Optimizing Video for Search – The Missing …Link?

Recently I was asked what I know about optimizing video for organic search.  I of course responded with, “well, having very little hands on experience with it, I would have to say that I am only familiar with the best practices in a general sense.”

These would be things like using the targeted keyword in the video name, Title tags, etc along with some other factors like reviews, ratings and comments. Typical on page factors, really.

Well conveniently enough, Search Engine Land just put out an interesting post on this subject yesterday: The Key To Top Video Rankings On YouTube & Google.

In that post, there is mention of a recurring and oh-so crucial theme when it comes to SEO; applied to video.  Can you guess what that might be?  That’s right, LINKS!

There is a video included as well.  One where Matt Cutts is asked why one video may rank so well vs. a different video.  And surprise, surprise, he comes back with something like: “Off the top of my head I would think that the video ranking well may just have a very powerful link pointing to it and maybe has more PageRank or link authority.”

Well thanks a lot, Matt.  That really helps.  No, really… I’m not just being facetious.

Bottom line once again: Links are probably the single most crucial factor when it comes to achieving and maintaining good search engine rankings (once any technical/content barriers have been hurdled).   Have valuable content, people will link to it.  Have a video that people like, and they will link to it.  Get many high quality inbound links and Google “rewards”.  Its almost that simple.   And it doesn’t necessarily just apply to web pages now, either.

Since the launch of blended search and roll out of the Caffeine update, it seems that Google is switching their focus from “pages” to “Documents”.  And clearly Videos are included.

Happy Friday!