Top 4 SEO Trends of 2023 You Need to Know About
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a dynamic marketing discipline that has undergone significant changes in the past decade, including mobile prioritization and knowledge graphs. Google's algorithm updates continue to increase in frequency, and the ranking algorithm has become smarter at assessing website and content quality. While established SEO techniques, such as on-page optimization, link building, and guest blogging, remain important, certain trends are taking center stage as we move into the new year. Here are the top seven SEO trends of 2023, along with actionable tips to stay ahead of the game.
Prioritizing User Experience: The Key to Google's Search Algorithm
Google has made it clear that user experience is one of its top priorities when it comes to ranking websites. In fact, most of the top-ranking websites on Google offer a compelling user experience, with the page experience update scheduled for 2023 that might switch to all top-ranking results. Google favors sites that prioritize user experiene and keep visitors engaged.
Recently, Google announced on the Webmaster Central Blog that optimizing for the quality of user experience is crucial for the long-term success of any website on the search engine. They introduced a new program called "Core Web Vitals" to provide unified guidance for quality signals that Google believes are essential in delivering a great user experience on the web. Core Web Vitals are a set of user-centered metrics that quantify key aspects of the user experience, such as load time, interactivity, and content stability during loading.
Google has combined these signals with existing search signals, such as mobile-friendliness, safe-browsing, HTTPS-security, and intrusive interstitial guidelines, to create a holistic picture of page experience. They are focusing on fast, intuitive, and accessible experiences across all devices and platforms.
To track Core Web Vitals, Google Search Console offers a dedicated report that helps website owners understand and improve their site's user experience.
2. Understanding Semantic Search for SEO
In the past, SEO professionals used to focus solely on keywords. However, today, keywords are just one part of the equation. Semantic search is how search engines like Google use AI to sift through vast amounts of web pages and data and determine the context, intent, and meaning behind a search query. The goal is to serve the most relevant results possible.
To optimize for semantic search, it's essential to understand why your audience searches and what they're looking for. Here are some tips to help you optimize for semantic search:
Write content that answers your target audience's questions. This content should be in-depth and written in a Q&A format. You may dedicate entire pieces of content to a specific question, answering the question at the top of the piece before diving into the details.
Write for humans and not search engine bots. Create concise and easy-to-understand content that is to the point. Use subheadings and bullets to make it easy for users to find the information they need.
Use structured data when appropriate. Structured data helps search bots better understand your pages and translates to a more clickable search result for users.
Create contextual internal linking. This means linking various pages on your site in a strategic manner to create a well-structured map of related content around a central topic or search term.
In conclusion, semantic search and intent optimization are becoming increasingly important in the world of SEO.
3. Importance of Mobile Optimization for Your Website
Did you know that over half of the world's website traffic is generated by mobile devices? In 2020, mobile devices (excluding tablets) accounted for 51.53% of global website traffic, according to Statista. Additionally, due to Google's mobile-first indexing, your website's mobile version (not desktop) is the basis for how Google indexes your site and determines your rankings. This is significant because it's predicted that nearly 75% of the world will use their smartphones to access the internet by 2025.
Therefore, your website's mobile experience can have a significant impact on your Google rankings. It's important to focus your efforts on optimizing your online presence for mobile devices. Here are key steps you can take to ensure a mobile-friendly experience on your website:
Optimizing Your Content Layout for Easy Thumb Navigation
Minimize Typing Effort
The Importance of Prioritizing Speed
Disabling Pop-Ups on Mobile Devices
4. Improving Your Business' Local SEO with Google My Business
Mobile searches related to location have increased by 30%, with "near me" searches growing by over 250% from 2017-2019. With local SEO on the rise, optimizing your Google My Business (GMB) listing is crucial for your business' online presence.
GMB is a powerful tool to help increase your business' visibility on Google search results and boost engagement. Every local business has a GMB listing, making it more important to have a complete and optimized listing with the latest and accurate information. Google continually rolls out new features for local businesses, including posts, new products/services options, and direct-to-customer messaging, making it easier for users to find information about your business.
To improve your local SEO, consider the following tips:
Answer frequently asked questions about your business or offerings
Post weekly photos and videos showcasing your location or new products
Share regular business posts to inform your audience of new deals and products
Encourage positive reviews from your customers
Optimizing every aspect of your GMB listing is essential. Google makes this process easy by providing a completeness score and recommendations on improving your listing. It's important to keep your listing up-to-date with accurate information like hours, phone numbers, and addresses to help potential customers find your business.
If you want to learn more contact us on 0493 419 306 or rocksolidmarketer.com.au
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