What is the Future of SEO IN 2024?

SEO isn’t what it used to be.

From keywords being the sole priority to marketers having to focus on 200+ ranking factors – SEO has come a long way since the first Florida updates in 2003. Every SEO agency and marketing consultant has to stay up-to-date on the latest algorithm changes and digital marketing trends. This ability to pivot can make or break your business.

Experienced SEO experts know that the SEO of today may well and truly be irrelevant tomorrow. This is because Google completely shifts the paradigm in pursuance of its sole aim to satisfy searchers with relevant and helpful information.

Startups and small businesses are often the most vulnerable in this respect. Lacking the resources to invest in a dedicated team, these ventures are the most at risk of getting lost in the SEO maze. But that doesn’t mean it is impossible.

Instead of nitpicking fine details, pay attention to the larger picture – one that keeps you truly ahead in the game. Targeting the trends of tomorrow will prepare your business against the ever-changing SEO dynamics.

We have prepared the top trends of 2024 and beyond to help you create a future-proof SEO strategy for your business.

SEO in 2024

Content is Still the King

Content is everything in the digital scape. Two decades ago keywords were all that were needed to rank on Google. However, websites adopted unethical practices like keyword stuffing to include a bunch of keywords that had no relevance to their content or niche.

Fast forward 20 years later and Google will now penalize your website for this practice. So how can you reach the coveted top spot on Google? The answer: high-quality content.

Remember that you are not creating content for search engine bots – you are creating and distributing content to your target audience. Your content should be relevant, and informative, and be able to offer value to readers. How do you do that?

Keep the following in mind while writing content on your website, blog post, landing pages, social media, or anywhere else:

1. Add a Human Touch 

Write for your target audience. Address their needs and expectations, and provide the information they are searching for and would engage with. When readers find your content helpful, it reduces the bounce rate on your website, increases shares, and creates more engagement. Do this, and Google will take notice.

 

2. Research your Topic Inside Out 

You cannot create helpful and informative content by writing 500 words in 30 minutes. To create quality content, you will have to deep-dive into your topic and provide information that adds value to users.

 

3. Make it Unique

If you are saying what everybody else is saying, you won’t be heard. This also stands true for online content. Google’s E-E-A-T framework stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. In short, it evaluates content quality and credibility.

While following industry trends is encouraged, your content should resonate with your audience and establish you as a thought leader – not a follower of trends.

Bring fresh perspective and personal insights into your content. Show your knowledge and experience on the topic, and add uniqueness distinct from what your competitors are offering.

Adopt a Mobile-first Approach

Everyone knows the importance of a mobile-friendly website. It ensures your site functions properly across mobile devices of every screen size, just as it does on desktops.

More than 60% of all Google searches are performed on mobile. 5 years ago, this number was half. In the future, the only way for this trend is up. Google already uses the mobile version of websites for ranking, but only a few businesses have been able to adapt to this change. As mobile browsing grows, it is critical to replace a mobile-friendly mindset with a mobile-first approach.

Focus on Structured Data

First of all, let us explain what structured data is. Structured data is considered as a standard to indicate information on a web page. This is a vital component of technical SEO, and it helps search engine bots understand what the page is about.

Rewind a few years ago and structured data only helped search engines rank websites. Today, it does much more than that. Structured data holds the key to being featured in Google’s featured snippets – which are the preview boxes you see on search results without having to click on a website. Lately, these snippets are also read out loud when a user searches for something with an AI assistant.

These snippets appear as boxes containing a portion of your content, with the source link at the bottom. The feature was introduced to enhance user experience, but they are also valuable in generating brand awareness.

Google extracts a synthesized version of your content as per the search intent. If the reader wants to learn more, they can click on the link and visit your website for the complete version. Google doesn’t necessarily pull out snippets from top-ranking websites, thus providing an opportunity for low-ranking websites to drive traffic to their business.

Don’t Neglect Link Building

Link building is here to stay. It involves getting links from other websites pointing to yours. These links from external sources are considered votes of confidence by Google and other search engines – signifying that you are creating trustworthy and relevant content.

When a user is browsing a website and finds a hyperlink to another source, they are likely to visit it to learn more. And since the link is placed on a reputable website that the user trusts, link building adds authority to your website. The more high-quality links point to your website, the higher you will rank on search results.

However, link building is time-consuming. It takes time to create content that establishes you as an industry leader. The easiest way to do it is to write high-quality content that shows your expertise on a certain topic. You can also guest post or partner with other websites as part of your link-building campaign.

Focusing on link-building adds authority and credibility to your brand – something that Google will take heed of.

Local SEO is Bound to Grow

Google and other search engines have already put a lot of focus on local searches. When a user searches for a local product, service, or business, Google returns results based on the user’s location and proximity. Even if the user does not enter the location in the search phrase, Google will still analyze the search intent and deliver local results. Thus, queries like ‘best bar in Toronto’ and ‘best bars near me’ will potentially display the same results.

Local SEO is a boon for businesses operating in a local area. With local keyword targeting, optimized Google Maps and other listings, and creating content for local SEO, local businesses can drive traffic to their website as well as physical storefronts. And there is every indication that Google will intensify its algorithms to bridge the gap between local businesses and their customers in the region.

Prioritize User Experience 

Google has never missed an opportunity to convey its primary requirement: build content and experience for users, not search engines. Everything you do in SEO should be targeted towards your audience. Apart from content, search engines will evaluate  the kind of experience users have when interacting with your website.

When a user searches for something and looks at the results, they know each site is approved by Google. This doesn’t only include relevant content but also high-quality web functionalities. If both these criteria aren’t met, users may stop using the search engine.

Google understands this and aims for recurring users who avail of their service time and again. This is why user experience is an important ranking factor.

From mobile responsiveness to navigation and fast load speed, several aspects come into play when it comes to providing a high-quality user experience.

Leverage AI Tools

Artificial intelligence is surely the next big thing for humanity, not just SEO. It is believed that this pervasive technology will influence everything in our lives within the next couple of decades. With AI in the picture, SEO is bound to undergo a generational shift.

Search engines like Google are getting smarter because of AI. This means understanding and responding to queries more effectively. So it’s not just about returning web pages on SERPs but offering detailed answers to queries.

Marketers must step up and adapt to SEO strategies using AI. AI tools can help them understand what consumers are searching for and how – which can be integrated into the overall SEO strategy.

Wrapping Up 

SEO in 2024 is more user-oriented than at any time in the past – a trend that’s likely to continue well into the future. If your strategy isn’t user-focused, the time to act is now.

SEO is indeed a challenge for businesses with budget constraints. Apart from providing great products and services to customers, they also must focus on the kind of content and browsing experience their audience wants.

If you need assistance in adapting to SEO for 2024 and beyond, Brampton Web Design is the partner you need. Schedule a strategy session with our SEO experts and find out how we can boost your SEO performance today and well into the future.