The internet has become the essential place for the clients to look for goods and services. With so many users online today, the businesses are looking to establish their presence online.
However, simply beginning with a website or blog isn’t sufficient for business. It is very vital to maintain search relevancy. For that you have to adapt to consistently changing environment of SEO.
Since the early 2010, The Google Algorithm has undergone several changes, becoming much smarter. Since smartphones have become so popular today, mobile searches have changed the trends of SEO considerably more.
So it is very important to understand What SEO strategies will work and help you dominate in the SERPs in 2019?
21 SEO Trends in 2019
Here are all 21 trends in 2019 you to need to know about, to Boost Google Ranking!
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- TREND #1: GOOGLE RANKBRAIN
Google Rankbrain grows more powerful in SEO 2019. This update was released in 2015. Rankbrain is a machine learning AI (Artificial Intelligence) algorithm that Google use to understand and make changes in real time to sort its search results.If a keyword is searched hundred times in a day and result 3 get clicked more than result 2, then result 3 will have higher CTR. So, RankBrain will move result 3 above result 2.Rankbrain focuses on two factors – Dwell Time and CTR (Click Through Rate). Dwell time means how much time a user spends on your website. While CTR means how many people click on your website.You can improve your CTR by adding an attractive title, description, using right keywords,providing valuable content to the users. 3 minutes 10 seconds is an ideal dwell time to get on top in SERPs.
I found the two blogs written by two men, yes, Brian Dean and Neil Patel. And it’s absolutely fit for Google Brain. But Google Brain is always improving with the user experience. Hope! in future, they will also update their blog.
Rankbrain will remain the powerful Google Algorithm in 2019. So, paying attention on these two factors will boost your SEO rankings.
- TREND #2: ADOPT THE FEATURED SNIPPETS
Google is always in search of a new look as it is constantly optimizing to provide the best user experience. Now, it has adapted to “featured Snippets” format to serve the best results in most convenient format. Featured Snippets are of various types such as Paragraph snippets, Table Snippets and Table Snippets. You need to rank your content in Featured Snippet as it is stealing lots of clicks from the top spot. You have to rank in top 10 to rank in featured snippet otherwise you have no chance.
First, find keywords for which your pages are already ranking in top 10. Create a “Snippet Bait” which is a 40-60 words content block particularly designed to rank in the featured Snippet spot. Snippet Baits works well for Paragraph snippets.If you want to rank your content in table snippet, use H2 or H3 for each item of your list. Google will fetch those items and consider them in featured Snippet.If you want to rank for Table Snippet, create a table so that Google easily fetch data from it. A well formatted table will be considered first by Google in Featured Snippets.
- TREND #3: VOICE SEARCH ERA
Voice Search is going to be revolutionary in upcoming years. It is predicted that 50% of searches will be done by 2020. People are using personal assistance apps and devices like Google Home, Apple Siri, Amazon Alexa, Microsoft Cortana for performing searches. They are doing searches in the form of questions such as “where can i find the best groceries near me” or “where is the nearest repair shop”.
So, you need to present your information in the form of answering and solving problems.Optimize for local voice search and communicational keywords. Develop better understanding of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Algorithms. Companies which gives priority to search intent this way gains trust and authority among the public.
- TREND #4: ADDING VIDEOS
Including videos in your WebPages will give you huge boost in your Website’s performance. As, RankBrain focuses on how much time a user spends on your webpage, a video on your page will increase dwell time.Create video sitemaps to report search engines about video metadata. Sharing content on video-sharing platforms such as YouTube, Daily Motion, Vimeo, Flicker will generate more web traffic. As YouTube is Google product, so prefer serving content on YouTube. Adding videos in your top-visited pages, landing pages and articles can enhance your conversion rate. Converting a user into a lead could be a huge ranking signal to Google. - TREND #5: AMAZON SEARCH
In 2019, SEO will not be just about how to optimize for Google, but you will have to look beyond Google Search such as Amazon. Almost 50% users choose Amazon to buy a product. As, Amazon provides them reviews, other shop for price comparison, and recommends similar items. People search in Amazon bar for buying clothes, gadgets and special gifts. Amazon is now competing directly with Google or Bing. That means, you have to optimize for Amazon for more traffic.
