The Future of SEO

You've probably already heard about search engine optimisation (SEO). You've probably heard about it a hundred times before. But do you really know how SEO works? Or how important it is to help companies like yours grow fast and climb Google rankings? Well, it's about time that you found out.

The following guide explains all the basics of SEO marketing and how search engine algorithms work. But this isn't your average how-to guide. Because it also includes a sneak preview into the future of SEO and technical SEO, giving you the information you need to get a head start over your competition.

How SEO impacts your online presence and why it is important

SEO is crucial to any business that wants to establish and maintain a solid online presence. In fact, it's hard to underestimate just how essential content marketing services, search engine optimisation, and technical SEO are for smaller businesses looking to make their mark.

SEO is one of the best content marketing services for grabbing eyeballs and converting views into sales. SEO makes your website more visible on Google and other search engines. It's a way of tailoring content to users' search habits, attracting the right kind of customers or clients to your site.

The future of SEO

SEO is changing, and you must prepare for the new way of attracting views and clicks.

Here are a few things we can expect to see in the (very) near future:

More zero-click searches

‍Zero-click searches are queries answered right on the search results page. The viewer doesn't click links to get the info they're looking for. Instead, the answers appear in the featured snippets or 'people also ask' boxes on Google's first page.

More search engines

The rise of search engines such as mobile app stores, e-commerce, social media, YouTube, Google, and country-specific platforms offers a greater opportunity to reach the top of search. There are an increasing number of searches, on an increasing number of platforms, offering more niches than ever to uncover. We will also see new types of user interaction, including voice search, speech to text, and bots.

Mobile voice searches

Typing and texting are so pre-2020. Today, mobile users speak to their phones, tablets, and watches, and with the number of IoT smart devices such as home hubs and smart speakers growing, voice search is no longer a fad or a science fiction fantasy, it is one of the fastest growing SEO trends.

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Artificial intelligence (AI)

‍AI-powered SEO tools can increase search traffic, find keyword opportunities, run voice searches, and even generate quality content that can rank higher on Google. And this super-smart technology is still in its infancy. SEO experts predict that next-generation AI software will be able to create personalised SEO campaigns for individuals within your target audience. This is the next-level SEO digital marketing strategy of the future.

More video/multimedia content

We're not in the post-literate age just yet. We probably never will be. But more people are consuming video and multimedia content like podcasts and videos -and they expect it from the brands they love and trust. Just remember, your content must work on mobile devices if you want to outrank your competition. 'Mobile friendliness' is one of the major ranking factors for Google's search engine algorithm.

Government legislation

There is uncertainty about the future of search, and other implications of the US Government and FTC (Federal Trade Commission) watching and acting on Google's and Meta's market position with concerns of monopolistic behaviour and market controls.

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How search engine algorithms currently work.

Google and other search engine algorithms work by looking at and assessing billions of website pages and sites, then deciding which ones to rank highest.

It's a process called crawling. Crawlers are Google's 'bots and search engine spiders constantly looking for new and updated pages to add to search engine results. They grab and store the information Google uses to index sites.

So, what metrics does Google's algorithm consider when ranking one site above another?

Generally speaking, Google’s search engine optimisation ranking factors fall into three main categories. Understand these, and you'll understand how to climb up the Google search pages:

Website relevancy 

How well does the information on your website correspond to common search queries? This is what we mean when we talk about website and content relevance. In basic terms, does your content match what your audience is looking for? If the answer is yes, you will rank higher.

Google’s algorithm looks at content language, keywords, the body text on each web page, titles, and relevant images and graphics that support the text.

It ranks newer and updated content above old, stale posts. It's one of the main reasons why the best digital marketers produce or commission at least one piece of new content daily.

But 'new' content doesn't have to be time-consuming. Reposting old content is a quick and easy cheat code for boosting your site's relevance rating, especially when the content is related to a hot topic or news stories people are searching for.

Website technical performance 

Also known as technical SEO, website technical performance refers to the structure and architecture of your pages and content. Technical SEO is all about how your site works when people click on it. To rank on the first page of your Google, your site needs to be:

●    Fast

●    Secure

●    Free of duplicate content and broken links

●    Mobile friendly

●    Provide a good user experience

●    Optimised with the right keywords, tags, and meta-descriptions

Website authority 

Backlinks from credible and high-ranking sites give your pages and content credibility. Like little votes of confidence, quality backlinks show that other people value and trust your content. And so Google continues to promote sites with a strong backlink profile.

It's the same with organic traffic. Higher views and visits are signs of approval in the eyes of Google's all-important search engine algorithm. It assumes - quite correctly - that popular content with a high view count is good content. This is why high-quality, evergreen content is one of the most effective and cost-efficient SEO strategies.

It never stops working. 

More views lead to more views. And that raises you ever closer to one thing all your competitors are reaching for Google's 1st search page.

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Preparing for the changes and getting ahead of your competition

The best businesses are proactive, not reactive. Being proactive means spending more time (and resources) planning and preparing for the future. But this investment will pay off in the long term. And it will pay off big time.

Early adopters of the latest trends in the SEO landscape improve efficiency, reduce cost, increase market penetration, and raise their company's profile and social status.

Bringing you into the future of SEO organic search

AXD is a content marketing agency in Manchester that understands the future of search engine optimisation. We know how to help your company leverage its opportunities.

Using the latest developments and techniques in SEO organic search, a personalised AXD marketing campaign enhances website performance through technical SEO and conversion rate optimisation. And that creates more traffic, more leads, and more sales. On average, our clients see a 200% increase in lead generation within the first twelve months.

The future of SEO is here. It's time to be an industry leader, not an industry follower. Get in front of the pack.

Contact us today for a free SEO discovery call.

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