Preparing a modern SEO strategy that allows you continuous growth in the SERPs is going to be on the hot list of every organization in the year 2021. Getting customers to your website or online platforms and converting sales isn’t something that happens in a blink of an eye. The SEO trends are constantly evolving and the strategies need to evolve too.
For the organizations that relatively focus over organic practices of getting ahead in the search engine rankings, they need to pay attention to the metrics we will be sharing in this article. As more than 28% of organic SEO practices can convert in sales, not paying much attention to optimization might be a bad idea since the competition is getting tougher by the day.
Here are some of the most essential SEO Trends to know in 2021:
1. Google’s AI-Based Algorithm will Rule SERP Rankings
It’s been a while since Google launched RankBrain, an AI-based algorithm that plays a key part in determining search engine ranks for web sites. Though Google hasn’t published many information about how to optimise a website to meet the RankBrain requirements, the research shows that optimization is based on characteristics like as page loading speed, click-through rate, user engagement, time spent on the page, and more. As a result, in this year, businesses must pay greater attention to technical SEO aspects.
2. Voice Search will Take Over
People are now searching for terms using conventional and long-tail keywords, as voice search has begun to make an impact with the advent of Google’s assistant and other AI-based virtual assistants like Amazon Alexa. Long-tail keywords, as opposed to short-tail keywords that are exclusively utilised while typing, are increasingly more vital for businesses to rank for voice search.
3. Mobile-Friendly Websites Will Rank Better
The mobile-friendliness of a website is becoming a crucial factor in search engine rankings. With Google’s rollout of mobile-first indexing, the mobile version of the website has surpassed the desktop version as the most popular. Because the majority of visitors will reach your website via mobile phones in the next years, your SERP optimization plan must include making your site mobile-friendly. Use Google’s mobile-friendly test to see how mobile-friendly your website is, and make sure to use the same meta robots for the desktop and mobile versions of your site.
4. Content Quality Will Matter
One of the most important variables in determining search engine ranking and optimization strategies has always been the quality of the content. But, exactly what does Google mean when it says “excellent content”? It simply implies adhering to the “EAT” principle, which stands for “Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.” These are the criteria Google uses to determine whether a website contains high-quality content that is beneficial to users and to rank the pages accordingly. The user’s search intent must be reflected in your website’s content. One of the most beneficial actions one can do is to create a buyer persona before laying out an effective consumer journey. Furthermore, the quality of a website’s content is determined by internal and external linking, as well as the overall appeal.
5. Long-Form Content Will Win
This is one of the most important and deciding criteria in helping websites rank higher in the SERPs. According to recent study, long-form material with a word count of roughly 3000 words receives more traffic than shorter-form content. Long-form content also has more backlinks, which helps it rank higher because it is better optimised. When developing long-form content, businesses must keep content quality in mind. Aside from that, comprehensive keyword research, semantic keywords, and on-page SEO, which includes suitable headers, subheadings, linking, and more, must all be taken into account. The blog or website’s long-form content must also be easily shareable.
6. Features Snippets Will Rank Better
A featured snippet, for those unfamiliar with the term, is a combination of a webpage’s URL, a brief description, and a title that appears at the top of the SERPs, even before the organic results. They include more material than basic organic snippets, and some of them include photos that are relevant to the search query. The user is shown a featured snippet depending on their search query, which includes all relevant information. The company must publish questions and answers on the keywords they want to rank for in order to optimise the website for a featured snippet. If Google believes your website contains all of the answers to a search question, it will include a featured snippet of your website on the SERP before organic results, making it easier for users to find the answers. This increases the number of visitors to the website.
7. Image Optimization and Videos will Affect SEO Strategy
According to estimates for the new year, image optimization will play an essential part in achieving improved SERP rankings. Because the majority of consumers now prefer to search for images, businesses must continue to invest in image optimization tactics. Provide suitable alt text for your photographs to make it easier for crawlers to locate them, categorise your images, and more. Make use of high-quality photos that are related to the content at all times. In addition, include images in your sitemap to make it easier for crawlers to find them. In addition to relevant photos, videos are now playing an increasingly important function in improving the website’s ranking. In terms of getting rated for user intent, video material is likely to be at the top of the list, according to study, when compared to text content. Always ensure that the video you embed on your website is properly tagged and optimised for search engines.
8. Google 3 Pack will Ace the Show
For the uninitiated, Google 3 pack refers to the mechanism through which Google displays the top three results for a search query on local SERPs. The better your website is optimised for local search, the more likely your company will appear in the Google 3 pack. This might begin with a Google My Business listing for your company. Make sure your website has enough backlinks for the crawlers to propose your name when someone searches for a local business. This enhanced website traffic while also assisting in sales maximisation.
With SEO metrics changing on a daily basis, it’s more important than ever for businesses to keep up with current SEO trends in order to rank higher in the SERPs. Data and analytics may aid firms in gaining a better knowledge of their target audience, as well as the areas in which they excel. Staying on top of every SEO prospect will only help them acquire the right traffic and a guaranteed return on investment.
Need help with getting your business found online? Stridec is a top SEO agency in Singapore that can help you achieve your objectives with a structured and effective SEO programme that will get your more customers and sales. Contact us for a discussion now.