5 Trends you need to know about intelligent SEO

There was a time when all you needed for SEO success was backlinking and placing keywords. While these two are still important functions of SEO, the field itself has evolved to encompass a lot more. I am a freelance SEO expert who works from home using my Spectrum Tv packages. Over recent years, and especially this year, I have felt keen changes in the field that businesses need to know. In this blog, I will attempt to list down some important changing trends in SEO

Changing SEO trends

Google has been gathering data for more than a decade, constantly refining its algorithm in the process. Now, compared to just a few years ago, a Google search is much more timely, accurate, and most importantly personalized. This means that SEO is no longer just about backlinks, keywords, metadata or content. SEO is now the practice of assuring a frictionless, seamless user experience. All this while delivering relevant information to the user at the right time. Last year, there were many significant changes in SEO, but to get into all of them will require much more words than we can accommodate in this blog. So, in the interest of easy reading, here are the 5 most important trends on a macro scale in SEO:

1. Snippets everywhere
2. Voice Search on the rise
3. Mobile first
4. Focus on user experience
5. Optimization for intent

Without further ado, let’s dive right into them.

Snippets everywhere

Featured snippets are a feature on Google that is fast becoming very visible when displaying search results. In fact, it is estimated that a significant 30% of all searches on Google are answered instantly through featured snippets. SEO gurus term it the new #1 position, the ultimate SEO goal. Experts maintain that 10% of traffic from top pages on the results page is now being stolen away by snippets. A growing trend towards structured data and instant, accurate answers, means snippets will probably continue to steal away traffic. Snippets are even giving birth to a new form of online content in the form of Q&A content. This type of content is essentially a short answer in response to long-tailed keywords. A lot of attention from SEO experts also goes into making the format and structure of the content easy for Google to pull snippets. From an SEO perspective, featured snippets are an important new SEO objective.

Voice Search on the rise

One important fact to absorb this year is that 1 out of every 5 Google queries comes from voice search. This shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, we now have new tech like Alexa and Google Home which are centered around voice commands. Google is particularly working hard on the adoption of voice-operated hardware. The main reason for the growing popularity of voice search is its ease of use compared to typing out searches manually. With Google Assistant for Android devices, the adoption of voice searches is aimed at the huge number of smartphone users. The accuracy of assistants like Google Assistant is continually improving, which means more and more people will be getting onboard. This means that it is important to have voice search as a key component of your SEO strategy. There needs to be more focus on long-tailed keywords and conversational syntax when creating content. Snippets are becoming popular as a result of an increased focus on voice search.

Mobile first

With Google’s shift towards its long-awaited mobile-first index, the focus on mobile responsive websites has considerably increased. Google now ranks pages based on the mobile version of those pages. Previously, Google’s evaluation of a specific website was based on the desktop version. With the growing trend of mobile searches (making up 60% of total searches), this system of ranking has become obsolete. This has prompted Google to start indexing sites by mobile pages, which are more likely to be accessed than desktop. This is perhaps the biggest algorithmic change by Google to date. In response to this, many SEO experts are concentrating on accelerated mobile-responsive pages and mobile optimizing. Everything from load time to design is optimized from the mobile user’s perspective.

Focus on user experience

Other than a growing demand for mobile, user search demands and expectations are also on the rise. Users are typically looking for instantaneous solutions, regardless of device type. Generally, a site that takes longer than 3 seconds to load loses approximately 40% of traffic. The difference a mere few seconds can make is crucial for any business. Beyond that, even if you have perfect load time but your site is not easily navigable, you will lose traffic. If your content is not readable, visitors will bounce. Google places a lot of importance on a seamless user experience, for all devices. Which brings us to our final point.

Optimization for intent The demand for search results is on the rise in terms of instant and relevant results. Google has incorporated AI into its algorithm to provide the right content at the right time against the right user intent. In short, the most relevant and personalized answer to a user’s query. One important example is keyword intent, which Google admits plays a big part in its ranking factors. Google, for example, prioritizes e-commerce content in response to buying content keywords. This is in response to the intent or goal of the searcher, i.e. buying. Conversely, keywords with a clear intent to find information will see a prioritization of credible media sites. Many SEO experts are now factoring in user intent behind queries to optimize experience and content on websites. This is why a search for Spectrum Phone (1-855-837-6837) area will take you to Spectrum Phone locator map and not to a reseller site.

Ulani Uriah

Umar Nisar was born and raised in the busy city of Abbottabad. As a journalist, Umar Nisar has contributed to many online publications including PAK Today and the Huffing Post. In regards to academics, Umar Nisar earned a degree in business from the Abbottabad UST, Havelian. Umar Nisar follows the money and covers all aspects of emerging tech here at The Hear Up.

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