Google algorithms change. To ensure that your site includes the changes, you need to keep abreast of Google updates. By incorporating those updates into your SEO strategy, you will increase your SERP and cement your site’s position in the top search results. Here are a few SEO strategies you need to try for 2018.
1. Answer Search Query Topics
Time spent and clicks on your pages are important. RackBrain, Google’s signal that contributes to the result of a search query, gives your content higher rank when a user spends more time on your page. According to SearchMetrics, the dwell time for a first-page Google result is 3 minutes and 10 seconds.
When it comes to CTR, if your page gets more than average clicks, it means people find your content useful and thus worthy of a rank boost. To improve your CTR, you need to create in-depth content that fully answers search query topics and also contains LSI keywords, words and phrases that are closely linked to a page’s topic. For example, if your topic is about weight loss, some LSI keywords to add would be recipes, exercises, and nutrition.
2. Add Videos
Embed videos in your content or get left behind. The demand for video content is currently high, and it’s estimated that by 2021, 80 percent of online traffic will come from videos. With more and more people searching for information on YouTube rather than Google, you should create and optimize your content specifically for YouTube.
By creating great content, you will get backlinks, enabling your site to rise to the much sought-after first page. In fact, content and links happen to be Google’s first and second ranking factors.
3. Optimize for Mobile
I have to say a thing or two about mobile-friendliness. My good friends over at SEO Tribunal put together a fantastic study that clearly shows mobile is taking over online searches, which is why Google plans to switch to a mobile-first index. Meaning, Google will consider your mobile version of the site as the main version. You should prepare for this update by making your site mobile friendly, having a responsive design, and creating content that is the same across desktop and mobile versions.
4. Use the Question and Answer Form
Get ready for voice search. Create content that is in question-and-answer form, tailored to long-tail keywords, and optimized for local search since most voice queries are local.
To learn more about SEO stats and facts, check out the infographic below.
This infographic was provided by Josh Wardini, community manager at Webmastersjury.
