In recent years, Google’s algorithm and ranking factors have rapidly evolved to make it easier for users to find answers to their queries. If you don’t keep up with these changes and optimize your website to match the latest search engine trends, you risk falling behind your competitors. So here are some local SEO trends you need to know about as your start upgrading your digital marketing strategy for the new year.
Voice Search Optimization
Nobody can deny the growing popularity of digital voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. In fact, around one-third of the U.S. population owns a smart speaker device, and this number is expected to go up in the coming years. This means that more consumers will rely on voice search to find information online in the future. So brands will have to start optimizing their content for voice search to keep up with consumer demands. This might include targeting long-tail keywords with question marks and making your content more conversational to match real-life speech patterns.
Mobile-First Indexing
82% of all smartphone users conduct “near me” searches. If your website is not optimized and is hard to navigate on smartphones, prospective customers will leave your site and choose your competition. This is where mobile-first indexing can help you, especially now that more and more people are using their mobile devices to search for local businesses online.
Moreover, it is not just consumers who love mobile-optimized websites; Google also prioritizes mobile-first content. By optimizing your website for multi-device browsing, you can increase your brand’s chances of ranking high on search engines.
Visual Search
Visual search is an AI-enhanced search where users can find the results they need through a camera lens instead of text. Visual search is more user-friendly and efficient than traditional text-based search. For example, a consumer looking for a particular type of sneakers can either Google “sneakers” and specify the brand name if they know it, or they can use Google lens to upload a picture of the sneakers they like. The search engine will then use machine learning and artificial intelligence to read the image and produce search results that match it.
Clearly, visual search is the more convenient way of finding information online, especially when shopping. 62% of Gen Z and millennials want visual search capabilities more than any other new technology. Businesses need to pay attention to this rising trend and take the necessary steps to optimize their content for visual search.
Featured Snippets
Featured snippets allow you to showcase your content in a way that is both eye-catching and informative. Moreover, they provide you with an opportunity to include additional information about your business, such as your address, hours, and contact information. This can help you attract even more local customers who are actively searching for your products and services.
Your customers need to be able to find you online to do business with you. However, with constantly changing SEO trends and Google algorithms, it can be difficult for brands to crack the SEO game on their own and show up on the first page of Google search results. This is where Food Brews Booze Marketing can help you! Get in touch with us to find out how we can help you conquer local SEO in the new year.