AI Search for Video Creators

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GENERATIVE ENGINE OPTIMIZATION FOR VIDEO CREATORS

Well, it looks like even Google realizes that traditional search is dying, as earlier this week it announced a full-on generative-AI powered replacement.

And if traditional search is dying, well, then traditional SEO will be right behind.

But that doesn’t mean you need to just give up and go home. Because SEO is being replaced by GEO – or Generative Engine Optimization. In short, optimizing your text, your tags, your transcripts and your video so that the new engine of discovery, GEO, will find and promote YOUR content when asked questions about the topics you create.

Engine Optimization (GEO) is essentially SEO for AI-driven platforms – optimizing your content so that AI chatbots and search engines (ChatGPT, Google’s SGE, Bing Chat, etc.) include or cite it in their answers.  In case you were wondering, SGE – to Google – means “Search Generative Experience”. Rolls right off of the tongue, doesn’t it?

If you want your video to show up in those AI-generated responses, you need to rethink your approach – it’s no longer just about titles, tags, and watch time. This guide breaks down the specific strategies creators should use to get their content seen and cited in the next wave of AI search.

This is Part 2 of my series exploring the future of search optimization in the age of AI focusing on specific strategies for video creators. Part 1 of this two-part special report explored text-based content – read it here and don’t forget to download the full research report linked at the end.

These newsletters and reports are for my free subscribers on Beehiiv only. If you want to get Inside the Creator Economy free – and want to make sure you get EVERYTHING, please subscribe here!

GEO FOR VIDEO VS. TEXT: KEY DIFFERENCES

1. Need for Transcripts and Metadata

Text is inherently machine-readable – videos are not. While an article is full of words that an AI can scan and understand directly, a video’s content is locked in audio and visual layers. To bridge this gap, you need to provide the text the AI craves: transcripts, captions, and detailed descriptions. These give generative models something concrete to “read.” Without this, your video might be invisible to AI, even if it’s wildly popular. Think of transcripts as the searchable “script” for your video, telling the AI exactly what was said and why it matters.

2. AI’s Evolving Ability to Parse Video

Multimodal AI is closing this gap. Google’s Gemini/SGE can already pull insights from the audio tracks of YouTube videos, not just the written transcript.  We’re even starting to see TikTok videos show up in classic Google search.

That means the words you speak in your video (and possibly even on-screen text) are becoming part of the AI’s dataset. This is a game-changer – it means spoken content can be indexed and surfaced, potentially making your video a direct source for answers. But it also means you can’t rely solely on metadata and tags anymore. Think about the phrases you say out loud – are they the same ones people might type into a search box or ask an AI?

3. Content Type and Intent

Videos often answer different types of questions than text. People turn to videos for demonstrations, tutorials, and entertainment. Generative AI recognizes this and prioritizes video content for how-to guides, product overviews, and explainer topics where visuals add significant value. This means creators should focus on topics where video truly shines – not just regurgitating the same info that a text article can handle. Think about what makes a video the best format for your message. If you’re showing a step-by-step process, make sure the AI knows that’s what your video delivers.

4. Short-Form vs. Long-Form

Short-form videos (TikTok, Reels) are a special case. They often lack the detailed metadata and transcripts of long-form content, making them harder for AIs to parse. However, this is changing. Google’s AI search has been seen pulling direct snippets from TikTok captions. That means short-form creators need to think about their captions as the “transcript” for their video – concise, keyword-rich, and directly answering common questions. Long-form creators, meanwhile, have the advantage of richer metadata (titles, descriptions, tags) and the ability to include full transcripts, making them a more robust source for AI.

5. Citation and Trust Factors

Generative AI treats video content differently than text but trust still matters. YouTube’s size and status as a Google property mean it often gets preferential treatment, but that doesn’t mean every video is viewed equally. High engagement, channel authority, and positive signals (like likes and comments) likely influence which videos get cited. If your video is known for clear, accurate explanations, it stands a better chance of being picked up by an AI. This is like the video equivalent of “backlinks”. Your authority matters.

