Why videos are important for SEO Ranking in 2024?
In 2024, video is crucial for SEO as platforms like YouTube and TikTok dominate. Videos boost engagement, dwell time, and backlinks, helping sites rank higher. Optimizing video content and ensuring mobile-friendliness is key for success for ranking.
Why videos have become so important for SEO Ranking in 2024?
Today, over 4.9 billion people use the internet, and out of that, 244.4 billion are video watchers. With platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts on the rise, people prefer watching videos over reading. Given the choice between reading a 10-minute article or watching a 3-minute video, most would choose the video—it’s quicker, more engaging, and easier to consume.
Google has picked up on this trend and is now prioritizing video content. While some older generations may still prefer reading, Gen Z and beyond want fast, visually engaging information. With the shrinking attention spans of today’s users, reading long articles can feel like a chore compared to a well-made, attention-grabbing video. So, to stay relevant and keep up with user preferences, search engines are promoting videos alongside traditional articles.
Over the years, search engines have made it easier to access video content. There’s even a “video” tab in Google search, and videos often appear on the first page of results. Now, with Google’s AI-powered Search Generative Experience (SGE) rolling out, relevant video results will be displayed at the top of search results—prime space for your brand to shine.
While AI writing tools have made it easier to crank out written content, creating high-quality videos still requires time and effort. Great videos capture viewers’ attention with fun editing, animations, music, and sound effects while still delivering valuable information. People are used to the fast, creative content they consume on TikTok and Instagram, so if your video is dull or AI-generated without any human touch, people will skip it. Videos also add a personal, human element to your content, which makes them more engaging.
Even AI-powered search engines like ChatGPT will start prioritizing videos. Video makes it easier to grab attention without needing the full focus that reading demands.
Why Videos Matter for SEO Ranking?
1. People Stick Around Longer
Videos are more engaging than just words, so when people watch videos on your site, they hang around longer. That extra time signals to search engines that your site is offering something valuable and people are loving it, which helps your rankings go up. It’s like telling Google, "Hey, see people are loving what I’ve got here!"
2. It’s Easier to Understand
Ever tried explaining a complicated topic with just words? Tough, right? Videos make it way easier. Whether it’s a product demo, a how-to guide, or something educational people grasp things faster when they can simultaneously see and hear it. Plus, every search engine especially Google wants to give users the best experience, so if your site is loaded with helpful, easy-to-digest videos, you’re in for some SEO love.
3. More Shares, More Backlinks
Videos are super shareable, people tend to share videos more compared to long articles. When people like what they see, they share it across social media, and if it’s valuable, other websites might even link back to you. Those backlinks? SEO gold. The more backlinks you have, the better your site will rank. And if your video goes viral? Even better!
4. You’re Easier to Find
Google loves videos. In fact, video content often appears at the top of search results, especially if it’s on YouTube (which, by the way, is owned by Google). If you have a video that’s optimized with the right keywords, descriptions, and tags, it’s going to be a lot easier for people to find your website through search engines. You also have a shot at showing up in those cool video carousels on Google.
5. Works Well on Mobile
People are on their phones more than ever, and videos are just easier to watch on mobile devices. Google ranks mobile-friendly content higher, so if you’ve got videos that work well on mobile, it’ll give your SEO a boost. Plus, users on the go love video—it’s quick and easy for them to consume.
6. Snippets and Featured Placements
You know those video snippets that show up at the very top of Google search results? Yeah, those. If your video is optimized well (think: good title, description, and even captions), you’ve got a good chance of snagging one of those spots. It’s like being on the front page of the newspaper.
7. Helps Boost Conversions
Video content can make it easier for people to trust your product or service. When visitors can see your product in action or get a simple explanation through video, they’re more likely to take the next step—whether that’s buying, signing up, or contacting you. And conversions are good news for SEO because they show that your site is doing its job. Have you wondered when you are looking to learn more about marketing and SEO, why Hubspot ranks? They have videos for everything.
8. YouTube is Your Friend
YouTube is the second-biggest search engine in the world, and it’s owned by Google. So, by hosting videos on YouTube and linking them back to your site, you’re increasing your chances of getting found both on Google and YouTube. It’s like doubling your SEO points. Just be sure to add the right keywords in your video title, description, and tags to maximize the chances of showing up in the search.
9. Videos with Transcripts are a Win
Adding captions or transcripts to your videos helps make them accessible to everyone, including people with hearing impairments. But here’s the thing—those transcripts also give search engines more text to crawl. More text means more keyword opportunities, which helps improve your SEO. Plus, you’re making your content more inclusive, which is always a good thing.
