Video SEO

General video optimization guidance

Follow these best practices:

• Customize video file names: include keywords in the video file name before uploading. Use all lowercase and separate words with hyphens.
  
  
• Create a dedicated page for each video, if possible, where the video is the most prominent subject on the page. It’s OK to include the same video on multiple pages besides a dedicated page.
  
  
• Provide captions and transcripts: always upload an .srt file with timestamps for captions, and include a transcript.
  
  
• Use a high-quality, compelling video thumbnail, especially to appear in Google video features.
  
  
• Write video metadata. Include keyword-rich video title and description, as well as an eye-catching thumbnail.
  • Frontload keywords in video title.
  • You do not need to include the word "video" in the title or description because Google fetches the video file itself to understand what it's about.
    

Youtube video optimization guidance

If the video is being uploaded to a Youtube Channel, follow these additional tips:

• Video title:
  • Front-load keywords. Use Youtube's autosuggest search to see what people are searching for to craft your video title.
• Video description:
  • Include the same keywords as in the title 2-4 times.
  • Include link(s) back to our website, using a URL shortener with UTMs for tracking.
  • Add 3 relevant hashtags.
  • For longer videos, include timestamps within the description to help viewers jump to a topic.
• Add the video to a playlist to get more video views.
  
  
• Use end cards to promote other videos.
  
  
• Upload custom video thumbnail at 1280px by 720px, up to 2 MB in file size.

SEO impact

Indexed videos:

• Google indexes videos from millions of websites. They can appear in several different places on Google, including:
  • Main ("All") search engine result page
  • Video search engine result page
  • Google Discover — a Google user's highly personalized news feed

Video keywords:

• Google tends to display videos in search results for these types of topics:
  • How-tos
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • Fitness- or sports-related videos
  • Funny videos
  • Questions
  • Lists
• This is important because if you optimize for any of those video keywords above, you’re more likely to get targeted traffic to the video directly from Google’s first page.
  
  
• The simplest way to find Video Keywords is to search for your potential keyword in Google. If you see at least one video result in the top 10, great. If not, you may want to consider a different keyword to use for your video.

Audience retention and watch time:

• "Audience Retention" (the amount of a video people watch) is a HUGE ranking factor. Videos with consistently high audience retention and watch time have the potential to show up more frequently in Search and Suggested locations on Youtube.

Comments:

• If someone leaves a video comment, it sends a strong message to YouTube that they probably enjoyed the video (or at least engaged with it).
  

Character considerations

• Youtube video title maximum length: under 60 characters
  • (Technically the max you're allowed in Youtube is 100 characters, but keep under 60 so it won't be truncated in search results.)
• Youtube video description maximum length: 5,000 characters
  • But keep the most important information within the first 120 words.
• Youtube video description mimimum length: 250 words