HOW AI PLATFORMS SURFACE AND CITE VIDEO CONTENT

AI-driven search engines don’t just scrape video text – they now actively include videos in their answers. Here’s how:

Direct Citations: When an AI pulls from a YouTube description or transcript, it may directly link to your video as the source. This is common on platforms like Perplexity and Google’s SGE, but it’s also now been adopted by ChatGPT as well. These platforms often use YouTube videos for how-to and explanatory queries.

Extraction of Text from Videos: Some platforms can pull text from within a video, including titles, descriptions, tags, and transcripts. Even short captions on TikTok can be surfaced as direct answers if they clearly address the query.

Answer Cards and Snapshots: Google’s SGE often includes videos in its AI snapshots, sometimes with a thumbnail and direct link. This makes your video not just an answer, but a key piece of the AI’s response. And that translates into more viewers for your content!

STRATEGIES FOR VIDEO CREATORS TO BOOST AI VISIBILITY

1. Search-Friendly Titles and Descriptions: Use titles and descriptions that directly match common search queries. Be clear and specific – this isn’t the time to be cryptic or clever. A title like “How to Replace a Faucet” is better than “DIY Plumbing Tips.”

2. Detailed Transcripts and Captions: Upload full transcripts to make your content fully readable by AI. Clean, accurate captions improve your chances of being cited. Treat the transcript as the searchable version of your video. Use video to text engines like Descript to pull out the transcripts and update them for readability and clarity.

3. Metadata and Tags: Use every available field, from title to tags. Include keywords, relevant hashtags, and descriptive timestamps. This gives the AI multiple entry points into your content.

4. Leverage Schema and Embedded Content: If you have a blog, embed your videos with proper schema markup to give AIs more context. This makes your site a powerful hub for both video and text search.

5. Answer Specific Questions Clearly: Structure your content to directly answer common questions. Use chapters and timestamps to make it easy for AI to find the key moments.

6. Encourage Engagement and Mentions: High engagement can signal trust to AI systems. The more your video is linked, shared, and mentioned, the more likely it is to be viewed as authoritative.

TOOLS AND PLATFORMS SUPPORTING VIDEO GEO

• VidIQ, Spotter Studio, and TubeBuddy: Optimize titles, tags, and descriptions for maximum search impact.

• Otter.ai, Descript, Rev: Generate accurate transcripts and captions.

• Yoast, All in One SEO, RankMath: Add schema to your website to ensure AI can understand your video context.

• BrightEdge Generative Parser: Track where your video is cited in AI responses.

• Generative AI Summarization Tools: Use tools like Eightify to see how AI might summarize your content and refine accordingly.

EMERGING TRENDS AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

• Multimodal Integration: Expect AIs to increasingly pull from video, text, and images simultaneously.

• AI-Generated Chapters: YouTube is already testing auto-chapters; stay ahead by creating your own first.

• Short-Form in AI Search: TikTok content is starting to appear in AI results – keep captions tight and targeted.

• Cross-Platform Optimization: Think beyond YouTube – voice assistants and smart devices may soon pull in video results too.

CONCLUSION

Generative Engine Optimization for video is about making your content as accessible to AI as possible. It’s not just about what you say, but how you package it for the machines reading it. Get your titles right, add transcripts, use rich metadata, and keep an eye on emerging trends. The future of search is multimodal, and the creators who adapt early will be the ones whose voices rise above the noise.

Want an in-depth 12-page expanded version of this newsletter? 

Download part 2 here.

And you can Download part 1 here.

 SOURCES FOR GEO FOR VIDEO CREATORS

1. Forge and Smith - Generative Engine Optimization: SEO for ChatGPT
   Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) for ChatGPT

2. BrightEdge - Ecommerce and AI Overviews
   BrightEdge AI Overviews

3. Convert.com - AI Search Optimization Strategies
   AI Search Optimization Strategies

4. Search Engine Land - YouTube Citations in Google AI Overviews
   YouTube Citations Surge

5. Walker Sands - GEO in 2025
   Generative Engine Optimization (GEO): What to Know in 2025

6. VKTR - Future of GEO
   Future of GEO

7. Carnegie Higher Ed Marketing - Optimizing for Google’s AI Search
   Optimizing for Google’s AI Search

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