of page) so Google knows it’s the main content. Google’s guidelines mention that videos should be placed in the primary content area and preferably only one major video per page.
- Use an engaging thumbnail on your page that Google can use in search results (if using YouTube embed, YouTube handles the thumbnail; if self-hosting, you can use a
<video poster="image.jpg">
attribute or schema to indicate a thumbnail). - We’ll dive deeper into on-page optimisation shortly, but keep in mind: optimising the page boosts your chance of that page ranking (with the video rich snippet), which can sometimes be better than a YouTube result since a click will bring the visitor to your site.
3. Implement Video Schema Markup (VideoObject Structured Data)
Schema is NOT for everyone, BUT, if you can get your head around it schema can be one of the most important tools for improving your Video SEO on Google.
As a basic explanation, schema is a type of code used to tell search engines what a page is and what’s important on that page for users.
I’m not a coder so when I first saw what schema looked like, it was pretty daunting
By adding schema to your pages your videos and pages can become an enhanced video rich snippet with the video title, thumbnail, duration, and even “Upload date” right on Google. These rich snippets are eye-catching and informative, which can improve CTR.
Schema also helps Google index the video faster and more reliably. It’s basically handing Google a cheat sheet about your video.
Now, a big disclaimer, I have religiously used ChatGPT to write my video schemas for the last two years. It’s super simple and means you have zero mistakes along the way.
Here’s a great video explaining how to use ChatGPT to write Schema for you!
If code sounds intimidating, note that many plugins, apps or video platforms assist with this. For example, if you use Wistia or VideoPress, they often inject schema automatically.
After adding schema, use Google’s Rich Results Test tool to check that it’s correctly implemented and parsable.
Google states that adding this markup gives them everything needed to display your video as a rich result. In other words, it’s giving Google the confidence to show the video with all its info. This can get you that nice video thumbnail listing like this:
Structured data is one of those “technical SEO” steps that can feel extra, but it’s extremely valuable for video SEO. It can be the difference between your page showing up as a bland link or as an attractive video result that begs to be clicked. Since relatively fewer sites bother implementing video schema, doing it can give you a competitive edge.
4. Submit a Video Sitemap
A video sitemap (or a video entry in your existing sitemap) is another way to help Google find and index your videos. It’s basically an XML file listing your video pages and giving Google info about each video (similar stuff as schema: title, description, thumbnail URL, video URL, duration, etc.). Google’s best practices encourage submitting a video sitemap.
If you only host on YouTube, you don’t need this (Google finds those through YouTube itself). But if you host videos on your website, creating a sitemap can ensure Google doesn’t overlook them.
Many SEO plugins (like Yoast, RankMath, etc.) have video sitemap support that will automatically include your video details for any page with an embedded video.
While Google can discover videos just by crawling, a video sitemap is like handing Google a map directly to all your video content. It can speed up indexing and ensure none of your videos are missed. It’s especially useful if you add new videos regularly on your site – Google will know by checking the sitemap.
5. Target “Video Intent” Keywords for Google (and Optimise Page Content)
Earlier, we touched on choosing topics with video intent. To rank on Google, it’s worth reiterating: focus your video content on queries that Google tends to answer with videos. For example:
- How-to guides (e.g., “how to change a tire” likely has video results).
- Tutorials, demos, reviews, walkthroughs, anything where visual explanation helps.
- “Funny” or “cute” things (like “cute cat videos” obviously).
- Certain informational searches where visual content is preferred (e.g., “Yoga stretches for back pain” will likely show exercise videos).
How to optimise a page for Google Video Search?
Meta Description
Once you’ve found the keyword you want your video to rank for, write a compelling meta description for the page that mentions it’s a video. For instance, “Watch our 5-minute video on X to learn Y…”. Sometimes Google will show a “[Video]” tag in the snippet if it knows the page has a video – making it clear to users.
Page Title
Use the keyword in the page title tag and in an H1 on the page. Essentially, do normal on-page SEO, just integrating the fact there’s a video. (E.g., a page title “How to Train Your Dog to Sit (Step-by-Step Video)” could be very effective.)
Add supportive text content!
This bears repeating: Google might index your video, but it often also considers the textual content on the page for ranking. A video alone on a blank page is not ideal. Add at least a summary, or better, a full article that complements the video. This way, your page can rank not only as a video result but also in regular web results. A video transcript is a great way to kill two birds with one stone – it provides text for SEO and accessibility for users.
By doing the above, you cater to both types of search results: the video can appear in the video carousel or as a rich snippet, and the page itself could rank among normal results, giving you double exposure.
