Video SEO

Why video matters

Video content gets indexed by Google and can appear in both web search and Google Videos. Videos increase time-on-site and engagement, both ranking signals. Video also increases CTR when a video thumbnail appears in search results.

Video schema markup

Use VideoObject schema to tell Google about your video — duration, title, description, thumbnail, upload date.

<head>
  <script type="application/ld+json">
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org/",
    "@type": "VideoObject",
    "name": "How to Make the Perfect Espresso",
    "description": "A barista shares professional techniques for pulling the perfect shot.",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://example.com/espresso-thumbnail.jpg",
    "uploadDate": "2025-10-01",
    "duration": "PT5M30S",
    "contentUrl": "https://example.com/videos/espresso-guide.mp4",
    "embedUrl": "https://example.com/embed/espresso-guide",
    "interactionCount": "2500"
  }
  </script>
</head>

<video width="640" height="360" controls>
  <source src="espresso-guide.mp4" type="video/mp4">
  <source src="espresso-guide.webm" type="video/webm">
</video>

Video transcript indexing

Add transcripts of your videos on the same page. Google indexes transcripts and uses them for better understanding. Also helps accessibility.

Host videos on your site or YouTube

Hosting videos on your site gives you full control but costs more bandwidth. YouTube videos embed on your site but might rank for YouTube instead. Consider your goals.