Video titles and descriptions

[Mat_C]

Hi everyone,

I have a question about embedding videos on a website: if you optimize the title and description for the video in Youtube, will these be taken into account for the ranking of the page where the video is embedded? Or will only the Youtube link for the video show in SERP's, instead of the page itself?

I've read in a post of Phil Nottingham that it's usually not a good idea to embed a Youtube video on your own site, but use Wistia instead, exactly to avoid cannibalisation of your own rankings. Is this correct?

Thanks!

[Vijay-Gaur]

Hi There,

If you are trying to get direct SEO value from Youtube video by virtue of embedding it on the website then Phil's moz post already explains why it will get value on youtube listing itself and not on your website.

However, the purpose of the video to be available on the website is more important. Whether the video compliments and supplements the website content, that would determine whether you are able to derive the real SEO value from the embedded link. To put it simply, if people would be interested to watch the video on your website that would increase the time spent on the page and benefit your website's purpose and also its SEO.

I hope that helps.

Thanks,

VJ

[JohnSammon]

I wanted to say that Vijay's answer was fantastic! To add to it - you do want to keep a close eye on if the video adds to the time on site or no once you add it to the page. Some videos may actually do more harm than good with time on site and conversion.

Thanks!