It’s almost a new year, which means it’s time to speculate on the newest SEO trends for 2023. These aren’t baseless speculations, so you can trust us in knowing that these trends are almost certain to happen next year.
Even more focus on Local Search
This refers to those instances where an individual adds a specific location to their search phrase. Statistics show that mobile searches containing “near me” increased by 136% in 2021. Implementing local SEO will help you target people within a specific city, country or region.
When it comes to local searches, an important factor to consider is Google’s Map Pack. This is where businesses are listed, with their locations marked out on a map to indicate location. It’s possible to appear in Map Pack results without a website, if you have a Google My Business profile. This helps people find businesses like yours in and around your area, showing them how and where to locate you. Even simply having a Google My Business profile can improve your local SEO.
The Rise of Voice Search
Since the development of Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri and Google Assistant, voice searches have increased in popularity. An estimated 41% of adults and 55% of teenagers based in the US make use of voice search daily. These figures cannot be underestimated as they have only been increasing in recent years.
Smart speakers also started as a novelty when they first appeared on the market, typically used to answer basic and sometimes silly questions. Now, with new appliances such as Google Home, Amazon Echo, and the Apple HomePod, it seems to be a rising trend that is predicted to become the main search method in years to come.
These advancements are due to the regular enhancement of Artificial Intelligence, which has been changing the way that people interact with technology. With machine learning progressing in leaps and bounds, the world of online searches and marketing will never be the same. They are better equipped to make predictions, and are programmed to recognize keywords and phrases. To take things a step further, it is now hardwired to interpret the intent and context of a search, using Natural Language Processing (NLP). The rise of conversational queries has made these developments even more effective, evolving into the impressive conversational AI counterpart.
Google also came out with the LaMDA (Language Model for Dialogue Applications) in 2021, and announced LaMDA 2 in May of 2022. This technology allows the machine to engage in casual dialogue with its users. It is designed to discuss all topics, and to interpret human expression in order to answer the query naturally. Keywords, therefore, appear to be less necessary when it comes to voice searches. It’s therefore important to optimize your content for these queries in a way that will still rank on the SERP.
Image Optimization for SEO
Pictures and graphics are undeniably an integral part of any website. They help with breaking up content and retaining a viewer’s interest. However, as the resolution of images improves, the larger the files become, slowing down the server’s loading speed. This is where image optimization comes in.
Image optimization should be standard practice for all SEO professionals, however, it’s rarely taken advantage of. This tactic mainly refers to optimizing images for the web by decreasing the image size, without reducing its quality. The benefits of optimizing your images include faster loading speed, improved SEO rankings, and increased website traffic. According to Unbounce, 70% of consumers admit that page speed impacts their willingness to buy from an online store. This makes image optimization a crucial step in web design and improving user experience.
Optimization and accessibility go beyond simply reducing an image’s size using compression technology. Technical SEO can also be implemented, whether you choose to incorporate it before the image is uploaded, or on the site itself. This will prove to be advantageous in the upcoming years as image searches increase in popularity. For online shopping, image searches are particularly favored.
Video Optimization for SEO
TikTok, Vimeo, and YouTube are all popular video marketing platforms. In 2019, TikTok replaced Instagram as the number one app for sharing videos and pictures.
If you’re not sure about whether or not video marketing should form part of your overall strategy, here are some statistics that prove it can be an invaluable tool for many businesses:
- You are 53 times more likely to appear on the first page of Google results if your website contains videos.
- It’s possible to increase your conversion rate by 80% by simply displaying a video on your landing page.
- For ecommerce sites, 90% of people state that videos help them make their purchase decisions.
- Videos are the fastest way to relay important information and get your message across. Google is also developing a means of using videos to help searchers find the information they require. This is done using:
This marketing method can take various different forms depending on your goal. You have the option of creating content regarding public reviews, demonstrations, tutorials, interviews, video blogs (Vlogs), presentations and ads, or could opt for a combination of all of the above. While video marketing may be more expensive and require more resources, 54% of people said they would like to see more videos from the brands that they support. There remains a gap in this market, as some businesses are hesitant due to the subjectivity of video marketing results. If you’re not completely convinced, it doesn’t hurt that Google started testing utilizing videos in the SERPs just days ago.
Does this all seem a bit on the technical side? You’re not wrong. But don’t you worry. We will be here to explain all the newest changes and updates to Google and their algorithm as the year goes on. If you want additional help with your SEO strategy, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free consultation.