SEO and its relevance in 2024
What if we tell you that in 2024, SEO will be even more crucial for the online success of your business? If you’re not yet up to date on the latest trends of the year, this is your opportunity to discover strategies that can elevate your brand to higher levels.
In a world where emerging technologies are shaping tools and our search methods, it is crucial to analyze predictions and reflect on the implemented strategies. In this dynamic scenario, where evolution is constant, we invite you to explore with us the trends you should apply, to pave the way for a strong and impactful digital presence.
The key to the success of any brand lies in the combination of flexibility and a keen observation of emerging trends. So, keep reading this article to discover how to improve your SEO strategy!
The impact of Artificial Intelligence on SEO — More advantages or disadvantages?
In a scenario of exponential growth, AI once again takes center stage in 2024. Reinforcing itself as a powerful influence/tool in the evolution of search engines and access to information, this is the year when new capabilities for brands are anticipated.
Contrary to the initial perception, AI is now recognized as an ally to optimize digital performance. But how can you use it for your brand? In various ways. Easily unveiling deep insights, automating tasks and providing fully personalized user experiences. Start by using AI to identify relevant keywords for your business, analyze complex data, or even as support for creating engaging content.
For brands, it is also crucial to highlight its value in the interpretation of the user intent. This not only enhances interaction but also ensures the delivery of results more tailored to the search. If we are in an era where AI represents a catalyst for digital success, then it’s time to strategically leverage it.
Do you know what Google SGE is?
If we are talking about the revolution in research allied with AI, we have to mention Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE). This is a new approach to search results, that relies on generative AI. The advantage? It allows instant access to a list of suggestions at the top of the results, compiled from various sources, without the need to enter individual web pages.
Currently, the industry is experiencing a wave of anticipation in this new era of innovation. Being discovered by AI will be important, as it indicates that your strategy is aligned and consolidated, to remain relevant in the digital realm.
Being useful for both the audience and brands, it is increasingly important to understand user intentions and maintain technical SEO practices.
The power of local SEO
This will be one of the most important trends that you should enhance, so you can attract customers in your geographic area.
Local SEO will help you maintain relevant visibility in the space where you are located. The secret is in optimization of the content and information you put online, to be easily found by local users. And we all know that easiness, as well as speed, are the key elements during the search for a product or service.
When it comes to highlighting your business in the digital world, optimizing local presence is also crucial to win users (and clicks). We are talking about a trump card that you may have forgotten: the Google My Business (GMB) profile. This is your online business card. Precise business information, details about opening hours, exact location, photos and interactions with responses to comments can’t be missing. Additionally, it’s important to actively manage reviews, to turn satisfied customers into ambassadors and boost Local SEO.
You should also consider creating keywords that reflect local search terms — these will be a compass for your audience to find you among various online presences. Adapt to the location you are in, incorporating, for example, the city name, local landmarks, or common expressions. For better results, go beyond the “basic” and optimize content for hyper-local searches, promoting events and specific offers based on the user’s current location. An extra note: these keywords should be incorporated into website content, descriptions, meta, and tags.
The relevance of Mobile SEO
Maximizing the potential of mobile SEO represents more than a simple competitive advantage; it is an imperative necessity. Considering the prevalence of mobile devices in our daily lives, adapting SEO strategies and ensuring optimization becomes crucial.
If you do so, your website will have a higher probability of achieving top positions in search results. Primarily, this is due to Google’s Mobile-First Indexing approach, which uses the mobile version of a website as a basis for determining rankings, even for users searching on desktop devices. Therefore, not optimizing for mobile can result in significant losses in terms of visibility and ranking.
The user experience (UX) is also a key piece in this puzzle. Mobile-optimized websites offer a more positive experience, which is one of the key goals to achieve. Users value smooth navigation with responsive design, adaptability to different screen sizes, fast loading, and intuitive touch navigation.
Overlooking these elements could lead to high rejection rates, indicating to Google an unsatisfactory browsing experience. Therefore, it will be important to ensure that your website not only attracts but also retains users. More than a trend, it is a key to building a consistent online presence.
Optimize voice search
We live in an era where technology continues to transform the connection with search engines, given the increasing popularity of virtual assistants. The habit of writing, sending messages and searching through voice commands is growing. For this reason, adjusting content for voice search emerges as a vital element for a truly effective SEO strategy.
Voice search not only reflects a shift in user preferences but also underscores the importance of providing relevant and high-quality content. Search engine algorithms are increasingly focused on identifying and ranking content that responds clearly and informatively to voice queries. Therefore, digital marketing professionals should prioritize creating content that not only answers common questions from their target audience but is also optimized to be easily understood and valuable for voice searches.
One suggestion in this topic is the use of long-tail keywords (more specific keyword phrases). Another is to incorporate a more conversational tone into the content you present. To increase visibility, identify the most frequently asked questions of your target audience to provide direct and concise answers. By recognizing and adapting to this change in user behavior, you can strengthen your online presence and significantly improve visibility in search engines.
Who is always in first place? The user.
Although it is not new, this principle remains important. To surpass SEO goals, content must focus on the user and address search intent. To achieve this, as mentioned earlier, it’s crucial to understand the real purpose of the user.
The truth is that this trend is not static. In the coming years, emphasis on user experience and creating content that adds value will continue to stand out, as businesses channel their efforts into producing content optimized for the online space.
While generating valuable content is crucial, in 2024, it is imperative that it is tailored. Invest in the world of on-page optimization, by exploring meta tags, header strategies and keyword placement that distinguish the content. It is also critical that it promotes interaction to create a closer connection with the audience. This will be an effective strategy for generating qualified leads.
A pause to recall this concept: E-E-A-T
Experience, Knowledge, Authority and Trust. Search engines, especially Google, increasingly prioritize content that demonstrates credibility and value in the topics they approach.
Building a reputation as a credible source in a particular sector may be the path to achieving a higher ranking in search engines. So, how can your brand prepare to reach this goal?
- Develop comprehensive, specialized and high-quality content on a specific topic;
- Implement a structure on the website that favour the discovery of relevant content;
- Use webinars, podcasts and social media to interact with the audience and build trust;
- Produce and share original research, studies and data-driven insights that could not be replicated by AI;
- Demonstrate that there are real people behind the website, through testimonials or reviews.
Reaching success through advanced SEO strategies in 2024 will be a journey of adaptation. It involves a complex combination of tools and strategies, each aimed at different aspects. As online visibility is synonymous with relevance, refining the SEO strategy is like opening doors to a broader audience.
Now is the time to put these concepts into practice and test the trends we have presented. Who knows, you might see your website climbing the rankings, thanks to the creation of a meaningful connection with your target audience.
We are here to guide you on the journey to the top of the digital ranking!
If you enjoyed this article, we recommend complementing your reading with: https://www.avitamina.pt/blog/mobile-friendly-vs-mobile-first-which-one-is-better
Author: Andreia Faria, Copywriter
