Search engine optimization (SEO) plays a critical role in helping businesses to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) and attract more organic traffic to their websites. From the rise of voice search to the importance of user experience and search intent, 2024 brings with it several new SEO trends that are poised to shape the way organizations approach their online marketing efforts.
To stay competitive in this fast-paced digital landscape, organizations and SEO professionals must stay informed about the latest SEO trends and adapt their strategies accordingly. Give your organization a competitive edge and let’s review the top SEO trends to work into your 2024 strategy!
Local SEO Over National
With the rise of voice search and mobile technology, more consumers are looking for businesses near them for immediate needs. Additionally, with the increase in competition for national keywords, focusing on local SEO can help businesses stand out in their specific geographic area. This can lead to higher conversion rates and better return on investment compared to national SEO efforts.
Local SEO also helps businesses appear in Google’s Local Pack for relevant keywords, which is prominently displayed above organic search results and can significantly boost visibility and click-through rates. By creating content and optimizing it for local SEO, businesses can appear in local search results and attract nearby customers who are ready to make a purchase.
Featured Snippets and Zero-click Searches
Featured snippets appear at the top of SERPs, providing users with quick answers to their queries without having to click through to a website like how traditional search engines formerly worked. By optimizing for featured snippets, marketers can position their content as the go-to source for information and increase their chances of being seen by users.
Zero-click searches, on the other hand, refer to searches where the user finds their answer directly on the search engine results page without clicking on any links. By optimizing for zero-click searches, marketers can increase their chances of capturing user attention and driving traffic to their website, even without users clicking through.
Mobile Optimization
SEO marketers should focus on mobile optimization in 2024 because the majority of internet users now access websites and search engines through mobile devices. With the increasing use of smartphones and tablets, it is crucial for businesses to ensure that their websites are mobile-friendly to provide a seamless user experience and improve search engine rankings. Google’s algorithm also prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in search results, so optimizing for mobile can significantly impact a website’s visibility and traffic.
User Experience (UX)
By improving the UX of a web page, SEO marketers can increase visitor engagement, reduce bounce rates, and ultimately improve website rankings. A positive user experience also leads to higher conversion rates and customer satisfaction, which are essential for the long-term success of any online business.
In addition, search engines like Google prioritize websites that provide a positive user experience, such as easy navigation, fast loading times, and relevant content. Ultimately, focusing on UX not only benefits website visitors but also aligns with search engine algorithms, and helps search engines understand your site.
Voice search Optimization
The trend of using voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant is growing rapidly, so optimizing for voice search can help businesses stay ahead of the curve and reach their target audience. By optimizing for voice search, marketers can ensure that their content is more easily discoverable and accessible to users who are searching for information using voice commands.
Additionally, voice searches are often longer and more conversational in nature, which presents an opportunity for marketers to better understand user intent and tailor content to match these specific search queries. By focusing on voice search optimization, marketers can improve their SEO strategy and stay competitive in a constantly evolving digital landscape.
Conversational Long-tail Keywords
Conversational keywords are phrases that people are more likely to use when speaking or typing a search query, making them more natural and reflective of real user intent. Additionally, with the rise of voice search, conversational keywords are becoming increasingly important as people tend to speak their search queries in a more natural and conversational tone.
Long-tail keywords are typically less competitive, allowing marketers to rank higher in search engine results pages. By creating content and optimizing for these types of keywords, SEO marketers can better meet the needs of users and improve their search engine rankings.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
AI and machine learning algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data and provide valuable insights into consumer behavior, search patterns, and market trends. By leveraging these technologies, marketers can create more targeted and personalized campaigns, improve website ranking on search engines, and ultimately drive more traffic and conversions.
Additionally, AI can automate repetitive tasks, saving time and resources for marketers to focus on more strategic initiatives.
Video Content
In today’s digital age, where visual content is king, incorporating video into an SEO strategy is essential for driving online visibility and brand awareness. With the rise of platforms like YouTube and the increasing popularity of video content on social media, consumers are more likely to engage with and share videos than other types of content, and video content has been shown to significantly improve search engine rankings and drive more organic traffic to websites.
Additionally, videos are a great way to deliver a message quickly and in an easily digestible format, which can help increase brand awareness and customer engagement.
E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
Google’s algorithms are constantly evolving to prioritize high-quality content from trustworthy sources. By demonstrating experience and expertise in their field, establishing authoritativeness through backlinks and endorsements, and building trust with their audience, marketers can improve their website’s visibility and ranking on search engine results pages.
Refreshing Existing Content
Looking for a cost-effective way to improve search engine rankings? Refreshing content keeps websites relevant and up to date, which can improve user experience, engagement, and dwell time on the website, which are all important factors for SEO success.
Refreshing content can also help to improve user experience and engagement on the website, leading to longer dwell times and a lower bounce rate. Additionally, updating existing content can help to keep the website up to date with the latest trends and information in the industry, establishing the website as a reliable and authoritative source of information.
Focus on Transactional and Commercial Keyword Groups
Transactional keywords indicate that the user is ready to make a purchase or take some sort of action, making them highly valuable for driving revenue. Commercial keywords also show intent to purchase, as they indicate that the user is in the research or comparison stage of the buying process. By targeting keywords related to specific products or services that are in the consideration or purchase stage of the buyer’s journey, marketers can attract high-intent users who are more likely to make a purchase.
This will ultimately lead to higher ROI and revenue for companies that prioritize transactional and commercial keyword groups in their SEO strategy. Additionally, focusing on these keywords can help businesses stand out in a competitive marketplace and increase their visibility to potential customers seeking to make a purchase.
By staying updated on the latest trends in search engine algorithms, user behavior, and technology, marketers can ensure that their SEO strategies remain effective. Additionally, understanding upcoming trends can help marketers anticipate changes in the industry and proactively adjust their tactics to capitalize on new opportunities, positioning themselves for success in the rapidly changing digital environment of 2024.
Worried about staying ahead of the curve? Elevato offers cutting-edge strategies to ensure that your website remains competitive in the ever-evolving digital landscape. Stay one step ahead in your SEO and reach out to us to get started!