How Do You Implement Schema Markup for Videos on a Website?

Story Based Question

You’ve spent hours creating the perfect video for your website, but you’re not seeing the results you expected in search rankings. After a little research, you find out that adding schema markup to your video could improve visibility and attract more clicks. But you’re unsure how to actually implement video schema markup on your website. So, how do you go about adding it?

Exact Answer

To implement schema markup for videos on your website, you need to add JSON-LD or Microdata code to your webpage’s HTML. The markup should include details like video title, description, thumbnail, duration, and video URL to help search engines better understand and display your video.

Explanation

Adding schema markup for videos can help your content appear in rich snippets or video carousels on search engines, making your video more visible and attractive to users. Here’s how to implement it:

1. Choose a Markup Format
   There are two common formats for schema markup:
   • JSON-LD (preferred by Google): A JavaScript-based format that doesn’t affect the page’s structure.
   • Microdata: A more HTML-centric format that’s embedded directly into the HTML tags of your page.
   JSON-LD is the most commonly recommended option because it’s easier to implement and doesn’t interfere with your webpage’s existing content.
2. Add Schema Markup Code to the Page
   Once you’ve chosen your markup format, you need to add the relevant video schema to your page’s HTML. Here’s what you need to include:
   • Title: The name of the video.Description: A brief description of what the video covers.Video URL: The URL where the video can be found.Thumbnail URL: The image that will show as the thumbnail in search results.Duration: The length of the video (in ISO 8601 format).Upload Date: The date when the video was uploaded.
   Example of JSON-LD markup for a video:
   {
   “@context”: “https://schema.org”,
   “@type”: “VideoObject”,
   “name”: “How to Plant Tomatoes”,
   “description”: “A step-by-step guide to planting tomatoes in your garden.”,
   “thumbnailUrl”: “https://example.com/thumbnail.jpg”,
   “uploadDate”: “2024-05-01”, “duration”: “PT5M30S”,
   “contentUrl”: “https://example.com/video-url”,
   “embedUrl”: “https://example.com/embed-video-url”
   }
   This code provides Google with all the necessary details to show the video in rich snippets, including the video title, description, and thumbnail.
3. Test the Markup Using Google’s Rich Results Test
   Once you’ve added the markup to your page, you should test it to make sure it’s correct. Google’s Rich Results Test tool can help you check if your video schema is implemented properly and can be read by search engines.
   • Visit Google’s Rich Results Test.
   • Enter the URL of the page containing your video and run the test.
   • If there are any issues, the tool will highlight them so you can fix them before the schema goes live.
4. Publish and Monitor
   After adding the markup and testing it, publish the page on your website. It may take some time for Google to recognize the schema and update its search results. Monitor your video’s performance in Google Search Console to track its visibility and any potential errors.
5. Avoid Common Mistakes
   • Missing Fields: Ensure that all the important details (like the video URL, thumbnail, and duration) are included.
   • Incorrect Format: Be careful when entering the video duration or upload date to make sure it’s in the proper format.
   • Overusing Schema: Don’t overuse schema on irrelevant pages, as it can confuse search engines and hurt your ranking.

Example

Let’s say you have a website with a video titled “How to Grow Your Own Herbs.” To implement video schema markup, follow these steps:

1. Choose JSON-LD format.
2. Add the code to your page’s HTML like this:
   {
   “@context”: “https://schema.org”,
   “@type”: “VideoObject”,
   “name”: “How to Grow Your Own Herbs”,
   “description”: “Learn how to grow a variety of herbs at home.”,
   “thumbnailUrl”: “https://example.com/herb-thumbnail.jpg”,
   “uploadDate”: “2024-06-15”, “duration”: “PT7M”,
   “contentUrl”: “https://example.com/grow-herbs-video”,
   “embedUrl”: “https://example.com/embed-grow-herbs-video”
   }
3. Use the Rich Results Test to check for errors.
4. Publish the page and monitor the results through Google Search Console.

Once implemented correctly, your video will have a better chance of appearing in search results with an eye-catching thumbnail and additional details, making it more likely to attract clicks.