The only constant in the world of SEO is change.
Think about how many different updates and changes you've made to your own company's SEO strategy over the years. Factors like changes to the Google Algorithm, the addition of a new social media platform, and of course, a shift in the way consumers look for products and services online are changing at a more rapid pace than ever before.
In other words?
Don't expect to win over this year's clients with last year's SEO strategies.
So, what are some of 2019's most vital SEO strategies? Which tactics, so far, have defined SEO in 2019 -- and which ones are just about to get their big break?
Read on to find out -- and to ensure that you're taking full advantage of these opportunities when it comes to your own digital marketing plan.
If we had to choose one SEO trend that has come to define 2019, then user intent would be it.
But what is it exactly?
In short, it's proving that you have a strong understanding of what a customer is looking for when they visit your website -- and that you've optimized your site (or social media platform) to make it as easy as possible for them to complete their objective quickly.
In general, there are two main forms of user intent: searching to learn more about the desired topic, or searching to make a purchase or book a service. (Other forms of user intent include navigational assistance, a search for a specific person, or news items.)
But how does user intent impact your SEO strategy?
Because by researching the keyword phrases that people most often use to get to your website, and by studying the specific path they take to complete their desired transaction (and the time it takes) you can make your site rank higher in the SERPs.
This means updating transaction pages, including links to social media profiles on landing pages, ensuring that your content educates consumers, and even including Google Maps with directions to your store on internal site pages.
In the past few years, many SEO trends have focused on off-page optimization and linking strategies -- AKA, using another website (like a guest post blog) to get consumers to visit your website.
Now, things have shifted back towards on-page SEO optimization.
Focusing on improving your site/page loading time, ensuring that your site is compatible with mobile devices, and even smaller details like selecting a strong meta-title and using header tags will make a huge difference in your on-page SEO strategy.
On-page SEO also relates to image optimization, the length of blog posts, (FYI -- today's readers want somewhere around 1300 words) and adding schema.
Yes, Google is still the ultimate ruler of all search engines.
But especially in 2019, Amazon is catching up. If you list your products on Amazon (and if you don't, you likely should) you should start thinking about your search optimization strategies on the platform with the same level of seriousness as you do with your own website.
We know what you're thinking: Is Amazon optimization really all that important?
Given that more and more consumers navigate straight to Amazon, and don't use Google or another search engine when they're ready to make a purchase, absolutely.
Today's consumers will also check Amazon once they've found a product they like online elsewhere, to see if they can get a better deal on the e-commerce platform.
To optimize your Amazon listings, study up on popular keywords, take high-quality photos, and of course, aim to get as many customer reviews as you can.
The final SEO 2019 trend that you need to be aware of?
Consumers are officially tired of clickbait.
Instead, they're craving creative content that actually teaches them something, is original, and is even a bit longer than the content they read in the past.
Today's market is more than fed up with misleading article titles, fluff pieces, and lazy regurgitations of the same content over and over again.
Plus, creating too much clickbait and not enough genuinely interesting content can and will damage your brand's reputation. How can you expect your consumer base to see you as a thought leader in your industry if you can't even come up with an original, inspiring thought or idea?
If you truly want your content to be shared, commented on, and linked back to by other blogs, the golden rule of 2019 is to post less, but to post better.
This means working with experienced freelancers, hiring artists to create unique images for your post, and becoming less obsessed with keywords and more obsessed with quality content.
We hope that this post has inspired you to implement these 2019 SEO trends into your current strategy.
So, what are the two biggest trends in search engine optimization in 2019?
If we had to select only two items from this list, we'd say improving the quality of your content instead of focusing on output alone, and developing an SEO strategy informed by user intent above all else.
But what if you don't have the time, the creative skills, or the technical know-how to take advantage of all of the tactics on this list for 2019 and beyond?
At SEOClerks, we make it easy for you to find the professionals that do.
Click here to learn more about how we help you to connect with the right freelancers, manage your orders, and get the results your website deserves as soon as possible.
And remember -- it's never too early to start preparing for 2020's SEO trends.
