How To Rank Your Videos Higher On Google
August 9, 2019

GOOGLE RANK: Preface: this article contains technical information for webmasters looking to increase their videos’ readability on Google. We do not recommend editing your website’s source code without an understanding of your site’s formatting.

HOW GOOGLE WORKS

Here’s how Google’s rank works. In order to deliver users their search results, Google sends spiders all over the Internet to collect information about each individual piece of content. This is why the term “world wide web” was coined in the early phases of the Internet. As you know, online video is already a big SEO boost for your website as Google is always trying to provide users with helpful video content. Millions of people find videos on Google every day – but this means that in order to have your video show up organically you’ll need to be following Google’s rules.

INDEXING VIDEOS FOR GOOGLE

The first and foremost step to having your videos show up in search is to let Google accurately index them. If you are only relying on the written information on your video’s web page, Google may not read it as efficiently or effectively as it possibly can. In other words, you risk Google not ranking your video as highly on your search.

While Google crawls for a multitude of details about your content, these are the three main pieces of information Google looks out for in each video:

  1. A title
  2. A description
  3. A thumbnail

To fully maximize how you provide this critical information to Google so that they can rank you higher, you can use either on-page markup or a video sitemap. Not to worry, both of these options are entirely invisible to your website users and will not affect how your web page looks or behaves. This is a greatly effective trick to increase your videos’ click and view rates exponentially and organically.

ON-PAGE MARKUP

On-page markup is hidden descriptive data (microdata) that is added to the source code of your web page. This makes it easier for Google to collect the exact information it needs to index your video. Using video markup you can provide crucial details such as the description, thumbnail URL, upload date, and duration all while being assured that Google can properly read it.

For video markup, Google has specifically recommended using  schema.org , a markup format that has been collaboratively designed and is supported by Google, Bing, and Yahoo! Check here if you want to review the  full schema.org vocabulary.

There are various other forms of software approved by Google that accomplish similar results. These include Facebook Share and RDFa on-page markups. You can see here for  more about using Facebook Share and RDFa for video data.

Check out  this example  to see what the video markup looks like in your source code.

VIDEO SITEMAPS

Sitemaps are an effective way for web developers and webmasters to inform Google and other search engines about pages on their sites that are available for crawling. This way Google can see your video page as being popular content that it will want to rank highly.

In a nutshell, the Sitemap is an XML schema file that provides a list of URLs for a site along with additional other metadata about each URL – such as when it was last updated, how frequently it changes, and how important it is relative to other URLs in the site. This way the search engines can more effortlessly crawl for information within the site.

Sitemaps offer advanced functionality such as indicating  expiration datescountry restrictionsplatform restrictions  or even information on live streams. Find out more about  using a video sitemap  here.

Web crawlers do a better job of discovering pages by combing through the connected links within the site and from other sites. Sitemaps complement this data to allow Sitemap-supporting crawlers to pick up all URLs in the Sitemap and learn about those URLs using the associated metadata – thereby increasing your page ranking.

ADDITIONAL BEST PRACTISES TO RANK HIGH

These are the guidelines provided by Google to further improve your videos’ Google compatibility:

  1. Add and verify your site into the Google Search Console. This is a great tool that will let you see any problems that Google encounters when crawling your site. In addition, if you are using sitemaps to increase video exposure, submit them through the Search Console as well.
  2. Employ a strategy using both on-page markup and video sitemaps. It is recommended to use on-page markup for all of your videos, and a video sitemap to tell Google about any new, time-sensitive, or hard to find videos.
  3. Make sure you have a publicly available video page where users can watch your video. Having a specific video play page for each video greatly increases their Google readability.
  4. Use unique descriptive data for each video in your markup or sitemaps.
  5. Be aware of all the  common problems associated with video indexing.
  6. If your video is a full episode in your series, one effective convention is to use the term “Full Episode” in the title (this is optional, however). Since these episodes will come up in search results, the user will want to be able to assess quickly and easily whether it’s the full episode. Your title is an immediate way to do this. Additionally, you can make sure that you include “duration” for these cases, as many users search for full episodes by clicking on the long-form content button to find full episodes.

