Big Changes to YouTube SEO

by 54 replies
67
Hey guys,

There are lots of people noticing YouTube videos dropping from the SERP's. I wonder if it's because they were spamming them with crappy links and exact match anchor text, or if something bigger is going on.

Thoughts?

Raza
#search engine optimization #big #seo #youtube
  • I think Google might be researching and changing the way the videos are shown in SERPs. They're testing different sizes and placements for sure, but I don't know about anything else. I've got the feeling that something is going on.

    Do you know if the "lost" videos are in the video tab of the search view?
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    • I saw two videos that were on page 1 of Google for monster keywords just drop down to page 6. Looks like a -50 penalty.
      • [2] replies
  • I surprised this isn't a bigger discussion yet.
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    • Yeah, me too.

      I'm not going to give too much away, but there were some guys ranking for some ridiculously competitive terms. They were very public about it and blogging about their experiences. Their rankings stuck for about 9 months. Now they're gone.

      I'm checking other people who had videos on page 1 of Google and they're gone too. There are similar threads on other IM forums as well.

      Something's definitely up.
      • [1] reply
  • It is high time Google cracked down on spammy video ranking techniques.

    There have been so many WSOs, 'gurus', SEO forums etc going on about how it is so easy to rank videos with spammy links from Fiverr, that Google was always going to tak action sooner rather than later.

    Abbs has a video about it here: Youtube video Penalty, 50 position Rank drops - YouTube
    Some videos boasted about in a video ranking WSO just last week have now plummeted in rankings!

    Google has already started cracking down on fake views which a lot of people use to help their rankings: Google Vows to Reduce Fake YouTube Views - Search Engine Watch (#SEW)

    I would be very careful about using spammy tactics on important or client videos.

    A sea change is coming.

    In fact I would be highly suspicious of any video ranking courses published before April 2014 - they are outdated at best, likely soon obsolete and at worst will get your account flagged.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [2] replies
    • HypnoHugh,

      You hit the nail on the head. People were so public and blatant with this that it was a matter of time before Google came in and crushed it.

      Raza
    • I was wondering why that video shot up in views :-)

      The thread over at the forum referred to in the video seems to have many more posts from users that have been effected by the update including the type of links that were used.

      Is it to do with the type of links? the amount of links? the type of videos?

      Only time will tell :-)
  • Banned
    Lol at all the drama.

    You already know there's no penalty, you said they ranked with crappy links & still show under the video tab. So what, what's the big deal?

    I'm looking at a very popular keyword in Google SERPs, first page is still loaded with YT videos.

    No big deal.
    • [1] reply
    • Yukon,

      The one thing I like about you is your sense of objectivity and rationality.

      So it's confirmed, crappy links don't work on YT like they used to.

      Raza
      • [1] reply
  • Wow. Interesting. Did Google only do this with big competitive keywords?
    I'd be interested if it still worked for smaller keywords
  • [DELETED]
  • If there is a new penalty we will have to wait and see as it has only been reported in the last couple of days.

    But even if this is a false alarm you can bet Matt Cutts & the web spam team are not going to put up with internet marketers exploiting the video ranking loophole for long.
  • I haven't noticed changes in my rankings. If there really is a major drop of YouTube videos from the SERP it may be due to the new design YouTube has introduced recently. I don't know if you have noticed but there is a change in the design and few new features, like the option to hide the left sidebar, and the floating header.
  • Honestly, is anyone surprised this wasn't going to happen sooner later? Build junk links, and guess what happens in the long run?
  • I was actually thinking of the regular videos and changing SERP visibility. OP was talking about IM spam all along, so I'm off topic.

    Not surprised if the IM video spam got slapped. The market for this SEO trick has been booming. Apparently the makers of certain spam tool (added: the same one mentioned in the video above) got a hefty payday because their product was pushed by several big name marketers. That may have led to a torrent of fresh link spam from inexperienced users.
  • Apparently, all of those free plugins are for blog posts with YouTube video embeds and none of them is for uploading a video directly to WordPress blog post as a media file. Also, there are none with good reviews.
    • [1] reply
    • You need to add microdata definitions of the video file to the page. Yoast has premium plugin for that, but I don't know about others.

      If you want more better answers, try to not hijack unrelated threads.
  • For sure the reason is that people are buying links to get there videos higher in ranking yes you willl be ranked high with that but soon google will track it and will push you back or will penalise that video to be on google ..
    SO its better to get backlinks that are related to your video and just not buy nay crap links..
  • Crappy links will effect your youtube SERPs !!!!
    try to use title and description exactly defining the Video with correct landing weblinks !!!!
  • Banned
    Youtube has long been the neglected (yet talented) child of Google. I think they've finally decided to give it some nutrition too. One thing's for sure - they are now very strict about spam on Youtube too. I think this one started happening right after "video response" was removed from youtube.
  • This is going to be a big blow on crappy link users...

