Today, we will time travel to just a few months in the future, to July of 2024, halfway through the year. What SEO trends will be part of the “everyone is doing them” category? What SEO strategies will move to the “SEO don’ts”? Let’s discover what the future holds for SEO, so you can prepare your digital marketing efforts for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Meet Sam.
Sam is an entrepreneur in a bustling metropolis. Sam launched an e-commerce startup in 2023 with the idea of bringing organic, eco-friendly, affordable products to everyone in the city.
Despite having a customer-friendly website and a wide array of goods, Sam’s business struggled. Sounds familiar, right? It’s not a new story, after all. “Build it and they will come” doesn’t work here.
Sam’s digital presence was cowering in the chaotic marketplace of the internet. Web traffic was feeble. At the top of the search engine results, bigger competitors swallowed up potential customers. They never got the chance to discover Sam’s little oasis of quality, organic, sustainable products.
By July 2024, Sam has found the right balance between 2024’s SEO trends and 2023’s SEO don’ts and stands confidently in front of a thriving business. Let’s see what actions are being implemented.
Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence in SEO
I’m not sure I would call Artificial Intelligence an “emerging SEO trend” since it burst onto the scene, but I am sure you’re not surprised that Sam is using AI in 2024. It’d be more surprising if it was a “don’t,” wouldn’t it?
We not only use AI for repetitive tasks, but we encourage our clients to learn how to use it and what prompts work best for their needs. Frankly, to do otherwise is, we feel, somewhat naive. We have, and do, advise our clients that AI is here to stay and will be used – if not now, then eventually – by the competition.
The optimization of a website involves several variables, from keyword searches to user behavior and engagement. Using advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can revolutionize how these variables are processed and analyzed. Does optimization and all the included actions still require a human at the wheel? Indubitably. Absolutely. Yes. Yet, there’s no doubt AI can make some of the work faster.
Tailoring Websites for Mobile SEO
The increasing convenience and popularity of mobile browsing act as a mandate for businesses to optimize their websites for mobile devices. Keeping mobile SEO in mind not only improves the user experience but can also amplify the reach and searchability of a website.
Mobile users constitute a significant portion of Sam’s target audience. The site is optimized for higher search engine rankings on smartphones and tablets. No stone is left unturned to make the user experience on the mobile version smooth and intuitive. It has an improved site design for better mobile visibility, quicker loading times, and faster performance. It’s also responsive to different mobile screen sizes.
With mobile devices dominating the online realm, optimizing for mobile is non-negotiable. Whether you use open-source technologies or premium, ensure that your site provides a user-friendly interface that keeps visitors engaged. This mobile optimization effort helped Sam stay ahead in the race to rank higher, ensuring the business’s continued existence in 2024.
Voice Search – Riding the Wave of Spoken Commands
With the rise of voice assistants such as Amazon’s Alexa, Google’s Assistant, and Apple’s Siri, the way that we search underwent a huge transformation. We might call it a trend, yet, it’s more a revolution, reshaping the digital landscape at an astonishing pace.
Voice searches have “secret” data that can help us unlock the full potential of these changes.
Diving deeper into this transformative phenomenon, we uncover this secret data – lesser-known yet important facts that remain largely in the shadows. Let’s shed light on some of these insights that can truly revolutionize your SEO strategies.
SEO Strategies for Voice Search
Boosting Sam’s website visibility in local searches is one reason for the thriving business in 2024.
With voice search becoming the number one way to search, Sam’s business has been on an extensive local SEO journey. Many of its SEO strategies are specifically tailored for voice search, since this SEO trend is in the top 5 in 2024. Along with PPC data, used to gather more intelligence on the buyers’ habits, Sam has pushed the business’s concept into TikTok and Instagram hearts.
As we look at Sam’s website for these SEO strategies, we find important nuggets of information:
- The Surge of Long-Tail Keywords: Voice searches tend to be more conversational and natural, leading to a surge in long-tail keywords. Understanding and optimizing for these longer, more specific queries is the key to staying ahead in voice search SEO.
- Local SEO Takes Center Stage: Voice searches often have local intent, such as “Where is the nearest coffee shop?” Optimizing your content for local SEO is crucial for businesses aiming to capture this market.
- Featured Snippets Dominate: Voice assistants frequently pull information from featured snippets. Structuring your content to appear in these snippets can significantly increase your visibility.
- Question-Based Content Reigns Supreme: Voice searches are often phrased as questions. Crafting content that answers common questions in your niche can make you a go-to source for voice search users.
- Mobile Optimization Is Non-Negotiable: Most voice searches occur on mobile devices. Ensuring your website is mobile-friendly and loads quickly is essential for voice search success.
- Conversational Content Is Key: Content that sounds natural when read aloud performs better in voice search. Avoid overly technical jargon and aim for a conversational tone.
- User Intent Is Crucial: Understanding user intent behind voice queries is paramount. Create content that not only answers the query but also fulfills the user’s underlying need or desire.
- Voice Commerce Is on the Rise: Voice-assisted shopping is gaining traction. E-commerce businesses should prepare for this by optimizing product listings and checkout processes for voice.
