Supplier Videos & Duplicate Content

[BeckyKey]

Hi,

We have some supplier videos the product management want to include on these product pages.

I am wondering how detrimental this is for SEO & the best way to approach this.

Do we simply embed the supplier YouTube videos, or do we upload them to our YouTube - referencing the original content & then embed our YouTube videos?

Thank you!

[Igor.Go]

Embed the supplier's video.
This has more to do with youtube's guidelines than SEO.

• First, you'll need the creator's permission to use the video.
• Second, you'll have to edit it, as duplicate videos are not allowed on youtube, you'll get a strike for uploading identical video. Few strikes and your channel is blocked, which means you'll have embed videos which no one can watch.

[BeckyKey]

Thank you!

We do have permission and can edit them at the start/end - if we can do both & upload them, is it still best to use the suppliers YT videos?

[Igor.Go]

What benefit is there to using video from your channel?

As for editing, you'll have to research what's necessary. Few years ago adding intro was enough, but I think they now compare audio and video and may flag videos as a duplicate based on % of identical parts. Or I may have read that wrong. It's best if you research this matter without relying on my advice.

[Nigel_Carr]

Hi Becky

If it was my site I would not be embedding Youtube videos on product pages.It's no good for SEO and often the Youtube page you embed from will rank way higher than the product page. Youtube wants to rank it's own pages not yours.

I would use a CDN, your own website or a service like Wistia to either self host or emulate self hosting. MOZ do this for their own Blog with a transcription beneath. You'd be amazed how much better this is if you are serious about product videos.

My understanding is that you can add these to Youtube after around 3 months as your authority is established - you then get some benefit of people searching Youtube for your products.

More help here: http://carouselprojects.co.uk/video-on-product-pages/

I apologise in advance but I wrote it - I hope there is no rule about putting ones own help page in!

Regards  Nigel

[BeckyKey]

Hi Nigel

Sorry to only just get back to you. So you think there's no SEO merit in hosting a YouTube video on the product page?

Even if the video ranks higher, it is still on your channel so increasing visibility of your site?

I do understand that Google will obviously promote their site over yours, but if you don't have the budget capability at the moment to use another service would you just avoid videos on product pages altogether?

I'll check out the article, thank you!

[Nigel_Carr]

Hi Becky

It all comes down to intent. Whether you want to attract visitors to your page or your Youtube channel.

There is no direct SEO benefit by having a Youtube video on your page, you are essentially adding an outbound link even if it's nofollow - however it does provide really valuable information for the user. If cost is an issue and you feel you have no alternative then I would use a Youtube video.

The other benefit is that the video will be seen on that platform, the second biggest search network, and people searching for that product may click a link back to you. So if you are going to add videos to YouTube then make sure they are fully optimised.

Fill in the description fully with the a link back to your product page in the first line (It won't help with SEO as they are nofollowed - but it may result in people following the link back to your site)

Fully brand the video to heighten your own company's brand awareness - so maybe a 4 second sting at the beginning - then the video then a branded placeholder at the end.

Also make sure all of the tags are filled in for search & location etc are filled in advanced options.

MOZ use Wistia as a form of self hosting but do in fact put some videos on Youtube some months later. There is a new year video on Youtube - posted in May! (5 months later) - They title the two videos slightly differently so that they get two bites of the cherry for searchers. (Look up 'How To Create An SEO Strategy in 2017)

Finally: Note that Zappos do not use Youtube - Kind of says it all really!

http://www.zappos.com/p/rockport-essential-details-waterproof-apron-toe-dark-brown/product/8151504/color/325

I hope that helps!

Regards

Nigel 
Carousel Projects