Here are key trends from 2023 SEO strategies that you can leverage to stay at the forefront of Google in the coming year.
1. Long content
In the world of SEO, good content is still super important. Google made it clear in its updates in September 2023 that it cares about content that helps users. They want the content to be top-notch, meeting both user needs and search engine standards. So, when it comes to SEO, creating quality and helpful content is a key strategy for success.
Gone are the days of simply stuffing keywords into your content. Google's algorithms are now sophisticated enough to understand the intent behind a search query. This means that your SEO strategy needs to focus on creating content that truly addresses the user's needs, rather than just trying to rank for a specific keyword.
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| Google made it clear in their updates in September 2023 that they care about content that helps users |
Google tends to quickly crawl and index content that thoroughly covers a topic, ensuring visitors have a satisfying experience. For instance, I wrote an article on the "15 Best and Recommended Resources to Learn Python Programming,"
and within 24 hours, it was crawled and indexed. This highlights that search engines value in-depth content that meets the diverse needs of users.
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| How Google indexed my blog post in less than 2 days because of quality |
In the article, I discuss various recommended resources for learning Python programming, considering that people prefer different learning methods. I cover both online platforms and videos to cater to the preferences of each visitor.
If you would to see how I write the content, you can see it here: 15 Best and Recommended Resources to Learn Python Programming
You need to remember that word count does not guarantee that your content to be rewarded It's important to note also that quality is crucial; having a lot of content alone won't cut it.
Content Strategies You Need to Watch in 2024
1. Focus on Search Intent: Understanding what users are searching for and creating content that directly addresses their needs is essential. Long-tail keywords and in-depth content pieces tend to perform better
2. Value Over Word Count: Prioritize content value over word count. While detailed articles are beneficial, quality and relevance are more critical for gaining search engine recognition.
3. Comprehensive Coverage: Create in-depth content that thoroughly covers your topic. Google tends to reward content that demonstrates expertise and comprehensively addresses user queries.
4. Focus on Specific Topics: Concentrate on specific and relevant topics within your niche. Google values content that is focused, specific, and directly addresses user intent.
To deepen your understanding of how you can improve your SEO strategies moving forward, I have curated blog posts on the subject. Feel free to explore them below.
2. Prioritizing User Experience (UX)
Prioritizing User Experience (UX) involves ensuring that individuals thoroughly enjoy their interactions with your products or services. This approach revolves around simplifying processes, enhancing enjoyment, and ultimately delivering an outstanding experience for all users engaging with your website or app
A "mobile-first" site refers to a website that is designed and optimized primarily for mobile devices, ensuring a seamless and user-friendly experience for visitors using smartphones or tablets
In their October 2023 core update, Google highlighted the importance of why owners, SEOs, web developers, designers, and everyone who works on websites to prioritize this approach. Some screenshots from this update and what they mean are displayed below
Mobile-first indexing
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| According to Google, the mobile web page now needed to be as complete as the corresponding desktop version |
Though a desktop version of a website is still used, Google now prioritizes mobile versions of websites for indexing and ranking. This means having a responsive and fast-loading website for mobile devices is crucial.
Google is saying they want to use newer methods to check websites instead of the old way. They're focusing more on how sites look and work on mobile phones because lots of people use phones for the internet. This change helps websites be more mobile-friendly, and Google is trying to use its resources wisely by focusing on the mobile versions of sites when checking them.
Mobile-first Strategies You Need to Watch in 2024
Mobile-Friendly Design: Design your website with a focus on mobile users. Ensure that the site looks good and functions well on smartphones and tablets.
Keep Content Accessible: Make sure your content is easily accessible on mobile devices. Check that important information is not hidden or difficult to find on smaller screens.
Prioritize User Experience: Prioritize the user experience for mobile visitors. Test your site on various devices to ensure a seamless and enjoyable experience for all users.
Optimize for Search Engines: Understand the importance of search engine optimization (SEO) for mobile devices. Ensure that search engines can easily crawl and index your mobile-friendly content.
