There are those who believe that SEO is either dead or dying. The fact is that search engine optimization is still alive and well, as per Kate Skachko, Toronto SEO strategist. What is happening is that SEO continues to evolve. That’s no secret, since search engine optimization has always shifted to accommodate changes in online technology.
What’s changing right now? Here are some examples of what to expect over the next couple of years and why you should care.
1. Continual Increase in Mobile Searches
In some parts of the world, mobile searches are already more common than searches conducted using older types of devices. You can expect the trend to continue as smartphones continue to drop in price and become more accessible to a wider audience.
How does the use of this one device impact the SEO growth strategy that you need to cultivate? Think mobile-first indexing. That’s a term related to how Google and the other major search engines now index new pages and rank older ones.
Simply put, the pages you develop for desktop or laptop viewing are no longer indexed first. Pages optimized for mobile viewing are indexed and ranked sooner. That means your mobile site is now your focus rather than an afterthought.
2. Voice Search Is Here To Stay
Many people who are using their mobile devices for searches are also making the most of speech recognition technology. There are now AI programs designed to process voice commands. When a user wants to find a restaurant or seek out reviews for some type of business, all it takes is a simple voice query.
In terms of SEO, that means making sure your site’s content captures attention from those AI programs, prompting them to include those pages in the responses.
3. Video Optimization Is Going Strong
Have you given any thought to video optimization? While one aspect focuses on reducing buffering times and ensuring videos begin faster, it also has a search engine optimization component. Something as simple as including relevant keywords in the titles and tags will help with rankings.
There’s also the need to include keywords in the audio accompanying the video. You’ll see this become more of a factor as people seek out videos on different goods and services.
4. Then There Are Google’s Algorithm Changes
Google updates the existing algorithm on a regular basis. Many people don’t hear about the minor tweaks that occur regularly. It’s the major changes that tend to get most of the attention. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security just because no major update has taken place recently.
It pays to use different Google resources to check on those minor tweaks and what they mean for your page rankings. Expect this to be something you will live with as long as there is such a thing as a search engine.
Keeping up with and utilizing SEO to the best advantage is a full-time job. Your best bet is to find the right SEO expert and be prepared for whatever comes next. Doing so will give your pages an edge and hopefully attract more consumers who are genuinely interested in what you have to offer.