We're buzzing with excitement as Google, our favorite search engine giant, has rolled out an update that's a game-changer for all of us who utilize video content on our websites.
As of June 12, 2023, Google's Search Console is taking a big step forward, bringing a new level of precision to its video indexing reports. This is big news because it gives us more actionable insights and a clear path to making our videos stand out in search results.
Remember those times when Google wouldn't index a video, and we were left scratching our heads because all we were told was that Google couldn't pinpoint a sufficiently "prominent" video on our page? Well, it seems Google heard our collective sighs of confusion. They're now making it easier for us to fix issues by breaking down this rather vague problem into three specific reasons.
When your video plays hide and seek: Google couldn't index your video if it was hiding outside the part of the page that's immediately viewable when it loads (the viewport). The fix? Make sure your video isn't playing hard-to-get - place it where your site visitors can see it straight away.
When your video is playing small: If your video was the digital equivalent of whispering in a noisy room (i.e., smaller than the required size), Google might have missed it. So, how big should your video be? Google suggests making it at least 140px high, or if you're going by width, make sure it's wider than 140px and occupies at least a third of the page's width.
When your video aims too high: Strangely enough, Google may overlook your video if it's too tall - anything over 1080px. The solution is as simple as you'd expect - just bring down the height to fall within the acceptable range.
Look out for these reasons in your Search Console video indexing reports from now on. And even though you might still see the old "Google could not determine the prominent video on the page" reason due to the 3-month historical data view, don't worry, it won't affect your pages. You'll also find the new reasons when you check out a specific video page URL.
Google has aimed this update at us - the content creators and website owners. They're striving to make video indexing clearer and more manageable. Now, we have a better chance than ever to fix any video-page issues and increase the visibility of our videos on Google Search. Read More at https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2023/06/video-indexing-specific-issues
So, let's open up the floor. What's your take on this update? Do you think it will help you understand the mysterious case of the non-indexed videos better? We're all ears, so share your thoughts!
Remember, if any questions or concerns pop up about this update, Google has your back. You can reach out to them via the Google Search Central Community or their Twitter handle.
That's all for now. Keep an eye out for more updates and helpful tips on SEO and digital marketing. Always remember, understanding and adapting to these changes can supercharge your video SEO strategy.
Until our next post, keep playing the SEO game to win!
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