CONTACT YOUR SPECIALISTS ON HOW TO RANK HIGHER

Contact your web developer for additional advice or guidance when adjusting your site map or markups. Some website providers will have backend dashboard options, such as tags, that can serve as a substitute for video markups. In general, don’t edit any code without knowing what you’re doing, as this can lead to errors on your site.

Need high quality video on your site before you start looking to optimize Google search rankings? Arc and Crown Media is your guide to great video with greater results. Check us out at  www.arcandcrown.com  or contact  info@arcandcrown.com to let us know about your video needs.

Ready to take a hand at making your own video content that rank high? Check out our extensive online course to become your own DIY video making expert!

April 8, 2026
Self-recorded video is becoming one of the most effective ways for Toronto-based companies to communicate internally, train teams, and build a strong, authentic brand presence—without relying on full-scale production for every piece of content. But most teams hit the same challenges: What should we say? How do we make it look professional? How do we keep it consistent across teams? This guide breaks down a simple, repeatable self-recorded video process designed specifically for businesses in Toronto looking to scale their communication. In fast-moving industries like finance, healthcare, and tech across Toronto, video has become essential for: Internal communication across hybrid teams Employee training and onboarding Leadership messaging Company-wide updates Self-recorded video allows organizations to: Move faster without production bottlenecks Create more authentic, human content Reduce ongoing production costs Build a scalable internal content system The key is having the right structure and support in place. Step 1: Start With Clarity, Not Guesswork Before hitting record, successful teams align on strategy first. What Toronto Businesses Should Focus On: Define your objective Are you creating training content? Internal updates? Executive communication? Choose the right format Talking head, screen recording, or guided presentation? Work within your team’s capabilities Whether you're a downtown corporate office or a growing startup, your process should fit your resources. Structure your messaging clearly Simple, direct communication performs better than overproduced scripts. Get expert guidance when needed Strategic support early on prevents wasted time later. Clarity upfront saves time, budget, and internal friction. Step 2: Capture Content Your Team Feels Confident Creating Once the plan is clear, recording becomes easy and repeatable. Most Toronto teams are already equipped to film using: Smartphones Laptops or webcams Basic lighting setups What Makes the Biggest Impact: On-camera confidence Professionals aren’t always natural on video but some training can dramatically improve delivery. Simple technical setup Clean audio, proper framing, and lighting matter more than expensive gear. Test recordings A quick trial run avoids common mistakes. Flexible workflows Recording should fit into your team’s schedule, especially in busy corporate environments. The system ensures consistency and quality. Step 3: Turn Raw Footage Into Branded, Ready-to-Use Content This is where your videos become valuable business assets. Post-Production That Elevates Your Content: Edit for clarity and engagement Remove filler, tighten messaging, improve pacing. Repurpose content Turn one recording into multiple internal or external assets. Add branding Graphics, captions, and visual consistency reinforce your company identity. Deliver ready-to-use videos Content that can be immediately shared across teams or platforms. For Toronto organizations, this step is key to maintaining a professional standard at scale. Make Your Video Content Work Across Your Organization Creating content is only part of the equation—distribution drives impact. Teams often integrate self-recorded videos into: Internal communication platforms Learning and development systems HR onboarding processes Marketing and employer branding With the right system, your content doesn’t just get created—it gets used consistently across the business. Build a Scalable Video System (Not Just One-Off Content) The most effective companies in Toronto don’t treat video as a one-time project. They build a repeatable workflow that allows them to: Produce content consistently Maintain quality without slowing down Scale communication across departments Self-recorded video becomes a long-term business tool. Looking for Self-Recorded Video Support in Toronto? If your team is exploring how to implement self-recorded video effectively, having the right structure can make all the difference. From planning and on-camera training to editing and delivery, a clear process ensures your videos are not just created, but actually drive results. Contact us for more info https://www.arcandcrown.com/contact
Group of people in a meeting around a table, laptop in the center, discussing ideas, and taking notes.
March 26, 2026
Discover how Toronto businesses can use corporate video to improve internal communication, engage audiences, and strengthen their brand with Arc & Crown Media.
