Knowing SEO for Video will help turbocharge your small business. We all know the power of video. Internet users use video as their preferred content type to engage with a brand.
If you create videos for your brand you want to make sure they are at the forefront of your marketing strategy. You want to reach as wide an audience as possible. You know that your videos are a gateway for your audience to discover your brand.
But how do you gain traction to your videos? You need to consider SEO for video.
You need to take the steps to have your videos rank highly on search engines.
We’ve prepared this guide to show you how to do this.
The Guide To SEO For Video
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a method to increase the ranking of your website and it’s content on search engines. The goal is to always be on the first page of search engine results pages.
As SEO for written text is the norm, many brands neglect SEO for video.
Follow these steps to ensure that your videos rank highly in search engines:
1. Choose Your Platform Wisely
There are a number of video platforms to choose from. While you might be tempted to post your videos on as many platforms as possible, you should post it only on a few prominent platforms.
YouTube and Vimeo are the obvious preferred choices. These are both platforms that brands use to promote their message. YouTube is a great option for showing ads, video interviews, and vlogs.
If you have controversial content, you may also want to consider the platform LBRY as a third alternative to YouTube and Vimeo.
A search engine will always prefer a well-known video platform. You can also post your videos on your website using your native hosting provider to showcase your videos.
2. Transcripts, Translations, Captions
These are three factors that most video creators leave out. Transcriptions can be included in the description of the video or as a downloadable file. This makes it easier for viewers to follow along or to refer to a portion of the video they missed out on, without having to rewatch it.
You can also include captions in your videos. These are subtitles that are in the same language as the video. These are catered toward the deaf and hard of hearing. These make the video more accessible – and accessibility is a major plus point for SEO.
Finally, you should have subtitles in different languages. This broadens the viewership of your video and gains traffic to your brand. Search engines like internationalization, so make sure that your videos have as many translations as possible.
3. Have A Great Thumbnail
What draws you most to watch a video? It’s the thumbnail. The one still image tells you what the video is about and piques your curiosity.
Watch your video carefully before deciding on your thumbnail. Is there a still image that is funny? Is there one that is frightening? Is there one that has vivid colors?
Your thumbnail tells what the video is about before the viewer looks at the tile and the brief description. Always choose your thumbnail wisely. If you find that your video is not garnering views or showing up on search engines, try to change the thumbnail before you make any other changes.
4. Titles and Descriptions
This is where using keyword research comes in handy. You need to make sure that the titles and descriptions for your videos are optimized for SEO.
Your titles should always contain one keyword within your brand’s niche. The titles should not be vague or metaphorical. They should directly convey what the video is about. It should also be concise. Within a few words, your viewer should know what they will get when watching your video.
We also recommend that you refrain from clickbait titles. Do not use a title that is misleading. While clickbait titles might bring short-term success, they can turn many viewers off. In the long run, they are harmful to your brand. If you chose a great thumbnail, you will never have to depend on clickbait to get views.
Make sure your description is full of relevant keywords. Choose a good mix of competitive keywords and less competitive keywords. Make sure your description is also succinct. It should accurately describe what the video is about. Be sure to make it saleable.
Editing text for SEO is a continuous process. You will have to occasionally go back and edit the titles and descriptions for your videos to make sure they are following the latest SEO trends.
5. Focus On The Video
Sometimes, your video will be embedded in your blog post. The video is meant to be an extension or a complement to what you discuss in your blog. The biggest mistake that brands make when following this formula is that they place the video toward the end of the blog post.
You should always keep your video toward the beginning of your blog post. Even if your video is 2 minutes long and your blog post is 5,000 words long, the video is what will first attract your reader. After watching the video, they might be convinced to read the blog post for further details.
When a video is embedded in the middle or toward the end of the blog post, it is less likely to show up on a search engine results page. Even if the blog post shows up, the viewer may not know that there is a video to watch.
If you have decided to use video as a branding tool, it should always be at the forefront of what you do. If you have already written many blog posts where the video is not toward the beginning of the post, make sure you edit these blog posts before writing any new ones.
Show Your Videos
Now that you know the steps on how to optimize SEO for video, you are ready to show your videos to the world! Follow these steps and you’ll notice your videos showing at the top of search engine results pages.
If you need help in growing your brand, we are glad to help. Reach out to us today for a consultation.
