If you’re investing in digital marketing, you’ve probably heard that video is key to getting your business noticed online. But did you know that using video content can boost your Google ranking and make it easier for potential customers to find you?
Search engines love video, and when used correctly, it can increase traffic, engagement, and conversions, all while giving your brand more visibility.
Read on to learn why video content helps with SEO and how you can optimise it for better search results.
Why Does Google LOVE Video Content?
Google’s ultimate goal is to deliver the most relevant and engaging content to users. And since people love watching videos, Google prioritises pages with video content in search results.
Here’s how video directly helps your SEO:
Increases time on page: Visitors stay longer on pages with video, signalling to Google that your content is valuable.
Improves engagement: Videos encourage people to interact, share, and comment, which boosts your site’s credibility.
Higher click-through rates (CTR): A video thumbnail in search results makes people more likely to click on your page.
More backlinks: High-quality video content attracts links from other websites, which is great for SEO.
Essentially, the more engaging your content, the better Google ranks it. Simple, right? Well, yes, as long as you follow the following steps...
How to Optimise Video for Better Search Rankings
Now that you know why video is a powerful SEO tool, let’s look at how to get the most out of it.
1. Choose the right video hosting platform
YouTube is the obvious choice, but if you want to drive traffic to your own website, consider embedding videos from platforms like Vimeo. These let you keep more of your audience on your site rather than directing them elsewhere (YouTube tends to do this with their default recommendations).
2. Optimise your video titles & descriptions
Just like a blog post, your video needs a strong title, description, and keywords. Make sure to:
Use relevant keywords that your audience is searching for
Keep the title clear, focused on the video content and enticing.
Add a detailed description with important keywords naturally included.
For example, instead of “Our Company Promo Video”, try “Award-Winning Video Production in Leeds | Business Promo Video” for better searchability.
3. Add video transcripts & captions
Google can’t ‘watch’ videos, but it reads text, so adding transcripts and captions makes it easier for search engines to understand your content. Plus, captions improve accessibility and increase watch time for viewers who prefer to watch on mute.
4. Embed video on high-value pages
Want your homepage, service pages, or blog posts to rank better? Add relevant video content to keep visitors engaged. Embedding videos on high-traffic pages reduces bounce rates and keeps people on your site for longer.
5. Create a video sitemap
A video sitemap tells Google exactly where your videos are and helps them appear in search results. If you have multiple videos on your site, setting up a sitemap can significantly improve their visibility.
6. Optimise video thumbnails
A well-designed thumbnail makes all the difference:
Grabs attention in search results
Encourages clicks (boosting your SEO)
Makes your content look more professional
Avoid using random stills and design a custom thumbnail that reflects the content and sparks curiosity.
7. Share & embed across multiple platforms
The more places your video appears, the more traffic and engagement you’ll get. Share your videos on:
Your website & blog
YouTube & social media platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok)
Email newsletters
Every share increases its reach, making it more likely to be linked back to and found in searches.
So, that's it. If you want your website to rank higher on Google, video content is one of the best ways to make it happen. Not only does it boost engagement and credibility, but it also keeps visitors on your site longer, signals quality to Google, and improves your overall SEO performance.
Ready to improve your video marketing? If you need help creating high-quality, optimised videos for your business, get in touch with Olympix Media today.
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