Good news for designers and marketers who love stunning hero videos. Google Search Advocate John Mueller just confirmed that large background videos do not damage rankings, as long as you handle video optimisation the right way. In a fresh Reddit thread, a worried site owner asked if a massive 100MB autoplay video loading in the background would tank SEO. Mueller answered directly: “I don’t think you’d notice an SEO effect.” His statement ends months of debate and gives web teams clear permission to keep using cinematic backgrounds without fear.
Smart Video Optimisation Tips Google Wants You to Follow

Mueller and Google’s official docs stress one golden rule: always load visible text, images, and main content first. Only then let the video start downloading.
Here’s exactly how to do it safely:
- Use preload=”none” on the <video> tag so browsers never download the file too early
- Add a high-quality poster image that shows instantly while the video loads behind the scenes
- Load the real video source only when it enters the viewport (use Intersection Observer API)
- Make sure the video autoplays muted and autoplay – this keeps it decorative, not critical
- Test with Google Search Console and PageSpeed Insights to confirm strong Core Web Vitals scores
This lazy-loading approach matches Google’s own performance best practices. Because the video stays “non-critical,” it does not slow down Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) or other key metrics that directly affect rankings.
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Many popular sites already follow this pattern: the page feels instantly ready with a sharp placeholder image, then smoothly swaps to smooth video once the heavy file finishes loading. Users enjoy the wow effect, and search engines stay happy. Bottom line: with proper video optimisation, you can keep those beautiful full-screen and hero videos without sacrificing speed or SEO rankings in 2025 and beyond. Just remember: content first, eye candy second.
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