Perform keywords research based on consumer’s intent. Then, optimize your keywords in title and description of your product pages. Make sure your product pages have stunning images and proper tracking of customer’s feedback. Display your Amazon gallery on the right to drive more traffic to your online store. Having a business on Amazon will boost your performance. - TREND #6: LOCAL SEARCH OPTIMIZATION
Local searches are generally for the small businesses that depend on attracting local costumers. For a SEO Company in Delhi India, they want to be the first Google search result for “seo company in delhi”. It is going to be more precise which means more targeted search results. It is found that “near me” searches grew at an amazing rate over the past years. So, there is no surprise that Local search optimization will be the key in SEO 2019. - TREND #7: USER INTENT OPTIMIZATION
User Intent Optimization is going to be very crucial in SEO 2019 and beyond. Search Engine optimization is not just about stuffing specific keywords in content. Actually Search Engines wants to provide users what they want. They focus more on giving accurate and helpful search results. You need to understand what your audience wants.
One of the best ways to optimize for user intent is to think of yourself as the user. What things you want? Which CTAs (Call to Action) would force you to understand more about a product or service? What value you will be looking in your experience with your website? You’ll be rewarded by Google If your site has more visitors and your visitor will invest in you. - TREND #8: USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN
User Experience Design will be the most important factor in SEO 2019. As, Most of the users learn about a company through their websites not their adverts. And they want a smooth experience on all devices.
For better user experience, make user-friendly website with clear navigation, heading tags, CTAs to reduce bounce rate and rank high in SERPs. Google rewards websites with improved click through rates and less bounce rates. - TREND #9: STRUCTURED DATA MARKUP
Micro formats/Schema will hold the Key in SEO 2019. Structure Data Markups are small HTML patterns that signal website’s information to Google bots. More the Google knows about your site, the more precisely it can rank it in SERPs. Moreover, Structure Data Markups makes your content more captivating, thereby results in better click through rate and SEO rankings.
Micro formats are great for the businesses who want to display with ratings, working hours or specific location in SERPs. Google rewards those website which gives truthful description of what your website is about. Along with AI, Micro formats/Schema is becoming more important as well. If Google wants to move from mobile to AI, then Micro formats / Schema will be the key. - TREND #10: MOBILE FIRST INDEXING
2019 will be the year of Mobile first Indexing. Most of the people prefer mobile phones for performing online searches as they are small and more portable. There will be almost 60 percent mobile users worldwide by 2019.How to prepare for mobile first indexing?
With mobile first indexing, Google is prioritizing mobile version content in SERPs rather than desktop version content. As, mobile searches are increasing day by day, web developers are creating mobile friendly websites.
Create accelerated mobile Pages to gain user-experience. Give preference to mobile load time even if you have a responsive website design. Verify Structure Data Markup for both mobile and desktop version. A mobile friendly website will give you major boost in SEO rankings and attracts more users. Read also, prepare for mobile first indexing.
- TREND #11: QUALITY CONTENT DEVELOPMENT
Content is king and will always be in terms of SEO. But only comprehensive, in-depth quality content will be rewarded by Google. Earlier Google Bot just visit your webpage and check if your keyword appears in your title, URL, description, heading and image alt tags. But Google has become smarter than before. Instead of only measuring content, they now focus on long form content which covers entire topic in depth.Since Google’s Job is to give best results to its users and the best result isn’t content with stuffed keywords. So, forget about keyword stuffing, use long tail keywords and specific keywords. Focus on creating in depth high quality, personalized content development keeping the user in mind. Content with at least 2,000 words would be ideal. A long form content ranks better in Google than those with short form content.
- TREND #12: LSI KEYWORDS ARE SIGNIFICANT WITHIN CONTENT
LSI (latent semantic indexing) keywords are contextually-related words. Along with your main keywords, they form meaningful phrases that give Google significant context for influencing and organizing your webpage within SERPs. As Search engine better understands the contexts and hence more effectively match a search query with the answer your webpage is offering.You can use free tool like LSI graph to shortlist you LSI keywords. As Google is fed up of keyword stuffing, opting for LSI keywords is a better option. LSI keywords along with your primary keywords rank quickly in Google SERPs.
- TREND #13: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
Artificial Intelligence will be next big thing in SEO 2019. As, AI along with Google Algorithm and the data used to sort out the best and appropriate search results. AI can be the next thing for creating business value and gaining a competitive edge.AI impacts on keyword research, Visuals, content, Links, Analytics, Sales and Reporting. So to improve AI, give context to quality content, work on better visuals, searcher’s intent. Focus on more relevant quality links, sort out content and technical strategies into more effective results, and establish a personal relationship with each costumer. Discard all black hat SEO tricks as Google Algorithm is becoming smarter.AI is basically about smarter decision making. With its higher efficiency, effectiveness and better innovative capabilities, AI is a business advantage. AI ensures improved customer experience.
- TREND #14: SECURE CONNECTION
Now Google is taking steps to ensure security online. Earlier in July 2018, Google released a security update which says that sites with HTTP protocol will load with warnings and are less preferred by Google search engine. Many users leave a website which is not secure. So, adding website security will boost your SEO performance. Change your website link to https protocol for better web security. Get SSL certificates for a secure connection online.
