Optimize Your Video for Search and Viewers

Separate platform and website optimization

A video on a hosting platform and a video embedded on your website are related but distinct publishing experiences. Give each an accurate title and description. Choose a thumbnail that represents the material rather than exaggerating it. On your website, use a dedicated page for an important video with supporting information and a player people can actually use.

Maintain the technical details

Review video indexing guidance for your chosen setup. Accessible thumbnails, stable URLs, appropriate structured data, and meaningful captions can help explain the asset. Avoid marking a page as primarily about a video when the player is incidental to unrelated content. Keep descriptions and timestamps current when the recording changes, and use search reports to investigate eligibility or indexing issues.

A checklist you can use

• Make titles and thumbnails truthful.
• Use stable pages for important recordings.
• Add accurate captions and supporting text.
• Review indexing reports after technical changes.