7 SEO Trends That Will Leave Lasting Impacts on Digital Marketing Success

There are over 200 ranking factors in the Google algorithm, meaning optimizing a website for search entails a lot of work. Any SEO agency will tell you that to remain effective and impactful you must keep up to date with the latest SEO trends, as one algorithm change could wipe out your rankings.

With algorithms continually evolving, new SEO trends are popping up frequently, meaning digital marketers need to remain vigilant, focused, and adaptable. Throughout this article, we give you a range of new SEO tips and things to focus on that you can begin to implement and add to your strategy.

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1. User Experience

Search engine algorithms have taken a drastic shift toward user experience. Readability of content, page loading speeds, user journey, and mobile-friendliness are just a few examples. While all the traditional elements of SEO, such as keywords and content length, are still important, they need to be encompassed in an ultra user-friendly experience.

Originally, search engines were created for people to find information. As SEO experts began to understand the inner workings of algorithms, they were able to manipulate SERPs and rank their websites purely based on the content they offer.

One of the latest trends in SEO we’re seeing is that algorithms are savvier. Now, they understand that a user is looking for much more than information — they need it presented to them quickly and in an easily understandable format.

2. Mobile-Friendly Layouts & Optimization

Over 50% of search is conducted on mobile devices, and that is only expected to grow. It’s important to ensure every page on your website has a mobile-friendly layout. This means no content running off the side of the screen, all fonts in a readable size, and all clickable elements clear and spread out.

One of our top search engine optimization tips is to conduct core web vitals tests on your mobile pages. Google's mobile-friendly test is a great tool to use. It highlights how well the mobile version of your website is optimized and indicates actions you need to take to improve.

3. Search-Intent Focused Content

Have you ever considered the importance of search intent? Essentially, search intent refers to the outcome a user is looking for when they perform a search. Search intent falls into four categories:

• Informational Intent: people looking for information, such as a recipe.
• Navigational Intent: users searching for a specific website.
• Transactional Intent: individuals looking to make a purchase who already know the product they want.
• Commercial Intent: users who know they want to buy something, but are looking for more information to decide which product to purchase.

To attract a wide variety of users to your website, it’s imperative to create content that speaks to all four types of search intent. By doing so, you’ll rank for a wider range of keywords and provide engaging and desirable content to everyone.

4. Zero Click Searches

A zero-click search is when someone enters a search query but doesn’t click through to a website because they found the answer they needed on the results page. Usually, they find the desired information in feature snippets, or the people also ask sections.

Number three in our list of new SEO trends speaks about search-intent focused content — that will help here too. To appear as a featured snippet or a frequently asked question, you must provide information people are looking for by answering questions. If Google deems your answer to be most applicable, your content will be featured.

In a competitive space with keywords that are difficult to rank organically, zero-click searches and position zero can be an efficient way to get to the top of search results.

5. Core Web Vitals

Core web vitals are technical SEO metrics Google uses to assess the quality of your website and the experience it delivers to users. Three crucial core web vitals are:

• LCP (Largest Contentful Paint):  this is how long it takes to render the largest visible image or text block.
• CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): this assesses how many elements of your page move or shift as more content loads and a user scrolls. The more it moves, the worse the experience.
• FID (First Input Delay): this is how much time it takes for the page to become active once elements have loaded.

There are many other core web vitals, but these are the most important. You can use Google Search Console to view a full report with details of how you can improve.

6. Monitoring Competitor SEO Strategies

One of the most effective ways to follow the latest SEO trends is to keep up to date with what your competitors are doing. With more businesses entering the space and digital marketing becoming a must-have skillset, competition for ranking spots is becoming much harder. To keep your website at the top of organic search results, you need to analyze the performance of your competitors, enabling you to react as quickly as possible to any changes.

7. Remain Vigilant to Algorithm Updates

Did you know the Google algorithm updates around ten times per day? The majority of these updates won’t impact rankings at all. However, when extensive algorithm updates come, you need to be aware of them ahead of time. Many people were caught out by Google’s core web vitals update in 2021. Those who prepared saw their rankings soar, while those not switched on were left chasing their lost rankings.

Usually, Google is secretive about its algorithm updates, so you need to look to other sources for this information. Take the time to monitor your analytics. If you see drastic fluctuations in traffic for no reason, that could be a sign an update is coming. Also, keep an eye on the top SEO blogs — they’ll be the first to release algorithm update info.

In Summary

To climb the rankings and maintain your position, it’s crucial to implement the latest search engine optimization trends. This work enables you to appease the Google algorithm while offering users an exceptional website experience.

We’re always here if you require further guidance or would like assistance implementing the new SEO trends.