SEO is constantly changing as new techniques and requirements come about on a consistent basis. Most experts agree on the basic SEO trends for 2013. Let’s take a look at a few of them:
- Longer and quality content is now the new standard.
- Engaging on social media is no longer an extra option, but is required for success.
- Though SEO is still traditionally text based, including multimedia can take it to the next level.
- And as predicted, mobile has become huge.
We will look at the SEO trends and see what we can take away in order to transition into what 2014 will bring.
Quality and Valuable Content
It’s no surprise that this is the first on our list for 2013 SEO trends. SEO is no longer about keyword stuffing or simply pumping out poor writing. Quality, well-written content that is actually valuable is now more important than ever to successful SEO. Many experts are now recommending to include some longer articles with your shorter 300-500 word SEO pages. Pairing longer content with quality backlinks is the recipe for ranking well. But don’t write longer articles full of fluff. Your content should be valuable and easy to understand. Moving forward, search engines are getting smarter and smarter about judging the quality of content. If you aren’t sure where to start with creating better content, consider a few suggestions:
· Implement an editing process
· Check for spelling and grammatical errors
· Attempt to provide truly helpful insight with each SEO article
Social Media No Longer Optional
Many still view social media as the new kid on the block, but the SEO trends of 2013 have proved that social media is here to stay. In 2014, social media will impact your rankings in a big way. Google has begun to incorporate social signals into their search algorithms and Facebook is strategizing how to best use their huge resources of information. Now that it has become a regular part of every day life for the consumer, SEO experts recognize its power.
- Equip your content to be shareable across various social media platforms.
- Utilize social share buttons and CTAs to encourage sharing (Though solid conclusions have yet to be reached, SEO experts agree that social sharing can definitely benefit an SEO campaign.)
- Maintain a social media presence on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ going into 2014, if you haven’t done so already.
Incorporate Multimedia
Text is still the way to go with SEO, but including a multimedia component is another SEO trend from 2013. People are more drawn to images than text, so multimedia incorporation can optimize your content and increase engagement. If you want to enhance the users experience and have a better likelihood of them sharing your content, use related pictures or videos. This is a perfect way to stand out above your competition. If you do use images, make sure to include:
· A relevant description
· Relevant tags
· Captions
For videos, provide a helpful summary or even a transcript.
Mobile SEO Trends
Over the past few years, mobile devices and related SEO trends have changed dramatically. A huge majority of people now access the internet on their mobile phones almost as often as on their personal computer. If your website is not mobile-friendly, you’re automatically forfeiting traffic, sales, conversions, and customer satisfaction. Use RWD (responsive web design) to ensure your site looks great on a mobile device. This strategy may be a little bit more expensive initially, but it’s a better option than creating a new and separate mobile version of your website. RWD retains your SEO and backlinks. Mobile is only going to get bigger in 2014, so jump on this SEO trend now.
These four SEO trends point the way to the future. Though SEO will always be changing, factors like mobile responsive sites, multimedia, social media, and quality content are here to stay. Use them to get ready for 2014!
