Introduction:
Videos are everywhere – and they’re not just for entertainment. From how-to guides to product demos, video content has become a powerful tool for businesses to engage audiences. But creating a great video is only half the battle; you also need to make sure people can find it. That’s where video SEO comes in. Optimizing your videos for search can dramatically increase their visibility. In fact, webpages with video can see a 41% increase in organic search traffic on average[1], and search results featuring video enjoy a 41% higher click-through rate than plain text results[2]. In other words, video content tends to attract more clicks and visitors. This post will walk you through how to optimize your videos for search engines – from choosing the right platform and adding keywords to using transcripts and schema markup. (Spoiler: with a few smart tweaks, your videos could start ranking higher and pulling in more traffic.) Whether you’re a local business in Wichita or a marketer anywhere else, these tips will help your videos get the attention they deserve.
Why Video SEO Matters for Your Business
Video SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the process of optimizing video content so that search engines can find, index, and rank it for relevant queries[3]. Why invest time in this? For starters, Google’s results often include video snippets – and those tend to grab user attention. By optimizing a video to appear in search results (with an eye-catching thumbnail and relevant title), you increase the chances someone clicks through to your content. One agency analysis found that adding video content to pages can boost organic traffic from search results by as much as 157%[4]. Videos also keep visitors on your site longer and reduce bounce rates, which sends positive quality signals to Google[5].
Moreover, video opens up additional search channels beyond the regular web results. Videos can appear not only in Google’s main results page, but also in the dedicated Video tab, Google Images, and even Google Discover[6]. This gives you extra opportunities to be discovered. If you serve a local market, video can even enhance your local SEO – videos sometimes show up in localized searches or map results, helping you stand out to nearby customers[7]. The bottom line: optimizing your videos helps more people find and watch your content, which can lead to greater brand awareness, engagement, and conversions.
Choose the Right Video Hosting Platform (YouTube vs. Self-Hosting)
One of the first decisions impacting video SEO is where to host your video. The two main options are: host on a video platform (like YouTube or Vimeo) or host the video on your own website (self-hosting, often via a third-party video hosting service like Wistia). Each approach has its pros and cons, and the best choice depends on your goals:
- Using YouTube (or a similar platform): YouTube is the world’s second largest search engine and Google owns it. That integration is powerful – in fact, 8 out of 10 videos that appear in Google Search results come from YouTube[8]. Hosting on YouTube can give your video a ready audience and a higher chance to show up in Google’s results or suggestions. YouTube also handles the heavy lifting of video delivery, and it provides built-in SEO features (titles, tags, captions) and audience engagement tools (likes, comments, subscriptions). If your goal is broad brand awareness and reaching as many viewers as possible, YouTube is usually the way to go. Keep in mind, though, that driving traffic to your website from YouTube can be tricky – viewers might stay on YouTube’s platform (watching related videos, possibly even competitors). You also have less control: YouTube may insert ads or distract users with other content. But overall, for visibility, YouTube is king.
- Self-Hosting on Your Site: If your priority is to keep visitors on your own website (for example, to encourage contact form fills, product browsing, or other on-site actions), embedding videos on your site via a hosting service can be beneficial. Self-hosting (using services like Wistia, Vimeo’s business plans, etc.) gives you more control over the user experience – no unrelated ads or YouTube’s suggested videos stealing attention. All the SEO “credit” (traffic, backlinks, engagement) goes directly to your domain rather than YouTube. You can also brand the player and include tailored calls-to-action on or around the video. The trade-off is that getting a self-hosted video to rank on Google often requires more technical effort. You’ll need to ensure your page’s SEO is strong, and even then, a YouTube video might outrank your self-hosted video due to YouTube’s domain authority. As one video SEO expert notes, if your goal is lead generation on your site, self-hosting with a platform like Wistia or Vimeo (and using YouTube only as a secondary channel) can be a smart strategy[9]. On the other hand, for pure awareness campaigns, focusing on YouTube may make more sense[10].
