4 Web Optimization Trends Every Entrepreneur Should Know

If your business relies on a strong online presence to draw customers, then you already know that you need to pay attention to your site’s search engine optimization. The SEO landscape is changing rapidly, with search engines taking a hard-line approach. Google, for instance, has penalized many websites for using bad design, poor quality content, and employing shady link-building techniques, to mention but a few. According to Forrester Research, SEO is a critical source of targeted traffic for online entrepreneurs, and strategies that have worked for your business in the past may no longer yield any meaningful results. 

  

Today, effective website optimization strategies have to incorporate multiple elements, including mobile optimization, brand building, and social media integration. The following are some recent SEO trends to help you adapt your digital marketing campaign to address these realities.

Updated search algorithms

Google has changed its search algorithms to fight against spam and old SEO techniques that manipulate search engine algorithms without adding value to the user. In the last few years, there have been multiple SEO updates, like Google panda, penguin, and hummingbird, with the latter being the most recent Google algorithm update. These changes have forced digital marketers to focus on providing their visitors with high-quality content, and not keyword-stuffed articles that do not make sense to the user.

Focus on SEO for mobile devices 

When you look at how people go through their days, you will soon realize that many individuals live in a multi-screen society. People use their PCs and laptops a lot, and switch to switch to tablets and smartphones when they are not close to their computers. The shift toward mobile devices has influenced the way people communicate online, with the number of smartphone users expected to increase to 79.7% in 2017 from 56.8% today, according to NewMedia. 

In another study performed by Bronto software and Magento, it was highlighted that 54% and 64% of online buyers use a tablet and smartphone, respectively. This implies that digital marketers must make their sites mobile-friendly in order to reach the growing market via their mobile devices. One of the methods advocated by Google is making your website design more responsive. A responsive design allows your website to automatically adjust to the size of the screen or device being used by the visitor, making the web pages easy to view on multiple devices. This strategy also allows you to maintain a single URL, since you will not have to redirect mobile-internet users to a separate website. 

Focus on location-based search 

With about 56% of mobile online users using their devices to perform local searches, businesses whose clients live within a particular area should optimize their websites for local searches. This has many benefits, including putting your business on the map for local searches, increasing same-day conversions by up to 80%, and taking the lead in getting an area-specific audience in today’s internet-centric age. 

Focus on social media signals 

As mentioned before, changes in search engine algorithms have led to new ways of performing SEO, like the use of social signals to boost search engine ranking. Signals such as comments, likes, shares, and followers indicate how online users interact with your business and the content you offer them. Search engines access your visibility relative to your competitors based on these signals. This means that a strong social media presence, with many social signals on multiple platforms, leads to better ranking of your websites.  

With search engine optimization trends changing rapidly, some business owners may find it difficult to keep up with the changes, especially if they are not skilled in SEO. As such, you should focus on the key areas when developing your business’ SEO plan, including getting a responsive website design, creating relevant content with proper balance of keywords, and developing your social platforms. Contact Website Optimization to discuss the SEO and CRO of your mobile website.

Website Optimization
3134 SUNNYWOOD DR
ANN ARBOR, MI 48103
Phone: (877) 748-3678
Fax: (734) 661-1331
http://www.websiteoptimization.com/
https://plus.google.com/108123505155721216764/