Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has been a hot topic for years because it is an effective way to attract new consumers to your online presence. As we head into the new year, you may wonder how to approach SEO in 2023. Controlling over 80% of the search engine market, Google has been the king of the web for years. With advances in machine learning and the Google search algorithm, SEO is constantly evolving. In 2023, we will see even more changes to how sites rank. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, check out our list of some of the top digital trends we saw in 2022 and how those will continue in 2023.
Optimizing Video and Photo Content for SEO
YouTube is the largest video-sharing platform in the world, with over 1 billion users, so it makes sense that utilizing video content can reach more consumers. Optimizing videos for SEO is very similar to optimizing articles. Keyword research is key to this digital trend. Use your researched keywords in both the channel name and video description. YouTube also allows you to add categorical tags to a video.
Along with video content, the photos on your site can also help with your rankings. The ranking factors with images are always changing, along with every other factor. Use high-quality images on your site that are clear but don’t slow down your load times. Try customizing the name of the image file to match the content of the page. Google crawlers look for pictures that are relevant to the page’s content.
Long-Tail Keyword Search Queries
Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific phrases typically used when a consumer is close to the purchase stage. With advancements in voice search like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant, users are more likely to search for longer phrases. For example, a pomeranian owner looking for dog food may use voice search to say, “What is the best dog food for Pomeranians” while if she was typing, she might only ask, “best dog food.”
Because long-tail keywords are more targeted, these queries see an average click-through rate of 3-5% higher than short-tail keywords. Be sure to include this digital trend in your keyword research.
Local Search Listings
A study conducted in early 2022 shows that 35% of consumers search for online businesses multiple times per week. Additionally, in 2019, Google noted that searches for “best” and “right now” increased by over 125% since the previous year. Oftentimes, a searcher’s question is answered by the search results themselves.
If you search “best pizza place near me,” you may not even have to click on the results to find a place to get your pie. These are called zero-click searches, and they are becoming increasingly popular. Having a mobile-friendly site with a highly visible name, address, and phone number is crucial to Local SEO. Be sure to include this digital trend in your SEO strategy for 2023.
User Experience
Google takes into account over 200 ranking factors when crawling websites. The importance of each factor when it comes to ranking is always evolving. Recently, the digital trend of user page experience has been rising in Google’s search algorithm. This includes important site vitals like how long it takes for your page to load and how long it takes for the site to respond to a user’s interaction. Page load times and speed are some of the most important factors for ranking in Google SERPs.
In 2021, nearly 60% of all Google searches were conducted through mobile devices. Mobile-first indexing is among the top-ranking factors for the Google algorithm. Google recommends designing your mobile website to include the same amount of information as your desktop site to maximize user experience.
High-Quality Backlink Building
Google processes over 100,000 search queries every second. When processing a query, Google Backlink building is the backbone of every good SEO strategy. Backlinks build authority and trustworthiness for your site and can help your rankings increase. Remember, quality trumps quantity when it comes to links!
You may wonder if keeping up with digital trends is even worth it. To answer your query, yes! Nearly 60% of clicks come from the top five organic search results. Developing your unique SEO strategy is essential to getting more online traffic. Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone. Reach out to KDGS Works today to learn more about our SEO services!
Let Us Help You Succeed!
We can meet your SEO needs and help you rank higher in the Local Pack, organic search, and YouTube. Whatever your business goals, we will work to build an SEO strategy that reaches them. We do everything we can to work with our clients to make web design and online marketing affordable. Contact us for more information.