Tip: You don’t necessarily have to choose one or the other exclusively. Many businesses use both: for example, host key marketing videos on their website for a distraction-free experience and also upload those videos to YouTube for the expanded reach. If you do this, be mindful of how you embed or link them. An embedded YouTube video on your site can help increase YouTube views and channel subscribers, but if Google’s search results end up showing the YouTube version instead of your site, you might “cannibalize” traffic. A balanced approach is to decide which videos you want found via your site (then use a paid host and robust on-page SEO for those), versus which videos are meant primarily for YouTube’s audience. Either way, ensure your videos are accessible and not hidden behind login screens or slow, unwieldy players. Fast load times and easy playability are crucial, especially on mobile.
Perform Video Keyword Research
Just like traditional SEO, successful video SEO starts with understanding what your target audience is searching for. Optimizing a video for search is wasted effort if the topic isn’t something people actually look up. So, begin by doing some keyword research specific to video content:
- Find Video-Friendly Keywords: Not every query will show video results. Generally, Google tends to show videos for searches that imply the user wants to see something in action – how-tos, tutorials, reviews, demos, interviews, etc. Think about queries in your niche that have a visual or instructional angle. For example, “how to optimize YouTube videos for SEO” or “{Your Industry} tutorial” or “{Product} review video.” Use keyword research tools (Semrush, Moz, Ahrefs) and filter for terms that have video results on the SERP (many tools let you see if a keyword triggers a video carousel on Google). You can also simply Google your target keywords – if you see a “Videos” section on the results page, that’s a good sign the query favors video content.
- Use YouTube’s Search Suggestions: Since YouTube is a major search engine itself, use its auto-suggest feature. Start typing a topic in YouTube’s search bar and note the suggested completions – these are popular searches. For instance, typing “video SEO” might suggest “video SEO tutorial 2025” or “video SEO tips for beginners,” revealing what people want to watch. There are also free tools that specialize in YouTube keyword research (like TubeBuddy or VidIQ) which can show search volumes for YouTube queries.
- Consider Long-Tail and Questions: Often, video searches are phrased as questions or long queries (“How do I…”, “What is the best way to…”). Brainstorm questions your target customer or persona might ask that a video could answer. For example: “How can I rank my video on Google?” or “What is video schema markup?” These make great video topics and titles (we’ll get to optimizing titles next). Additionally, check the “People Also Ask” boxes on Google and the comments on similar YouTube videos to gather common questions and phrases people use – those can inform your keywords and content structure.
Once you have a list of target keywords or topics, you can plan your video content around them and incorporate those terms into the video’s metadata (title, description, tags) which we discuss below. Targeting the right keywords ensures you’re aligning your video with actual search demand, giving it a much better chance to rank and attract viewers.
Craft SEO-Friendly Video Titles and Descriptions
Just as headlines and meta descriptions are critical for a blog post’s SEO, your video’s title and description are key for video SEO. Both search engines and human viewers use these to understand what your video is about. Here’s how to optimize them:
- Title: Create a concise, compelling title that includes your primary keyword and clearly describes the video’s content. For instance, a title like “How to Optimize YouTube Videos for SEO (5 Easy Tips)” is far better than a vague title like “Improving Videos”. Aim for around 60 characters or less for the title, so it doesn’t get cut off in search results[11]. Front-load important words (if “Video SEO” or “{Topic} Tutorial” is the main theme, put that early in the title). Also, make it enticing to increase clicks – words like easy, step-by-step, ultimate, 2025 can add appeal if appropriate, but ensure the title accurately reflects the content (no clickbait). Think about what would make you click a video while still being truthful. Example: instead of a bland title “Add transcripts for SEO,” use something like “Why Adding Video Transcripts Boosts Your SEO (Real Results!)” – it signals a benefit and has the keyword “video transcripts SEO.”
