Using Video for SEO Can Boost Your Ranking and Online Presence
Search engine optimization (SEO) can be a very cost-effective strategy for many businesses that want to be found online. However, there is a lot of competition when it comes to ranking on the first page of the search results. There are many different strategies that can help, but one that is often overlooked is using video for SEO. Videos can quickly capture the attention of your audience and keep them engaged longer than text. Additionally, videos are more memorable and can drive return traffic back to your website better than other SEO strategies and tools. Below are five different ways you can use video as a tool for SEO.
Repurpose Content
Content is really the backbone of SEO, and video is an effective way of sharing it with your audience. Rather than spending additional time coming up with ideas for new topics, try repurposing old content into video for SEO purposes. For example, turn an old and popular blog post into a video tutorial or create “how-to” videos.
Share on Social Media
Social media presence and social signals are still factored into SEO rankings, so sharing videos on your social media pages will have a positive impact on your SEO strategy. Social media also allows your videos to be easily shared by followers, so once you post them, they can be viewed by virtually anyone who may have an interest in your business. The more exposure your video gets, the more your brand will be seen as a reputable source to search engines.
Host on YouTube
Since YouTube is owned by Google, hosting your videos on this site is not a bad idea if you want to boost your organic search ranking. Another benefit of hosting your videos on YouTube is that it doesn’t slow down the performance of your website. Rather than hosting all of your videos on your website, consider sharing ones that are recently produced, this way your website still contains rich media but not too much that it will affect users’ experiences on your site.
Use Metadata
Similar to landing pages or blog posts, videos require strategically thought out keywords, tags and titles so search engines can identify their relevance. Including a video transcript and sitemap also helps search engines find your video, which can improve your chance of ranking higher in the search results.
Keep it Short
However you use video for SEO, just remember to keep the video short. Videos are more engaging than text, but users don’t typically stay watching for too long. The general rule of thumb is to keep videos under four minutes. If you have too much information for one topic, you can post separate videos, such as a “Part 1” and Part 2,” or direct viewers to a blog post or landing page that goes into more detail. This allows them to access all of your content when it is convenient for them.
Not Sure How to Use Video for SEO? Contact Strategic Marketing
Strategic Marketing has experience across the full range of digital and traditional advertising methods, including video production and advertising. Whether you want to create a sales video or need help transforming old content into videos, we can help. Visit the contact page on our website to get started, or call (561) 688-8155 today to speak with one of our marketing specialists.