Google's Latest Update: Video Mode Now Prioritizes Main Content Videos

Google Search Central has recently announced a significant change to the way videos are displayed in search results, particularly in Video mode. This update is a continuation of the change made earlier this year where video thumbnails were only shown next to results on the main Google Search results page if the video was the primary content of the page.

What's Changing?

The new update extends this approach to search results in Video mode. The aim is to streamline user experience, making it easier for users to find and access videos that are the central focus of a page. This change is rolling out starting today and is expected to be completed within a week.

How Does This Affect Search Results?

With this update, when a user clicks on a result in Video mode, they will be directed to pages where the video is the main content. For example, a page where the video is prominently displayed above the fold and is the primary purpose of the page.

What Types of Videos Will Be Impacted?

The update will particularly affect pages where videos are supplementary. These include:

• Blog posts with videos complementing the text.

• Product details pages with complementary videos.

• Video category pages listing multiple videos of equal prominence.

Impact on Search Console Reports

As this update takes effect, changes will be visible in the Search Console video indexing report. Videos not being the main content of their respective pages will be marked as "No video indexed." Furthermore, a new reason, "Video is not the main content of the page," will replace various issues like invalid video URL, unsupported video format, etc.

Expect a Decrease in Indexed Videos

Publishers and webmasters should anticipate a reduction in the number of pages with indexed videos, impacting the video impressions in the performance report, video indexing report, and the video rich results report in Search Console.

Staying Informed

For more information on video indexing best practices, Google encourages checking out their video best practices guide. The Search Central help community is also available for further discussions and questions.

Navigating the New Landscape: Adapting to Google's Video Indexing Update

This update represents Google's ongoing efforts to refine its search results, ensuring that users find the most relevant and primary content quickly and efficiently. It's a significant change for content creators and publishers, who now need to focus more on the prominence of videos on their pages to align with Google's new indexing criteria.

Posted by: Parthipan, Digital Marketing Expert at DigitalParthi.com