It’s 2020, and time to take a fresh look at SEO. While most tried-and-true strategies continue to be effective, search engines are always evolving, and keeping up on the trends will keep you up on the competition!
What to Expect in 2020
1.) Google Emphasis on E-A-T
Google has evaluated sites based on Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-A-T) for a long time. In fact, a whitepaper published in February of 2019 confirmed that E-A-T plays a very important role when it comes to ranking. Google wants credible pages to show up on search results. So, what makes a website credible?
According to SEOProfiler, Google defines a credible website as one that has:
- Quality website content with reliable sources of information.
- No technical errors, broken links, or spelling mistakes.
- Trustworthy website links.
- Transparency; showing you can be trusted.
2.) Visual Search on the Rise
People are starting to conduct visual searches more and more. According to Backlinko’s statistics on visual search:
- Google Lens has reached 1 billion users.
- Pinterest gets nearly 600 million visual searches per month.
- 36% of Amercians have already used visual search.
Visual search is not yet seen as an SEO game changer, but is expected to take off in 2020. We look forward to seeing what’s to come in the visual search world!
3.) Video Marketing
Video marketing is certainly seen as a tried-and-true marketing strategy. Cisco predicts that by 2021, 82% of all online traffic will be video. We won’t be surprised if that number continues to climb.
If you haven’t read our latest blog which is entirely about video marketing, here’s the list of benefits we mentioned:
- Video marketing is like an investment. Incorporating video on landing pages can increase conversion rates by 80%.
- Video makes a great addition to email marketing campaigns. Mentioning the word “video” in an email subject line can increase open rates by 19%. Videos can influence buying behavior and turn visitors into leads and leads into customers.
- Video marketing encourages social shares. In fact, 92% of mobile video consumers share videos.
Check out our Video Marketing blog to learn more!
4.) Voice Search Optimization
Voice search is continuing to trend in the digital marketing world. Every day, 41% of adults are talking to their phones. People love how easy it is. Knowing this means it’s smart to continue optimizing content for voice search.
Keep in mind, there’s a difference between searching for something by typing it in and asking Google a question out loud. These two demands for information require different answers that lead to the same result. Implementing SEO strategies that consider all the ways a query could be stated using voice search is key.
5.) Keyword Intent
Google is getting better at giving people the exact search results they’re looking for. Understanding the intent behind visitors’ searches can help to identify which keywords should be used. Leveraging keyword intent can drive website traffic and sales, as well as generate new leads.
High intent keyword examples:
- Buy
- Visit
- Purchase
- Deal
- Discount
- Coupon
- Free Shipping
- Affordable
- Best
- New
- Brand names
Keyword use depends on the nature of a business, but these are great examples of words we’ve all likely typed in a handful of times ourselves!
6.) Keeping Up with SEO Best Practices
SEO best practices are changing all the time hence the trends we see come and go. Search engines have to be wary because as soon as a new practice is put in place, someone has figured a way around it. That’s why these things are always changing. Make sure you’re working with a company that understands SEO best practices and keeps up with every change.
7.) Diversify
Most marketing companies look at SEO from a website standpoint. And while website SEO is important, it’s not the only strategy to look at. There are several SEO strategies that work in conjunction with one another. When you do a Google search, we like to call this an ‘everything search’. Not only do websites appear, but so do videos, social media accounts, pictures, blogs, directories and more. If all these different tools appear with a Google search, why not optimize them? This way, your business is likely to appear on several search results. Just like most marketing companies, we offer website SEO, but unlike other companies, we offer a full range of SEO services that improve your online exposure in a measurable way.
Some of these strategies have been popular for years, while others are new to the game. If you’re new to digital marketing and SEO, you might feel overwhelmed by the amount of information you find. No need to worry; that’s what we’re here for! WebLocal can answer all your questions and get you set up with a marketing and SEO plan perfectly tailored to you.