Practically, we are observing SEO as one of the most fundamental parts of digital marketing. But, for something that stands at the foundation, its fluctuation and unpredictability are quite unusual. However, that’s the nature and future of SEO – to be everchanging and adjustable. For every website owner out there, the real effort remains. And that is to always be ready to adapt to these changes. Especially lately, after several major algorithm updates in 2021, that only indicates that more of it is coming soon. Without a doubt, SEO will change in 2024, so now is the right time to consider which marketing strategies will bring the best results.
POTENTIAL TRENDS AND CHANGES IN SEO IN 2024
For every website owner and marketer, following and understanding constant changes in SEO is essential for success. Only with the correct understanding, it will be possible to predict and adapt to potential trends in such an ecosystem. As the means to analyze user behavior is constantly evolving, both search engines and SEO professionals are looking for different ways to meet the needs of their visitors. The first, to provide better search results for user intents. The others to help websites rank higher in those search results.
To help you prepare better, has prepared a list of potential trends and changes we expect to see in 2024:
- User experience will matter more than ever in 2024
- Loading speed as the essential factor
- Increased relevance of the content
- The rise of Artificial Intelligence
- Voice search might take over the textual search
- A bright future awaits Local SEO
1. User experience will matter more than ever in 2024
It has come a long way, but the user experience is now at the core of SEO. Before, it’s was as complex as providing a quality experience on desktop computers only. But today, with the evolution of mobile devices of all types it’s pushed a bit further. Nowadays, it’s necessary to optimize websites for a variety of devices; make them look good on every screen; without neglecting the positive experience aimed for visitors. And, it’s not only about the layout and functionality anymore. It’s also about the loading speed, interactivity, and quality of the content (both textual and visual). Take the work of marketing professionals from Digital Dot: it’s about usability and experience overall.
2. Loading speed as the essential factor
At the moment, page speed is considerably important for SEO and will continue to be in 2024 and further. When we look at the technology today, we can say with assurance that most of the devices in use have some pretty decent capabilities. Whether it’s a laptop or a smartphone, they are all armed with fast and performing hardware. For websites, this means they will have to follow the speed trends and be able to load quickly on every device. The moment someone clicks on one of the links that lead to your pages, your website will have to be ready. If not, today’s rather impatient audience will not hesitate to quickly leave. And most likely, they will go directly to your competitors.
To be sure your website is ready for the race, check:
- how fast the largest elements on your pages load
- how much time until your web page is responsive
- are there any elements that may create a bandwidth choke-point
- and many more
Basically, it’s recommended to audit your website on a regular basis, at least four times a year.
3. Increased relevance of the content
While we all know that content is where it all starts, some things might change. Without quality content, there will be not much to offer to the visitors. First, visitors are looking for the most relevant and quality information. Second, your website content is the perfect soil for seeding the various tactics like keyword and link implementation. However, search engines like Google are already fighting to eliminate irrelevant and low-quality content from their SERPs. That’s why the content that does not meet both prerequisites will certainly be left behind. You won’t be able to write content for search engines and SEO anymore. Nor you will be able to implement links just for the sake of linking. You could, but it won’t provide it with any value at all.
In addition, enriched and visually appealing content with real value will rule the SEO world. This will raise the importance of using quality images, videos, graphs, and other materials. Similarly like on video platforms like YouTube. The perfect combination of different multimedia will become the standard for evaluating the quality of the content. Furthermore, the length of the content might not matter anymore, as long as it’s providing users exactly what they are looking for.
4. The rise of Artificial Intelligence
While it may sound ominous to some, we are witnessing exceptional development in the field of artificial intelligence. From robots to software solutions and a variety of tools, a lot of industries are focusing on the development of better AI. This may soon result in its domination throughout digital marketing. We know that Google is constantly developing and updating its algorithms to make them smarter. But other tools that deal with user behavior, analytics, trackings, and even some front-end website solutions are already based on AI.
So, don’t miss the opportunity to consider additional steps when you optimize your website for Google bots and visitors as well. As a result, average website visitors are able to enjoy a more personalized experience tailored specifically for them. And search engines will appreciate it through better rankings.
5. Voice search might take over the textual search
It’s not that the textual search will disappear completely. Chances are, it never will. But, 2024 has already shown us that more and more people are getting used to using voice searches instead of a conventional one. One of the reasons is that more people are using mobile devices, which by default have voice recording and recognition modules. And, this trend will continue to rise in 2024.
On the other side, people today are quickly getting familiar with new technologies, which was not the case only a couple of years ago. All of this will result in an increase in the popularity of voice searches, so any SEO effort in the next year should consider optimizing for voice.
6. A bright future awaits Local SEO
The recent events have given us a lot to think about how to improve online services. With more people choosing to stay at their home, even work from home, the importance of localized search results is growing. Today, people don’t need to bother with walking through the malls to search for a specific product. All they need to do is to search and order it online. Even when a pandemic disappears, both small and large businesses will need to focus on strategies that help promote their services area-wise. Let’s not forget the location tracking most search engines are using when they want to show more relevant results for search queries. This is why Local SEO is a valuable optimization every website and business should consider focusing on in the future.
Finally, while we can not yet be 100% sure how SEO will change in 2024 and what trends will definitely prevail, but we can pretty much assume and prepare for any outcome. Normally, like in previous years, we can expect some oscillation in ranking positions. But websites that rely on best practices and don’t dwell in a shady SEO world have nothing to fear. Continue with your SEO efforts and provide your visitors with an excellent user experience, and the results for your brand and your website will definitely come.
Meta: Learn how SEO will change in 2024 and what new trends might become popular so you can plan your marketing strategies on time.
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