What are some of the best practices for SEO in 2024? (Secrets SEO agencies don't want you to know)

Editor: Pamika Horsaengchai Illustration: Prab Sayasilpi

Join Sapiens as we delve deeper into the realm of SEO for 2024, breaking down complex strategies and best practices that SEO agencies don't want you to know.

Table of contents:

• Utilize Google Search Console
• Set up Google My Business
• Update Strategies for Keyword and Content for SGE

1. GSC (Google Search Console)

GSC serves as the control center for managing your website's presence in Google search results. From monitoring performance metrics to identifying and fixing issues, GSC provides invaluable insights into how your site is performing in search.

Setting up GSC may seem daunting at first, but with the right guidance, it can be a straightforward process. Resources like Ahrefs offer comprehensive guides on setting up GSC, providing step-by-step instructions to ensure you get it right from the start.

Once GSC is up and running, you gain access to a treasure trove of data that can inform your SEO strategy. From monitoring keyword rankings to identifying crawl errors and indexing issues, GSC empowers you to make data-driven decisions to improve your website's visibility and performance in search results.

Read how to set it up on here with Ahref.

Monitoring the performance of your web pages and inspecting non-indexed links is a crucial aspect of maintaining a healthy and optimized website. Here's how you can effectively monitor your web pages' performance and identify any non-indexed links using Google Search Console:

a) Performance Monitoring:

1. Log in to your Google Search Console account.
2. Navigate to the "Performance" tab on the left-hand side.
3. Here, you can view various performance metrics such as clicks, impressions, click-through rate (CTR), and average position for your web pages.
4. You can filter the data by date range, queries, pages, countries, and devices to gain deeper insights into your website's performance.

b.) Index Coverage Report:

1. Go to the "Index" section and select "Coverage."
2. This report provides information on the indexing status of your web pages.
3. Check for any errors or warnings that may indicate issues with indexing, such as "Submitted URL not found (404)" or "Submitted URL seems to be a Soft 404."
4. Address any errors to ensure that your web pages are properly indexed and accessible to search engines.

c) Using Google Search Console to Inspect Non-Indexed Links

1. In the "Index" section of Google Search Console, select "Coverage."
2. Look for pages with the "Excluded" status, as these pages are not being indexed by Google.
3. Inspect the reasons for exclusion to determine why these pages are not being indexed.
4. Common reasons for exclusion include noindex tags, crawlability issues, or duplicate content.

2. Set up Google My Business

Since we set up GMB for our non-profit client, there has been an increased in organic traffic by 79% after 3 months, and page ranking is significantly higher on Google Search.

Best practice: We encouraged our client's visitors to share their reviews, which will enhance the profile's strength and credibility.

GMB is a powerful tool for businesses with a physical location or local presence. By claiming and optimizing your GMB listing, you can enhance your visibility in local search results and attract more customers to your doorstep.

Optimizing your GMB listing involves more than just filling out your business information. It's about creating a compelling profile that showcases what makes your business unique and provides valuable information to potential customers.

Here's a checklist of what you need to optimize your GMB:

• High-quality images
• Accurate business hours
• contact information
• News & Update
• Organic Reviews with target keywords
• Bio with target keywords

Every detail matters when it comes to attracting and engaging your audience.

3. Update Strategies for Keyword Research and Content Creation

Keyword research and creating relevant content are essential components of any successful SEO strategy, especially in light of Google's new Search Generative Experience (SGE). With SGE revolutionizing the search landscape, it's more important than ever to target high-relevance, high-intent keywords that align with users' search queries and intent.

a.) Understanding SGE and Its Impact

SGE represents Google's latest evolution in search technology, aiming to provide users with more personalized and contextually relevant search results. By leveraging advanced AI and machine learning algorithms, SGE dynamically generates search results tailored to individual users, incorporating factors such as user behavior, preferences, and location.

The widespread deployment of SGE has significant implications for brands and marketers, as it affects the visibility and ranking of search results. Studies by Authoritas and BrightEdge reveal that SGE has already impacted a vast majority of search queries, with 91.4% and 84% affected, respectively. This shift underscores the importance of adapting SEO strategies to align with the evolving search landscape.

b.) Conducting Keyword Research for SGE

In light of SGE's impact, conducting thorough keyword research is crucial for identifying high-relevance, high-intent keywords that resonate with users' search queries. Here are some key steps to consider:

1. Understand User Intent: Analyze the intent behind users' search queries to identify their needs, preferences, and pain points. Are they looking for information, products, or services? Understanding user intent is critical for selecting relevant keywords.
2. Utilize Keyword Research Tools: Leverage keyword research tools such as SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Google Keyword Planner to identify relevant keywords and assess their search volume, competition, and relevance. Focus on long-tail keywords that are specific to your niche and have high search intent.
3. Consider SGE Factors: With SGE prioritizing context and user relevance, consider factors such as user location, search history, and device type when selecting keywords. Tailoring your keyword strategy to align with SGE's preferences can improve your chances of ranking higher in search results.

c.) Creating Relevant Content for SGE

Once you've identified relevant keywords, it's time to create content that addresses users' needs and provides value. Here are some tips for creating content optimized for SGE:

1. Provide Comprehensive Answers: Craft content that thoroughly addresses users' queries and provides comprehensive answers to their questions. Focus on delivering value and solving problems to enhance user engagement and satisfaction.
2. Optimize for User Experience: Prioritize user experience by creating content that is easy to read, visually appealing, and accessible across devices. Optimize page speed, readability, and mobile-friendliness to improve user engagement and reduce bounce rates.
3. Stay Relevant and Up-to-Date: Keep your content fresh, relevant, and up-to-date to maintain its relevance in the eyes of both users and search engines. Regularly update existing content and create new content to address emerging trends, topics, and user needs.

Implementing these steps will enhance your SEO efforts, improving your online visibility in 2024.

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