The Future of Video SEO: New YouTube Features
Video SEO Marketing is one of the oldest pages on my website – I’ve been the British pioneer for ranking YouTube videos since 2008
Video SEO Services – Expert Freelance Consultant.
YouTube buckets are a creator’s principle to gaming the algorithm with upload timing, technical setup and on-page SEO. Your playlists can be whipped into shape, plus optimized with my propitiatory SEO Lady method. Hire an SEO Video Project Manager for content creators and channels which upload prolifically – video production companies and branding agencies alike.
For over 17 years I’ve been banging on how to optimize a YouTube video. In 2025 there’s so much more metadata to refine it can make or splat viral video potential. From file size to end cards, I’m your gal. Let’s chat.
In the olden days, you’d have to verify with a mobile number and manually link to your Google account. I’ve been doing this for over a decade, you kids of today don’t slay as hard as I do. Huge SEO accounts with a voluminous following don’t seem to find me in the noise of the big boys, I’ll be your voice, a podcast guest, an SEO public speaker.
When a YouTube video is embedded on another website, such as BuzzSeed, it can indirectly enhance your website’s link equity through the inclusion of metadata in the VideoObject schema. By placing a link to your blog post at the very top of your YouTube video description, this URL becomes part of the video’s metadata. When the video is embedded elsewhere, the embedding page may include this metadata, making the link accessible to search engine crawlers within the structured data.
Search engines crawling the embedding page parse the VideoObject schema and recognize the link to your blog within the video’s description metadata. Although the embedded video originates from YouTube, the presence of your link in the metadata allows search engines to associate your website with the content on the high-authority domain where the video is embedded. This association can enhance your site’s perceived relevance and authority regarding the video’s topic.
So, while the embedded video’s player may not pass link equity through traditional hyperlinks due to potential nofollow attributes, the inclusion of your link in the structured metadata provides an alternative pathway for search engines to discover and evaluate the link. The VideoObject schema does not typically apply nofollow attributes to metadata URLs, allowing search engines to follow and potentially credit your site with link equity from the embedding domain.
Watch time (dwell time), hashtags, and engagement are key elements that YouTube’s algorithm considers when determining video rankings. There’s also new templates for quick and easy video creation, enhanced remixing tools, AI-generated backgrounds, a dedicated trends page*, and comment previews.
*YouTube trends page: To rank as a recommended video in YouTube trends and suggested videos, the main #VSEO ranking factors are watch time (dwell time), the first 3 hashtags in the video description and engagement.
Maybe the next YouTube feature will be blue clickable titles when you’re logged in to the platform, or viewing on Chrome via an extension. One Click Conversions would be possible if your Google profile is already connected to a payment card and your address credentials are saved.
UK eCommerce, Artists and and Local Business YouTube Ranking
From Google – Video is becoming increasingly common on ecommerce sites.
The first three hashtags in the description usually appear above the video title and can be clicked by viewers to find other videos with the same hashtag.
14 Backlinks – You can add up to 14 links on your YouTube channel Home tab. Your first link will be prominently displayed in the profile section near the subscribe button, and your remaining links will show when your audience clicks to see more links.
Hashtags makes videos more discoverable in YouTube search results and the new Trends Page. If someone clicks on or searches for a hashtag, YouTube will show a page with videos that also have the same hashtag in the description.
Anyone with a Google email or Gmail account automatically has a YouTube account waiting to be marketed in search engines. Off-page VSEO Search Engine Optimisation of your YouTube account is simple, effective, and best of all included in my 30 Day SEO Booster.
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The YouTube 3 minute shorts are good news – With regards to YouTube and ranking factors, I was thinking for a good retention rate, wouldn’t it be good advice to release teaser videos of maybe one to three minutes and then follow that on with a proper video like 15 minutes long.
If you have 50 videos on your channel, if you have 25 Shorts, this could return a high percentage retention rate.
I see a lot of using vanity videos waffling on for half an hour – ain’t no one got the time to watch a marketing video that long, unless it’s a concept that’s face-slappingly fabulous.
Using tags and category keywords helps movie viewers find related videos on a particular topic. This is exactly like CMS blog categories and the ways they act as internal linking and create a mini library for your website.
♛ How YouTube ranks videos – Speaker slides included – watch the video
♛ YouTube features to optimise: Title, Description, Made for Kids, Tags, Date, Location, Languages, Thumbnail, Playlists, Audience, Visibility Settings, Monetization, End Screens and Annotations, Cards, Captions, Advanced Settings and Chapter Markers
As a site owner, you can use video to give shoppers a deeper understanding of products you sell or build your reputation as a trusted expert. Video can also be prominent in Google Search. By surfacing your video content on Google, you can open up additional paths of discovery to drive awareness of your business and engagement on your site.
Videos can appear in Google Search results
Videos can appear on the main Google Search results page or on the Videos tab. Videos are frequently presented with a thumbnail image and other helpful information such as the playback duration and summary text. In addition, Google can now highlight key moments in your video content, allowing users to navigate the video like chapters in a book. When a user taps a key moment, they’ll land on your site where they can begin watching the video from that moment in time.
SEO Your Video to Rank on YouTube
Everyone knows how essential SEO is to promote websites in Google and other search engines such as Bing, Yahoo!, Yandex and Duck Duck Go. Not everyone knows that Google owns You Tube – did you?
Your Google account has a wealth of free tools and access to many features ready for you to take advantage of at no cost; including a Google blogger, Search Console, Google Business Profile, YouTube and hundreds of developer tools.
When looking to implement an SEO strategy it’s optimal to keep all of your accounts under one umbrella login with Google, to enable linking Analytics to Search Copnsole for example, as well as optimising your Youtube account to it’s full potential.
