It was the year 2000 when Search Engine Optimization began to become more of a science. The easy path to the top of search results, just by stuffing your content with keywords, started getting tougher with complex algorithms. Slowly and steadily, SEO becomes smarter to enhance the user experience.
SEO trends keep changing every year, which is an effort to refine search results and deliver exactly what the user is looking for.
If you have an online presence, you should always stay updated on the latest SEO trends because resistance to change can push you backward in this neck-wrenching online competition.
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So, in this blog post, we will be talking about some of the top SEO trends that are expected to rule 2019, and if you prepare your online blueprint according to these trends, then 2019 will be a great year for you in terms of your SEO strategy and website ranking.
1. Voice Search
The evolution of AI has given birth to brilliant technologies such as virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa. Now people are using these virtual assistants to find answers instead of typing, and that’s what will be trending in 2019.
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Now searches are being conducted through virtual assistants like “Where can I find the best baby powder?” or “How will the weather be today in Chicago?” and that’s why every website or blog now needs to provide information in the form of answers to questions.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai said that 20% of search queries on smartphones are made by voice.
So you should consider some important aspects of SEO that affect voice search, like optimizing featured snippets, long-tail voice-oriented keywords, Schema Markup, and local SEO.
So you need to understand that when a user searches vocally, it differs a lot from what they type, and thus the use of long-tail keywords becomes very important.
2. Mobile-first Index
With the growing use of smartphones, it is no surprise that the stats show almost 50% of Google searches are made on mobile. And even Google has made it clear in its March 2018 announcement that it has now fully rolled out the mobile-first index.
The rolling out of mobile-first indexing simply means that now the website’s mobile version will also be considered for ranking in the search engine results page rather than just considering the website’s desktop version.
So you will have to make sure that your website is mobile-friendly and that both versions have responsive design.
Given the current growth in mobile usage, it is essential for you to invest in building a mobile-friendly website; otherwise, you will be left behind in the competitive race.
3. Blockchain
Among the many trends that will rule 2019, blockchain is the most complex for users to grasp. So let’s try to understand the blockchain through the famous cryptocurrencies.
Blockchain basically lays down the groundwork for all types of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, to exist, function, and rise. With the use of blockchain, the user can make transactions without involving any middleman.
In a blockchain, pieces of data are known as blocks, which are transmitted across a network, after which a confirmation process begins. After the data is validated through the nodes, the money is transferred.
Now, you might be wondering how this blockchain is related to SEO? Well, the blockchain can be programmed to record any type of data, which can lead to the decentralization of the internet, making information public, secure, and flexible.
With the introduction of the blockchain, Google (the middleman) will no longer hold all the power. Currently, the search engine acts as a middleman between the advertisers and websites, but with the introduction of the blockchain, you will no longer need a search engine for such purposes.
The growth of Blockchain among users will drive demand for web pages with blockchain code implemented, and even SEO firms will have to offer blockchain integration services in the near future.
4. Linkless backlinks
You might be wondering what this is—an old-school SEO technique—but the way of backlinking won’t be the same in 2019. The new linkless backlinks will become a major trend in 2019. So, let’s understand what these linkless backlinks really mean.
The linkless backlinks will not include any hyperlinks to your website and will be a more effective SEO strategy than traditional backlinking methods. Search engines will now easily associate mentions with brands and then use these mentions to determine a website’s authority.
So if your business is mentioned on any other website without any hyperlink, then you can consider it a linkless backlink.
Bing has already started using linkless backlinks for ranking, and it is said that Google has also begun working on something similar.
If you want to make the most of the linkless backlinks, it's best to include your business name in the article's story, which will be published on another website. It will not only give you the best result but will also make your linkless backlinking strategy look natural.
If you have an online presence, you should understand that your digital marketing strategy must keep evolving as SEO trends change. If you are planning your SEO strategy, you should include voice search, the mobile-first index, and other SEO trends mentioned in this article.
When planning your SEO strategy, you can either do it yourself or hire an expert SEO firm. The choice of DIY or outsourcing depends on your needs and your basic understanding of SEO.
So, keep checking the latest SEO trends and reap their benefits.
