Google released an update on November 30, 2023, distinguishing between content that’s primarily video and video content that’s not a primary part of the page.
This update matters to all publishers because only video content, as strictly defined by Google, appears under the Video tab. In other words, if your content relies heavily on video views from Google’s Video tab, it’s crucial to adapt your SEO and UX strategies to the update.
What’s the update?
The video indexing update made a clear distinction between primary video content and supplementary video content.
Avideo is considered the main contentof an article if the video is the main focus of the page.
Examples of prominent video content:
A video article from Indy100 features the video before the headline. The thumbnails of related videos are shown on the right. The difference in video size marks which video element is primary.
In some cases, video articles as seen on the Responsible Statecraft appear after the headline and subheadline. Indicating that a video is under a video section helps.
In contrast, a video is considered supplementary contentif it includes videos that support the main text or other media on the page. Some examples include videos that support e-commerce or product details and videos on a category page that include other equally important videos (often of the same size).
In some cases, the de-indexing of content as a video is valid. Still, it helps to ensure that your level of video integration aligns with Google's guidelines to maintain visibility.
How can publishers improve video content prominence?
To make sure that your video article is considered by Google as such, consider the following improvements:
In terms of user experience, design your pages in a way that clearly communicates to both users and search engines that the video is the main focus.
- Position your video above the fold, or within the visible area of the page immediately after it loads.
- Ensure that the width of your video is at least a third of the page width.
- Create a dedicated article template for videos.
Your editorial and SEO strategy is also key:
- Upload high-quality videos.
- Indicate Video section names and URLs using the term “video.”
- Create valid and complete structured data for videos.
- Continuously monitor how your videos are indexed through Google Search Console and adjust your strategy as needed.
Want to know more about video best practices? Email support@rebelmouse.com or contact your account manager today.