- TREND #15: BLOCKCHAIN
Blockchain will be revolutionary in 2019 but it is quite complicated for people to grasp. You might hear of Crypto currencies such as Bitcoin which are very secure and incorruptible units of currencies.- Blockchain is the technology which let these transactions occur.
- It ensures public, secure and flexible connection.
- Blockchain ensures transparency among the consumers, corporations and agencies. In other words, you can consider Blockchain as the Decentralization of internet.
- You can add blockchain technology in search algorithms to verify products and list genuine sellers on SERPs.
- Blockchain methods of storing, recording and sharing information can be used to gather user data.
- Also, you can use blockchain for web advertising and search engine profit cuts.
- TREND #16: LINKS AND BRAND REPUTATION
Google cares about your brand reputation and is now the part of Google’s Algorithm. While it can’t be denied to the fact that links are more important than a brand mention. But Google is taking note of how many times your brand name is mentioned online. Now, Google is not just only looking for the quality links but also for your brand presence online. So, adding quality links and promoting your brand on social media and other platforms can boost your SEO performance.
- TREND #17: IMPROVING EAT “SCORES”
EAT stands for Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness. Google declared that the EAT will be among the top 3 factors for Page Quality. By making truthful and useful content for users, positive reviews, implementing an SSL certificate to your site will help you earn great EAT scores. Implementing these things into your website will yield big gains in your website’s SEO performance. - TREND #18: FOCUS ON TECHNICAL SEO
Technical SEO
- Pagespeed: Google always rewards websites which loads in less than 5 seconds. A website with slow loading times always impacts its rankings and customers. So, improving Pagespeed will boost your SEO rankings. An ideal Pagespeed is around 3.6 seconds.
- JavaScript: As most of the websites are heavily JavaScript driven frameworks such as angular JS, Vue.js. That means, you will have to be familiar with at least a little JavaScript. You have to focus on how major search engines interact with JavaScript driven websites.
- Progressive web apps (PWAs): Progressive web apps (PWAs) are modern web capabilities to provide an applike experience to the users. In 2019, you have to think about how your website will act as a PWA in future. How your PWAs can be a keepable experience for your users.
- TREND #19: INFLUENCER MARKETING
Influencer marketing means focusing more on influential people rather than the target market as a whole. Many marketers believed that influencer marketing helps to reach the target audience. Influencers have great influence over potential customers. You just need to insist them to help you in content creation and keyword targeting.Convince influencers to give you recommendations and backlinks. Some of the most known SEO Influencers are Neil Patel, Brian Dean, Rand Fishkin, and Lisa Myers.
- TREND #20: GOOGLE SEO TOOLS
Google Business Listing’s post might not be as popular as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter but it can be great for your SEO. Google rewards websites which uses Google Business Listing’s post. The best practice to do that is to simple update your content for offer or services with a link on Google Business Listing’s post. As this not a popular platform, But it’ll show with your local listing. That means you are targeting Google only rather than your audience. Although, you never know, you might see major gains in your SEO performance. Also, Google rewards your website for using Google tools. And the great thing is that most of the tools are free and extremely helpful in optimizing for better SEO. For Example: Google Webmaster, Google Analytics, Google Page Speed analysis, etc.
- TREND #21: INTENSE COMPETITION
As more businesses are approaching online, the competition will be more intense than ever. Now, Companies are competing in the real world as well as the digital world. Those who are new to online marketing must hire an internet marketing agency which can help you in finding and implementing new marketing strategies to thrive your business. As the time of “Do it yourself” has gone now.
With more intense competition, there is an urgency of making your products and services best around. As an executive, you can’t focus on both things. You have to take care of product, services and SEO rankings at the same time. You should have a real foundation while competing in online marketing in 2019.
- TREND #1: GOOGLE RANKBRAIN
Let’s Sum Up:
In 2019, Rankbrain becomes more powerful. You need to grasp Artificial Intelligence and Machine learning Algorithms quickly. Creating Exceptional Long form content with LSI keywords will boost your SEO rankings. Creating websites while keeping User Intent and User Experience in mind will be the key. Adding security and utilizing Blockchain method will be the plus point. Mobile First Indexing will be your priority before optimizing for desktop version. Ranking your content in featured snippets will result in better CTR and rankings. Adding Structure Data Markups, Videos, Optimizing for voice search, amazon search, creating quality links, and brand reputation will be the key factors in SEO 2019.
If you find these SEO trends helpful. Implement them to boost your SEO performance in 2019.
