Four Part Series on Video Optimization or VSEO
The internet is not a Field of Dreams. If you simply build it no one will come. Search Optimization is one important factor in getting your content found and search optimization for video is no exception. In this four part series on video optimization for search, we will help you learn important tips and tricks about VSEO or Video SEO. For those of you who may be skeptical about using SEO please let me explain why. Imagine taking a tour on Jupiter with an alien translator by your side. Even though the rest of your party may speak English, everyone along for this ride must communicate through this alien translator. Now think of Google’s Spiders as that alien translator. If you want a hope of communicating to your target audience you’re going to have to learn a little Spider.
How to Conduct Keyword Research for Videos
Whatever someone types into a Search Engine becomes a keyword. A Keyword is literally any word or phrase or string of words that someone may type to search. What is important to you becomes just what are people searching. JCPR recommends conducting keyword research for any piece of content created for the internet. How to conduct keyword research is an entire industry, however, we will write a short series of blog posts to help you with that in the future. In short, start with your own web analytics. Review what keywords are already being used to come to your site. Second, take a look at Google’s Adwords Keyword Tool. Our tip is to look for what is called long-tail keywords. Although longer worded search phrases have lower search volume they are both easier to rank for and probably will convert better for you. Imagine our Video Production Company JCIP trying to compete for the keyword “video”. One or even two word search phrases are not specific enough. Almost half the time people search they use 4 or more words. The long-tail is your friend.
How to Optimize Video for YouTube Search
- The Title is the single most important element for Search. The Maximum effective title is 66 characters as Google will truncate anything over this. Longer title do work for search however, they just will not be properly displayed.
- The description is the 2nd most important element for video search. Also, every video should have a back-link to a relevant landing page on your website. This link should be displayed in the first two lines of the description. Your text should support your keyword research.
- Tags and Categories are the third most important element for Video Search Optimization. Your tags should be based on your keyword research. Pay attention to the suggestions YouTube gives you as well. Avoid stuffing.
- Pro Tip #1 yes your file name makes a difference, name it the same as your title before you upload the video.
- Pro Tip #2 make sure all content is yours, especially music. YouTube will flag your video is they suspect pirated content. They are especially good at flagging music. Use contents that you have rights to or explore YouTube’s free to use music library.
- Pro Tip #3 consider a video transcript. We will discuss this tip and many more in our intermediate video search optimization post coming out shortly!
Intermediate Video Search Optimization Next
We are just getting started! There are many more pro tips and pieces of advice we have to offer. In the meantime, please ask us questions. We’d love to work answers to your questions into our follow-up posts. What do you think? Want to know more? Have a tip to share? Please comment below.
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