As we bid farewell to 2019, voice search, featured snippets, video marketing, and mobile search were a few SEO trends in 2020.
Research has shown that more than 20% of mobile queries were voice searches in 2020. Studies have also indicated that more than 2 million featured snippets got more traffic than organic search results.
Video, on the other hand, has grown. Based on Forrester’s research, it’s 50 times more likely to appear on the SERP’s first page. Over 62% of searches on Google include video.
Surveys also found that more than 87% of internet users utilized their mobile phones for some of their online transactions.
In 2021, some of the 2020’s SEO trends continue. However, other trends are also expected to emerge.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence or Google’s AI algorithm (RankBrain) started to change how people interact with all types of content online. It plays a critical role in the search engine giant’s ranking factors for SERPs results.
But how to optimize SEO for Google’s AI algorithm? While Google doesn’t share any details, people believe that the primary determinant is user experience signals. More specifically, they include various factors such as the time spent on every page and the click-through rate.
As a business owner, it is necessary to captivate or engage your target readers with well-written, useful, and exciting content. It is also worth investing in an on-page SEO checker to evaluate and examine your page strength according to backlinks and readability.
Voice Search
Voice Search had been popular in 2020 but remained a trend this year, thanks to innovations like Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple’s Siri. Throughout the years, voice search has undergone intensive development and gained more popularity this 2021. Experts believe that over 55% of households will invest in a smart speaker by 2022. It is essential to consider long-tailed phrases or keywords to optimize your site’s voice search capability.
Mobile-Friendly Websites
The majority of people today use their smartphones when searching for new information, shopping online, using their social media accounts, and watching movies on popular streaming websites.
In 2019, Google introduced and launched its mobile-first indexing. That means almost 73% of internet users will begin using their mobile devices to access the internet. So, as a business owner, be sure your page is user-friendly. Plus, exert effort to make Google crawl your URLs.
Content
Content quality is crucial for business ranking success. A quality webpage is indeed king. How to ensure trustworthy and authoritative content? Before anything else, create buyer personas to understand your target readers effectively. Then, perform some search intent research to map out your client journey. Next, use the information you gather to create something that resounds that of your readers’. Lastly, consider hiring experienced digital marketing agencies to acquire a better result.
Image Optimization
Another SEO trend of 2021 is image optimization. For websites without well-optimized images, it is never too late. It’s time to use relevant and high quality images. It is also imperative to customize the file name, use alt tags, and add pictures to your site map.
What’s Next?
It is always complicated to stand out from the competition, and SEO can make a big difference. While some startups develop their SEO themselves, nothing can beat the services of expert digital marketing agencies. While it requires extra costs, expect a good search engine ranking and other successful opportunities along the way.
Whether you need minor changes to optimize your website, on-going support, or a complete digital marketing, we can help. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help grow your business’s online presence.