- Description: The video description is often underrated, but it’s valuable for SEO. On YouTube, you get up to 5,000 characters – use this space wisely. Include relevant keywords and a summary of your video in the first few lines, because the first 1–2 sentences show up in search results below the title. Think of it like a meta description for your video. Clearly explain what viewers will learn or gain. For example: “In this video, we share five proven tips to optimize your videos for search engines. Learn how to use transcripts, choose the right tags, and implement schema markup to rank higher on Google and YouTube.” This not only helps SEO but also convinces users to click. Beyond the intro, you can add more detail, links (to your website or related resources), or timestamps for key sections. Avoid simply stuffing keywords; make it readable and genuinely descriptive of the content[12]. If your video is embedded on your own site, you can use a similar approach in a caption or the surrounding text on the webpage – describe the video’s content so Google has textual context.
- Tags (YouTube-specific): Tags are keywords you can attach to your video in YouTube. They aren’t visible to viewers, but they help YouTube understand the video’s topic. Include a few relevant tags, especially your main keywords and variations (e.g., “video SEO, YouTube SEO, video optimization, SEO tips”). Don’t overdo it – focus on 5-8 core tags that directly relate to the video. While tags carry less weight than they used to, it’s still good practice to include them for completeness[13][14].
- Closed Captions/Subtitles: While not part of the “metadata” per se, adding captions on platforms like YouTube can indirectly improve SEO. They make your video more accessible (which can increase watch time and engagement) and provide more textual content for search engines to potentially crawl. YouTube can auto-generate captions, but uploading an accurate caption file (or transcript) is better for quality (more on transcripts in the next section).
Remember, an optimized title/description not only helps search engines; it also helps people. When your video shows up in results, a clear title and informative snippet can be the deciding factor in someone clicking your video over another. So put yourself in the viewer’s shoes: would the title and description make you interested in watching? If not, refine them. A little copywriting effort here can translate to significantly higher view counts.
Create an Eye-Catching Video Thumbnail
Search engines can list your video, but it’s the thumbnail image that often seals the deal on getting that click. On Google’s results page, videos appear with a small thumbnail image; on YouTube, the thumbnail is even more prominent in recommendations and search. A compelling thumbnail can dramatically increase your click-through rate. In fact, Google requires a valid thumbnail for videos to be eligible for rich results in search[15], and a clear, appealing thumbnail encourages more clicks from users[16].
Here’s how to optimize your thumbnails:
- Use a Custom Thumbnail: Don’t settle for a random auto-generated frame from your video (which might be blurry or irrelevant). Instead, upload a custom image. It could be a still from the video or a designed graphic – but make sure it’s high-resolution (Google recommends 1280×720 minimum). Many creators add text or graphics to thumbnails to provide context (for example, a short phrase or the key topic). Just ensure the text is readable even at small sizes.
- Make It Visually Clear and Relevant: The thumbnail should instantly convey what the video is about. If your video is a tutorial, a thumbnail showing a person performing the task or the end result can work well. If it’s a talking-head explainer, a close-up of the presenter with a descriptive word or two overlaid (like “SEO Tips”) can catch eyes. Thumbnails with human faces often perform well – an expressive face can draw interest (we’re naturally drawn to look at faces)[17]. For example, if your video is about excitement of improving SEO, you might have someone looking excited with an upward graph in the background.
- Use High Contrast and Branding: Bright, high-contrast colors and clear imagery tend to stand out. Consider your branding too – using a consistent style or color palette across your video thumbnails can create a recognizable look for your content (useful if you’re building a series or a channel). But consistency shouldn’t come at the cost of clarity – each thumbnail still needs to be distinct and clearly tied to the video’s specific topic.
- Thumbnail Technical SEO: When embedding videos on your website, you might need to specify the thumbnail for search engines. This can be done via structured data (the thumbnailUrl property in VideoObject schema) or in your video sitemap, or simply by setting the <video> tag’s poster attribute if using HTML5 video[18]. This ensures Google knows which image to use in search results. If you use multiple methods (schema, sitemap, etc.), keep the thumbnail URL consistent across them[19].
Your video could have the best info out there, but if the thumbnail is unappealing, people may skip it. Spend time to design or choose a thumbnail that is attractive, relevant, and on-message. Think of it like a book cover or a movie poster for your video – it should make people curious or promise value. If design isn’t your forte, there are tools (Canva, Adobe Express, etc.) and even AI tools that can help generate professional-looking thumbnails quickly[20]. It’s worth the effort, as a great thumbnail can significantly boost your views.