6. Make Use of YouTube for Google SEO
If your primary video platform is YouTube, leverage that channel to boost Google SEO through a number of key easy steps:
Do Backlinks to YouTube Videos Matter For Ranking?
Yes, backlinks still matter for Google rankings, even for YouTube URLs. If your video is on YouTube and you want it to rank on Google, consider doing some outreach to get it linked from relevant articles or forums. It’s been observed that YouTube videos with strong external backlinks can rank higher in Google search (though YouTube’s own authority is huge, any extra link juice helps in competitive searches).
Embed YouTube Video on a High-Authority Page:
If you have a website with decent authority, embed your YouTube video in a well-optimised page (as described). There’s a chance that both your YouTube video URL and your webpage could appear in Google results, essentially doubling your chance to capture the click. (Pro Tip: The Verge does this often – they embed their YouTube review videos in their high-ranking review articles, so Google sometimes shows the video and when clicked, it goes to The Verge’s site rather than YouTube.)
YouTube Descriptions and Links:
In your YouTube video description, include a link to your website or the relevant page. While this is a nofollow link (not passing SEO juice directly), it can drive interested viewers to your site (traffic and potential indirect SEO benefits like branded searches or mentions). Also, a thorough YouTube description might get imported into Google’s index – occasionally Google might use part of a YouTube description as the snippet for the video result. So again, having keywords and a good description on YouTube helps with Google as well.
7. Aim for Engagement and Quality (Google Edition)
Google’s algorithm for videos also factors in quality signals. Some are indirect:
- If it’s a YouTube video, high engagement on YouTube (lots of views, high retention, likes) likely increases its chance of ranking on Google, because Google sees it’s popular.
- If it’s an on-site video, Google might estimate engagement by whether users click that result and don’t pogo-stick (bounce back quickly). If people click your video result and stay to watch (dwell time), that’s a positive sign.
So all the advice about making your video engaging and valuable applies here too. User satisfaction is king. Google is getting better at recognising when a video effectively answers the query versus when it’s low-quality or clickbait. The helpful content system and core updates that Google applies to text are conceptually applied to video too: they want to surface videos that satisfy searchers.
One specific tip: If your video is on your site, consider adding captions or transcript visible on the page, and ensure the video player is user-friendly (it loads fast, has controls, etc.). A poor player experience might frustrate users and cause them to leave.
By following these steps, you’ll improve the chances that your videos not only rank on YouTube, but also get prized visibility on Google search result pages.
On-Page Video SEO (Optimise Your Website for Video Content)
If you embed videos on your own website (and you probably should, to capture more traffic and control the user experience), you need to consider on-page SEO specifically for those video pages.
Here’s how to make your pages video-SEO-friendly:
Descriptive Page Title & Headers:
The page that hosts the video should have a title tag and heading that reflect the video topic + the fact it’s a video. For example, instead of just “How to Cook Quinoa”, say “How to Cook Quinoa (Video Tutorial) | Healthy Recipes”. This can improve click-through from Google by signalling it’s a video (some users prefer to watch).
Provide a Text Summary or Transcript:
Always include some text on the page alongside the video. At the very least, write a summary or key takeaways from the video. Ideally, include a full transcript of the video content (you can get these via YouTube’s transcript feature or use transcription services or AI). This has multiple benefits: it makes your content accessible to those who can’t watch or would rather skim, it provides Google a complete chunk of text to index (boosting relevance for various queries), and it can capture long-tail keywords that might be spoken in the video. Longer textual content can help your page rank for queries beyond the video title itself.
On Page Video Placement For Better Google Rankings:
Place the video near the top of the page, prominently. If the video is the main content, it should be one of the first things a user sees (after maybe a title or brief intro sentence). Don’t bury it below a wall of text. Google gives more weight if the video is prominent; they even advise putting the video in the “meaningful” part of the page rather than sidebars or footer.
Additionally, if possible, one primary video per page is best. If you have multiple videos, Google might have trouble deciding which to index or feature. You can have supplementary videos, but make it clear which is the main one (perhaps by position or a heading like “Featured Video”).
High-Quality Thumbnail Image:
If using your own player, make sure a good thumbnail is set (and that the image file is accessible to Google). This thumbnail will represent your video in search results. A compelling thumbnail will improve clicks. Many CMS allow you to set a “featured image” which you can also use as the video thumbnail. If you implemented VideoObject schema, the thumbnailUrl you provide should be a static image that represents the video’s content well.
