Yes, You Can Rank Videos on Blogspot—Here’s How
If you’re using Blogspot (also known as Blogger), you might think you’re stuck when it comes to video SEO. After all, there’s no built-in schema plugin or advanced SEO tools. But that doesn’t mean your videos can’t rank in Google.
In fact, with a few smart tweaks, you can make your videos visible in both regular search and video-specific results—even from a free Blogspot blog.
Why Blogspot Video SEO Needs Special Attention
Unlike platforms like WordPress that allow SEO plugins, Blogspot gives you limited backend access. That means you have to be more intentional about how you structure your post, embed content, and signal value to Google.
The good news? Google owns both Blogspot and YouTube—so the integration potential is strong if used correctly.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Videos Search-Friendly on Blogspot
1. Embed from YouTube—Not as Upload
Always use the YouTube embed code, not a file upload or drive link. YouTube embeds are instantly recognizable by Google and carry video context automatically.
In Blogspot's HTML view, paste the embed iframe like this:
<iframe width="100%" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YOUR_VIDEO_ID" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>2. Use Rich, Descriptive Text Around the Video
Never just embed a video and hit publish. Add at least 300–500 words of descriptive content around the video. Google reads the surrounding text to understand the video’s topic.
Include the keyword you’re targeting in the first paragraph, headings, and naturally in the body content. This helps index both the video and the page.
3. Include an Optimized Thumbnail Image
Blogspot doesn’t always pull the right thumbnail into search previews. Upload a screenshot or thumbnail of your video and set it as the post’s featured image.
This gives Google a visual signal and improves click-through rate in image and video results.
4. Add Manual Video Schema (Optional But Powerful)
Even without plugins, you can add basic JSON-LD structured data directly into the HTML view of your Blogspot post. It might feel techy—but it works.
Here’s a basic example (replace with your video details):
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "VideoObject",
"name": "Your Video Title",
"description": "A short description of your video content.",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YOUR_VIDEO_ID/maxresdefault.jpg",
"uploadDate": "2025-04-20",
"contentUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOUR_VIDEO_ID",
"embedUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/embed/YOUR_VIDEO_ID"
}
</script>Paste this code just above the closing </body> tag or at the top of your HTML post editor.
5. Title, Permalink, and Meta Description Optimization
Set your Blogspot post title with a focus keyword. Then customize the permalink to match (short and SEO-friendly), and write a compelling meta description that includes your main keyword.
Example: If your video is about “How to Bake Banana Bread,” your permalink could be: /how-to-bake-banana-bread-video
Bonus: Submit to Search Console
Once your video post is live, submit the URL to Google Search Console. This forces Google to crawl and index it faster. If everything is correctly embedded, your video has a strong chance of appearing in search.
Common Mistakes to Avoid on Blogspot
- Embedding videos without any supporting text
- Using Drive or MP4 files instead of YouTube embeds
- Forgetting to upload a thumbnail image
- Skipping metadata fields in the post settings
Conclusion: Blogspot Isn’t a Limitation—If You Work Smart
Many creators overlook Blogspot’s SEO potential, especially for video. But with the right combination of structured content, proper embedding, and clear metadata, your videos can rank just as well as those on any premium platform.
Take time to optimize each element, and watch your video posts gain the visibility they deserve—even on a free blog.