Provide Transcripts or Closed Captions for Your Videos
Transcripts and captions aren’t just about accessibility (though that alone is a great reason to use them); they also offer a significant SEO boost. A transcript is the written-out text of all the spoken dialogue and relevant audio in your video. By adding a transcript, you’re essentially giving search engines a full text version of your video’s content to crawl and index. This can only help your SEO, because search bots can’t “watch” a video, but they can read text.
Here’s how transcripts and captions improve video SEO and how to implement them:
- Search Engine Indexing: Think of a transcript as feeding Google the exact keywords and phrases you spoke in the video. For example, if your video is a tutorial where you explain “how to optimize videos by adding schema markup and transcripts,” none of that rich content is visible to Google just from the video file alone. But if you include the transcript on the video’s page (or as closed captions on YouTube), all those phrases become indexable text. According to marketing experts, uploading transcripts is a highly effective practice for elevating video SEO, since it lets search engines understand your video’s full content[14]. Essentially, transcripts provide context and relevance, increasing the chances your video will rank for the keywords mentioned.
- User Experience & Engagement: Captions (subtitles) are incredibly useful for viewers too – many people watch videos on mute (especially on mobile or in public places). Having captions means those users can still follow along, which increases watch time and engagement. And better engagement can indirectly improve SEO (videos that keep viewers longer may rank higher on YouTube; pages where users stick around to watch a video may get a boost in Google’s eyes because of lower bounce rates). Plus, accessibility matters: viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing, or who speak other languages, can engage with your content if you provide captions. All of this expands your potential audience and signals that your content is high-quality.
- Implementation: On YouTube, you can upload an SRT file (or simply paste your transcript and have YouTube auto-sync it) to add captions. Do this in addition to the auto-generated ones – YouTube’s AI captions are decent but not perfect, and an accurate transcript looks more professional and can include proper punctuation and capitalization (which might even help with keyword interpretation). On your own website, you have a few options: you could post the full transcript below the video player (common for webinars or interviews – it also provides additional content on the page, which can help that page rank for long-tail searches). If the transcript is very long, you might hide it behind a toggle or accordion to save space (Google can still index it if done correctly). Alternatively, use interactive transcript plugins or services that let users search within the video’s text.
- Caption Files and Schema: Another neat trick: the VideoObject schema markup allows you to specify a transcript or caption URL. Some schemas use transcript property (though not officially part of schema.org VideoObject as of this writing) or more commonly, you might just include the transcript text in the description. Even if not directly used, having the text on the page is what really counts. For video SEO ranking factors, transcripts aren’t a direct “ranking factor” per Google’s statements, but they indirectly help by making content understandable to the algorithm[21].
Overall, think of transcripts as giving your video a voice in the land of text. You’ve packed valuable information into that 5-minute clip – don’t hide it from Google. By providing a transcript, you let your video speak the search engine’s language. It’s a win-win: improved SEO, better user experience, and a more inclusive piece of content.
Implement Video Schema Markup (Structured Data)
Structured data (schema markup) is a behind-the-scenes hero for SEO, and it’s especially powerful for video content. By adding VideoObject schema to the page where your video resides, you give search engines a structured, detailed map of your video’s info: title, description, duration, upload date, thumbnail URL, etc. This helps search engines understand and present your video better in results. According to Google’s own documentation, marking up your videos with structured data can influence the information shown in video search results – such as the thumbnail, description, and more – and even make it easier for Google to find your video[6].
Key steps for using video schema markup:
- Use the VideoObject Schema: This is a specific schema.org type for videos. You’d typically add it in JSON-LD format in your page’s HTML (within a <script type=”application/ld+json”> tag). At minimum, you want to include properties like name (video title), description, thumbnailUrl, uploadDate, duration, and either contentUrl (if you host the video file) or embedUrl (if it’s embedded from elsewhere). Also include publisher if relevant (e.g., your company as the video publisher) and width/height if you know them. The structured data basically mirrors what a human sees – it’s telling Google “here is a video, with this title, here’s the thumbnail image to use in search results, here’s the length, etc.” The result? When your page appears in Google, it might show a rich snippet with the video thumbnail, or your video could appear in Google’s dedicated video carousel with all the correct info (title, duration) that you provided.
