Can you even believe that 2018 is almost a memory? It seems like we just took down the holiday lights and, all of a sudden, it’s time to deck the halls again. The pace of things can be a little overwhelming sometimes, and that is no less true in the world of SEO.
In the new year ahead, there are a number of ways you can get your SEO ducks in a row. Getting there will mean formulating a comprehensive SEO strategy that will help you increase your rankings, which is what we are here to help you do today.
I want to take a look at a number of strategies – some more obvious than others – that successful marketers are already using to their advantages. As you read, I would like you to keep two things in mind. First, what follows is just an overview. There is much more to be learned about every area of optimization I’m about to cover, so don’t run headlong into battle without the proper intel.
Next, even though Beez Content is primarily a copywriting company, the overall success of our clients is important to us. This is why I’m including information here that doesn’t relate directly to copywriting, but rather, the structure of your entire SEO strategy. A great article without at least some of the elements below won’t get you far. Dig a little deeper into some of these areas, and your efforts (and the money spent on content creation) will go much further.
1. UX Optimization
Now, more than ever, user experience matters, and there are areas of user experience that even some of the most talented and successful marketers tend to overlook. My advice: hire a UX designer to analyze and augment all your site content to deliver a superior user experience. It wouldn’t hurt to do a little split testing via Optimizely or something similar, either.
2. Voice Optimization
Voice search is becoming more of an SEO consideration by the day, especially with the advent and prolific use of technologies, like Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri. You want your site to be fully voice search optimized and capable of capturing the attention of voice-based search platforms. Early estimates are that by the end of 2019, there will probably be as many web searches that begin with voice commands as keystrokes or screen taps. I personally think that is a conservative estimate.
3. Mobile-First Indexing Optimization
It’s been several years since Google first implemented its mobile-first indexing algorithm, and it is more important to consider now than ever. Responsive design is now mandatory. Period. You cannot expect to rank high in any kind of search – traditional or otherwise – if your site isn’t optimized for mobile. If it’s been more than six months since you performed or ordered a site audit, it’s time. My guess is that it’s been longer (not judging, just making a point – if it’s been longer, it’s really time).
4. Linkless Backlinks
Google and the other search platforms are becoming so sophisticated that they can now capture information about your pages whenever someone so much as mentions them. You can literally generate linkless backlinks whenever someone on social media posts something that references your content and the name of your site. If you aren’t sure what this means, it’s explained quite well here.
5. Search by Video or Image
Google’s image search platform also went through an overhaul over the past year, making it easier for users to find visual content on your site. Even better, they removed the “view image” feature from their search pages to ensure that visitors actually click through to your site (as opposed to simply grabbing an image and bouncing). Yes, there are browser plugins out there that thwart the process to a degree, but that doesn’t affect your rankings.
6. Content Quality
Finally, I get to talk a little about copywriting and even give a shameless plug to Beez. Bottom line: All content matters, but written content matters most. Words are still the primary conduit to high rankings on the SERPs, and professionally optimized content will always be best. That is what you get when you hire a copywriter. Our writers are knowledgeable about current SEO trends and deliver copy that augments and enhances your overall SEO efforts.
7. Meta Description Optimization
If you still aren’t using page meta descriptions, you are missing out on some of the most powerful SEO strategies out there. Too many marketers still rely on Google to decide what best represents their content. Why do that when you can write your own blurb (about 150 characters, give or take) that is keyword optimized and represents the content the way you want?
8. Full-Page Optimization
I have done full articles on this subject, so I will make this very brief. Every page element plays a role in SEO. That includes your copy and how it is presented, multimedia, page layouts, and much, much more. I’ll refer back to my advice on using a UX designer and doing regular SEO audits on all your relevant pages.
9. Comprehensive Off-Page SEO Strategization
This is one of the more abstract areas of SEO since there are fewer concrete methods for doing off-page SEO than there are for individual pages or websites. Think in terms of 2019 SEO strategies and start zeroing in on the most recent trends.
I mentioned linkless backlinks already. You should definitely learn more about them, but don’t neglect traditional backlink generation methods in favor of them. Traditional backlinks still matter. Keep conversations flowing, post and interact on relevant forums, include CTAs to share your content, and keep a sharp eye on your engagement metrics.
10. Optimized Landing Pages
Wouldn’t it be nice if people could find your landing pages with just a search (as opposed to you having to capture email addresses or spend money on social media ads)? Well, they can. SEO works the same on landing pages as it does on any other type of site-based content. Zero in on some of the previous strategies and apply them directly to how you develop landing pages. Once again, we can help with that so contact us with your ideas or concerns.
I am really excited for 2019 and what it holds for the world of content marketing. I’m also really excited to hear from you about some of the projects you’ll be launching during the upcoming year. Reach out to us here at Beez, and let us help you create some killer optimized content.
