Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is an ever-evolving field, and keeping up with the latest trends and strategies is critical for businesses looking to improve their online visibility. As we head further into 2023, the following five SEO services are essential for any business looking to succeed in the online marketplace.
SEO Trends in 2023
Some trends have taken over as we launch into March of 2023. AI is the most prolific and most talked about trend. What will the impact of AI be on SEO, on search engine rankings, and the use of search engines in the future?
This largely remains unknown at this time, but the use of AI will grow, as will the sophistication of the results.
Here are some other trends to watch out for in 2023.
- Despite the 2022 updates focused on combatting auto-generated content, AI content will likely only increase in 2023.
- Like content AI, 2023 will see an increase in automated SEO tasks as digital marketers continue to leverage the power of SEO software tools.
- Click-through rates in 2023 will likely be impacted as searchers more easily navigate multiple search results pages with Google’s infinite scroll in SERPs.
- Google will continue to reward long-form, informative content, and pages that provide thin content will need to bolster that content to earn more value.
- Zero-click search, where the query is answered via the SERP itself, will continue to advance and account for more search results than in previous years.
For more SEO Trends in 2023, download the report from Search Engine Journal.
These statistics should continue to hold steady for 2023.
- 80% of internet buyers perform one or more online research before making a considerable purchase
- Over 60% of online consumers will research a product or service online before making a purchasing decision
- 75% of online searchers never scroll past Google’s first page or other search engines
- Search engines account for 300% more organic website traffic than social media.
Now that we know the SEO trends for 2023 and some key statistics, let’s see what SEO services are must-haves.
1) Mobile SEO Optimization
With mobile devices accounting for over half of all internet traffic, optimizing your website for mobile devices is more important than ever. Google has switched to a mobile-first indexing system, which means they prioritize the mobile version of your site when determining its ranking in search results.
Mobile optimization for SEO involves optimizing a website to be accessible and responsive on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Mobile optimization aims to improve the user experience, which can lead to higher search engine rankings and increased traffic.
To optimize your site for mobile, you’ll need to ensure that it loads quickly, has a responsive design, and is easy to navigate on a smaller screen. You should also pay attention to the content on your mobile site, ensuring it is easy to read and interact with on a mobile device.
2) Content Marketing
Creating high-quality, engaging content has always been a cornerstone of effective SEO, and that isn’t changing anytime soon. In fact, in 2023, content marketing will be more important than ever.
To create effective content, you need to understand your target audience and what they seek. Then, you can create content that addresses their needs and provides value. This could include blog posts, videos, infographics, podcasts, and more.
It’s important to note that simply creating great content isn’t enough – you also need to promote it effectively. This means sharing it on social media, building backlinks, and using other SEO tactics to ensure it gets the attention it deserves.
3) Voice Search Optimization
Voice search is becoming increasingly popular as consumers use smart speakers and digital assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant to perform online searches.
According to a study by comScore, 50% of all searches will be voice searches by the end of 2023.
This means that businesses need to optimize their content for voice searches to ensure that their website appears in the results when users perform voice searches.
Voice search optimization involves using natural language keywords and phrases that people will likely use when speaking rather than typing. This requires a shift from traditional keyword research and a focus on conversational language.
Additionally, businesses should ensure that their website is mobile-friendly and easy to navigate, as voice searches are often performed on mobile devices.
You’ll need to focus on long-tail keywords and natural language pathways to optimize your site for voice search. This means using phrases that people are likely to say out loud when using a voice assistant rather than short, choppy keywords.
It’s also important to ensure that your website is structured to make it easy for voice assistants to understand. This includes using schema markup to provide additional context and information about your content.
4) Local SEO
Local SEO is a search engine optimization (SEO) strategy that helps your business be more noticeable in local search results on Google. For businesses with physical locations, local SEO is critical.
This involves optimizing your site for local search terms, such as “best pizza near me” or “plumber in [city name].”
To do this, you must build local citations and backlinks, optimize your Google My Business listing, and ensure that your website content includes local keywords and phrases.
You may also consider running local advertising campaigns to boost your visibility in local search results.
One of the critical components of local SEO is optimizing a website’s Google My Business (GMB) profile. GMB is a free tool provided by Google that allows businesses to manage their online presence on Google, including their listing on Google Maps and local search results.
Another important aspect of local SEO is optimizing the website’s content for local keywords. Local keywords are phrases that include the name of the city or region where the business is located, such as “plumber in London.”
Optimizing the website’s content for these keywords can help it rank higher in local search results and attract more local customers.
Local SEO involves creating and maintaining a strong social media presence. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram allow businesses to connect with local customers and promote their products and services.
By regularly posting engaging content and interacting with followers, businesses can improve their online reputation and attract more local customers.
Technical SEO
Technical SEO refers to optimizing a website’s technical aspects to improve its visibility and ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs). Technical SEO is an essential component of any successful SEO strategy.
It involves various activities to improve the website’s performance, speed, and usability for users and search engines.
The technical SEO process starts with a comprehensive audit of the website’s technical architecture, including its structure, URLs, server configuration, and mobile-friendliness.
This audit helps identify any technical issues that might be hindering the website’s performance and ranking on SERPs.
One of the essential technical SEO factors is website speed. A slow website can significantly impact user experience and lead to high bounce rates, negatively affecting its ranking on search engines.
Therefore, technical SEO involves optimizing the website’s load time, caching, compression, and minimizing HTTP requests to improve page speed.
Another crucial aspect of technical SEO is site architecture. An optimized site structure makes it easier for search engine bots to crawl and index the website’s pages, leading to better visibility and ranking on SERPs.
Technical SEO experts often recommend using a flat site architecture with a clear hierarchy of categories and pages, making it easy for users and search engines to navigate the website.
Read Next:
- Best Technical SEO Tools in 2023 – Use these tools to ensure your site performs at its best.
- Best Free SEO Tools – Small budget? Use these tools first.
- Understanding SEO – Power up your knowledge.
Must-have SEO Services: Final Thoughts
SEO will continue to be a much-needed, much-maligned, and often-misunderstood service throughout 2023. There certainly will be impactful trends that will continue to shape and evolve the SEO landscape and SEO services as a whole, but SEO will not be replaced anytime soon.
For more assistance with improving your SEO, content marketing, or press distribution, contact the Better SEO Results team of experts today!