If there’s one thing that’s always true of SEO, it’s that it’s never quite the same from one year to the next. Rather than being a static set of unchanging rules, SEO is a dynamic practice that is continually evolving in response to an ever-changing set of circumstances. Thus, if you want your business to stay as current and relevant as possible, it’s important to keep an eye on how SEO is changing from year to year. Fortunately, SEO isn’t an obscure topic—it’s a highly visible one, and the major trends are easy to follow. These are some of the biggest SEO trends of 2020:
Smart keyword research is more important than ever.
It’s becoming increasingly hard to ignore the value of keyword research. In fact, finding the right keywords should be the keystone of your entire marketing campaign. There are now a wide array of online tools—such as SEMrush and Google Keyword Planner—that you can use to make your keyword usage more effective. In addition, keyword research isn’t something you can do once and then forget about. Instead, you need to be continually working on—and updating—your strategy. If you want to stay ahead of your competitors, then you should be reevaluating your keyword list on a regular basis.
Voice search is becoming more popular.
It’s not hard to understand the appeal of voice search. After all, it’s faster and more convenient than typing something into a search engine. That’s why the number of voice searches is growing higher every year. As a consequence of this trend, the nature of search queries is changing. Since people are speaking their search queries out loud, the way they phrase them is different. For example, a person would be more likely to say “Where is the nearest taco stand?” than “taco stand near me.” Thus, you need to start incorporating questions like these into your keyword strategy. This is one trend that isn’t going away, so it’s important to pay close attention to it.
Video marketing is increasingly critical.
Online users love videos. In fact, according to one study, the average individual watches more than 80 minutes of online video every day. This trend has been a powerful driver behind the growth of digital video marketing. If you want your business to grab the attention of potential customers, you can’t afford to overlook the power of videos. A smart, well-produced video can serve to promote your brand, draw new visitors to your website, and convert visitors into customers. In addition, videos can help your search engine ranking; web pages with videos are more likely to do well in SERPs than those without them. If you want your online presence to be as engaging as possible, then you need to be working videos into your SEO strategy.
User experience matters more all the time.
The most successful websites are those that strive to create a positive experience for the people who visit them. This means that user experience needs to be central to your online strategy. You need to be constantly thinking about how you can make your website easier, more convenient, and more fun to use. For instance, you should make sure that your site’s pages load reasonably quickly, so that your site’s visitors don’t get impatient and decide to leave. Your content should be well-written, engaging, and targeted to your audience’s interests and needs. Remember—the longer a user spends on your site, the more likely they are to become a loyal customer.
Long-form content can help your website.
If most of your website’s pages have only a paragraph or two of text, it can have a negative impact on your SEO. If you’re writing long-form content—for your blog posts as well as for your site’s individual pages—then your site’s visitors are more likely to stay longer, which will help your search engine ranking. That said, it’s still important to make sure that your long-form content is well-written and targeted to your user’s needs. If you’re simply filling your content with fluff, then it’s not likely to engage your users—or turn many of them into customers.
Mobile optimization is essential for your site.
With more and more people accessing the internet via their mobile devices, it’s never been more critical to make sure that your website is easily accessible on mobile. Mobile optimization requires a multifaceted approach in order to be successful. Your site should be designed to be read clearly on a mobile device. There shouldn’t be distracting pop-ups that discourage users from staying on a page. You should also optimize your mobile content for searches in your area, so that you’ll be able to catch the attention of local customers.
Smart data analysis will help you.
If you want your SEO strategy to work, you can’t simply go on instinct—you need to back up your decisions with data. That’s why you need to be using the right online tools to optimize your site. You should be keeping track of which pages are getting the most traction, what your audience is most interested in, and where unexpected traffic is coming from. When you’re aware of what your audience is looking for, you’ll be much better equipped to tailor your SEO approach to their wants and needs. As a result, you’ll be running a much smarter SEO campaign.
If you want to be sure that you’re staying on top of SEO trends, then it’s time to connect with Pennington Creative. Our team has the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to provide you with the full spectrum of content marketing services you need, from social media updates to professional-quality press releases. If you’re ready to start sharpening your online presence, get in touch with us today.
