Categories: Web

YouTube SEO: Make your videos more searchable by adding context

While the age-old metaphor of ‘content is king’ is more important than ever in today’s Internet of ubiquitous publishing, context must not be overlooked.

In this brief article we describe the importance of providing context to video published on YouTube. However, the principles applied here can be used and replicated on just about any other publishing platform.

In an article posted to YouTube’s blog this week, the video sharing site outlines the importance of adding context to videos, and specifically the role of context in assisting YouTube’s review team when assessing flagged content (content that break YouTube’s Community Guidelines – like graphic videos).

The main benefit of context from a user’s point-of-view is that video is more easily searchable and understandable, and garners more views, shares and YouTube channel subscriptions as a result.

Similar to other forms of search engine marketing, choosing an appropriate video title is hugely important. As described by YouTube, avoid vague titles like ‘Shocking deaths and fighting’, but instead choose a very specific and informative one, like ‘The Maspero Massacre | 9/10/11 | What Really Happened’. Think about how those that might be interested in your video would search for it, and perhaps add a date to disambiguate it with similar events.

Write two to three sentences about your video in its description field. Include the very obvious; who, what, where, when and why. As if narrating the video, provide a brief synopsis of its contents, and add video annotations where appropriate.

Categorise your video and add five to seven relevant, descriptive keywords. Choose an enticing video thumbnail to increase video click through rates within YouTube video search, but also on Google Search.

You’ve gone to the trouble of capturing a great video. Now contextualise it so that others can find it.

Albizu Garcia

Albizu Garcia is the Co-Founder and CEO of Gain -- a marketing technology company that automates the social media and content publishing workflow for agencies and social media managers, their clients and anyone working in teams.

View Comments

Recent Posts

G20 South Africa commits to advancing digital public infrastructure globally

DPI involves giving everybody electricity & internet, making them sign up for digital ID, and…

1 day ago

Nisum, Applied AI Consulting partner-up to turn the promise of AI into tangible results

Across industries, AI has been promised as the magic bullet, poised to solve different business…

2 days ago

WEF blog calls for an ‘International Cybercrime Coordination Authority’ to impose collective penalties on uncooperative nations

How long until online misinformation and disinformation are considered cybercrimes? perspective The World Economic Forum…

2 days ago

With surge in AI-generated code creates security concerns, DeepSources launches trio of autonomous AI agents for DevSecOps 

Autonomous, AI-powered employees are set to begin roaming corporate networks sooner than expected, marking the…

5 days ago

As carcinogenic chemicals from cleaning products hit the headlines, Viking Pure Solutions is protecting employees from harm

Despite the ongoing fight to reduce, reuse and recycle plastics, when it comes to environmental…

5 days ago

Muddy Waters vs. AppLovin: Why Investors Might Be the Real Target

Muddy Waters’ recent short report on AppLovin reads serious. Abuse, violations, an impending takedown. But…

6 days ago