5 Big Ideas Affecting SEO in 2019

Every New Year brings change in all aspects of life, but especially in the constantly moving world of search engine optimization. As businesses and organizations reconvene after the holidays, they’re looking to determine their digital marketing strategy for the year.

There are several factors influencing the future of SEO. If you’re planning your SEO strategy for 2019, then make sure to take these factors into account. SEO may change with the winds of the Google algorithm, but taking these factors in account can help improve your ranking, conversions and weather the algorithm storm.

Voice Search and SEO

Millions of people throughout the world use voice search every day. It could be their digital personal assistants like Alexa or Siri. They do far more than play your music. You can ask them about almost anything, and they’ll search the Internet to find the information you want.

People use their cell phone hands-free. They carry bags or drive down the road and instead of typing, they’re speaking to their phone.

How can you SEO your site for voice search? Understand how people talk to their phones. They’re asking questions and seeking answers in a conversational tone. This isn’t like typing in a search query. Write blog posts and other content designed to answer questions.

Mobile First Indexing

Google’s been promoting mobile for years. They even made mobile friendliness part of the algorithm. Mobile search outpaces desktop search and that will continue to grow throughout 2019. The next step in mobile supremacy is Google’s mobile first indexing.

Traditionally, desktop sites were used for indexing purposes, but since desktop isn’t the primary search platform any more, Google unveiled mobile first indexing. Now, your mobile site is used to determine indexing and rank.

What does that mean for you? It means your mobile website needs to be up to snuff and with proper mobile SEO. Check your page load times, compress your pictures and make sure it’s user friendly.

Featured Snippets in Search Results

The goal of SEO has long been that coveted first spot on search results. If you’re rank 1 for a high volume keyword, you are bound to get great traffic. While rank 1 is still important, Google stepped up its efforts for searchers to see more than just a page title and meta description.

A special programming code called schema allows websites to provide context for Google bots. It tells them where your address is listed, book titles, recipes, reviews, etc. They can use that information to place more information in your search listing.

You may not be ranked 1, but your search listing includes a picture, review or other information. The searcher sees that and picks you because your search listing is more comprehensive. You can even end up above the search results in an information panel. That’s SEO gold.

Privacy Concerns Will Grow

In 2018, Google pulled the trigger on secure browsing in Chrome. If your site isn’t HTTPS, then Chrome will show a “not secure” next to your URL. This isn’t exactly great for customer confidence.

It was also the year of General Data Protection Regulation also known as GDPR. Legislation passed in the European Union that provided people more protection in how businesses gathered and used personal customer information.

It was another year of data breaches and information misuse that caused many of social media largest business leaders to testify before Congress.

This mindset of data protection will grow in 2019. If you haven’t switched to HTTPS yet, then consider it. If you do business with anyone in the EU, then make sure you’re GDPR compliant. Also, don’t be surprised to see more data security legislation from other countries as worries about data breaches continue.

Consumers Are Hungry, and Want to EAT More

Google constantly tweaks their algorithm and hardly ever tells anyone about it. Rather than trying to anticipate changes, the company wants people to follow the EAT principal. EAT stands for expertise, authoritativeness and trustworthiness.

Google recommends creating content with those principals in mind. Blog posts, FAQs and other content that show your site as having expertise in that service or product, are an authority within your niche, and have information that is correct and trustworthy will allow you to weather any Google storm.

DCM has expert analysts to help you develop your SEO strategy and meet the expectations of search engines and your customers. If you’d like to learn more about our services, then feel free to explore our website.