Best Practices for Video SEO Ranking
1. Make Sure Search Engines Can Find Your Videos
Ensure your videos meet all the technical requirements mentioned by Google and other Search Engines so they can be indexed and found. This will help your videos appear in search results. It won't take much time to go through the technical requirements, all search engines have lots of commonalities.
2. Ensure Your Videos Get Indexed
For your videos to show up in search, the page they’re on needs to be indexed and visible. Make sure that the page(s) are indexed. Also, the video shouldn't be hidden behind other elements and should be properly embedded or linked (when using YouTube or Vimeo links)
3. Use the Right File Formats
If you are embedding the video, stick to supported video formats like MP4, AVI, MOV, or WebM so that Google and other search engines can process your videos correctly.
4. Create a Separate Page for Each Video
Give each video its dedicated page. This helps with features like Key Moments and makes it easier for your video to rank.
5. Unique Titles, Descriptions, and Transcripts
Make sure each video page has a unique title, description, and if possible, a transcript. This helps search engines understand your video content better and makes it easier to find.
6. Use High-Quality Thumbnails
A good thumbnail can grab attention and improve your chances of getting clicks. You can either let Google auto-generate one or specify your own in the metadata. But, I suggest you invest your time in creating a good thumbnail instead of relying on the auto-generated ones.
7. Third-Party Platforms - Youtube, Vimeo
If you’re embedding videos from platforms like YouTube or Vimeo, Google might index both your page and the original platform’s page. Both versions can show up in search, as long as they follow the guidelines.
The Importance of Adding Video to Your SEO Strategy for Ranking and Conversions
In today’s competitive digital landscape, incorporating video content into your landing pages has become an essential element for ranking higher on search engines and, more importantly, driving conversions. The process of how you can outrank giants like HubSpot, Cognism, and CXL demonstrates the strategic role that videos can play, not just for ranking but for providing value to potential customers. Here’s why adding videos is important, the types of videos you can include, and key considerations for crafting impactful video content.
Why Video is Crucial for SEO and Conversion:
- Improved Engagement and Dwell Time: Videos naturally engage visitors better than text or static images. When users spend more time on your page (dwell time), it sends a positive signal to search engines, suggesting that your content is relevant and valuable. Higher engagement can lead to improved rankings on search results, making your page more visible to prospects.
- Visual Demonstration and Proof of Expertise: A video, especially one that demonstrates a product or service in action, helps visitors visualize its benefits. It establishes trust, proving that your brand has hands-on expertise. Whether it’s a product demo, customer testimonials, or explainer videos, this visual proof strengthens the persuasiveness of your offer.
- Building Emotional Connection: Videos enable you to communicate the problem you're solving and how your product or service can improve the user’s life. Storytelling via video builds a stronger emotional connection, which can significantly increase the likelihood of conversions. Prospects are more likely to engage with content they feel emotionally connected to.
- Supporting Search Intent and Understanding: Users are increasingly searching for videos as part of their research process. A well-placed video on your landing page can directly cater to this intent, helping prospects understand your offer faster and more effectively. It provides an opportunity to showcase your differentiators in a more dynamic, memorable format.
- Video as a Trust Signal: Including videos featuring client testimonials, customer reviews, or detailed product walkthroughs offers undeniable social proof. People trust user-generated content or testimonials more than they trust brand claims, and videos serve as a highly credible form of this trust-building.
Types of Videos to Include on Your Pages:
- Explainer Videos: These short, concise videos introduce your product or service, outlining its benefits and explaining how it solves the customer’s problem. This is a great way to convey complex information quickly and effectively.
- Product Demos: If your business is selling a product, a demonstration video showing how the product works in real-time can be highly effective. Seeing the product in action helps build confidence in its value.
- Client Testimonials: Video testimonials from happy customers provide a form of social proof that written reviews simply can’t match. Seeing and hearing real people talk about their positive experience with your product/service creates trust and authenticity.
- How-To Guides/Tutorials: Educating your audience through a tutorial on how to use your product or service effectively not only helps them understand its utility but also positions your brand as an authority in the space.
- Case Studies/Success Stories: These videos highlight specific client success stories, giving potential buyers insights into how your solution has tangibly improved business outcomes. Case studies are a powerful way to demonstrate real-world impact.
- Behind-the-Scenes or Company Culture Videos: Sharing videos that show your company culture, team, or behind-the-scenes content humanizes your brand and fosters a deeper connection with your audience. It makes your business more relatable.
- Webinars or Interviews: Repurposing long-form content like webinars or interviews can drive engagement and provide valuable in-depth insights into the topic, building your authority.
