Google Officially Adds Timestamps to Videos in Search Results

Google is formally rolling out timestamps for YouTube movies in search outcomes – a characteristic that was spotted in testing earlier this yr.

This characteristic is designed to assist individuals when the content material they’re trying to find is contained inside a video.

It might be helpful, for instance, when trying to find issues like how-to movies with a number of steps, lengthy speeches, or documentaries.

Google will now present you what’s ‘in this video’ together with timestamps for leaping immediately to the half you care about.

In an announcement, the corporate states:

“But what if what you’re trying to find is inside a video? Videos aren’t skimmable like textual content, that means it may be simple to overlook video content material altogether.

Now, identical to we’ve labored to make different sorts of data extra simply accessible, we’re growing new methods to perceive and set up video content material in Search to make it extra helpful for you.”

This characteristic is rolling out beginning at the moment. However, Google can solely accomplish that a lot by itself. Similar to displaying featured snippets in search outcomes, this characteristic requires the help of content material creators.

How to Mark Up YouTube Videos for Search Results

Google will solely show timestamps for movies after they’re offered by the content material creator in the video description. That’s so simple as including textual content like this in the outline part:

• 00:10 – Intro
• 02:30 – Step 1
• 03:15 – Step 2
• 04:40 – Step 3
• 05:15 – Conclusion

There’s no technical coding required to add timestamps – merely kind out the time in plain textual content.

It will get extra technical when it comes to marking up non-YouTube movies, though Google has launched an answer for that as effectively.

If you’re in marking up non-YouTube movies for search outcomes then Google invitations you to fill out this form.