SEO Tips for Your Explainer Videos

Creating an explainer video is only half the battle. To get the most out of it, you need to optimise it for search engines so it reaches the right audience. SEO isn't just for blog posts and websites—it plays a crucial role in video marketing as well. By following the right strategies, businesses can improve the visibility of their explainer videos, drive more traffic, and increase conversions.

Here’s how you can apply SEO best practices to ensure your explainer video production efforts get the results you’re looking for.

1. Choose the Right Keywords for Your Video

Just like written content, videos need to target the right keywords to rank well on search engines. Start by researching keywords that your target audience is searching for. Focus on terms that align with your business and the problem your explainer video solves.

When selecting keywords, consider:

• Search volume and competition level
• Long-tail keywords that match user intent
• Keywords that reflect common customer pain points

Once you’ve identified the right keywords, integrate them naturally into your video title, description, and metadata to improve search rankings.

2. Optimise Your Video Title for Search

Your video title is one of the first things both search engines and viewers see. A compelling, keyword-rich title helps improve rankings and encourages clicks.

To craft an effective title:

• Keep it concise yet descriptive
• Include your primary keyword early in the title
• Make it engaging and benefit-driven

For example, instead of a generic title like "Our SaaS Explainer Video," use "How Our SaaS Explainer Video Helps Businesses Automate Workflows." This not only includes the target keyword but also highlights the value of the video.

3. Write a Detailed and Optimised Video Description

A well-written video description helps search engines understand the content of your explainer video while also providing valuable information to viewers.

When writing your description:

• Use relevant keywords naturally within the first 150 characters
• Provide a summary of what the video covers
• Include a clear call to action with a link to your website

Avoid stuffing keywords unnaturally. Instead, focus on making the description informative and user-friendly while incorporating relevant terms.

4. Add Subtitles and Transcripts

Search engines can’t watch videos, but they can crawl text. By adding subtitles and transcripts, you provide extra text that can be indexed, improving the discoverability of your content.

Subtitles also:

• Make your video more accessible to a wider audience
• Improve user experience for viewers watching without sound
• Increase engagement and watch time, which boosts rankings

Uploading an accurate transcript ensures that search engines can pick up on key terms and rank your video accordingly.

5. Use Engaging Thumbnails to Boost Click-Through Rates

Thumbnails play a crucial role in whether someone clicks on your video or scrolls past it. A high-quality, attention-grabbing thumbnail can significantly improve your video’s click-through rate (CTR).

Best practices for creating an engaging thumbnail include:

• Using high-resolution images that look professional
• Adding text overlays to provide context
• Choosing an image that reflects the video’s content and tone

An optimised thumbnail makes your video stand out and increases the likelihood of it being watched, which can positively impact SEO performance.

6. Improve Video Load Speed and Mobile Optimisation

Video SEO isn’t just about metadata and descriptions—it also involves technical factors. Slow-loading videos can harm user experience and lead to higher bounce rates, which negatively affect rankings.

To optimise video load speed:

• Compress video files without losing quality
• Host videos on platforms that offer fast streaming
• Ensure your website is mobile-friendly

More than half of all video views come from mobile devices, so making sure your video plays smoothly across different screen sizes is essential.

7. Leverage YouTube SEO Best Practices

Since YouTube is the second-largest search engine, optimising your video for YouTube search is key. This includes:

• Adding relevant tags that match user search queries
• Using keyword-rich file names (e.g., "explainer-video-production.mp4" instead of "video123.mp4")
• Creating an engaging end screen and video cards to keep viewers on your channel

A well-optimised YouTube video has a better chance of appearing in search results and suggested videos, increasing its reach.

8. Embed Your Video on High-Value Pages

Hosting your explainer video on your website and embedding it on relevant landing pages can drive organic traffic and improve engagement. Videos help reduce bounce rates by keeping visitors on a page longer, which signals to search engines that the content is valuable.

The best places to embed your explainer video include:

• Homepage for brand introduction
• Product pages to showcase features
• Blog posts that align with the video’s topic

By strategically placing videos throughout your website, you maximise their impact while also improving overall SEO performance.

How Video Watch Time Affects SEO Performance

Search engines prioritise videos that hold audience attention. Watch time, or how long viewers stay engaged with your video, is a major ranking factor.

If viewers drop off early, it signals to search engines that the content may not be relevant or engaging. To increase watch time:

• Start strong with an attention-grabbing hook
• Keep the content concise and engaging throughout
• Use storytelling techniques to maintain interest

A higher watch time improves video rankings and increases the likelihood of being recommended by search algorithms. Working with an explainer video production company that has SEO knowledge helps achieve this goal.

Maximising the Impact of Explainer Videos Across Platforms

SEO doesn’t stop at search engines—your explainer video can gain traction across multiple platforms when optimised correctly.

To extend reach and engagement:

• Share your video across social media platforms with keyword-optimised captions
• Repurpose video content into blog posts or short clips for Instagram and LinkedIn
• Use video SEO techniques on multiple hosting platforms, not just YouTube

By diversifying distribution, you ensure your explainer video reaches a larger audience while improving its overall search visibility.

Get the Most Out of Your Explainer Video with Smart SEO

An explainer video is a powerful asset, but without proper optimisation, it won’t reach its full potential. Applying SEO strategies to video content helps improve rankings, attract more viewers, and increase conversions.

If you're ready to boost the visibility of your explainer video, Venture Videos can help. Let’s create an optimised video that engages and converts.