Here’s my exact same video ranking in the top 3 positions of Google on different platforms: YouTube, Facebook, Instagram. Remarkably, Facebook and Instagram even have identical descriptions (whereas YouTube has a slightly different title).
I want to say – I’m not doing this to “game Google” or “outsmart Google.” Reposting content across platforms is a MUST today. You have to do it to win and there are smart repurposing strategies that save time – here’s mine.
But people gravitate towards user-generated content, so Google prioritizes it. UGC tends to be more engaging, to the point, and authentic than an SEO article or page.
And from what I’m seeing, this is only going to intensify next year.
Facebook moved from #5 to #4, TikTok rose from #11 to #8 and Instagram rose by one point to #6. Source.
So I’m calling it now. Here’s the 2026 SEO playbook:
- As you’re targeting keywords with pages and posts on your website, you’re also making short videos on the subject matter, targeting THE SAME KEYWORD.
- You’re making the videos fast and casually. Example 1. Example 2. Example 3. Each of those high-performing videos took a few minutes total with ideation, recording, editing, posting.
- You’re now targeting one keyword with a single page/post and MULTIPLE videos.
- Each video releases to every platform, following this method.
- This is giving you maximum coverage on the keyword.
- The keyword is always positioned at the beginning of your content title/description. You’re taking your video transcript and using it as the rest of the description.
- When your page/post is published on your website, the UGC also links back to it. Links in Instagram and TikTok descriptions are not clickable but links in Facebook Reels and YouTube descriptions ARE clickable. Google just admitted ‘the open web is in rapid decline.’ Google needs more link signals. Links from video descriptions, especially links that get clicks, are valuable.
Every SEO that has come on my podcast over the last couple of months has said the same thing: “diversify your content.”
Most SEOs stay in silos. But the way to win in 2026 will be to maximize coverage. Start now.
Go deeper
If you want to go deeper on hitting purchase-intent keywords with videos and UGC, my SEO course, Compact Keywords, has an entire section dedicated to it: “Ranking Without Using a Website”
The course is getting insane results for customers – you can see video testimonials and learn about the course here: https://edwardsturm.com/compact-keywords/
