Search Engine Optimisation is an ever-changing game, with algorithm updates released on a regular basis and competitors often investing heavily. It is therefore important to stay on top of the latest developments to stay ahead of the competition, so the team at mtc have taken a look at the year ahead to see what trends will be required to enhance your online visibility.
The introduction of AMP
With Google’s introduction of Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), it’s more important than ever to ensure your pages can be viewed on mobile. AMP can reduce the load time of your website by up to 4 times, ensuring only key content is loaded by the browser and unnecessary content is stripped out. AMP pages benefit from greater visibility in Google search results too, with a special icon displayed next to them. Tailoring your website for mobile is a key to driving traffic in 2017.
Voice Search Queries
Virtual assistants such as Siri and Google Voice are becoming part of our daily lives, with around 20% of mobile searches now being made through voice. There has never been a better time to tailor content for the next generation of SEO. Long tail keywords will become key as voice search grows, with virtual assistants such as Siri and Google Voice processing queries such as ‘Show me a restaurant in Edinburgh’. As you are often provided with a single instant answer as opposed to a list of results, it’s more important than ever to be at the top of your game.
Content
If you’ve already read our blog ‘Is Content Still King?’, you’ll know that the answer is a resounding yes. Despite the fact our idea of what content is has changed over the years, the importance of giving users something to read and interact with on a page has continued to grow. Content can take the form of text, images, video or audio and ensures that there is plenty for both search engines and visitors to take in on a web page.
Speed!
It isn’t news to anybody that a fast loading website is a key factor in successful SEO. With the number of mobile users rapidly rising, slow websites can often lead to people dropping off quickly. A delay of 1 second can lead to a 7% reduction in conversions. Implementing compression across websites as well as ensuring that it is structured properly can ensure that your mobile users stay, browse, and buy.
With Google frequently changing their game, we know it can be challenging to keep up with all the latest updates. Get in touch with us today to find out more about our SEO services to make sure you stay on top of it in 2017.