Captioning & Subtitles:
Consider including closed captions (subtitles) in your video (if you have a custom player) or ensure your YouTube video has captions enabled. Google might use these for understanding content. If the captions are hardcoded in the video or provided as a separate file (like VTT), mention that on the page (“Captions available in English and Spanish” etc.). It’s not directly an SEO factor, but it’s great for accessibility and user experience, which can indirectly affect SEO outcomes.
Page Load Speed:
Videos can be heavy, and slow pages hurt SEO. Optimise your on-page video delivery:
- Use lazy-loading for the video embed if possible (so it doesn’t stall page rendering). But do it in a way that Google can still find the video. Some lazy-load implementations only load the video iframe on click – this might prevent Google from seeing the video exists. A compromise is to load a lightweight thumbnail and player script, but one that is still detectable. There are SEO-friendly video embed plugins that handle this (e.g., embedding a small piece of JSON-LD markup and a clickable thumbnail).
- Compress your video if self-hosted or use adaptive streaming so it doesn’t hog bandwidth. Also compress your thumbnail image.
- Basically, ensure your page passes Core Web Vitals as best as it can, even with video on it. This might mean deferring some scripts or using performance techniques.
Is Autoplay Bad For Video SEO & Page Speed? (Maybe):
Autoplaying videos on page load can annoy users (especially with sound). From an SEO perspective, it’s generally not harmful if muted, but consider user experience. High bounce rates from annoyed visitors could be a bad sign. It’s usually better to let the user click play. One exception: if the video is short or a background element with no sound, autoplay can be okay. Just weigh the pros/cons for your audience.
Optimising on-page factors ensures that when someone lands on your page from Google, they get a great experience – the video is right there, it’s what they wanted, and they have the option to read or explore more.
This satisfaction can lead to longer dwell time, social shares, or backlinks, which all feed back into better SEO. Moreover, a well-optimised page can sometimes outrank video platform pages because you’re providing a richer experience (video + text + context).
In essence, treat your video pages like any other high-quality content page. Don’t just slap a video and call it a day. Curate the page around the video for maximum SEO impact.
Video Hosting Platform Comparison: YouTube vs Others (Which Should You Use?)
One strategic decision for video SEO is where to host your videos. The platform you choose can influence your SEO opportunities and how you optimise. Let’s compare the big options:
YouTube:
The juggernaut!
Pros: Massive built-in audience and discovery system (YouTube search & recommendations), free hosting (unlimited uploads basically), easy embedding, and high likelihood of appearing in Google results (Google often favours YouTube links). YouTube provides robust analytics and tools (cards, end screens, etc.) to grow your channel. If you want maximum reach and don’t mind if people watch on YouTube or your site, YouTube is usually the top choice.
Cons: Branding/control – the player shows YouTube’s logo, and may show related videos or ads that could lead viewers away from your content. Limited customisation of the player. Also, comment management can be a chore due to spam. Another con: traffic goes to YouTube, not your website (unless you embed it on your site, but even then, some users might click the YouTube logo and end up on YouTube’s site). YouTube is best if your goal is broad exposure and community building (channel subscribers), and you’re okay with the video living on a public platform.
Vimeo:
A popular alternative to YouTube! We actually use Vimeo for a lot of our video embeds.
Pros: Cleaner player with no ads, more professional vibe, often preferred for portfolios, creative work, or B2B use. You can customise the player’s colour and some controls with a Pro account. Smaller, but engaged community for niche stuff (like indie films, animation). Vimeo’s SEO: Vimeo videos can rank on Google, but far less prominently than YouTube. You can of course embed Vimeo on your site.
Cons: Limited free plan (with weekly upload limits; Pro costs money). Smaller audience – you won’t get the same internal discovery as YouTube. If you’re after pure SEO, Vimeo is usually not as powerful because Google doesn’t surface Vimeo videos as much (though it does sometimes). Vimeo is good if you want a more polished viewing experience on your site without YouTube’s distractions, and don’t care about leveraging YouTube’s audience.
Wistia:
A business-focused video hosting.
Pros: Highly customisable player, no third-party branding, and excellent SEO features built-in. Wistia automatically inserts VideoObject schema and creates video sitemaps for your domain. It’s designed to help your site’s SEO while hosting the video elsewhere. You can also capture leads (email forms in-video) with Wistia.
Cons: It’s a paid service (not cheap, usually). No public discovery – these videos aren’t on a public “Wistia site” for others to find; it’s purely for embedding in your own site or sharing privately. If your goal is to drive traffic to your website and you have the budget, Wistia is great for keeping viewers on your pages and benefitting from the SEO directly (since Google will attribute the video to your site, not to YouTube).
