How to Embed a Self-Hosted Video with Schema in WordPress

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

  1. Go to your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Navigate to Media → Add New.
  3. Upload your video file (MP4 is best for compatibility).
  4. 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).

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