Embedding self-hosted videos in WordPress can significantly boost user engagement and SEO, especially when paired with structured data (schema markup). In this guide, you’ll learn how to embed a self-hosted video in WordPress and add video schema to maximize your visibility in search results.
Why Use Self-Hosted Videos?
Unlike YouTube or Vimeo, self-hosted videos give you:
- Full control over the content and branding
- No third-party ads or recommendations
- Improved page load speed with proper optimization
- Better data privacy
However, to get the SEO benefits of videos like rich snippets in Google search you need to implement VideoObject schema properly.
Step 1: Upload Your Video to WordPress
- Go to your WordPress dashboard.
- Navigate to Media → Add New.
- Upload your video file (MP4 is best for compatibility).
- Copy the URL of the uploaded video.
Step 2: Embed the Video in a Page or Post
You can embed your video using the video shortcode in the Easy Video Player plugin:
- Install free Easy Video Player plugin.
- Open the post or page in the block editor.
- Add a “Shortcode” block.
- Copy and paste the video shortcode from the documentation
- Replace the URL with your video file link.
- Publish/Save the post or page.
Step 3: Add Video Schema Markup (VideoObject)
To help search engines understand your video, use the Video Schema add-on for the Easy Video Player plugin:
- Go to Plugins → Add Plugin → Upload Plugin → Choose File.
- Install and activate it.
- Go to the post or page where you have a video embedded.
- Insert the add-on shortcode and replace the values with your video file details.
- Publish/Save the post or page.
The post or page will now contain a VideoObject with your video details.
Step 4: Validate Your Schema
Before publishing, validate your schema using:
- Google’s Rich Results Test: https://search.google.com/test/rich-results
- Schema.org Validator: https://validator.schema.org
This ensures your video markup is correctly implemented and eligible for enhanced results.
How to Optimize for SEO and Performance
To optimize self-hosted videos in WordPress, you can try the following:
- Compress videos before uploading (Use tools like HandBrake to reduce file size).
- Create an engaging video thumbnail.
- Add captions or a transcript below the video to help with indexing.
- Improve loading speed with a Content Delivery Network (CDN).
- Choose the right video format (MP4 works best across devices).