OTT platforms may be filled with engaging and unique content. Even you will be satisfied with your quality content in the video library, but coming to the main point, are these videos being watched by people online? Are people able to find your platform online to watch videos? So to make your OTT platform visible, specific SEO strategies need to be followed to make your video platform rank higher and more discoverable. This makes the content reach the target audience quickly and helps in achieving goals at a faster rate.
Importance of SEO For OTT platform
Optimizing the OTT platform will rank the content at a higher position in search engine results so that it is viewed by many people online. Doing research and Optimizing the Keyword will make your content visible to the particular target audience. If you are not considering SEO strategies for your platforms, then an OTT platform with lesser quality content will rank higher than your platform because of good optimization practices. SEO practices play a major role in determining the success of OTT platforms because they take the video platform to the right target audience
SEO Strategies For OTT Platforms
URL Structure
Uniform Resource Locator is the web address of the site. A computer uses this web address to communicate with servers. Structuring the correct URL according to the website will make the website crawlers identify your website. Some SEO Strategies for structuring URLs are: use a phrase that describes the website and add the relevant keywords into the URL so that the website crawler can find you easily. Use hyphens to separate words in URLs from underscores and finally avoid dynamic URLs to make search engines read your website better for every reloading of the webpage.
Keyword Research
The Keyword is the main part of your SEO strategy. Keyword research is the process of finding the words or phrases that people type on the internet to search for a particular thing online. Keyword research is analyzing and getting insights about your target audience on what keywords they will search for. Include Keywords in your website so that content is ranked for a particular Keyword, and check for keywords your competitor is targeting. Pick out the essential words or phrases you know about your business, and then select essential keywords in your business. Use other tools like Keyword Planner and Google Trends. Don’t overuse the Keyword, but it is necessary to include it in the video title, description, and video file name.
Video Optimization
This is one of the main SEO Strategies to make OTT platforms rank higher.
Optimizing Video metadata:
Metadata tells the search engines what your video is all about. Metadata consists of three parts: title tag, description tag, and video tag. The title tag describes the title of the video, and It is the first thing noticed by a search engine. The title tag should be within the range of 50-60 characters and also should have keywords in it. The description tag describes the video and should be in the range of 150-160 characters. In video tags, you can add other details like name, location, etc.
Adding Video thumbnails to the video:
Video thumbnails are the preview image of the video and it is the first thing that people will notice about your video. It is essential to add a title, Keyword, and short descriptions in the video thumbnail so that people will know what this particular video is all about. Adding a bright color background and images to the video thumbnail urges the viewers to click through the video.
Adding Video Sitemaps and Video rich snippets:
Video sitemaps are also the factors that make the OTT platform rank higher. It gives additional information about countries and platform restrictions. It is essential to add a video sitemap to the robots.txt file to make indexing easier for search engines. Adding video-rich snippets will also enhance your OTT platform ranking as it gives the details of what this website is all about.
Increase website speed and optimize code:
The loading speed of the OTT platform should be faster, particularly less than 3 seconds; otherwise, the user will close the website and move on in search of another website. Website speed also plays a significant role in SEO and bringing organic traffic to our website. Make sure the code is optimized and the total space for HTML, JavaScript, and CSS is less than 150 bytes. Remove unwanted codes and space so that it makes loading speed faster.
Building Backlinks and Creating Anchor Texts
A backlink is a link that connects one website to another website. Backlink to your website also plays an essential factor in search engine indexing as it increases domain authority. It denotes to search engines that others are dependent on you for the content. A better practice is to add your video to the other website and add a link to their website that redirects them to your website. Anchoring text by hyperlinking the main Keyword increases the quality of the backlink and improves the performance of the OTT platform in search engines for particular keywords.
Sharing content on social media platforms
Using social media platforms to a large extent will make people know about your ott platform. Share videos on social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram to help reach a broader audience. Share new releases, product news, and feature updates on the social media channel. You can gain followers that help in generating leads and backlinks to the website. Write blog posts related to OTT platforms, and share them with other websites, and they will fetch you quality backlinks.
10 things you did not know about the SEO techniques in OTT
OTT (Over-The-Top) platforms have become increasingly popular for delivering streaming content directly to users over the internet. While SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is commonly associated with websites, it’s also relevant to OTT platforms. Here are ten lesser-known aspects of SEO techniques in the context of OTT:
- App Store Optimization (ASO):
- ASO is a crucial aspect of SEO for OTT platforms, focusing on optimizing app listings on app stores. This includes using relevant keywords, compelling descriptions, and attractive visuals to improve the discoverability and download rates of the OTT app.
- Content Metadata Optimization:
- OTT platforms rely heavily on metadata, including titles, descriptions, and tags, to help search engines understand and categorize content. Optimizing metadata with relevant keywords enhances the visibility of content in search results.
- Structured Data for Rich Snippets:
- Implementing structured data on the OTT platform can lead to rich snippets in search results. This can include details such as ratings, release dates, and episode information, providing more information directly in search listings.
- Video Transcription and Closed Captions:
- Providing accurate transcriptions and closed captions for videos not only enhances accessibility but also contributes to SEO. Search engines can index the text content, improving the discoverability of video content on OTT platforms.
- User Engagement Metrics:
- Search engines consider user engagement metrics, such as watch time, click-through rates, and user interactions, when determining the relevance and quality of content. Platforms that prioritize user engagement are likely to see improved SEO rankings.
- Cross-Platform Optimization:
- OTT platforms often span various devices and platforms. Optimizing content for different screen sizes, resolutions, and playback capabilities ensures a consistent and user-friendly experience, positively impacting SEO.
- Localized SEO Strategies:
- Implementing localized SEO strategies is crucial for OTT platforms catering to diverse audiences. This includes optimizing content for different languages, regions, and cultural preferences.
- Social Media Integration:
- Social media signals contribute to overall SEO performance. Integrating OTT platforms with social media channels and encouraging users to share content can positively impact search engine rankings.
- Technical SEO for Streaming:
- Technical aspects such as site speed, mobile responsiveness, and secure connections are critical for SEO in the OTT space. Ensuring smooth streaming experiences and fast loading times can improve user satisfaction and search engine rankings.
- User Retention Strategies:
- SEO is not only about attracting new users but also about retaining existing ones. Implementing user retention strategies, such as personalized recommendations and user-friendly interfaces, can contribute to long-term success and improved SEO.
Conclusion
Implementing SEO strategies for OTT platforms is not that difficult, but it needs some effort. The main goal is to take your quality content to the audience and search engine. Smart SEO practices for a consistent period will help a website rank higher in search engine results.
It is better to join hands with an OTT platform provider that helps video platforms through this SEO process to reach more people and generate more revenue in return.
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