How to Do a Reverse Video Search?

Reverse video search is a powerful tool that not only helps you locate videos online but also offers several advantages for brand growth and content management.

In this article, you’ll discover how to effectively reverse search a video using popular tools to identify copyright infringements, find backlink opportunities, and generate content ideas.

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We’ll start by explaining what a reverse video search is, how it works, and why it’s essential for various needs. Then, we’ll guide you through the process of utilizing it for SEO, marketing, and competitive analysis, ensuring you get the most out of this valuable resource.

In short, here are the tools that will help you perform a reverse video search:

What is a reverse video search?

A reverse video search is a method for finding a video’s original source or creator using a screenshot or image from the material. This approach can be particularly useful when you want to verify a video's authenticity, track down the source of a viral clip, or locate a clip you saw online before.

Here’s how this type of search looks on Google:

This process involves using specialized tools to analyze the video. These tools can provide information about the video's origin, such as the date it was created, the location where it was filmed, and the person or organization that created it. Additionally, reverse searching a video can help identify copyright infringements and uncover related content, making it a valuable resource for various needs.

How does reverse video search work?

Google and other search engines store thumbnails from videos in their databases. When you upload a video’s thumbnail, the tool analyzes the colors and pixels in the image. It then references its index to display similar matches in the search results.

Typically, you need to use a thumbnail, not a random screenshot, because search engines don’t index all video frames. They only index a video’s thumbnail or an extracted frame if none exists. Hence, using random screenshots from the video might not yield results, as those frames are likely not indexed.

How to utilize reverse video search for SEO?

Reverse video search can significantly enhance your SEO strategy. By tracking where your video content appears on other websites and social media, you can uncover opportunities for backlinks.

For instance, if your video is found on another site, you can contact the site owner to request proper credit or a link to your original content. These backlinks can boost your site’s authority and search rankings.

Moreover, analyzing high-ranking videos in your niche can reveal popular keywords and phrases. Studying their titles, descriptions, and tags provides valuable keyword insights for your own content.

Why do a reverse video search?

A reverse video search can reveal valuable information, enhancing various aspects of your strategy. Here’s why it’s worth your time:

Reverse video search in marketing

By tracking brand mentions and user-generated content, you can stay informed about what your audience is saying. This helps you address customer feedback, both positive and negative, improving overall customer satisfaction.

Protecting copyright and ownership

Videos are frequently shared across multiple platforms. Ensuring you attribute videos correctly prevents potential legal issues. Moreover, monitoring your own videos can help detect and address any misuse that could harm your brand’s reputation.

Backlink opportunities

A reverse video search can reveal if other websites have embedded your video. This presents a chance to request attribution and a backlink, enhancing your site's and video's search ranking.

Once you identify these sites, use LinkAssistant to simplify the outreach process. Here's a quick video tutorial to help you out:

Competitive analysis and strategy development

Reverse video search can also provide insights into competitors’ content. By analyzing high-performing videos in your niche, you can gather inspiration, benchmark your content, and develop strategies to stay ahead. This way, you can create engaging videos that resonate with your target audience and outperform your competitors.

Locating a video’s source

Reverse video search is an excellent tool for finding a video's original source. This can be especially useful for fact-checking or citing the video in your own content, such as a blog post or another video.

For instance, if a YouTube video features content from another user, reverse-searching the featured video can reveal its original source. Identifying the source allows you to verify its authenticity and credibility, ensuring you provide accurate information to your audience.

Video SEO: How to Rank Your Videos #1 Learn more

How to do reverse video search on desktop?

To reverse search a video, you need an image from the video, ideally a thumbnail. Tools like YouTube Thumbnail Grabber can help you download thumbnails. If a thumbnail isn't available, take a screenshot from a notable moment in the video.

Google Lens

Navigate to Google Images, click the camera icon, and upload your video image.

Google will display similar images. Click "See exact matches" to find all instances of the video.

Bing Visual Search

Go to Bing’s Visual Search and upload the video image.

Bing will show relevant images, which can help locate the video’s original source or related content.

TinEye

Upload your image on TinEye.

TinEye lists similar images and allows you to filter results by domain.

SmallSEOTools

This tool searches across Google, Bing, and Yandex simultaneously.

Upload your video image and click "Search Similar Images".

You'll see matches from each search engine.

Shutterstock Reverse Image Search

For videos containing stock footage, use Shutterstock’s Reverse Image Search.

Upload a screenshot, and Shutterstock will find similar stock videos available for purchase.

How to do reverse video search on mobile: iOS and Android

When doing a reverse video search on mobile devices, start by taking a screenshot of the video:

Then, use these apps to reverse search a video:

Conclusion

Reverse video search is an invaluable tool for anyone looking to enhance their digital strategy. It allows you to track where your videos appear online, secure backlinks, protect your content, and gain insights into competitor activities. 

Whether you need to verify a video's source or find new content ideas, reverse searching a video provides the data you need to make informed decisions. Start utilizing these techniques to maximize your video's impact and safeguard your brand’s reputation.