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Why Deleting Videos Is a Risky Move for YouTube Channels
Deleting videos from your YouTube channel might seem like a logical step to improve focus, but it can have significant drawbacks. Removing a video erases all accumulated metrics, including views, likes, and watch time—valuable data that contributes to your channel’s overall authority. For example, using internal linking strategies enhances your channel’s SEO performance, which is undermined if videos are deleted. Moreover, breaking internal links in descriptions, playlists, and blogs creates a poor user experience and disrupts YouTube Video SEO. Instead of deleting videos, consider making them unlisted. Unlisted videos remain accessible within public playlists or via direct links, preserving their metrics while removing them from public searches. For guidance on structuring your channel effectively, check out the Beginner’s Guide to YouTube Video SEO. Using YouTube cards and end screens to guide viewers from older videos to updated content can also help maintain relevance and improve engagement.Alternatives to Deleting Videos: Keeping Metrics Alive
When dealing with outdated content, deletion isn’t your only option. Making videos unlisted ensures they stay accessible while removing them from search results. This preserves their contribution to SEO performance. Updating descriptions to include links to newer content is another way to maintain relevance without sacrificing metrics. Learn more about alternatives to deletion with YouTube’s Help Center. Short-form update videos are another powerful tool. Create engaging clips that inform viewers about updated content while redirecting them to the new material. Incorporating internal linking in playlists further enhances engagement, creating a cohesive content ecosystem that supports viewer retention.Building Channel Equity Through Internal Linking
Internal linking on YouTube works much like website SEO. By connecting related content through cards, end screens, or descriptions, you create a seamless viewing experience. This strategy keeps viewers on your channel longer, boosting key metrics like watch time and session duration. For example, linking videos on topics such as viewport fixes to related guides can enhance discoverability and retention. Effective internal linking also distributes link equity across your channel. High-performing videos can pass their authority to underperforming ones, improving their visibility in search results and recommendations.
Maintaining Thematic Consistency with YouTube’s ‘Buckets’
YouTube’s algorithm rewards thematic consistency, grouping content into “Buckets” for better categorization. Channels with cohesive themes, such as Video SEO or tutorials, tend to perform better than those with scattered topics. By linking videos on related themes, like algorithm strategies, you can improve discoverability and audience engagement. Explore the role of internal linking in video SEO to see how it builds channel authority and drives traffic. For instance, organizing content into thematic playlists enhances the user experience and signals authority in your niche. Check out how thematic consistency works with the Brighton SEO VSEO secrets. Strengthening these internal connections not only reinforces your channel’s authority but also keeps viewers exploring your content longer.Enhancing Internal Linking on YouTube
Boost your channel’s performance by mastering internal linking strategies. Use tools like cards to guide viewers to related videos, as shown in the Performance Max testing guide. End screens are equally effective, encouraging viewers to continue their journey through playlists or recommended content. To see this in action, explore Clickable Titles and QR Code strategies. Optimizing descriptions with relevant links is another essential practice. Include concise calls-to-action that drive traffic to high-value content, like the WordPress SEO consultant guide. Don’t forget to monitor analytics to track the effectiveness of these strategies, ensuring they align with your channel goals.SEO Booster 30 Day Package – No Contract One Off Service
SEO Booster package: This is a complete all-in-one SEO starter package personalised to your site with a 10-point checklist to ensure your website is verified in Google, Bing, Yahoo and Google Blogger. If you are looking for your website to climb in the search engines with linkbuilding and a VSEO backlink off-page marketing strategy at a fixed fee then this is the package for you! This includes a video for effective marketing that I will create for you, using your business images and logo. Did you know? YouTube is the second most popular search engine after Google.
Double your chances of your website being found by appearing on both, and linking between each other. After all, Google owns YouTube so don’t miss this trick!
Vimeo and YouTube Video Search Engine Optimisation (VSEO)
Video search engine optimisation (VSEO) is becoming increasingly popular and if you have a business and haven’t taken advantage of this tool, there’s no time like the present. The popular network has the power to give your business massive exposure and if your video happens to go viral, your company could become the next overnight sensation. Video SEO can help increase the visibility of your video, making it more likely to be seen by your target audience, with the added bonus of adding backlinking and increasing your website’s DA score.
Back in 2014 I was still blogging on the benefits of YouTube Video SEO and I’ll update this blog post again soon.
When people type in Google looking for the keywords of the products or services you offer, the chances of your video getting found in natural organic search is improved vastly when SEO optimisation techniques have been implemented with your YouTube channel that’s verified and connected to your website to prove ownership.
So, when people search online for any keywords, your video will appear in Google SERPs (search engine results pages) as well as websites who are ranking in SERPs.
Bloody Obvious Advantages of a YouTube video SEO for your business
- In my experience, 90 out of 100 clients do not own a YouTube channel. Be ahead of your competitors, especially sole traders and one-man bands.
- Optimising your video with your relevant industry keywords will ensure your video shows up in the search results in Google and YouTube.
- Making a personalised video helps you stand out from your competitors, promoting your brand and logo to everyone.
- If your video is memorable and well-constructed, potential customers are more likely to share the video with friends. Suddenly, you have a whole new world of fans who are likely to become customers.
- Making sure this video is SEO-friendly helps get it found in the first place.You already have a great platform for sharing your video, YouTube. Billions of videos are viewed on the network daily and the site makes it easy to add keywords to your title and description as well as in the keywords tag.
Videos help increase brand awareness. Sharing a video on YouTube that lets people know what your company does, without force-feeding them blatant advertising, will give people who were unfamiliar with your business a great first impression.
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