    Google and web spam is here to stay and only the authority sites gets the love.
  • none of my videos were affected and I've been using *ahem* backlinks that were um controversial.

    the difference is, all my videos have high PR links from my own network of sites as well.

    and the videos are quality, not crappy copyright infringement targets
    • [1] reply
    • If your using your own high pr links then it's no surprise your videos are still ranking high and going strong.

      high pr quality and maybe even relevant links are all important for your own sites and it seems this is now becoming the case for ranking youtube videos too
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  • Banned
    To be honest I don't think there are many big changes to be concern about though I'm not surprise that Youtube would be working with their algorithm as there's a lot of less favorable activity with Youtube & SEO because of it's simplicity.
  • Banned
    @ RedShifted

    I'm not quoting that wall of text...

    It doesn't matter how anyone ranks a page, what matters is ranking YT video pages on Google SERPs & driving traffic back to a self hosted sales page is silly. The more hoops you force traffic through before they get to a checkout page the more you'll lose that same traffic.

    That bl@ckhat/whitehat talk has nothing to do with lost traffic (Youtube right sidebar). Again, nobody gets on Youtube to watch a single video.

    Rank your own video page & you have zero competition to deal with once traffic lands on your sales page.
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    • Thanks for telling me.

      First, you are completely wrong. It DOES matter how someone ranks a page. Because ranking a YT video is NOT the same thing as ranking a webpage. If thats what you believe, I don't believe you've done a lot of YT marketing.

      You can use software, you don't have to build links like the nazis are after you, its quicker, easier, and you have the authority of YT backing you up. The fact is I have spammed hundreds of videos to page 1 of G and 95% of stuck. Even all my old ones back from a couple years ago.

      So please explain HOW I can do that using a webpage? Ranking YT videos is EASY, CHEAP AND EFFECTIVE.

      Yes, but you are missing many points. First, a lot of the times its only 2 clicks. 1 to youtube, then 1 to the affiliate salespage where they can buy. Or a local sites so they can call. Thats not what I'd call a lot of hoops.

      Second, I'm not "forcing traffic". Traffic is leading itself, under the influence of my great copy. And its very easy to make people click 2Xs in a row if you know how to presell.

      Weigh that in with the fact that its easier to rank videos and that makes YT marketing a more than viable option.

      To your first sentence. I don't care about the sidebar because sidebars are FULL of spam. And I have confidence in my ability to deliver better copy than most my competitors. So EVEN IF they view their videos they're more than likely to come back to mine. I am not an idiot. I can sell.

      Second, MANY people go on youtube to watch a single video. I know I do it multiple times a day. A LOT of people need *answers quick* and don't want to waste a lot of time. They might go through 2-3 videos, go back to yours, and you win.

      Finally, since its easy to rank YT videos and they stick it makes sense to not care about a bit of lost traffic. Its all about ROI and what you can add to your funnel.

      Not true. MANY PEOPLE leave a website. But on youtube comments can be a very STRONG source of social proof. I'd think most internet illiterates would be more likely to trust youtube than some random site. So it adds a good backing.

      Finally, the point you are missing most is that its smarter to do BOTH a web page AND youtube. Which will get you more traffic than just a site. Youtube allows you to extend your funnel, get more traffic, and its just a piece of puzzle. If you like small funnels thats cool. But criticize YouTube? For what?

      Its a GREAT PIECE of an intelligent, economical, effective, marketing funnel.

      Do you even use social media in your own marketing?

      -RS
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
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  • Gotta go with RedShifted on this one. YT is all I use to make $$$. Cheap, Quick, and very effective.

    I use it for PPCall...so there aren't clicks through to a website. Hell, you don't even have to watch my videos, the number to call is right in the title or in the static image.

    And you sure as hell can rank a video using spam far quicker than ranking a webpage with an embedded video. Competition in YouTube? lol....not when you've slammed enough videos in there to hog up the sidebar results too!

    The biggest problem you have with Video Marketing is that Big G can slap your channel at any time and you're toast - IF you haven't planned for that. However, if you are prepared, this really isn't that big of a deal...although if may take a while for you to re-rank your vids in Big G.

    Example: If any of my channels get whacked (which has happened several times) I can easily have another channel up along with 500 videos (all optimized) the same day (really only limited to internet upload speed). This is not to brag, it's to emphasize the importance of planning for the worst and the fact that you can simply not do this with a web-page with an embedded video.

    Anyway, everybody has their approach, so right or wrong, all that really matters is results.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Banned
    You guys are dreaming If you think Youtube video pages out convert custom self hosted video sales pages.

    This is from a guy that has worked with +3 million YT views on a single channel.

    Live & learn...
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Nobody said it was. Its just a lot easier to rank a video hosted on Youtube in Google than it is to rank a video hosted on a website in google with a thumbnail.

      I use Youtube video to clickbank sales page and make money that way, and like redshifted said, they stick like araldite.
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
      • [2] replies
  • Which RV suppliers are you using? Even if you don't want to post it publicly, could you PM it to me?
  • Everything that is said here is actually true. I used a well known Warrior for the past 2 years and 2 years ago he crushed it with his links overall then penguin hit. His links still crushed it on Youtube but since then it has been a sharp decline.
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    Big Changes to YouTube SEO

    Hey guys, There are lots of people noticing YouTube videos dropping from the SERP's. I wonder if it's because they were spamming them with crappy links and exact match anchor text, or if something bigger is going on.