SEO can be confusing, everchanging, and downright hard…
But, it doesn’t have to be.
Yes, it’s true that Google’s algorithms that power Search changes a few times a year, meaning that what the algorithm prefers and actively pushes in search rankings also changes.
This doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to determine what will actually help your content and websites rank higher, it’s actually the opposite.
By simplifying your approach and focusing on the end-user (your customers or visitors), you’re already leagues ahead of self-professed SEO gurus.
In this short guide, we’ll be discussing a few pro tips you can start implementing this week to get the most out of your SEO efforts in 2020 and beyond.
- Create Content Your Users are Searching For
This may be the single most important takeaway you can get from this article or any other similar ones on the subject.
Instead of racking your brain and search results trying to find the types of content that “performs best,” you need to take a step back.
At the end of the day, users go on websites to read or watch content for one specific reason, it either helps solve a problem of theirs or it intrigues them and they want to find out more information.
For example, if you’re selling at-home fitness products, your content should reflect working out at home in the form of guides, how-to articles, free e-books, etc, as that is what that customer base is looking for.
How do you determine what your users want? Look at Google trend data, look at popular Instagram or Twitter accounts in your niche. People don’t tend to hide what they’re looking for, you just need to look.
- Focus on your Mobile Experience
A recent change that Google’s search algorithm has made for this upcoming year, is a clear preference on sites that have a great mobile experience.
As more and more of the world population shifts to their mobile devices to find information and products, sites need to shift their websites accordingly.
What does this mean exactly?
Make your content readable and easily digestible on small screens, be careful about your image and video placement, and optimize CTA’s for mobile users.
- Keyword Lists Are Gone, Utilize Content Themes
Gone are the days where you have to find lengthy keyword lists and stuff them all into your content, out of context and unnaturally.
It’s a mystery why Google ever preferred and rewarded this type of strategy to begin with, but we’re glad the tides have turned.
In order to organically and quickly increase your search results, your content should have specific themes, not necessarily keywords.
This means language or phrases centered around one or two key topics that your content (and desired user) is focused on. For example, if your content is about photography equipment, some themes would be the best budget gear, gear to take on travels, etc.
It all comes back to the point of being one step ahead of your end-user, and providing them with the content and information they’re already looking for.
- Focused Landing Pages
Many brands use a singular landing page as the home address of their website, which then branches off into their main website with all of the supporting pages and information.
What’s the benefit of having a landing page like this?
Great for call to actions when linked to an advertisement, and it’s also a way to bring in users directly from search results.
But in order to do this, the copy and content on your landing page has to be clear, short, and to the point.
It should outline exactly what the main point of your website is, and be tied back to why a user would be searching for it.
Restate the problem the user is going through, and clearly describe your solution in two sentences or less.
- Social Media Growth = SEO Growth
Another important factor evolving in the SEO world that many people choose to overlook is the growing importance of social media engagement.
At the end of the day, your content being posted on social media platforms are backlinks, right?
They’re still being hosted on website platforms, whether that’s Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. Even reposting your content on social media will still link back to you when discovered in results.
The more engagements and traffic you can deliver to your social media content and pages, the more Google will push that content in search results and associate it with your main website and brand pages.
- Site Speed Matters
Another big takeaway of all of these tips is that Google heavily prefers high performing websites over websites that aren’t optimized for what users expect today.
Along with making sure your content and website look great on mobile, another super important factor when trying to increase your search rankings is the speed of your website.
Slow loading sites that lag, glitch, and lead to 404 error pages, are far less likely to be ranked higher than clean responsible pages.
Conclusion
There is a lot of mystery and uncertainty associated with SEO, especially in 2020, but we’re here to assure you it’s nothing to be afraid of.
By taking a step back and thinking about it from a logical, marketing perspective, it becomes quite simple.
You’re simply providing your end customers with exactly what they want, so you don’t even have to worry about finding them, they’ll find you.
