Search Engines and Indexing Video

[jamesww]

I have noticed more and more video being indexed, especially in Google. In additon to this in the cases where I see video indexed it is almost always in the top two in SERPs. Now this has lead me to start studying standards for video metadata. I have read up on a bit of this but note that it does not make its way into the code Youtube provides for embedding. I am wondering if some of you more techy agents out there can shed some light on what the most important metadata is for video and how this metadata should be attributed to assure that it is viewed in conjunction to the posted video. I have posted the base code that youtube provides for embedding and a link to the most popular pruposed standard for video metadata.

http://shiftspace.cc/jamie/tx_report_0.1.html

<object width="425" height="349"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NlZcHwsa6CU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color 2=0xcd311b&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NlZcHwsa6CU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color 2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="349"></embed></object>

[RyanRE]

In the case of YouTube, I believe that your Title and Description tags are the most important. These tags do not show up in the embedded objects tag, but I have a feeling that Google might know where to find them with YourTube

[jamesww]

I agree with you Ryan. However, what I am looking for is how one should go about setting up metadata for self hosted videos. Should you have your tags with in the <object> mark up? I would like to get credit as the original source of the videos that I put my valuable time into producing. Once this has been established by indexing I would then want to promote the videos further on social media sites.

I was hoping to spur a discussion on what the safest route would be to take when implementing video specific metadata.

[tampa4u]

It comes and goes. It's temporary. It may be there for a few days then it disappears only to re-appear a few months later. Can't really optimize for em as they're unpredictable. Sometimes it will be from YouTube, other times from AOL or others.

[MikeStewartRealtor]

I have been posting my videos on exposureroom.com and google indexes these videos right away and they go right to the top of the serp when they are new, but tend to fade away in time. I embed these videos on my blog and try to optimise them as much as possible so that the blog post remains high in the serps

[Philman]

I'm not really sure how you can manipulate the meta data within a video's embeddable code, but unfortunately, whatever you do can probably be undone by someone who is trying to take credit for your work (as horrible as that sounds).

Meta data is really just descriptions; it doesn't have a direct effect on the video. So, since it isn't required to make the video function properly, people can take it out without affecting the actual video.

You also have the option of just crediting yourself in the video. Unlike meta data, trying to get rid of footage actually in a video can be a lot more difficult and time consuming, so that may be a better approach. All in all, the more credit you can give yourself in your videos, no matter where, the less likely people will try to get rid of it and take credit for your material. So in short, give yourself credit in as many places as you can think of (without being abusive, of course) .

[Memphis]

Slightly off subject here... Would it be feasible or worth while to have a category with in REW for video usage in the SEO sense? I've seen a write up here and there about it for a blog, etc but it appears that this will be the next "blog" affect for SEO that folks are going to chase. I know I am going to have to ready up and figure out what to do with it. Just a thought.

[jamesww]

Ed,

I think this is a great idea.

[Discover Davis Homes]

Wondering how many topics a separate section on video would have? However I agree video is going to be more important - if nothing else from a user standpoint - let alone any possible SEO benefits.

James have you been running any tests on the metadata?

[jamesww]

Yes I have but have not implemented it on my business sites just on my tests blogs. I found an academic paper with a suggested standard for meta data and I have been watching what metacafe is doing with meta data addition. When i get a large enough data set I will let people know what I am finding.