Give each video its own page or section with a clear title, a written summary or transcript, VideoObject markup, a video sitemap entry and a fast-loading player.
Search engines can't watch your video. They read the text and data around it. This checklist covers the basics.
1. A clear title and description
Describe what the video shows in plain words, with the topic your audience searches for.
2. A page for the video
Put important videos on a page that has a heading, a written summary and related text. A page with only a video and no words gives search engines very little.
3. A transcript or key points
A transcript or summary under the video helps readers, helps accessibility and gives search engines text to index.
4. Structured data
Add VideoObject markup (JSON-LD) with name, description, thumbnail, upload date, duration and the video URL.
5. A good thumbnail
Use a clear, high-quality thumbnail image. Make sure it's reachable by search engines.
6. A video sitemap
List your videos in an XML sitemap with the same details, or add video entries to your main sitemap.
7. Fast pages
Don't load heavy players until they are needed. Use a thumbnail and load the player when the visitor clicks. Set the size in code so the layout doesn't jump.
8. Host smartly
Embedding from a major video platform is simple and reliable. Make sure the page, not only the platform, is the one you want to rank.
9. Link it up
Link from related pages and blog posts to the video page.
10. Check in Search Console
Use Search Console's video reports to see which pages have videos found and any issues.
How this site does it
Every project on this site has a page with text, structured data and a sitemap entry. See the portfolio and captions for short-form video.
VideoObject example
Here is the shape of the structured data (values are placeholders):
- name: the video title
- description: one or two sentences
- thumbnailUrl: a link to the image
- uploadDate: the publish date
- duration: the length
- embedUrl or contentUrl: the video link
Put it on the page that shows the video, as JSON-LD.
What to track
- Whether the page is indexed
- Search queries that lead to the page
- Whether visitors play the video
- Page speed on mobile
Common mistakes to avoid
- Embedding many videos on one page with no text
- Blocking the thumbnail or video file from search engines
- Making the page slow with heavy players
- Forgetting to update the sitemap
Frequently asked questions
Does a YouTube embed help my page rank?
It can make the page more useful, but the text and structure of the page do most of the work.
Do I need a transcript?
It's strongly recommended. It helps readers, accessibility and search.
Should I upload to YouTube too?
Often yes. It's a search engine in its own right. Link the YouTube video and your page to each other.
Does this site follow these steps?
Yes. See the portfolio for pages with text, structured data and sitemap entries.
Bhavesh Vaghela
Freelance video editor and motion designer in Rajkot, India. I make short-form videos, motion graphics, SaaS explainers, logo animations and AI video for clients worldwide.
