Videos are now one of the primary ways that websites convey information. In fact, videos will often lead the search engine results page. Video is now a huge magnet for potential site traffic. Google now has a search specifically for videos. If you know how to properly optimize your video for search engines, you’ll pull in traffic like no amount of text could ever get you.
Here are four important factors that will help you get the best ranking for your video.
- Title: The title of your video is the key to attracting traffic. The first and most important goal of the video title is search engine optimization. Some people insist that it should be something grabbing and eye catching phrase, but properly embedding keywords in the title of the video will prove significant in searches. Load the title with your major keywords and key phrases. (You may also want to include your business name.) Most local browsers search for very specific keywords and you want to take advantage of that.
- Description: Search engines don’t list videos based on the title alone. An accurate and appropriate description is critical as well. Like the title, write a description that stresses your keywords. The description should be brief and to the point; it’s not intended to be a transcript of your video. Videos that include a brief description are sure to rank higher. Describe the video in 100 words or so and including 6-8 references to the main keyword or keyword phrase within the text. (Note: Do not surpass 8 percent density – that is the absolute limit.) Remember, your primary concern is relevant keywords in high density so that the search engine will find you and rank you near the top.
- Tags: Tags can make your or break video rankings yet they are one of the most neglected aspects of VSEO. Tags are single keywords, sometimes in a limited number, that search engines use to pull your video during a search. There is no secret to writing good tags; they simply need to be the most popular search terms for the subject of your video. If you’re optimizing for a local area, include that area or town in the tags means.
- Comments and Shares: Comments and shares are almost considered real time linking and should be actively encouraged. The more comments and shares your video amasses, the more authoritative it becomes, establishing credibility and proving value to the end-user.
Your video can easily fall through the cracks if not properly optimized. Using the latest VSEO tactics will enhance visibility, which after all, is the objective. There are other ways to increase video search engine rankings, but these are four strategies you should be focusing you efforts on.
