optimize blogspot template for video seo

optimize blogspot template for video seo

Why Template Settings Matter for Video SEO

Many Blogspot beginners focus on posting content, but forget one major factor: your template can either help or hurt your SEO — especially for videos.

If Google has a hard time accessing your layout or identifying your content, your video might never get indexed properly. Let’s fix that!

Step 1: Choose a Lightweight, Mobile-Friendly Template

Pick a Blogspot template that loads fast and adjusts well to different screen sizes. Templates like “Contempo,” “Emporio,” or “Soho” are modern and mobile-ready.

Google prioritizes mobile-first indexing — and if your video isn't viewable on phones, you're out of luck.

Step 2: Place Video Embeds Above the Fold

Try to place your video embed near the top of the post, so users (and bots) don’t have to scroll too far to see it. Example:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yourVideoID" title="My Tutorial" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Use descriptive titles and captions near the video to give Google more context.

Step 3: Enable ‘Show Post Title’ and ‘Meta Description’

In the Blogspot dashboard, go to:

Settings → Meta Tags: Enable “Search Description”
Then edit each post and fill in the Search Description with keywords and a summary of your video content

Search engines use this description for ranking and displaying your page.

Step 4: Modify the Template to Support Structured Data

In your Blogspot theme editor, locate the <head> section and paste this just before </head>:

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "VideoObject",
  "name": "How to Cook Fast Meals",
  "description": "A quick video showing how to make tasty meals in under 10 minutes.",
  "thumbnailUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yourVideoID/hqdefault.jpg",
  "uploadDate": "2025-04-10",
  "duration": "PT3M30S",
  "contentUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yourVideoID",
  "embedUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/embed/yourVideoID"
}
</script>

Replace the values with your own. This makes your video eligible for rich snippets in search results.

Step 5: Use Keywords in Image Alt Text and Titles

If you use thumbnails or extra images, don’t let them go nameless. Set the alt attribute and title attribute like this:

<img src="thumbnail.jpg" alt="How to Cook Fast Meals" title="Cooking Video Tutorial">

Google can’t “see” images or videos — it reads these attributes to understand what they’re about.

Step 6: Customize the Post URL Before Publishing

In the post editor, use “Permalink → Custom Permalink” and add short, keyword-rich slugs like:

optimize-blogspot-video-seo

Avoid symbols, stop words, or unnecessary numbers. Keep it clean and to the point.

Step 7: Avoid JavaScript Video Players or Popup Embeds

Some fancy templates use JavaScript overlays or lightbox players — but Google bots can’t always process them. Stick to simple, native YouTube embeds.

If you're using any external widget, test it in Google’s Rich Results tool to ensure it’s crawlable.

Conclusion: Let Your Template Work for You, Not Against You

Templates are more than just design — they define how Google sees your blog. By optimizing your layout, video visibility, and meta settings, your Blogspot posts become more searchable and discoverable.

And the best part? You can do all this without touching complicated code — just follow these beginner-friendly steps.