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Video Summary
Today, we’re diving into the world of SEO and exploring the latest SEO trends for 2024.
Whether you’re an SEO pro or just starting out, keeping up with these changes can make a big difference for your website. We’ll cover everything from voice search and AI to mobile optimization.
So, grab a comfy seat and let’s get started on how to make your site shine this year!
Video Transcript
Hey, it’s Jeffrey Kirk here. Are you ready to unlock the hottest SEO trends of 2024 and take your digital game to the next level? Today I’m covering seven of these SEO trends and giving you an action step related to each one.
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, these simple tips will give your website a boost. So, let’s get started!
Trend #1: User Experience is King
First up, let’s talk about User Experience, or UX. Google is all about giving users the best experience possible. This year, it’s more important than ever. And here’s why…
Google cares a lot about user experience and they try to measure this factor on websites. In March 2024, they updated these measurements, which they call Core Web Vitals.
Interaction to Next Paint (INP)
A new metric, Interaction to Next Paint (INP), replaced the First Input Delay (FID).
INP measures how fast a webpage reacts when users interact with it, like clicking a button or link. It checks the time from the user’s action to when the page visually responds.
INP gives a better sense of how quickly users can interact with page elements. Google says a good INP score is 200 milliseconds or less. And they’ve provided a guide on how to improve your score.
If you’re interested in INP, learn more about it here.
So, why is INP important? Well, Google knows users prefer fast, smooth websites, so make sure to audit your site for technical SEO and ensure your page speed and user experience are up to par.
Your website needs to be fast. Slow-loading sites are a no-go. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to see how you can speed things up. Also, more people are browsing on their phones than ever before, so make sure your site looks and works great on mobile devices.
A clear, simple layout helps users quickly find what they’re looking for. If they have a hard time navigating your site, they’ll leave, and Google will notice.
Trend #2: Quality Content is Non-Negotiable
Next, I want to bring up content. Content is still the core of SEO, but not just any content—it has to be quality content. Keeping your website’s content up to date is super important for a few reasons.
First off, having fresh and relevant content makes your website more enjoyable for users. This can bump up your site’s ranking in the search results. Plus, regularly updating your content helps make sure everything on your site is accurate and current, which also helps your search engine rankings.
But here’s the thing: just because a page is getting a lot of traffic doesn’t mean your work is done. In fact, it’s actually just getting started!
That’s because in the next few years, there’ll be other sites putting out stuff that’s even better than your stuff. They might have new data or insights that Google loves.
To keep up, you’ve got to continue adding and updating your content. What’s relevant and helpful today might turn into old news in a year or two if you don’t give it some love.
Trend #3: Voice Search Optimization
Using voice search with personal assistants like Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa is becoming more popular. That means it’s important to make sure your website is set up to handle voice searches.
According to research, around half the U.S. population uses voice search every day. Both Google and Bing have voice search options right on their search bars. Look for the little microphone icon and you’ll see.
Here’s what you need to know about this trend:
Getting the top spot in the search results is more important now. That’s because when people ask a voice question, their device gives them one answer. Unlike regular search where you can scroll through lots of results, with voice search, you need to be the top pick.
So, it’s vital to think about how people talk when they’re searching out loud. For example, instead of optimizing for “best pizza NYC,” think about optimizing for “Where can I find the best pizza in New York City?”.
To make sure you show up for voice searches, use keywords and write your content in a way that sounds like how people talk naturally. Write in a conversational tone. People use more natural language when speaking than when typing.
And use longer phrases that people might say, not just short keywords.
Trend #4: Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E‑E-A‑T)
Google changed how it judges quality content , emphasizing the need for real expertise and genuinely helpful information.
In December 2022, Google updated its well-known EAT guidelines. EAT was Expertise, Authority, and Trust. And they added a new factor in front: Experience, making it E‑EAT. Now Google will look at the personal experience of the author or creator when judging the quality of content.
