Video isn’t on a watch page. This is a video. It’s on this page. I’m watching it. So, it’s a watch page. But Google thinks that this is not a watch page. What should we do now? Should we wear sunglasses? Should we give an affidavit? Should we take a pro plan of Google Search Console? How should we make Google believe that this is a watch page of a video?
Let’s break it down simply, and step-by-step.
Understanding the “Watch Page” Issue
When Google says your video isn’t on a watch page, it means that—according to their systems—your video is not the main content of the page. Even if you’re watching the video on your site, that doesn’t automatically make it a watch page in Google’s eyes.
For example:
- You embed testimonial videos on your homepage.
- You add a demo video on your product page.
- You include a content video in a blog post.
These are all common practices, and there’s nothing wrong with doing this. Google will still index these pages, but it won’t treat the embedded video as something worth showing in video search results.
Why? Because the video is not the primary content on those pages.
What Does Google Expect in a Watch Page?
Google expects a page where:
- The video is prominently placed at the top.
- The video is the main focus of the page.
- There’s little or no competing content around it.
If you’ve ever opened a YouTube video page, that’s exactly what a watch page looks like:
- Title of the video is the page heading.
- Video player takes center stage.
- The meta title matches the video title.
- There’s minimal text or other distracting content above or around the video.
How to Create a Watch Page That Google Understands
1. Page Layout
- Use the video title as the H1 heading of the page.
- Make sure the meta title is exactly the same as the H1.
- Embed the video immediately below the H1, in full width.
- Optionally, you can add a short 2–3 line description under the video.
- Avoid adding other elements like related stories, extra CTAs, or related videos on this page.
2. One Video = One Watch Page
If your homepage has two testimonial videos, leave them there. But you must also embed each of those videos separately on their own watch pages.
Same applies for:
- Product demo videos.
- Blog content videos.
- Any other video used on your website.
Each video needs its own page, structured like a watch page.
This will create a lot of new URLs—but that’s okay. Google actually expects that. It gives them a clear signal about your video content.
3. URL Structure
The URL should clearly reference the video, ideally using a pattern like:
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CopyEdit
yourwebsite.com/videos/video-title
Avoid deep or unclear structures like:
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yourwebsite.com/blog/2024/04/10/content-name
Using /videos/ or /video/ in the URL helps Google recognize the intent of the page.
4. Add Video Schema Markup
Each watch page should include VideoObject schema. This helps Google understand that the page contains a video and what that video is about.
You can do this:
- Manually
- Using a plugin (if you’re on WordPress or another CMS)
Make sure:
- The video thumbnail URL is valid.
- The metadata includes title, description, upload date, and duration.
If you’re self-hosting the video, you’ll also need to manually upload the thumbnail and provide the correct URL in the schema.
5. Do NOT Add Video Schema Elsewhere
Only add video schema to watch pages.
If you already have embedded videos on other pages (like your homepage or blog posts), do not add video schema to those pages.
Many plugins automatically add video schema to any page with a video or GIF. This causes confusion in Google’s system and may result in none of your videos getting indexed.
Limit schema usage only to watch pages—those you’ve intentionally created to meet Google’s expectations.
Final Thoughts
Just follow these three rules:
- Create one dedicated watch page per video.
- Use clear URLs that reflect the video.
- Add schema markup only on those watch pages.
Whether you have 70 videos or 70,000, they’ll all start getting indexed properly once you do this. No need for a premium plan, no need for trial-and-error. It’s a simple fix for a big problem.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is a watch page?
A watch page is a dedicated page where a video is the main and primary content. It’s structured to give full attention to the video without distractions.
Q2: Can I embed videos on my homepage or blog?
Yes, but those pages won’t count as watch pages. You’ll still need to create separate watch pages for each video if you want them indexed as video content.
Q3: How many watch pages can I create?
As many as you need. Each video should have its own unique watch page. More watch pages won’t harm your site.
Q4: Do I need to use video schema?
Yes, video schema helps Google understand your video content. But only use it on dedicated watch pages.
Q5: Can I use plugins to generate schema?
Yes, but make sure the plugin doesn’t add schema to every page automatically. Limit schema markup to only watch pages.
Q6: Will this help my videos appear in Google video search?
Yes. Proper watch page setup and video schema increase the chances of your videos showing up in search results.
Q7: What if I host videos myself instead of YouTube?
You can still create watch pages. Just ensure you provide a valid thumbnail URL and proper schema metadata manually.
