Hello, community! High-quality SEO optimization is your gateway to driving a massive influx of organic traffic from search engines. However, if you are a webmaster or have ever managed your own site, you are probably aware of how search engines sometimes behave: refusing to index pages, throwing wrenches into the works with every new update, and so on.
The main component of successful SEO optimization is knowledge. You need to stay on top of SEO trends to ensure your site stays ahead of the competition. Let’s dive into some of these trends in today’s review.
Remember, SEO traffic is native traffic, and it can be extremely costly. Curious about how native traffic differs from, for example, free traffic? Check out our dedicated review.
How Do Changes in SEO Happen?
The main factors influencing changes in SEO optimization are updates to search engine algorithms. The success of your optimization efforts depends on which parameters Google prioritizes at the moment. For instance, while buying external links might have been effective yesterday, it could harm your site today. This is just one example.
In general, many optimizers have long noted that the Gartner Hype Cycle hypothesis can be applied to changes in SEO. To put it briefly, it’s a more scientific and detailed version of the classic “everything new is just a forgotten old thing.”
Are Links Becoming Less Important?
There’s ongoing talk that external links are becoming less impactful in website promotion. For instance, many refer to Gary Illyes from the Google Search team, who stated during the SERP Conference 2024 that “…we only need a few links to rank pages.”
This quote, shared by Patrick Stox on his X account, sparked speculation about reducing the massive budgets typically allocated to purchasing external links.
However, if you look at statistics and data from tools like SERP or Ahrefs, the trend of buying backlinks hasn’t disappeared. It remains a key tool in site promotion. The focus should be on high-quality link building.
SEO Applies to Videos
If you drive traffic through a YouTube channel, you should know that SEO optimization can help you get more views.
Moreover, SEO optimization can boost organic traffic not only on YouTube videos but also on TikTok. In fact, with proper optimization, you can achieve significantly higher returns on TikTok than on YouTube.
Ignoring video SEO is not an option. The traffic gained can be redirected to your website, landing page, or offers.
Voice Search
According to the aforementioned Hype Cycle, voice search is making a comeback. Optimizing your resource for voice search can be challenging, but is it worth it?
Probably not. Even large businesses don’t invest heavily in optimizing for voice search. However, there’s an opportunity here: while others ignore this tool, you might capture some of the traffic searching via microphone.
It’s hard to say. That’s why we mention this trend: there’s a lot of debate about the relevance of voice search optimization, but no definitive answers.
Using AI in Website Optimization
AI-powered SEO is a modern trend that involves leveraging artificial intelligence for more efficient site optimization. AI is primarily used for analytics, but there are other popular cases where it assists with SEO.
For example, tools like SurferSEO create content briefs to increase the chances of ranking high in search results. Ignoring AI in site optimization is not an option!
High-Quality Content Drives Traffic
Google consistently emphasizes the importance of creating high-quality, unique content. Specific tools analyze these parameters, and they should theoretically influence rankings. However, in practice, quality content doesn’t always boost your site’s position. Does this mean there’s no point in focusing on content?
No. Content still matters because plagiarized texts can lead to penalties from search engines. Additionally, content affects trust in your resource, enhancing its authority in the eyes of both search engines and users.
So, should you focus on high-quality content? Yes. Even if its direct impact on SEO is limited, thinking two steps ahead shows why ignoring this aspect is unwise.
CWVs: Still the Main Optimization Factor
The final but most important trend is the influence of Core Web Vitals (CWVs) on website promotion. What are CWVs?
CWVs (Core Web Vitals) are a set of metrics Google prioritizes. These metrics heavily influence search results.
The key components of CWVs are:
- Website loading speed
- Interactivity
- Visual stability
These parameters reflect the technical quality of your site, encompassing both frontend and backend elements.
For instance, page loading speed has long been a critical factor for rankings, and this trend continues. Should you invest in bringing your site closer to perfection? Absolutely!
Conclusion
You’ve probably heard of many of the trends mentioned here before, perhaps even a long time ago. This is understandable because SEO trends are highly cyclical. Techniques that worked yesterday might backfire today, and that’s normal—it’s how the system operates.
The only constant is the need to stay informed about trends to avoid losing traffic. It’s best to do this together since two heads are better than one. You’ll find plenty of smart minds in our Telegram community, where you’re warmly invited!
As always, with respect, Your Geek!
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