But what exactly does “experience” mean here?
Google wants to ensure that the person creating the content has real-life, hands-on experience with the topic they’re discussing.
For instance, let’s say I run an SEO agency. I have firsthand experience in SEO and can confidently talk about upcoming trends in 2024. However, if I were to write about common causes of heart disease on a health website, it wouldn’t be reliable because I’m not a medical professional and have no experience in healthcare.
This means websites need to pay more attention not only to who is creating their content but also to the topics they’re covering.
At the same time, Google introduced a “helpful content” update, pushing for original, informative content with unique, valuable insights. This change targets content that is made just to rank high in searches, such as mass-produced AI content.
Instead, Google wants “people-first content” that truly helps users and matches their search intent.
What does this mean for you?
Google’s emphasis on expertise means content should be created by people with real knowledge and experience. While E‑E-A‑T isn’t a direct ranking factor, it helps show Google that your content is high quality.
Expect to see more pages in the search results created by experts or those with hands-on experience. This means SEO professionals and content creators might need to do more interviews and gather quotes, with subject matter experts playing a bigger role in content creation.
What can you do?
Show your credentials and expertise in your field. Talk to important people in the field and include their thoughts and ideas in your content.
You can also include links to trustworthy websites such as well-known news outlets, universities, and research centers. And remember, making helpful content isn’t just about new stuff you create. It’s also about improving what you already have on your website.
Trend #5: Visual Search is on the Rise
People are getting used to searching in new ways. For example, according to a recent study, about 30% of younger adults in the U.S. have tried searching using pictures instead of words. With visual search, you can use images to find what you’re looking for.
Google has a tool called Google Lens. You can use it to search for things using your camera or by uploading photos.
Google also introduced Multisearch in 2022, which lets you search in a variety of different ways — like typing, talking, and using images. For example, you could take a picture of a black water bottle and then type “pink” to find similar water bottles in that color.
Google Lens is now handling 10 billion searches every month, which is a big jump from 3 billion in 2021. As more people start using visual search, images become more important for finding information.
So, if you want your content to show up when people use Google Lens, you need to focus on image SEO.
Here are some tips:
Make sure your images really show what you’re talking about. If someone searches for a cheese pizza and you show them a cheese sandwich, it won’t be helpful.
Use good-quality images that look nice and show off your products or demonstrate your services well. And give your images good names and descriptions so search engines understand what they’re all about.
And don’t forget to use structured data to help search engines understand your content better.
Trend #6: AI and SEO
Artificial intelligence is transforming SEO in many ways.
It isn’t just changing how search engines work. It’s also a bunch of writing tools you can use to help create content faster. For example, tools like Chat GPT‑4 can help generate ideas and even draft content.
You can use AI to deliver personalized content experiences to your users and help analyze your SEO performance and suggest improvements. And since it’s easier to make lots of content with AI, SEO might get more competitive.
Try using AI writing tools to speed up different stages of making content. But remember, AI isn’t perfect. Sometimes it gets things wrong or it just isn’t up to date.
AI might be a good writing tool, but you’re the expert. It’s still important to use your own judgment. Make sure anything you publish is accurate and represents your brand well.
Trend #7: Stay Updated and Adapt As Needed
Actually, this is not so much a trend as it is a way of life in the world of SEO. SEO is always changing so you need to adapt as things change.
You can think of SEO as a never-ending learning process. Keep educating yourself and stay ahead of the curve. Then try new things and see what works best for your site and for your business.
And there you have it! These are the SEO trends to watch now. Implement the tips I gave you, and you’ll be on your way to achieving higher rankings and better visibility.
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And, since you made it this far, are you ready to drive more traffic to your website? I put together an SEO Audit Checklist for you. It’s free, and you can get it at upatdawn.biz/10audit. Go ahead and get that now.
Your business deserves to be seen online, and I will help you get there.
Thanks for watching and have a great day!
