The best practices for Search Engine Optimization (or SEO) rely heavily upon the latest search engine algorithms. As these algorithms change frequently, those who use SEO as part of their marketing strategy must learn to adapt to achieve optimal results. To discover the best practices for SEO in 2019, we’ve gathered top advice from three renowned marketing professionals:
1. Optimize for Voice Search
From Amazon’s Alexa to iPhone’s Siri, voice search is one of the booming technologies that is affecting SEO in 2019. Voice search has been on the rise over the last five years, but a recent study conducted by Comscore, estimates that 50% of all searches will be conducted by voice in 2020. Because of this, the founder of DesignRush.com, Gabriel Shaoolian, believes voice search optimization should be a top priority for any company using SEO in 2019 and beyond.
2. Be Mobile-Friendly
Long gone are the days when all you needed was a strong desktop accessible website. More than 60% of all searches are initiated on mobile devices in 2019 and this number will continue to rise well into the future. If your website does not support mobile devices, users will quickly move on to the next one that does. In fact, mobile searches are so popular that Google transitioned to a mobile-friendly preference after an algorithm update in 2015 that many in the industry dubbed “Mobilegeddon”. The SEO experts at Moz.com, recommend reviewing everything from your site design to page speed to provide mobile users with the best possible experience.
3. Aim for Featured Snippets
While most people aim for a number one position on the Search Engine Results Page (or SERP), a relatively new upgrade to Google includes a position higher than number one. This position is known as a “featured snippet”. It is shown above the links to the actual search results and generally is accompanied by an image or chart. The snippet, featured in more than 11% of search results, allows readers to view a small portion of the content before clicking the link. This is highly engaging and can draw in more clicks than even the highest-ranking link on the SERP. Experts A.J. Gherich and SEMRush recommend following the template of existing snippets to increase your odds of reaching this position.
While SEO can change drastically from one year to the next, there is no doubt that it is an effective digital marketing channel. When done correctly, SEO comes along with one of the highest ROI rates in the industry.