- Help Google Find the Video: One big advantage of schema markup is ensuring Google can locate the video file or embed on your page. The markup should point to the video’s URL or embed link. For example, contentUrl would be the direct MP4 file URL if self-hosted, or embedUrl might be a YouTube embed link. This is important because Google’s crawler might not always reliably discover a video if it’s embedded via scripts – the schema gives a clear pointer. (In addition, you can use a video sitemap file to list your videos for Google – that’s an XML file you submit in Search Console, which includes similar info for each video. It’s a bit more technical, but if you host lots of videos on your site, a video sitemap can be helpful alongside schema).
- Enable Rich Features: With proper video schema, your content could become eligible for special features. For instance, Google may show a “Key Moments” timeline for your video (letting users jump to sections). Google can sometimes auto-detect those, but you can also explicitly define them with schema (using the Clip markup or the newer SeekToAction for auto key moments)[22][23]. Additionally, if your video is a live stream, marking it up with BroadcastEvent and appropriate flags can earn a LIVE badge in search results[24]. These enhancements improve visibility and clickability.
- Use Tools and Plugins: If all this sounds code-heavy, the good news is many content platforms have plugins or built-in features for it. For example, WordPress SEO plugins (Yoast, RankMath, etc.) often have a video SEO extension or module that will generate VideoObject schema for any embedded videos on a post. There are also video hosting services (like Wistia) that can inject schema markup automatically when you embed their player on your site[25]. It’s worth looking into these to save time and ensure accuracy. Always test your structured data with Google’s Rich Results Test tool to make sure it’s free of errors[26].
In short, schema markup is like handing Google a cheat sheet for your video. It specifies exactly what your video is about and how to display it. While adding schema may not directly boost your rankings by itself, it does increase your chances of appearing as a rich result (with a nice thumbnail and info) and ensures Google doesn’t misinterpret or overlook your video. Combined with the other optimizations, schema markup can give your video content that extra edge in search visibility.
Ensure Your Video (and Its Page) Can Be Indexed
After all the optimizations above, don’t let technical issues prevent your video from actually showing up on Google. You need to make sure that both the video file and the webpage it’s on are accessible to search engines. Here are some crucial checks:
- Public & Crawlable Page: The page where your video lives (whether it’s a YouTube watch page or a page on your site) must be indexable. That means no noindex meta tag, not blocked by robots.txt, and not hidden behind a login or firewall. If you’ve embedded the video on a private landing page that isn’t meant for search, Google won’t find it. So, for most cases, you’ll want the video’s page to be open to the web. (If you must restrict the video to certain viewers, then ranking in Google obviously isn’t possible for that content.)
- Visible Video Embed: Ensure that the video embed is present in the page’s HTML in a way Google can detect. Some websites make the mistake of loading videos only after a user clicks a tab or via a complex JavaScript snippet. Google’s crawler might not trigger those interactions. It’s best if the video’s <iframe> or <video> tag is in the initial HTML or at least not gated behind user action. Also, place the video prominently on the page, ideally near the top. This signals that the video is a primary piece of content. If the video is buried far down or tucked behind expandable sections, Google might not consider it the main content worth indexing for video search[27].
- Page SEO Quality: Remember that Google often evaluates the overall page when deciding to index a video. Even if you have a video embedded, Google might choose not to feature it in results if the page itself has thin content or low relevance. That’s why it’s good to have some accompanying text (summary, transcript, etc. as discussed) on the page. Also, optimize the page’s title and meta description as you would normally – sometimes Google shows a video result linking to your page (with a thumbnail) if your on-page SEO is strong. In essence, treat the page as a whole for SEO, not just the video.