- Privacy Concerns Continue to Grow: Users are increasingly concerned about the data collected by voice assistants. Addressing privacy issues transparently can build trust with your audience.
- Voice Search Analytics Are Evolving: Keep a close eye on voice search analytics tools and technologies. They are continually evolving to provide more insights into user behavior and preferences.
Adapting your SEO strategies accordingly, as Sam has done, is imperative if you want to thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing.
Content is King: Quality and Relevance as the Cornerstones
Effective local SEO hinges on a foundation of thorough keyword research. Sam’s products and services are surrounded by carefully crafted, optimized content. Each page, blog post, social post, and image ALT uses integrated keywords and phrases that are relevant to the industry.
Each piece of content on Sam’s site delivers high-quality, relevant information that resonates with the local audience. It doesn’t just sell the product; it tells a story that communicates Sam’s unwavering commitment to quality and sustainability. A table of contents added to long-form articles enhances the user experience, allowing visitors to easily navigate and find the information they seek.
Sam’s site also uses Schema markup, enabling search engines to better understand and showcase the site in richer and more informative ways. This not only enhances the website’s appearance in search results but also positions it for coveted featured snippet spots, an invaluable asset.
Video Content: A Dynamic Edge
Recognizing the voracious appetite for video content, Sam’s site has strategically integrated video elements. We see this as an SEO trend that continues to grow in 2024, thanks in part to statistics like these. This move not only enriches the user experience but also taps into the immense potential of video content for local SEO. Videos not only engage and inform visitors but also have the potential to secure featured snippets in search results, further elevating Sam’s visibility.
Sam uses Google Search Console to locate potential opportunities to develop videos specifically tailored to user search terms. Rigorous local SEO efforts, coupled with a strong focus on mobile optimization, keyword research, content marketing, and innovative strategies, have propelled Sam’s website to new heights in search visibility.
By staying true to Sam’s commitment to delivering quality, relevance, and a seamless user experience, the business’s products rank higher and ensure a thriving digital presence.
EEAT in Action: Elevating Sam’s Credibility
Central to Sam’s strategy at the beginning of 2024 was the concept of “Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness” (EEAT), a guiding principle that permeates every aspect of our work. We look at EEAT as a commitment to imbuing our clients’ websites with qualities that resonate with visitors and leave a lasting impression of credibility.
Sam’s expertise needed to shine through the website. To achieve this, well-researched and authoritative content was posted that showcased Sam’s knowledge and proficiency. Whether it was blog posts, articles, or product descriptions, every piece of content is a testament to Sam’s expertise.
Authority is another key pillar of the digital marketing strategy, strategically positioning Sam as an industry leader. By leveraging guest posting on reputable websites, securing interviews and features, and showcasing endorsements from respected figures in their niche, Sam’s authority is bolstered.
Prioritizing Privacy and Data Security
Authority is important, but trustworthiness seals the deal. Privacy and data security are understandable concerns for modern consumers, and this is an even bigger SEO trend in 2024. In an era of data breaches and privacy violations, Sam’s website is a fortress of data security.
Sam’s website assures visitors that their private information is treated with the utmost care and security. The business regularly conducts security audits, has implemented encryption protocols, and adheres to the latest data privacy regulations. This conveys a clear message to visitors: their sensitive information is safe and sacred. Sam’s site remains compliant with data security and privacy regulations, such as GDPR.
The Ripple Effect: Building Lasting Trust
The business’s holistic approach to enhancing Sam’s EEAT score and prioritizing privacy and data security had a profound ripple effect. Sam’s website includes social likes and reviews to add the finishing touches on trust with social proof.
Visitors to Sam’s website have not only found valuable information and products but also an unwavering commitment to their well-being and privacy. This translates into a substantial boost in customer trust, which, in turn, manifests in increased engagement, loyalty, and conversions.
What Did We Learn? (TL;DR)
As we return to our time machine and the end of 2023, we have time to think about what we’ve learned.
Our journey with Sam isn’t just about driving traffic. It’s about making sure the traffic Sam gets is welcomed with a responsive, fast site. The SEO trends we see most in 2024 focus on building trust and credibility that endures over time. It’s about making that site easy to find by a variety of searchers by targeting voice searches.
At the core of the strategy are the principles of EEAT and safeguarding the customers’ privacy and data. By embedding these principles, we not only meet Sam’s immediate goals and position the site for sustained online success in an era where trust is the currency of the digital realm.
Addressing every issue, one by one, rewrites the story of Sam’s e-commerce venture. Sam sees a surge in business as 2024 begins. The website, now a well-oiled machine, runs efficiently, pulling in customers. Sam will have to hire someone to help keep up with the orders! In the bustling metropolis that once overlooked it, Sam’s business now thrives.
In this constantly changing SEO landscape, let our expertise be the turning point in your journey. We are ready to weave a similar success story for your business.
Change is inevitable, but with our SEO services, you’re always one step ahead. 2024 is your year, whether you follow the SEO trends or strike out on your own path, and we’re here to make it happen! Enjoy the ride to the top of the search engine results, where your business truly deserves to be.