What to Take Care of When Using Video:
- Quality Over Quantity: Ensure that your videos are of high production quality. While it's not necessary to have professional-grade equipment, poor audio, blurry visuals, or confusing content can hurt the user experience. Invest in good sound and lighting to make your video content polished and professional.
- Content Relevance: Videos should directly address the key pain points of your target audience and align with the core topic of your landing page. Make sure each video serves a purpose—whether that’s educating, building trust, or driving action.
- Optimization for Search Engines: Optimize your videos for SEO by using relevant keywords in the video title, description, and tags. Hosting the video on platforms like YouTube (which Google favors) and embedding it on your page with schema markup ensures that search engines can crawl and index your video effectively.
- Video Length: Be mindful of your video’s length. A video that's too long can cause viewers to lose interest, while one that’s too short might not provide enough information. Aim for concise, impactful content that communicates the message clearly. As a general rule, explainer videos should be 1-2 minutes, while more detailed demos or case studies can be a bit longer.
- Accessibility: Include closed captions or subtitles to make your videos accessible to a broader audience, including those who are hard of hearing or prefer to watch videos with the sound off. Captions also contribute to better indexing by search engines.
- Mobile Optimization: Ensure that your videos are optimized for mobile devices. Mobile users make up a large percentage of traffic, and if your video doesn’t play smoothly on smartphones or tablets, you could be losing valuable leads.
- Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): Every video should have a clear, actionable CTA. Whether it’s encouraging viewers to book a demo, sign up for a free trial, or contact sales, the CTA should guide the user toward the next step in their journey.
Adding video to your landing pages or key content pieces is a powerful way to boost engagement, improve SEO, and drive conversions. By incorporating various types of videos such as explainer videos, product demos, and client testimonials, you create a more persuasive and immersive experience for your audience. However, ensure the quality, relevance, and optimization of each video to maximize its effectiveness.
Videos can be a game-changer when it comes to outranking competitors, especially for high-intent, money keywords, as they not only engage users but also build trust and drive action. Follow these guidelines to ensure your video content enhances your overall marketing and SEO strategy.
If you want your articles and blogs to rank well now and in the future, adding videos is essential. But don’t just throw in any video—take the time to create high-quality, engaging content that’s fun to watch. Avoid making a video just for the sake of it.
Don't worry, we’ll be adding videos to this blog soon. Not just to rank, but because we want you to enjoy the content and consume it faster. We’ve put effort into writing this, and we want you to have fun while learning!
Here are the Top 5 Video Production Agencies in India
Here's a list of agencies who can help you with videos for your website's SEO.
- What a Story - Located in Hyderbad. They are known for creating visually appealing branding videos and explainer videos, they have worked with major brands like Uber and various entertainment and healthcare clients.
- Everything Video - They are based in Bangalore, India. It is a video production agency based that specializes in creating brand videos, corporate testimonial videos, footage based animated videos, corporate event videos, launch videos, B2B videos, and also videos for SEO ranking. Their process starts with reviewing top-ranked blogs and articles to suggest the best video style based on the budget and content. The goal? To create videos that not only enhance SEO but also help the blog rank better. Their services focus on delivering high-quality visuals that make brand messages clear and impactful. They work across various industries like technology, fintech, SaaS, and other B2B sectors, offering custom solutions to help businesses build strong connections with their audience. Their portfolio boasts collaborations with well-known brands like Entropik, Zoura, Tredence, Grundfos, TCS, HDFC, and SBI, among many others.
- Mythraa Studios - It is a creative agency specializing in both animated and live-action video production. They focus on creating engaging content that helps brands communicate effectively through innovative storytelling. Their portfolio includes a variety of work such as brand films, product launches, TV commercials, and collaborations with well-known companies like TVS, Nissan, and Amazon Prime. With expertise in creating impactful visual content, Mythraa Studios helps businesses deliver powerful and entertaining messages to their audiences.
- The Visual House - It is a video production and communication agency based in Delhi/NCR. They specialize in corporate videos, documentaries, explainer videos, and ad films. Their services extend to digital marketing, branding, and strategic communication. Known for delivering high-quality visual content, The Visual House serves industries like healthcare, education, and corporate sectors. They combine creativity with strategy to help brands effectively communicate their messages through video and digital media.
- Everything Motion - It is a animation studio specializing in product explainer videos, brand videos, and animated content. Based in Bangalore, they focus on creating engaging visual stories for businesses to communicate their value propositions effectively. Their services include crafting product explainer videos, animated how-to videos, promotional videos, animated videos for SEO for a wide range of industries. The agency aims to simplify complex messages through creative and appealing video formats that resonate with target audiences. They provide custom solutions to their client, based on their budget, timeline and video expectations.