Top Six SEO Trends To Be Ready For in 2021

As we get close to the new year, it’s a good time to take a step back and consider the biggest changes we see coming to SEO in the coming years.

Google is always updating its algorithms to keep marketers and small businesses on their toes. With this list, hopefully, you can start 2021 with a bang.

User intent is the biggest development in Google’s plans for SEO. How people search for things is a central theme we see developing in the trends discussed below.

The Increase Of Voice Search

The US alone is set to have voice speakers in 55% of homes by 2022, according to a report from Juniper Research on the voice assistant market.

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Most voice search in coming years is predicted to come from smartphone assistants such as Apple’s Siri, Windows Cortana and Google Assistant.

To optimise for voice search, organise your content around people’s search queries and their spoken language.

Consider using phrases that contain questions, such as “Who’s the best SEO agency in Brisbane?” rather than just “SEO agency Brisbane”.

Semantic Search On The Rise

“When people speak to each other, they understand more than just words. They understand the context, non-verbal cues (facial expressions, nuances of the voice, etc.) and so much more.” Search Engine Watch

This is what Google is trying to do by increasing the relevance of semantic searches. Sometimes that means interpreting what you really meant when you punched in your search query.

To optimise for semantic search, you need to think of what your customers are thinking about when they search and identify related phrases or topics they may like.

Instead of just laser-focusing on one keyword for each piece of content you create, organise your content into topics. Build those topics around clusters of keywords that all relate to each other.

And don’t forget to implement internal links throughout your content to help Google determine the context of what you’re talking about.

Your Customers Want More Videos

Branded video content is only going to increase in popularity going forward.

Hubspot reports that 53% of people surveyed want to see more video from the brands they love.

But this doesn’t mean you should abandon the written word altogether. The two go hand in hand.

Some people get confused when talking about optimising video for SEO. We’re not necessarily talking about the words you use in the video. But the words you use around it.

Think about your video name, your page title, your video description, your channel name on YouTube etc.

All these things need to be given careful consideration from an SEO point to maximise your success.

Videos are all about the views. But you need people to be able to easily find your videos online first.

Google Cares More than Ever About Quality

The recent Core Update that Google published in 2020 seems to focus more on the quality of your content rather than the authority of a given domain, says Searchmetrics.

‘Quality’ refers to content that fulfils Google’s requirements for ‘expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness’, or more commonly referred to as E-A-T.

One of the best things you can do to increase your E-A-T is by thoroughly researching your customer. You need to get crystal clear on what their needs are, what their objections are, and how you can serve them the best.

This may require creating buyer personas of your customers if you haven’t already, and potentially hiring content and copywriters to craft powerful messages.

A helpful way to increase your authoritativeness is by backing up any claims you make and referencing them by linking to high authority sources such as ‘.edu’ or ‘.gov’ URLs.

Local Search Listings

“Every month, over 1 billion people use Google maps for local searches and directions” Google

Local search is another way Google is aiming to make their results as relevant to their users as possible.

For instance, imagine you type in (or voice search) a generic query like ‘plumber’, ‘cafe’, or ‘park’.

Google knows to serve you results based on your location and brings up a list of results near you rather than on the other side of town or in a completely different city.

Optimising your Google My Business is one of our top five tips for small businesses, but especially going forward.

Make sure your Google My Business profile is complete, filled with details, and updated regularly.

The All-Important Mobile Experience

Statista reports that 48% of web page views worldwide in 2019 were on mobile devices. That’s set to increase to 73% of users by 2025 according to CNBC.

Google wants to make this experience as good as possible for their users. That’s why in 2019 they introduced their mobile-first indexing which assumes users will be primarily using their mobile devices to view your website.

An optimal mobile experience isn’t just something to consider anymore, it’s the primary way you should see your customers using your site. So make it a good one.

You can use Google’s free Mobile-Friendly Test to quickly assess your site.

Conclusion

User experience is always top of mind for Google. No longer can marketers hope to just pump out content stuffed full of keywords and hope that brings in a flood of traffic.

Always be thinking about how your content can best serve your customers, either by making your continent easy to access across multiple devices, organising it into well thought out topics and linking internally, and thoroughly researching and referencing your content.

We hope this guide has been useful. If you’d like help to hit the ground running with your SEO campaigns in 2021, get in contact below.

Speak With An Seo Expert At Yes Digital Today

Here at Yes Digital, we help create and optimise highly targeted SEO strategies for our clients. If you want to see how SEO can help you grow your business, get in touch for a free no-obligation Strategy Session today.

Speak With An SEO Expert At Yes Digital Today

Here at Yes Digital, we help create and optimise highly targeted SEO strategies for our clients. If you want to see how SEO can help you grow your business, get in touch for a free no-obligation Strategy Session today.