- Video Formats & Speed: Use standard video formats that Google can crawl. MP4 (H.264) is a safe choice – Google can index MP4, WebM, and several others[28]. If you use an unusual format, Google might skip it. Additionally, consider video load speed. A slow, buffering video might hurt user experience. Use appropriate video sizes/bitrates for web, enable caching or use a content delivery network if possible. Large videos can also slow your page’s load time, which can negatively impact SEO (Google’s algorithm does factor in Core Web Vitals). One technique is to use a placeholder image (poster) that loads first, and only load the video player when the user clicks “Play” (this is called lazy-loading the video). That way your page isn’t dragging due to an embedded video. Just be sure that approach still leaves a crawlable element for Google (some lazy-load setups provide a snippet of markup Google can use).
- Monitor Indexing: After publishing your video content, monitor how it’s indexed. In Google Search Console, you can use the URL Inspection Tool on your video page and see if Google detected a video there (Search Console has a Video indexing report that shows which videos Google found on your site and any issues). If your video isn’t getting indexed, you may need to troubleshoot – common issues are: missing or inaccessible thumbnail, video too large to fetch, page blocked from indexing, etc. The Video indexing report will highlight those problems so you can fix them (for example, it might say “Missing thumbnail” if your schema or sitemap lacks one, or “Video not found” if Google couldn’t fetch the video file).
In summary, think of this step as removing any roadblocks between your video and Google. You want to roll out the red carpet for search engine crawlers: here’s the video, here’s all its info (via schema), and here’s a friendly page that loads fast and tells the story. When you get the technical aspects right, all the creative optimization work you did (title, thumb, etc.) can truly pay off by getting your video indexed and shown to the world.
(Bonus tip: Once everything is live, try searching for your target keywords in an incognito window or using Google’s Video search. If you see your video appearing – congratulations, your video SEO efforts are working! If not, don’t fret; SEO can take time, and you might identify further tweaks to improve your chances.)
Conclusion: Optimizing videos for search engines might sound technical, but it boils down to making your content as understandable and appealing as possible to both algorithms and humans. By applying the steps above – from doing smart keyword research to adding transcripts and schema markup – you’re essentially giving your videos the best chance to shine in search results. Video SEO is a game-changer for increasing your reach: your content investment goes further when people can actually discover it. So go ahead and implement these tips on your next video. You’ll likely see more clicks, more views, and more engagement coming your way.
And if all this still feels overwhelming, we’ve got your back. At Lundblade House Productions, we don’t just create impactful videos – we ensure they get seen. From embedding videos with SEO-friendly code to guiding you on YouTube best practices, we help your story reach the right audience. After all, a great video deserves to be found. Ready to get your videos in front of more eyes? Feel free to reach out – we’re always here to help you make your mark with video.
FAQs
What is Video SEO and why is it important?
Video SEO is the practice of optimizing your video content so that search engines can find, index, and rank it in search results[3]. It involves tactics like using relevant keywords in your video title/description, adding transcripts, and implementing schema markup. This is important because optimized videos are more likely to appear on Google or YouTube when people search – meaning more visibility and traffic for your content. Videos in search results tend to attract higher click-through rates than plain text results[2], so Video SEO can significantly boost your audience reach.
Should I host my videos on YouTube or on my own website for better SEO?
It depends on your goals. YouTube offers a huge built-in audience and a higher chance your video will show up in Google (about 80% of videos in Google Search come from YouTube[8]). It’s great for broad exposure and brand awareness. Self-hosting on your website (using a service like Wistia/Vimeo) gives you more control and keeps traffic on your site, which is better if your goal is to generate leads or sales there. However, self-hosted videos may not rank as easily as YouTube videos. Many businesses do both: upload to YouTube for reach, and embed videos on their site for a tailored experience[9][10]. Choose based on what matters more – new eyeballs via YouTube or on-site engagement – or strike a balance with both platforms.
How do transcripts or captions help with video SEO?
Transcripts and captions provide a text version of your video’s audio, which helps search engines understand your content. Google can’t watch a video, but it can read text. By adding a transcript (either on the page or as captions), you make the keywords and topics discussed in your video visible to Google. This can improve your chances of ranking for those terms[14]. Captions also improve user experience (viewers can watch without sound and follow along), which can lead to longer view durations and better engagement – positive signals for SEO. In short, transcripts make your video search-friendly and accessible.
