SEO Changes and Trends to Watch For in 2019

Whether you’re new to the world of digital marketing or a seasoned search engine optimization aficionado, predicting trends is essential to keeping your brand relevant and visible on the digital landscape. Here are three trends to know in the coming year so you can keep your SEO strategies on point:

With new voice-recognition technologies available through smartphones and in-home devices, more and more online searches are being conducted not through typing a keyword, but through asking a verbal question. In fact, by 2020, some experts predict that 50% of all searches will be conducted using voice search technology. As such, any SEO company needs to adopt new strategies to account for this trend in 2019, such as altering keywords to be more conversational.

With increasing scrutiny, Google has been using artificial intelligence to evaluate the usability of websites. Rather than using real internet users to explore websites’ readability or navigability, algorithms and bots accomplish the task. Google may then reward user-friendly sites by bumping them closer to the top of search engine rankings. In order to account for Google’s AI efforts to collect usability data, an SEO company should ensure that its website is logical, readable, and well-structured.

Any SEO company knows that mobile searching is on the rise and that Google dominates the mobile market. In fact, 96% percent of mobile search traffic is driven by Google, and 30% of mobile searches are related to a geographic location.

In the coming year, mobile-friendliness might become even more important for a website’s rankings. Earlier in 2018, Google began migrating websites to a mobile-first index, meaning that Google now determines rankings based on a page’s mobile version. Though the algorithm still considers desktop versions, mobile versions may be more highly valued. If you have a stellar desktop website, but your mobile website leaves something to be desired, your rankings could be impacted. Prioritize mobile-friendliness for successful search engine optimization in 2019.

If these trends play out, 2019 will be an exciting year for the world of digital marketing. With these new transformations, navigating the internet will be a more user-friendly and efficient process than ever before. As changes continue to unfold, adapt your SEO strategies to stay connected with your online audience in the coming year.

Just getting started in the industry? Talk to an SEO company to learn how to help your business thrive. For more information, contact WashTone Media today!