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Search Engine Optimisation is a marketing strategy that has become far more prolific in the past decade. The principles of search engine optimisation will be actively changing in 2019, be it artificial intelligence, big data – all of it affects the work of an SEO-specialist. This is due to Google and other search engines constantly updating the ranking algorithms and methods of machine learning.
SEO specialists must try to adapt to these subsequent changes as search engines are getting smarter. However, the quickest way to succeed in this area is to learn about the upcoming trends and develop an action plan for each. With this in mind, these are the following 7 SEO trends that will be the most significant in 2019.
1. Website Speed
The importance of website speed for online businesses is obvious, the main reason being that it has become a key factor in competition. That is why it is necessary to engage in its optimisation and allocate additional resources for this. The page speed is extensive and covers many aspects of development and support, from server code to content.
Not only the loading time of the working page is one of the main ranking factors, but the speed of the mobile page is also a ranking factor for mobile devices. Therefore, you need to analyse the PageSpeed Insights, evaluate all the technical parameters and then remove all the problems to increase the loading speed of your site.
2. Mobile-First Indexing
The mobile-first is a new approach to indexing pages, which means ranking will be based on mobile versions of sites. Search engines still index the desktop version of the site, but the priority in search results will be those sites that are adapted for mobile devices or mobile-friendly versions. Improving the site for smartphones is also necessary because the adaptability of the site for mobile devices is a factor in ranking in search engines.
It makes the site convenient for users those who want to view it on the smartphones, tablets and other gadgets. Therefore, make sure your site is adapted for all mobile platforms. For this, you need to pay more attention to page load times, navigation, quality content, design responsiveness, etc.
3. User-Experience Design (RankBrain)
A sign of good UX can be measured by reader engagement on the site. Engagement rates help search engines understand which pages are more useful to users. Google uses an AI algorithm called RankBrain, a machine learning tool used for ranking search results. This is based on the UX of the web page.
When a user spends a lot of time on your site, RankBrain identifies this and concurrently increases your webpage’s search engine ranking. To improve the usability of the site, you must first assess its download speed, readability and navigation structure. As more people consume content from mobile devices, providing a good user experience across all platforms is becoming increasingly important.
4. Voice Search & Virtual Assistants
Voice search technology can dramatically change the way we communicate and process information. The growing popularity of digital assistants is changing how users search. As for an SEO strategy, this trend requires a focus on long-tail queries and the use of natural language, since communication with voice assistants is interactive.
Through speech recognition, more and more users will use voice search on their mobile devices to get fast and relevant answers. Going out of online search beyond smartphones will open up new opportunities for both SEO and content marketing, allowing you to interact with users in a unique but still useful way.
5. Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are already changing the way search results are ranked. Machine learning also helps users find results matching the query context. This provides a more personalised search interaction experience.
The growth of voice search and virtual assistants can be an ideal basis for developing artificial intelligence systems and encouraging SEO strategies that take into account current trends. Next year, even more changes are expected in the search industry related to artificial intelligence and machine learning.
6. Data Protection (GDPR)
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) saw tech companies scramble to give users more options in controlling the data about themselves that these companies have access to. This regulation affects companies and customers in the EU but is having rippling affects across the globe. Consequently, users can now request which personal data the company has about them and request an export of all the data. If a company does not comply with the rules, it can receive serious fines.
In addition, it is now possible to delete the data of individual users upon their request. If you do not have European customers, then you can elect to use the option “do not automatically expire” in Google Analytics so you can retain your accumulated data.
7. Video Content Optimisation & Technical SEO
Video content is one of the more popular and engaging formats used to get leads. Data tells us that more and more users prefer watching videos in order to consume information. In the future, this trend will only intensify.
On the other hand, you should never forget about basic on-page SEO. Having technical issues like duplicate content, slow loading speeds, missing titles, incorrect description & meta tags, all these will undermine the effort put into your website.
CONCLUSION
With the advent of technology, you will experience major updates and trends through search engine optimisation packages that will rule 2019. Therefore, the above-mentioned tips are enough to keep you in touch with the latest SEO trends that will rule 2019.
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