What is VideoObject schema markup, and do I need it?
VideoObject schema markup is a type of structured data code that you add to your webpage to explicitly tell search engines about your video. It includes details like the video’s title, description, duration, upload date, thumbnail URL, and more. Adding this markup is highly recommended for video SEO. It makes it easier for Google to find and index your video content and enables rich snippets (like video thumbnails) in search results[6]. Essentially, it’s a way to speak to search engines in their language, ensuring they don’t miss your video. While not absolutely “required,” using schema greatly increases the likelihood that your video appears in Google’s video features and is displayed with all the correct info.
Does having videos on my page improve my overall website SEO?
Yes – when used appropriately. Videos can enhance a page’s quality by engaging users. Visitors often spend more time on pages with video, which can reduce bounce rates and indicate to Google that the page is valuable. One study showed that pages with video saw a 41% increase in organic search traffic compared to those without[1]. Moreover, if the video itself ranks in search (with a thumbnail result), it can draw additional traffic to your site. However, it’s important that videos are supplemental to good content – they work best when the rest of the page is also optimized (with relevant text, etc.). Also, be mindful of page load times; ensure videos are optimized so they don’t slow down your site (a slow site can hurt SEO). Overall, a well-optimized video can be a big asset to SEO, but it’s not a magic bullet on its own – think of it as part of a holistic content strategy.
Sources
- Sagapixel – “8 Video and SEO Statistics 2025” (Colin Martin) – Highlights the impact of video on search performance. Notably, it reports that pages with video can see a 41% boost in organic search traffic, video results have a 41% higher CTR than text results, and 8 out of 10 videos in Google’s search results are from YouTube[1][2][8]. (sagapixel.com)
- Google Search Central – “Video SEO (VideoObject) Structured Data” – Official documentation from Google explaining how to use VideoObject schema markup. It notes that adding video structured data helps Google find your video and control the information shown in search results (like description, thumbnail, duration)[6]. It also covers features like Key Moments and provides examples of JSON-LD code for video markup. (developers.google.com)
- MarTech360 – “Video SEO: Complete Guide to Ranking Your Videos in 2024” (Aparna M A) – An article outlining best practices for video SEO. Emphasizes the importance of transcripts, stating that uploading transcripts is highly effective for boosting video SEO since search engines can index the spoken content of your video[14]. Also discusses thumbnails, titles, and tags for video optimization. (martech360.com)
- Yoast – “YouTube vs Your Own Site: Which is better for video SEO?” (Phil Nottingham) – A discussion on the pros and cons of hosting videos on YouTube versus self-hosting on your website. It suggests that if your goal is lead generation on your site, you’re better off using a paid video host on your site (and using YouTube as secondary)[9]. Conversely, for broad brand awareness, focusing on YouTube might be advantageous[10]. The article underscores choosing a strategy based on business goals. (yoast.com)
[1] [2] [4] [5] [7] [8] Video And SEO Statistics 2025: Boost Your Search Rankings
https://sagapixel.com/seo/video-and-seo-statistics/
[3] [11] [12] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [28] Video SEO in 2025: 10 Proven Ways to Rank #1 on Google
https://www.proceedinnovative.com/blog/video-seo-guide-2025/
[6] [22] [23] [24] [26] Video (VideoObject, Clip, BroadcastEvent) Schema Markup | Google Search Central | Documentation | Google for Developers
https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/structured-data/video
[9] [10] YouTube vs your own site: Which is better for video SEO? • Yoast
https://yoast.com/youtube-vs-your-own-site/
[13] [14] Video SEO: A Complete Guide to Ranking Your Videos in 2024
[21] Are Video Transcripts a SEO Ranking Factor? (How and Why You …
https://linkilo.co/blog/are-video-transcripts-a-seo-ranking-factor/
[25] [27] Video SEO, What’s best Self-Hosted vs. YouTube-embedded videos : r/TechSEO
https://www.reddit.com/r/TechSEO/comments/1987mai/video_seo_whats_best_selfhosted_vs/