Introduction to SEO and Video Loading
Google Search Advocate John Mueller says that large video files loading in the background are unlikely to have a noticeable SEO impact if page content loads first. This is a common concern for sites using large hero videos or animated backgrounds. A site owner on Reddit asked whether a 100MB video would hurt SEO if the page prioritizes loading a hero image and content before the video.
How Video Loading Affects SEO
The video continues loading in the background while users can already see the page. Mueller responded, “I don’t think you’d notice an SEO effect.” This means that as long as the content and images load within seconds, displaying a “full visual ready” state, the video loading in the background should not affect SEO. The site owner described an implementation where the video loads asynchronously and replaces the hero image once complete. This method aligns with Google’s documentation on lazy loading, which recommends deferring non-critical content to improve page performance.
Best Practices for Video Loading
Google’s help documents state that lazy loading is “a common performance and UX best practice” for non-critical or non-visible content. The key requirement is ensuring content loads when visible in the viewport. To implement this, Google recommends using preload=”none” on video elements to avoid unnecessary preloading of video data. Adding a poster attribute provides a placeholder image while the video loads. For videos that autoplay, the documentation suggests using the Intersection Observer API to load video sources only when the element enters the viewport.
Why Video Loading Matters for SEO
If you’re running hero videos or animated backgrounds on landing pages, this suggests that background loading strategies are unlikely to harm your rankings. The critical factor is ensuring your primary content reaches users quickly. Google measures page experience through Core Web Vitals metrics like Largest Contentful Paint. In many cases, a video that loads after visible content is ready shouldn’t block these measurements.
Implementing Video Loading Correctly
To ensure that video loading does not affect SEO, it’s essential to follow best practices. This includes using lazy loading, preload=”none”, and the Intersection Observer API. By doing so, you can maintain visual impact without affecting initial page load performance. It’s also crucial to test your setup using Google Search Console’s URL Inspection Tool to confirm video elements appear correctly in rendered HTML.
Looking Ahead
Site owners using background video can generally continue doing so without major SEO concerns, provided content loads first. Focus on Core Web Vitals metrics to verify your implementation meets performance thresholds. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your website provides a good user experience while also optimizing for SEO.
Conclusion
In conclusion, large video files loading in the background are unlikely to have a noticeable SEO impact if page content loads first. By following best practices such as lazy loading, using preload=”none”, and the Intersection Observer API, you can ensure that your website provides a good user experience while also optimizing for SEO. Remember to test your setup and focus on Core Web Vitals metrics to verify your implementation meets performance thresholds.