In a move designed to provide more actionable feedback to website owners, Google has announced updates to its video indexing report in Search Console. Previously, the platform provided vague error messages that often left website owners unsure of the exact steps they needed to take to improve their video content. The updated error message now flags three specific issues: video outside the viewport, video too small, and video too tall.
This update aims to help website owners optimize their video content for better visibility on Google platforms. With these more detailed error messages, website owners will be able to pinpoint specific issues affecting the visibility of their videos and take the necessary actions such as repositioning or resizing the video. As a result, these changes to the video indexing report could potentially increase website traffic, provided the suggested improvements are implemented.
In the current digital age, video content has become increasingly significant on search engine result pages (SERPs), often being featured prominently in video carousels and video-rich snippets. As such, ensuring that videos are properly indexed and visible is crucial for website owners seeking to take advantage of the video trend.
While the updates do not include a comprehensive list of best practices for video indexing, Google has provided some suggestions that can help improve video visibility. These include positioning videos within the viewport, ensuring an appropriate video size, and using video sitemaps and structured data. Additionally, it is recommended to make video content accessible to Googlebot, provide clear and accurate metadata, and prioritize video quality and user engagement.
Google has stated that these changes will be gradually implemented, and it may take up to three months for them to fully reflect in the video indexing report. Despite this, website owners are encouraged to begin implementing these recommendations as soon as possible to enhance their video visibility and drive more traffic to their sites.
By making these changes, Google is signaling its commitment to improving the experience for both website owners and users, making it easier for quality video content to be found and enjoyed. As video continues to grow in importance, these updates will be vital in ensuring that website owners are able to maximize their visibility on Google’s platforms.