It’s been obvious for years, but now it’s becoming clear in search engine results too: video is quickly taking over the internet.

We’re seeing text-based web pages dropping down the SERPs and videos taking over. And because Google indexes videos via chapters and transcriptions, one video can answer several search queries – delivering even more bang for your content creation buck.

Like any change, it’s a time of huge opportunity. That’s why if you’re involved in digital marketing conversations, understanding video SEO services is now essential. By getting to grips with these five key components, and assessing whether they’re tasks for you or your agency to handle, you can leverage your videos to the full.

1. Video optimization for search engines

Mastering the basics of video SEO (VSEO) helps put the foundations in place for high-ranking content. Video titles, descriptions, transcripts, and chapters are all part of the mix. An irresistible call-to-action helps to drive up engagement, while a consistent publishing schedule keeps you front-and-center.

2. Keyword research and analysis

YouTube is the world’s second biggest search engine – and it’s a platform built entirely on video. So it’s the obvious place to start when it comes to discovering keywords relevant to your content. There are plenty of paid tools that provide detailed analysis. Or you could start at the beginning and use YouTube’s autocomplete search feature for some initial guidance.

3. Video tagging and metadata optimization

Bolster your video’s chances of ranking well by making sure to include an SRT file. These simple plain text files create your video’s subtitles and follow a specific format that details the timings of each piece of text. Adding chapters is also crucial. For YouTube videos, all you’ve got to do is include timestamps in the video description. Vimeo has its own process.

4. Video hosting and distribution

Make sure you take every possible step to reach as many people as possible. If you’re posting on social media, take time to post the video natively (social algorithms favor this approach). And always upload your content to YouTube. When its reach is massive and it’s owned by Google, why would you ignore it?

5. Video promotion and backlink building

Once your video is live, invest time trying to share and promote it across all the usual social channels. Focus on the quality of your video, because generating backlinks is just as valuable in VSEO terms as it is for traditional text web pages.

Remember, you don’t have to do all of these tasks yourself. You might even decide your agency is best-placed to execute on all of them. The key is understanding video SEO services and using them to maximize the impact and reach of everything you publish.