<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like meteorologists predicting storms, SEO\nprofessionals try to interpret the whims of search engine algorithms and\noptimise content accordingly. That might sound like a strange comparison and a\nstrange place to start, but you can take it from us that predicting how Google\nwill react to your SEO attempts is no easier than predicting the weather. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over time, SEO experts develop tools and techniques to\nachieve their desired results. However, these practices are often kept close to\nthe chest, cloaked in professional jargon, or simply not widely shared. Well,\nthe curtain’s about to rise because we’re about to make ourselves unpopular\nwith the professionals by giving away the SEO tactics the pros have been\nholding back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Power Up with Semantic SEO<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Semantic SEO involves optimising content around\ntopics, not just individual keywords. Google has advanced significantly in\nunderstanding context, relationships between words, and user intent. It’s also\ngot a lot better at understanding when a website or page holds no value besides\nbeing stuffed with keywords. Semantic SEO acknowledges this development and\noptimises content accordingly. Try to focus on building content clusters around\nyour topic. This approach not only satisfies Google’s RankBrain but also\nprovides comprehensive content for your readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Go Beyond Text with Visual Search Optimisation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Visual search is gaining traction. Google Lens,\nPinterest Lens, and Bing Visual Search are just a few examples of this growing\ntrend. Ensure your images are high-quality, have descriptive filenames, and\nmake use of the “alt text” feature to optimise for visual search.\nWhen we say \u201cmake use of alt text,\u201d don\u2019t make the same mistake that far too\nmany big brands have made by misusing\nthe alt text content<\/a> for cheap gimmicks or stunts.\nAugmented reality is also finally in the \u201chere and now\u201d bracket after spending\nyears as a developing technology, so consider how your content can be tailored\nto fit into this new reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tune in to Podcast SEO<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Podcasts have skyrocketed in popularity recently, and\nsearch engines have noticed. Google, for example, has started to index podcasts\nand even include them in search results. If you have a podcast, ensure it’s\ntranscribed to allow search engines to understand and rank your content.\nLeveraging podcast directories like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google\nPodcasts can also boost your SEO. That means you can make use of the benefits\nof podcast SEO by linking to them even if your chosen industry has nothing to\ndo with podcasts – you just have to be a little clever about it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Invest in Passage Ranking<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Google’s Passage Ranking was a game-changer when it\ncame out. This feature allows Google to consider specific passages from a page\nindependently when determining relevance to a search query. This means every\npassage counts. Ensure each section of your content is high-quality, detailed,\nand contextually relevant. If you’re not sure what passage ranking is or how\nbest to take advantage of it, here\u2019s a\nhandy guide<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Harness the Power of Core Web Vitals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Core Web Vitals is a set of factors Google considers\nimportant in a webpage’s overall user experience. These include loading speed),\ninteractivity, and visual stability, although it’s important to remember that\nthere are others. Optimising for these vitals not only helps with SEO but also\nimproves user experience, reducing bounce rates and potentially increasing\nconversions. If you can improve SEO and sales at the same time, you’re doing a\ngreat job. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Understand Schema Markup<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While Schema Markup isn’t new, it’s horrendously\nunderused and often misunderstood. This form of microdata helps search engines\ninterpret your content more accurately. This could result in rich snippets or\ninteractive features in search results, leading to a higher click-through rate.\nIf you have no idea what we mean by “Schema Markup,” it’s worth your\ntime to research it. Find out what it is and how it could help you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Focus on User Intent, Not Just Keywords<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Google’s BERT update (something else you should look\ninto if you\u2019ve never come across it before) pushed SEO towards focusing on user\nintent. Today, it\u2019s essential to consider why someone would be using a\nparticular search query and what they’re hoping to find. Use this understanding\nto guide your content creation, and you’ll find yourself more aligned with\nGoogle’s algorithms. As flawed as the algorithms often are, they\u2019re geared\ntowards recognising and rewarding organic content. That\u2019s where you ought to be\nheaded, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Optimise for Featured Snippets<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A featured snippet is a summary of an answer to a\nuser’s query, displayed directly on the Google search results page in the most\nprominent position. It’s what the user sees first before they see all the\nordered search results. In short, it’s where you want your content to show up.\nWhile securing a featured snippet can be competitive, the visibility is worth\nthe effort. Provide clear, concise answers to commonly asked questions in your\nfield to increase your chances. There’s no surefire method, but precision is\nabsolutely the key. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Predict Trends Before They Happen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Allow us to regale you with a tale from the enormously competitive world of iGaming. Sometime close to the end of 2019, a casino company performed an experiment. They guessed – correctly, as it turned out – that fans of casinos would soon start searching for the precise term \u201ccasino 2020\u201d – or terms very close to it – in the hope of discovering the best new casino sites to play at in 2020. To take advantage of that expected traffic, they created Casino 2020. The experiment worked so well that it not only resulted in traffic for the new casino but also boosted traffic for all the Casino 2020 sister sites<\/a>. You might not be willing or able to create a new casino site to take advantage of an expected trend, but you could definitely create a specific page for your website – and that could work just as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Don’t Forget About Voice Search SEO<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n With the rise of digital assistants like Alexa, Siri,\nand Google Assistant, optimising for voice search is more important than ever.\nIncorporating long-tail keywords, focusing on local SEO, and maintaining a\nconversational tone can help you rank in voice searches. This comes back to\nwhat we were saying about organic, \u201cchatty\u201d text. The days of being able to\nplaster keywords or search terms all over the place are long gone, and if\nyou\u2019re still doing it, that\u2019s why your page isn\u2019t ranking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mastering these lesser-known yet potent SEO tips can\nset your website apart in the ever-evolving world of SEO. Embrace the continual\nlearning curve of SEO, and you\u2019ll find that in an ocean of content, it’s the\nmost innovative sailors who discover new lands.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Like meteorologists predicting storms, SEO professionals try to interpret the whims of search engine algorithms and optimise content accordingly. 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