Even though the internet has changed a lot over the last decade, with the emergence of web3 and an increase in mobile app usage, search engine optimization (SEO) is still one of the most powerful tools in a business’s marketing arsenal. As we approach the end of 2023, it’s time to start getting prepared for what 2024 will bring, which means getting to grips with the latest SEO practices.
Mobile-First Indexing
More than half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices, which is why search engines like Google are switching to mobile-first indexing. Simply put, this means mobile versions of websites are being placed front and center on the SERPs. To be successful in 2024, businesses need to focus on responsive designs, intuitive user experience, and faster loading screens.
Voice Search Optimization
Smart assistants like Google Home, Siri, and Alexa have made their way into almost every home, especially as they come loaded onto many smartphones, TVs, and other devices. With their presence growing, more people have become accustomed to voice-searching. For example, when attempting to boost exposure for a Shopify store, focus on long-tail keywords, natural interaction, sequential numbering, and reducing type-based inputs.
User Experience and Core Web Vitals
User experience isn’t a new priority for SEO, but it’s going to continue into 2024 and beyond. Google’s Core Web Vitals, which tracks real-world user experience in terms of speed, responsiveness, and digital stability, is going to be a heavy focus in 2024. Businesses that can improve these metrics are more likely to succeed.
E-E-A-T
E-E-A-T is a next-level concept that is going to be imperative for SEO in 2024. Standing for Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness, this concept builds on a previous set of principles by adding in the “Experience” aspect. What this means for businesses is that content relevance and knowledge are pivotal to content quality assessments.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
AI and ML have been gaining significant attention in 2022 and 2023, with services like ChatGPT and OpenAI entering the mainstream. In 2023, AI is going to have even more of an influence on SEO best practices because search engines are adopting powerful algorithms to personalize results, interpret intent, and offer more accuracy. To get ready for AI SEO, all content needs to be relevant and high-quality.
Search engines aren’t the only players making the most of AI and ML. Businesses can implement AI-powered platforms into their marketing efforts. For example, instead of manually searching keywords, ChatGPT can be programmed to fetch keywords. However, it’s important to note that content must not be written using AI; Google and other search engines have ways to sniff it out and penalize perpetrators; the human touch will always be a necessity.
Getting ahead of the competition in 2024 means designing responsive websites, optimizing for voice search, focusing on user experience, and making sure all content is to a high standard. Even though anything can happen to change SEO best practices, everything outlined above is here to stay.