A professional in a white shirt types on a keyboard while working at a desk in a bright, modern office.
March 26, 2026
Learn how corporate videos enhance communication, simplify complex messages, and strengthen brand identity—crafted by Toronto’s video specialists.
January 19, 2026
"Volunteer advocates are at the heart of Diabetes Canada’s efforts to bring about positive change. They represent the voice of the 11.7 million Canadians living with diabetes or pre-diabetes and speak for those who cannot speak up for themselves. Advocates help raise awareness of diabetes and the daily burden of living with the disease. They participate in Diabetes Canada advocacy campaigns and events across the country, and they help influence public policy by building relationships with elected officials in their ridings and promoting Diabetes Canada’s policy recommendations through their personal and professional networks. To support and grow this vital community, Diabetes Canada launched a new advocacy training series designed to make it easier than ever for people to get involved: Speak up & speak out Getting involved is easy Introducing Diabetes Advocacy 👉 Watch the videos and learn more here: DIABETES CANADA Bringing Advocacy to Life With Video Arc + Crown Media partnered with Diabetes Canada to help bring this important advocacy training to life through strategically designed animated videos, we helped make the training: 🎥 Clear and accessible Animation helped break down complex concepts into simple, visually engaging sequences, so viewers instantly grasp key ideas — like what advocacy is, how it works, and how they can participate. 📈 Action-oriented and motivating The pacing and progression were intentionally structured so someone watching could move from curiosity to confidence — ready to take action. Our approach ensured the advocacy training wasn’t just informative — it felt welcoming, inclusive, and empowering to volunteers from all walks of life. Why Animated Training Content Works Training and onboarding content — especially for volunteer programs and advocacy initiatives — needs to be engaging, easy to understand, and repeatable. Animation is uniquely suited to this because it lets you: Illustrate abstract ideas visually (e.g., advocacy processes, decision pathways) Keep attention with motion and visual cues Streamline complex information into digestible chapters Adapt content for web, social channels, and virtual learning platforms By combining animation with thoughtful narrative structure and live footage, Arc & Crown Media helped create a training resource that volunteers can come back to again and again — whenever they need a refresher or want to share training with others. How Arc + Crown Media Can Help Your Organization At Arc + Crown Media, we specialize in strategic video production that helps organizations educate, train, and inspire their audiences. Whether you’re working with: Volunteers Clients or customers Employees and stakeholders Advocates or community members …we can help you build animated and live-action video series that turn complex ideas into clear, compelling content. We specialize in corporate and nonprofit video production that supports long-term communication strategies, not just one-off campaigns. Organizations work with us to create: Animated explainer videos Training and onboarding video libraries Internal communications from leadership teams Culture and employer branding videos Educational and advocacy content This is especially valuable for companies and nonprofits that need to communicate consistently across departments, locations, or audiences. For many of our clients, video becomes a recurring communication asset — helping them save time, improve message clarity, and increase engagement. Here’s what we bring to every project: ✨ Message strategy & script development 🎬 High-quality animated and live action production 📊 Content designed for multi-platform use 🤝 Collaborative creative process tailored to your mission Video isn’t just storytelling — it’s a strategic communication tool that scales your training, expands engagement, and aligns audiences around your mission. Ready to Make Video Work for You? If your organization needs: Training and onboarding content Advocacy or awareness campaigns Educational or mission-driven storytelling Animated explanation videos …video can be one of the most effective ways to communicate. Looking for Animated or Training Video Production in Canada? If your organization is planning: Volunteer or employee training programs Advocacy or awareness initiatives Internal communications strategies Educational content for clients or stakeholders Professional video production can dramatically improve how your message is understood and remembered. Arc + Crown Media is a Canadian video production company specializing in animated and live-action video content for training, internal communications, and advocacy. We help organizations communicate complex ideas clearly and connect with their audiences authentically. 👉 Contact Arc & Crown Media to learn how video can support your communication goals. Arc + Crown Media creates video content that helps organizations communicate clearly, connect authentically, and scale their impact. Let’s talk about your next video project and how we can help you achieve your goals.
Show More