Self-Hosted (HTML5 Video):
You can host .mp4 files on your own server or cloud storage and use an HTML5 <video>
tag or custom player (like Video.js) to embed.
Pros: Full control – no outside branding or links, you own the content fully. You can optimise everything (bitrate, formats) as you see fit, and ensure SEO is configured exactly (with schema, etc.).
Cons: Bandwidth and performance are on you – video files are large, and if you have lots of viewers, it can strain your hosting (you might need a CDN). Also, you miss out on any platform network effects (no YouTube search traffic, for example). It’s also a bit more technically involved to implement correctly across browsers. Self-hosting is typically chosen by companies that need full control (like a proprietary training video behind a login, or avoiding platform TOS issues). For public-facing marketing videos, self-hosting is usually only worth it if you have strong reasons not to use YouTube/Vimeo (like needing a certain user experience).
What is the best platform for hosting videos for SEO?
- YouTube = Easier path to get on Google (less technical effort), but traffic might stay on YouTube.
- Self-host/Wistia = More control and direct site traffic, but requires more effort and possibly budget.
In sum, there’s no one-size-fits-all – it depends on your marketing goals. Many find that starting with YouTube is best for growth, then eventually also catering to on-site SEO once you have resources to do both well.
Emerging Trends and Latest Updates in Video SEO
Video SEO is not static – new trends, features, and algorithm changes are always around the corner. To keep your strategy cutting-edge, pay attention to these recent trends and updates:
Short-Form Video & YouTube Shorts:
The rise of TikTok and Instagram Reels has influenced YouTube (with Shorts) and even Google (which sometimes shows TikTok or Instagram results for certain searches). While short videos are usually more for social media virality than traditional “SEO,” they can indirectly help you. For example, YouTube Shorts can attract subscribers to your main channel and increase engagement signals. Google has started testing showing TikTok/Instagram videos in search for some queries (especially very visual or trend-based queries). As a marketer, consider if a quick how-to or teaser in vertical format can complement your main content. Also note: YouTube Shorts have their own shelf in the YouTube app – getting into that can explode views, which might translate to more visibility for your long-form content.
Chapters & Key Moments:
We discussed adding timestamps. Google is placing more emphasis on “Key Moments”, even allowing creators to manually markup videos for key moments using a special schema or by ensuring YouTube chapters are set. In 2024 and beyond, expect Google to get even better at parsing videos to take users to the exact segment they need (especially for how-to or long discussions). Embrace chapters – it could become standard that users expect to navigate videos easily. Also, YouTube’s auto-chapter feature (which auto-generates chapters if you don’t) is getting more accurate. But manual is still recommended for now to ensure accuracy and optimal titles for each chapter.
Multi-Language and International SEO:
YouTube now allows creators to upload multiple audio tracks (multi-language dubbing) and multiple subtitle languages. If you have a global audience, translating your video (or at least providing subtitles in multiple languages) can significantly expand your reach. A translated title/description via YouTube’s interface can make your video appear in search results in other languages. Similarly, on your website you can provide translated transcripts. Google’s algorithms do try to match video language to query language. So, if feasible, localise your video content – even if it’s just subtitles, that’s a start. It’s an emerging best practice for reaching non-English searchers.
Live Videos and Webinars for SEO:
Live-streaming on YouTube (or other platforms) can create content that later lives as regular videos. If you host webinars or live Q&As, optimise them like normal videos after the live session (add a good title, description, etc.). YouTube tends to give a temporary boost to live videos (they show up with a “LIVE” badge), and post-live they can rank like any video. Google may show live videos in some cases (like live events or newsy topics). Keep an eye on how live content plays into SEO – for now, treat it as bonus content but optimise the recording afterwards for replay value.
User Satisfaction Metrics:
YouTube has been hinting that they care about more than just clicks and watch time – they want to ensure people are satisfied. This could mean they are factoring in the like/dislike ratio (remember, they removed public dislike counts, but they still see them internally), comments sentiment, or even those occasional surveys where they ask viewers how they felt about a video. What this means for you: avoid misleading content and strive for genuine quality. A video that people like (literally and figuratively) will win out. Encourage positive feedback subtly (e.g., “If this helped, let us know in the comments!”). On Google’s side, satisfaction is harder to gauge, but bounce rate or long clicks (dwell time) matter. So if you rank on Google, make sure the page truly addresses what the query asked – otherwise people will bounce and Google might drop you.
