4 SEO Trends You Need to Know to Rank High on Google in 2018
Jumpstart your SEO efforts by reading these 4 SEO trends and learn how to rank high on Google in 2018:
Google Accelerated Mobile Pages
In the last two years, mobile search queries exceeded desktop queries, and this SEO trend shows further growth in that direction. In 2016, Google introduced an open-sourced project called Accelerated Mobile Pages. It is an online publishing format that enables web pages to load 4 times faster with 10 times fewer data.
Fast-loading web pages are guaranteed to strengthen customer retention because they decrease bounce rate, a very important factor to rank high on SERP. In addition, AMP-enhanced web pages are inclined to rank higher for relevant search terms.
What to do:
First, you need to make sure that your website is mobile responsive. Then you can set up AMP by embedding its properties into your website’s JavaScript or HTML code.If your website uses content management systems like WordPress, Joomla or Drupal, you can use AMP plugins.
Google Quick Answers
Google has also launched the Quick Answers feature, which are small snippets of information that Google highlights at the top of their SERPs. Google publishes the snippet in text block taken from the summarized answer from the webpage it selects. It commonly appears in bullet points or numbered steps.
With Quick Answers, some users are finding the information they are searching for straight away, without clicking the links prompted by search queries.
What to do:
To increase your chances of being featured in Quick Answer, create content based on your target user’s frequently searched queries. Then write a headline that directly answers these queries on your website.
Voice Search
In addition to the growth of mobile search usage, people are doing more voice searches instead of typing their queries.
People have started using Google Assistant, Cortana, Siri, and Alexa to make searches because it is quicker and more convenient. Voice queries are usually very specific. It is like speaking to your device as you would to a person.
What to do:
Write articles that provide exact explanations to commonly asked questions. Post blogs that answer niche questions, something that would not respond instantly on SERP.
Long-Tail Keywords
Searches made by users have become increasingly more complex and specific as indicated by long-tail keywords. Incorporating long tail keywords is an SEO trend that can help you rank high on Google.
Long-tail keywords are keyword phrases that contain 3 or 4 words and denote more specific, commercial intent. Whenever a person uses a highly specific search phrase, they are more inclined to be looking for an exact product or service, which indicates a higher likelihood of purchasing action.
What to do:
Build and publish regular content like blogs and update web pages to contain long-tail keywords. Make sure your keywords reflect your customer’s intention and they answer your customer’s precise desires and needs.
You can use free keyword tools from Google to help with your long-tail keywords research and strategy:
Google Adwords Keyword Planner provides keyword ideas based on phrases, categories and search volume trends for any particular selected keywords.
Google Suggest displays popular queries based on information typed by users.
Google Related Searches located at the bottom of SERP provides similar information based on your original typed search queries.
Did we miss out any SEO trends? What SEO strategy works best for you? Let us know.