Embedding Videos in Blogs: Good or bad for SEO?

The growing appeal of video content is both undeniable and continually on the rise. Given that over half of the daily media consumption time in the US is dedicated to video, it becomes imperative to incorporate it into your marketing efforts.

However, the debate surrounding the impact of embedding videos in blogs on SEO continues. Are videos good or bad for SEO? 

The Positive Impact on SEO

Here’s why you might consider adding embedded videos. 

Increased User Engagement

Long-form articles are vital for SEO. However, holding your reader’s attention from start to finish can be a herculean task. What you want to do is give them a reprieve by breaking up the monotony of text. You have to remember that people have a short attention span. As such, you have to convey your message while retaining their interest. It’s a good thing that videos serve this purpose. 

When you catch their interest, the longer they will stay on your page. For SEO, this is good. One, it reduces the bounce rate, which can signal to search engines that you have a quality constant. Eventually, this will improve your page’s search ranking. 

Rich Media for Rich Snippets

Rich snippets are enhanced descriptions that appear in search results. They make your page more attractive, thus driving more clicks. Google’s algorithms are known to favor content that includes various forms of rich media, including pre recorded video streaming. Embedding a video related to the blog post topic can help you stand out in the search engine results pages (SERPs). Often, it’s critical for providing a richer user experience. Rich snippets had a higher click-through rate compared to standard search results.

Furthermore, embedding videos in your blog content can significantly increase the chances of earning those coveted rich snippets. Your content becomes eligible for video snippets or even carousel formats, making it more appealing for clicks.

Content Diversification

Different users prefer different types of content. Some may like reading long articles, while others may prefer watching a short video. Including videos in your blog posts offers something for everyone. It helps you diversify your content and make it more appealing to a broader audience. They are particularly helpful for those who want to consume content while they are on the go. Rather than scanning through blocks of texts, page visitors can simply watch and listen. 

The Potential Downsides

While there are definitive perks, it’s crucial to acknowledge the possible drawbacks of embedding videos in blogs from an SEO perspective. Below, we discuss the factors you should consider to prevent any negative impacts.

Page Load Speed

One of the drawbacks of embedding videos is that they can slow down your webpage’s load time. Page speed is a critical factor for SEO ranking. It’s understandable. A slow-loading page can negatively impact user experience and SEO. It’s frustrating for web visitors to wait for the page to load. They can simply bounce off the site and look for another one. When constantly overlooked, it can have a negative impact on your website’s ranking. 

However, it’s worth noting that the impact on page load speed is only minimal. A lot of the slow loading has to do with what you’re using to embed videos. If you have tons of other elements on your page, it could impact speed.

Possible Duplication Issues

Producing video content is an investment. You have to make sure that you produce your own. If you plan on embedding unoriginal videos, you may face duplication issues. However, this only happens when you use videos that have been indexed by the search engines already. Google’s algorithms are designed to avoid duplicative content, which can lead to a decline in your SEO rankings.

Limited Text Content

While videos can engage your audience, they offer limited crawlable text for search engines. This might undermine your SEO efforts if not adequately balanced with high-quality textual content. So, it’s still important to gauge the content your audience will most likely consume. It will also be beneficial if you only choose the pages with video content. 

Key Takeaways

To embed or not to embed? That’s the SEO question you should be asking. While videos can indeed enhance user engagement and diversify your content, they can also slow down your webpage and potentially dilute your SEO value if not carefully executed.

• Pros
  • Increases user engagement and potentially reduces bounce rates.
  • Helps in securing rich snippets in SERPs.
  • Diversifies your content to appeal to a broader audience.
• Cons
  • Can negatively impact page load speed.
  • Risk of content duplication.
  • Offers limited crawlable text for search engines.

Now that you’re equipped with the pros and cons, it’s time to weigh your options carefully. If you decide to proceed with embedding videos, make sure they are high-quality and relevant. Also, ensure that your chosen video complements your written content to optimize your SEO strategy.