Find more on how you can fix errors on your website to make it mobile-friendly: Mastering Technical SEO: The Ultimate Guide to Maintaining Your Site's Health
3. Leveraging Video for SEO Success
In 2024, integrating video into your website is not just a good idea; it's a game-changer for SEO. Here's why:
Why Google Loves Video
Google favors websites with embedded videos, often boosting them higher in search results. Videos encourage users to stay longer, signaling to search engines that your content is valuable.
The Impact of Video on Traffic
According to Wyzowl statistics, 88% of marketers see increased website traffic through videos. Videos capture attention, keeping viewers engaged and exploring your site further.
Visibility in Search Results
Search Engine Journal reports that videos get 53% more first-page clicks in Google search results compared to text-only results. Having a video on your page increases the chances of appearing at the top and attracting more organic traffic.
Enhanced Message Retention
Infront Webworks states that viewers retain 95% of a message from video, compared to only 10% from text. Video is a highly effective way to communicate your message and make it memorable.
SEO Advantages
Cisco reveals that websites with video have a 53% higher chance of appearing on the first page of Google search results, thanks to Google recognizing the value of video content.
Wordstream notes an 88% higher dwell time on landing pages with video. People are more likely to stay and engage with your content if video is part of the mix.
Wyzowl finds that 65% of consumers are more likely to purchase after watching a video. Video directly impacts your bottom line by boosting conversions.
Looking to 2024
Lemonlight reports that 87% of marketers plan to include video in their strategies, indicating its essential role in successful marketing campaigns.
92% of marketers believe video will play a significant role in marketing, highlighting its lasting impact on the marketing landscape.
Google's New Approach
Google is changing how it displays videos in search results. Videos will now only appear if they are the main focus of a webpage. For bloggers and content creators, this means making videos the star, not just an extra. Placing them at the beginning of your pages ensures Google indexes them, increasing visibility and engagement. It's a reminder to follow SEO rules for videos on Google, especially as the importance of video continues to grow in 2024.
4. The Rise of Voice Search
More and more folks are talking to their devices, and it's changing the way we search online. Studies predict that by 2024, over 50% of searches will be done using voice. This shift is massive and means that SEO strategies need to keep up.
Insider Intelligence tells us that a whopping 125.2 million people in the US will use voice assistants on their smartphones this year. That's a lot of talking on our phones! Around 88.1% of those people will use the voice assistant feature on their smartphones.
Why It Matters
Unlike typing, talking to your device feels more like having a chat. That's why voice search is all about asking questions naturally. So, when you want your website to show up in voice search results, it's important to tweak your content. Make it more conversational and focus on answering those longer question-based searches.
Local Matters
When people use voice search, they often ask about local stuff, like finding nearby restaurants or the best bakery in town. So, if you have a business, it's crucial to optimize your website for local searches. Claiming your Google My Business listing is a smart move. This way, when someone asks their phone for local recommendations, your business pops up in the conversation.
Preparing for Voice Search Dominance
As voice search takes the spotlight, here's how you can get your website in top shape:
1. Keyword Research:
Dig into long-tail keywords and everyday language that your audience uses. Tools like Google Trends can guide you in finding the right words.
2. Optimize Content:
Craft content that talks back. Answer questions in a natural, conversational tone. Sprinkle relevant keywords throughout your website and blog posts to keep it friendly for voice searches.
3. Mobile-First Magic:
Make sure your website is mobile-friendly and super speedy. Since voice searches often happen on mobile devices, a smooth user experience is a must.
4. Structured data:
Implement structured data to give Google the lowdown on your website and business. This helps your site pop up in featured snippets and knowledge panels, making it more noticeable in voice search results.
In Summary
As we step into 2024, the lessons learned from the SEO trends of 2023 provide a solid foundation for success. Long-form, user-centric content remains paramount, user experience stands as a critical factor, video becomes a powerhouse, and voice search reshapes the way we approach optimization. By adapting to these trends, website owners and content creators can navigate the evolving SEO landscape and position themselves for success in the coming year.