As 2018 approaches, it’s time to switch up strategies and update the approach in time for Google’s next algorithm change. Here we share four easy to implement tips to help you to start off with your best foot forward in the new year.
Voice search optimisation
As technology advances, SEO moves to keep up. Voice search technology is already set to dominate the market in more ways than one – with products such as Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home proving popular this Christmas. To keep up with these new advancements (as well as increased iPad and smartphone voice searches) Google is incorporating elements to help it to shift further towards voice searches in 2018 – including ‘natural language’ and ‘intelligent keyword’ rich content. According to the search engine, voice queries already account for 1 in 5 searches – a figure that’s likely to rise over the coming months.
A focus on user experience
User experience is paramount – and it’s something we focus on intently here at Search and More. Without flow and functionality, visitors to your site are unlikely to engage with your company or decide to part with their hard-earned cash – even if you have the swankiest, shiniest website. 2018 is set to be the year that Google forces designers, developers and businesses to be more mindful of the journey users take as they navigate their site.
Get mobile
If your website isn’t already responsive, the remnants of 2017 offer a ‘last chance’ for you to make amends. Google already penalises sites without sufficient flexibility when it comes to viewing across multiple devices. As over 70% of traffic now comes via smartphones and tablets clunky, made-for-desktop sites pose a variety of problems and frustrations for users – something Google doesn’t take lightly. As a result greater penalisation is in force for 2018 – and responsive website design continue to take priority over out-dated counterparts.
Visual appeal
Image search is constantly evolving and developing – meaning photos, visuals and graphics are gaining greater prevalence from an SEO perspective. For this reason, it’s paramount that all images have accompanying relevant alt-tags – but it’s also worth scoping out a strategy to help you incorporate images into your search marketing approach.
Get in touch today to see how working with Search and More can help you to reach a greater share of your target market online.