E-E-A-T for Video:
In the SEO world, Google’s concept of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) is big for content quality. While often talked about for written content, it likely extends to video too. If you are an expert, make that clear in the video or description (mention credentials if relevant, or years of experience). Build authority by getting your videos or channel mentioned by other authorities. Trust signals for videos could include good like ratios, a consistent channel with a real persona, and not producing spammy/scammy content. For YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) topics like health or finance, it’s even more crucial – authoritative videos (from medical professionals, etc.) will outrank random personal opinions in Google. So, bolster your video’s credibility: perhaps have a brief on-screen credential line or mention your background. On your website, you can also add author schema or bios even for video content to signal expertise.
AI and Video SEO:
AI is impacting video production and search. For instance, AI-driven transcription and translation (like YouTube’s auto captions or tools like Descript) make it easier to get text versions for SEO. There are also AI video generators and voice-overs; while tempting, be cautious – auto-generated content quality can be low, harming engagement. On the search side, Google’s AI (like MUM – Multitask Unified Model) is getting better at understanding video content without relying solely on metadata. It can “watch” and understand parts of videos. This means in the future, even if you don’t say a keyword but visually show something, Google might classify the video for that. Still, you should optimise metadata since that’s straightforward. But be aware that stuffing keywords is less needed as AI understands natural language and content better. Focus on natural, rich descriptions and dialogues in your video.
Video SEO Analytics:
Both YouTube and Google are providing more insights. YouTube Analytics now can show which search terms led viewers to your video (in Traffic Sources > YouTube search, you can see keywords). This is gold for understanding how people find you and maybe adjusting titles/descriptions to match popular terms. Google Search Console’s Video indexing report (as mentioned) is new – use it to fix issues. Also, in Search Console’s performance, you can filter by “Videos” to see queries where your videos appeared. Keep an eye on these tools to continuously refine your strategy. If you see a query showing your video that you didn’t expect, maybe optimise for it (e.g., add that term to description if it isn’t there).
Conclusion: Putting It All Together for Video SEO Success
By now, we’ve covered a huge amount of ground – from YouTube-specific hacks to on-page markup to promotional tactics. Video SEO might seem like a lot of work, but the payoff is massive: more visibility, more views, and more engagement for every video you create.
Let’s quickly recap the most important steps to remember:
- Research and plan videos around topics people are actually searching for (use YouTube autocomplete, keyword tools, and look for “video intent” queries).
- Optimise your video metadata – a catchy, keyword-rich title, a thorough description with relevant keywords (don’t forget timestamps/chapters!), and smart tags. And of course, design a custom thumbnail that stands out.
- Keep viewers engaged – hook them early, deliver value, and use YouTube features (cards, end screens, playlists) to boost retention and session time. Encourage likes, comments, and subscribes because engagement is key to the algorithm.
- On your website, embed videos prominently, surround them with descriptive text or transcripts, and use structured data (VideoObject schema) plus video sitemaps to speak Google’s language. This gets you those rich video snippets and higher chances to rank.
- Choose the right hosting strategy – often a mix of YouTube and your own site works best, but pick what suits your brand. YouTube for reach, your site for control (or both).
- Promote, promote, promote – share your video wherever your audience hangs out, from social media to forums, and encourage others to embed it. Early momentum can trigger the algorithms to further boost your content.
- Stay updated – apply new features like chapters, keep an eye on YouTube Studio metrics and Google Search Console for how your videos are performing, and adapt as algorithms evolve (focusing on quality content will always be a future-proof strategy).
Finally, remember that Video SEO is an ongoing process, not a one-time checklist. Each video you publish is an asset that can continue to bring in traffic if optimised well. Don’t be afraid to go back and update older video titles/descriptions or add schema to old pages – improving SEO can revive an old video’s performance. Likewise, learn from each video’s analytics to refine your approach for the next one (maybe viewers drop off at 2 minutes – next time, make the intro tighter).
Video content is dominating the internet, and by applying the strategies in this guide, you’re positioning your content to dominate the search results. Whether you’re a content creator aiming for YouTube stardom or a marketer leveraging video to drive leads, strong Video SEO will amplify your success.
Now it’s time to put this knowledge into action. Pick one of your videos (or your next idea) and start optimising it with these tips. Step by step, you’ll see improvements – a bump in views here, a higher ranking there. It’s honestly a bit like a game, and once you start winning, it’s incredibly rewarding to see your video climb the ranks and reach thousands of appreciative viewers.
Good luck, and happy optimising! Your audience is out there waiting to find your videos – let’s make sure they can. 🚀