Let’s face it: backlinks are the gold standard of SEO. They signal to search engines that your content is trusted, valuable, and worth ranking. But getting them? That’s a different story. Cold emails, guest post hustling, and link begging get old fast.
Here’s where video comes in. Not only is it engaging and shareable, but it’s also a highly underrated link-building tool. If done right, your video content can attract natural backlinks from bloggers, educators, journalists, and other content creators.
In this guide, we’ll explore how to use video to get backlinks, the types of videos that are most link-worthy, and how to structure your content to attract both human viewers and AI search engines.
Why Video is a Backlink Magnet
Video content earns backlinks because:
- It’s embeddable: Others can easily add it to their content.
- It adds value: Especially when it explains complex topics, summarizes data, or teaches something useful.
- It’s underutilized: While many are blogging, fewer are creating great videos, meaning there’s less competition.
- Search engines love it: Google shows videos in search results, increasing discoverability.
Bonus: AI-powered engines like Google’s MUM and SGE understand and summarize video content. When your video is informative and well-structured, it can show up as a featured element in AI responses.
Step-by-Step: How to Use Video to Earn Backlinks
1. Choose a Link-Worthy Topic
Your video should answer a question, explain a complex idea, or offer something unique. Great topics include:
- How-to tutorials
- Comparisons (e.g., SEO vs GEO)
- Industry trends or data summaries
- Myth-busting explanations
- Visual analogies
Example: Instead of just “What is SEO,” try “SEO vs GEO: What’s the Real Difference?” with a clear, visual explanation.
Use tools like Google’s “People Also Ask,” AnswerThePublic, or even Reddit to find questions your audience is asking.
2. Create the Video (You Don’t Need to Be on Camera)
You can:
- Use screen recordings (Loom, OBS Studio)
- Make animated videos (Canva, Animoto, Pictory)
- Narrate slides or infographics
- Use AI avatars or voiceovers (Synthesia, ElevenLabs)
The key is clarity and usefulness—you don’t need Spielberg-level production. Just solve a problem well.
3. Upload to YouTube and Enable Embedding
Why YouTube?
- It’s free
- It’s the second-largest search engine
- Most platforms recognize and support its embeds
When you upload, optimize the title, description, and tags with keywords related to your topic. Add a call to action in the description like:
Learn more or embed this video: https://yoursite.com/my-video-post4. Embed the Video on Your Website
This helps you rank for both video and traditional SEO, and gives others a place to link back to.
Here’s a responsive embed code you can use:
<div style="position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden;">
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YOUR_VIDEO_ID"
frameborder="0"
allowfullscreen
style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;">
</iframe>
</div>Replace YOUR_VIDEO_ID with the actual ID from your YouTube URL.
5. Add a Shareable Embed Section
Encourage others to embed your video and give you a backlink.
<p>Want to share this video on your site? Just copy and paste the code below:</p>
<textarea rows="5" style="width: 100%;" readonly>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YOUR_VIDEO_ID"
frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</textarea>
<p><strong>Please include the following credit when embedding:</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.yoursite.com/my-video-post" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">
Source: YourSite.com – SEO vs GEO: What’s the Real Difference
</a></p>This makes sharing easy and encourages attribution.
6. Pitch Sites That Already Link to Video
Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to find blogs that already embed videos related to your topic. Reach out with a friendly pitch:
“Hey [Name], I saw your post on [topic] included a video. I just created a short, updated version that your readers might love. Want to check it out?”
This strategy works especially well for blogs, EDU sites, and industry publications.
7. Use Guest Posts + Video
If you write guest posts, embed your own video when relevant. It adds visual value for the host site and gives you another backlink source.
8. Add Video Schema Markup
Want to boost your visibility in AI search results?
Use VideoObject schema markup like this:
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "VideoObject",
"name": "SEO vs GEO: What’s the Real Difference?",
"description": "A simple explanation of SEO and Generative Engine Optimization and how they impact content visibility.",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://yoursite.com/images/seo-vs-geo-thumbnail.jpg",
"uploadDate": "2025-07-02",
"contentUrl": "https://yoursite.com/my-video-post",
"embedUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/embed/YOUR_VIDEO_ID"
}
</script>This helps your video get indexed properly and appear in rich results.
Most Link-Worthy Video Types (with Examples)
| Video Type | Why It Attracts Links | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Explainers | Clarifies complex topics | “How the YouTube Algorithm Works” |
| Data/Stats | Easy to cite and embed | “Survey: 100 Marketers on AI” |
| How-To Tutorials | Solves problems people search for | “Set Up Missed Call Text Back in GHL” |
| Comparisons | Used in product roundups & reviews | “GoHighLevel vs ClickFunnels” |
| Analogies | Makes abstract topics understandable | “SEO vs GEO Explained with Donuts” |
| Myth-Busting | Gets attention + shares | “No, Meta Descriptions Don’t Help Rankings” |
| Tool Roundups | Embedded in curated posts | “Top 5 AI Tools for 2025” |
Final Thoughts
If you’re tired of cold emails and SEO tactics that feel like chores, video might be your new best friend. It’s engaging, helpful, and much more shareable than plain text.
The key is to:
- Solve a problem
- Make sharing easy
- Encourage attribution
- Optimize for both humans and AI
So go ahead: make the video. Add it to your blog. Give others the tools to embed and credit you. Then sit back and watch those backlinks start to roll in.
Need help picking a video topic that can earn backlinks fast? Or want a hand writing the script? Just ask AI.
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