Video Search Engine Optimization (VSEO) is a method that optimizes the referencing of videos on search engines like Google. By using VSEO, you can improve the ranking of your videos and make them appear on hosting platforms like YouTube or TikTok, as well as on traditional search engines. With the constant evolution of natural referencing strategies and the growing importance of video consumption, VSEO is becoming a major issue for those who wish to optimize their online visibility.
Why care about video SEO?
If you create video content, it is essential to take care of its SEO. Indeed, a well-referenced video will be more likely to appear in Internet users' search results, which will promote access to your website and help attract a loyal and engaged audience.
Video sharing platforms such as YouTube remain essential for distributing this type of content. However, it is important to note that Google also favors its own content in its results, which must be taken into account when aiming for good video SEO.
Possible locations of videos on Google
On Google, videos can be displayed in different ways during a search.
Users can filter results to only see videos, just like they do for news or images.
Google may also decide to display videos in an inset, usually located in the upper or lower corner of the screen, depending on the relevance of the query. However, this presence can vary from one research project to another. Videos may be present every time or never appear.
It's important to note that Google commonly updates its algorithm automatically, which can affect the visibility of videos in search results. A video can be visible today and gone tomorrow.
It is therefore recommended to carry out regular checks, as Google can adjust its interpretation of search intentions and change the types of results displayed accordingly.
6 tips for a good VSEO on Google
Essentially, a video, like an image, is a computer file that Google cannot directly interpret because a search engine does not have the vision or hearing ability that a human can have.
For images, we use alt text to describe them, but there is no equivalent for videos. Therefore, to contextualize video content, it is necessary to follow several guidelines:
1. The video environment
Videos embedded on sites or blog articles must be accompanied by detailed subtitles, a description, and possibly a summary. This information helps search engines interpret the content.
2. The choice of platform
Favoring YouTube can be wise because Google can easily access its database.
By uploading a video to YouTube, the user can fill in fields such as title, description, and tags, making the content easier to understand.
3. Schema.org markup
This involves adding structured data that is invisible to the user but analyzed by search engines to interpret various elements of the video, such as the author, the date it was uploaded, and the description.
4. Google's assessment of video quality
The most-viewed, commented-on, shared, or “liked” videos are better ranked. Google also evaluates the credibility of the video by looking at the links that point to it.
5. The length of the video
Although it is secondary to Google, it must match user intent. Duration can be an important factor, especially for tutorials or detailed content answering specific queries.
6. The thumbnail
Although it does not directly impact search ranking, it can influence the click-through rate. A well-designed thumbnail can increase clicks, which is an important part of SEO.
Does Google reference videos in the same way and according to the same criteria, regardless of the platform on which they are published?
Google treats videos differently depending on the platform they are hosted on, for several reasons:
- On certain platforms (Facebook or LinkedIn, for example), videos are not accessible without a connection,, which leads Google to ignore them completely.
- Content hosted on platforms like Vimeo or Dailymotion is less frequently highlighted in search results because Google does not have access to their database.
Conclusion
To conclude, video can be a good conversion tool, depending on the intended target and the positioning of the brand. This is an effective way to reach a broader audience while creating quality content that highlights a company's products or skills. All that remains is to do well!