The UGC Creator’s Guide to Image & Video SEO

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Why Your Canva Portfolio Is Costing You Clients

Ever wonder why your amazing UGC portfolio isn’t attracting the brands you want? Your Canva website might be the culprit. Let’s talk about why Canva is hiding your work from potential clients and what you can do about it. (Hint: It could be your images and videos).

Quick Take (Because Time Is Money):

  • Canva renames all your files automatically (bye-bye, SEO benefits)
  • Your content builds Canva’s search authority, not yours
  • You’re missing out on local brand searches
  • Simple fix: host on your own website instead
Female hand holding camera on top of a hat.

Your UGC Portfolio is a Gold Mine (That’s Currently Buried)

Let’s do a quick count. Your typical UGC portfolio probably has:

  • 10-15 brand collaboration videos
  • 20+ product photos
  • Behind-the-scenes content
  • Tutorial screenshots
  • Process documentation

That’s 30-50 pieces of content minimum. Each one could be bringing brands to you. But on Canva? That’s 30-50 missed opportunities.

Light skinned female in bright orange clothing with bright orange sunglasses

What’s Actually Happening to Your Content

Video Content:

Your Original Name: chicago-skincare-routine-demo.mp4
Shows up in:

  • Video search results
  • “Skincare creator Chicago” searches
  • Local brand searches
  • Beauty brand discovery


Canva’s Version: canva-video-789012.mp4

Shows up:

  • Basically nowhere, unless you are lucky
Girl looking at computer while sitting on bed.

Photography Content:

Your Original Name: product-photography-cosmetics-chicago.jpg

Shows up in:

  • Google image searches
  • Local Pack results
  • Brand discovery searches
  • Industry-specific searches

Canva’s Version: canva-video-123456.jpg
Shows up in:

  • You guessed it – nowhere

Industry-Specific Examples

Beauty & Skincare:

❌ Canva Names:
video-content-123.mp4
template-design-456.jpg

✅ SEO-Optimized Names:
skincare-routine-demonstration-chicago.mp4
beauty-product-photography-natural-light.jpg

Fashion & Lifestyle:

❌ Canva Names:
reel-draft-1.mp4
photo-edit-final.jpg

✅ SEO-Optimized Names:
sustainable-fashion-try-on-reel.mp4
ethical-clothing-lifestyle-photos.jpg

Food & Beverage:

❌ Canva Names:
video-export-2024.mp4
insta-post.jpg

✅ SEO-Optimized Names:
restaurant-ambiance-video-chicago.mp4
craft-cocktail-photography-downtown.jpg
light skinned hands on keyboard

Advanced Video SEO Tips for UGC Creators

1. Video File Optimization

  • Keep files under 100MB when possible
  • Use MP4 format for best compatibility
  • Aim for 1080p resolution minimum
  • Include captions or transcripts

2. Video Thumbnail Strategy

Bad: thumbnail-1.jpg
Good: skincare-routine-thumbnail-preview.jpg

3. Video Rich Snippets

  • Add schema markup for videos
  • Include video duration in metadata
  • Set custom thumbnail images
  • Add video descriptions

4. Video Content Structure

[Location]-[Brand Type]-[Content Type]-[Purpose].mp4
chicago-beauty-brand-tutorial-demo.mp4

Tracking Your Content Performance

What to Monitor:

Google Search Console Metrics:

  • Image impressions
  • Video appearances
  • Click-through rates
  • Search query data

    Google Analytics Data:

    • Traffic sources
    • User behavior
    • Geographic data
    • Conversion tracking

      Setting Up Tracking:

      1. Install Google Analytics 4
      2. Connect Search Console
      3. Set up conversion goals
      4. Monitor monthly trends

      The SEO Opportunity You’re Missing

      Brand Discovery Searches:

      • “UGC creator [your city]”
      • “Product photographer beauty brands”
      • “Content creator skincare”
      • “Local brand photographer”

      Industry-Specific Searches:

      • “Beauty product demonstrations”
      • “Skincare routine videos”
      • “Makeup tutorial creator”
      • “Product photography cosmetics”

      Local Search Visibility:

      • “UGC creator near me”
      • “[Your city] content creator”
      • “Local brand photographer”
      • “Product photographer [your area]”

      How to Fix This (Without Losing Your Mind)

      Keep Using Canva For:

      • Creating graphics
      • Editing images
      • Making templates
      • Social media content

        Host Your Content On:

        • Your own website
        • Your own domain
        • Your own terms

          Technical Implementation Guide

          Image Naming Structure:

          [Location]-[Service]-[Descriptor].jpg
          chicago-product-photo-cosmetics.jpg

          Video Naming Convention:

          [Service]-[Type]-[Purpose].mp4
          product-demo-spring-launch.mp4

          Size Guidelines:

          • Images: Under 400KB, 1500px max width
          • Videos: Under 8MB, 1080p minimum
          • Thumbnails: 1280x720px recommended
          • Optimization Information

          Measuring Success

          Track these monthly:

          1. Image search appearances
          2. Video rich snippet shows
          3. Local search visibility
          4. Brand inquiry sources
          5. Portfolio page views

          The Bottom Line

          Is Canva a great creation tool? Absolutely. Should it be your portfolio platform? Not if you want brands to find you.

          Think of it this way: You wouldn’t hide your business cards in someone else’s office. Why hide your UGC portfolio on Canva’s domain?

          Ready to Get Found?

          Check out our UGC Portfolio Template for Squarespace →

          Wanna read part 1 of this series? Read here: Stop Using Canva for Your UGC Portfolio (Here’s Why)

          P.S. – Keep creating in Canva, but let your website do the heavy lifting for your SEO. The brands searching for creators right now will thank you.