Keeping your website at the top of its game requires knowledge of SEO. A different set of circumstances arises with every major or minor update to Google’s algorithm. Let’s look at the SEO changes that made a difference this year.
SEO Changes 2024
1. Mobile-Friendliness
You probably know by now that mobile-first indexing is a key criterion in Google’s eyes. However, in the first quarter of 2021, Google took it a step further. Due to their optimization efforts, many websites have two versions: the desktop and mobile versions. Until recently, Google placed its emphasis on ranking the desktop version first. Now, Google applies mobile-first indexing.
NP Digital recommends that your website be mobile-friendly to ensure a quality user experience. In addition, ensuring your website is mobile-friendly helps boost its rankings since Google now deems mobile its go-to format.
2. Voice Search
When they first came out, voice-driven services were buggy and virtually unusable. However, voice technology has improved significantly in the past two years. Google Assistant and Alexa lead the way in innovation in the voice technology space.
With over 50% of queries conducted through voice search, Google will continue to innovate. Optimizing your website for voice search should be high on your list of priorities.
To do this, make your site’s content scannable. Use conversational language in your text so that Google can match your content to users’ queries. Enrich your content with long-tail keywords and understand how people use voice search. Delve into some of the questions people ask when searching and tailor your answers to these questions.
3. EEAT
Google hones in on Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness, or EEAT, to provide its users with the most valuable content. Google started valuing authoritative, expert content above information that doesn’t inspire as much trust in users.
This doesn’t mean you have to get a Ph.D. in your niche. It simply means that you need to offer well-researched information to inspire trust. Provide actionable advice and provide as much proof of your claims as possible with useful data and statistics.
4. Long-Form Content
We are talking about SEO changes, so how can we forget to discuss content length? Content length has always been a contention among search engine optimization experts. At one time, 300-word posts were considered ideal for targeting individual keywords. Now, 1500-word articles are all the rage.
Google has entered a new era where it values its users’ satisfaction above everything else. So, long-form content that solves people’s pain points is the way to go. Don’t focus so much on the word count; try to educate your visitors fully without any extraneous fluff.
5. Video Content
The average user in the United States has ten video streaming apps on their smartphone. Contrary to what you should do regarding your written content, short-form videos attract far more interest than lengthy efforts. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels are good measuring sticks for what works with video.
6. Data and Analytics
In 2021, Google moved to Google Analytics 4. Familiarize yourself with the interface and prepare for the changes as Google moves to data tracking in a cookie-less manner.
Achieving top rankings in the SERPs for your keywords depends on your ability to understand data. So, track your analytics closely and draw useful conclusions from how your users navigate your site.
7. Predictive Search
Predictive search in 2022 considers app usage, browsing history, and calendars in its functionality. The service will also account for home and work locations to serve appropriate content depending on where users are located. Using these criteria in your content creation can give you access to different sub-niches in your market.
8. Image Optimization
For a while, images were relegated to secondary content. Now, images are taking on a greater role in ranking your website. Fully optimized high-quality images with alt tags and descriptions will provide your posts with a well-needed boost. Furthermore, snapping photos of your camera rather than relying on stock images you may find elsewhere is a good practice.
9. Semantically-Related Keywords
The Google Bert update was released in October 2019. Since then, Google’s algorithm has continued to evaluate website content semantically. In 2021, Google was looking to provide its users with content that was as close to what they would get from talking with a human being offline.
10. Local Search
Local search listings are already important for Google. With zero-click searches becoming the new standard, Google will look to provide answers to its users within the SERPs. Accounting for this paradigm shift is vital to the survival of your business. Failing to adjust may render your website virtually invisible in search engines.
Keep Up With the Trends
Google is moving into the future by making some ground-breaking SEO changes. Optimizing your website to meet your user’s needs will be vital to its sustainability through 2024 and beyond.