SEO trends can change in the blink of an eye. The proliferation of AI and changes in the search algorithm by search engine giant Google, among others, have made it necessary for you to rethink your SEO strategy. Here are the five SEO trends you must watch in 2024.
Search Intent
Understanding and meeting user search intent can make or break your SEO strategy in 2024. Search intent refers to the real reason behind a user’s query. Content that aligns with what users want when they type a search helps your SEO succeed.
There are four main types of search intent.
- Informational, where the users want to learn something
- Navigational intent for when they want to find a specific website
- Commercial intent when users want to research products before buying
- Transactional intent shows that the users want to make a purchase
You can optimize the search intent for your page by following these tips.
- Study the top-ranking pages for your target keywords.
- Analyze what type of content Google favors for those queries.
- Create content that matches the dominant intent.
If the top-ranking result for any keyword is a product comparison page, having basic informational articles on your site is counterproductive. Think about the specific information users need. Address those needs on your page to drive more traffic.
Question Keywords and Answers
The rise of voice search and conversational AI has made structuring content around questions a powerful SEO tactic in 2024. Users often phrase their searches as questions, especially when using voice assistants. You must have noticed that the “People Also Ask” boxes appear in all Google searches. Answering these questions is a surefire way of being noticed in SERPs.
You can take advantage of this trend by using keyword research tools to find popular questions in your niche. Focus on providing concise answers to target question keywords. Google often pulls these answers into featured snippets at the top of search results. An added benefit of question-based content is that it often has lower competition.
Long-tail question keywords are easier to rank for than broader terms. Here are some proven strategies you can use.
- Create FAQ sections on your web pages.
- Write blog posts that answer common questions in detail.
- Structure your content with question-based headings.
High-Quality Content
Google added “Experience” to its E-E-A-T guidelines (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) to show the growing value of content based on personal knowledge. SERPs are trying to combat the rise of AI-generated content. They want to promote content written by people with real expertise in a topic.
You can show first-hand experience in your content by including real-world examples from your work or life. Share case studies of clients or projects you’ve worked on—present original data or research you’ve conducted. Write from a first-person perspective for a personal touch.
Shine some spotlight on your authors, too. Include detailed author bios that show their experience and credentials. Provide links to authors’ professional social media profiles or personal websites.
This trend toward valuing experience challenges websites relying heavily on AI-generated content. AI content is no match for the soul that human insight brings.
Topical Authority
Topical authority means becoming a go-to source for information on a specific subject area. Your site needs to show deep experience in its niche. Trying to rank for random keywords will be detrimental to your SEO efforts.
Google’s Topic Authority system favors websites that cover a subject with authority. If your website serves YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) topics like news on health or finance, build topical authority to rank higher.
You can build topical authority by creating a content hub around your main topic. Link related content pieces together. Use a clear site structure that shows topic relationships. Produce in-depth articles covering all aspects of your subject.
Topical authority isn’t just about quantity—quality and originality of the content matter. Plagiarized texts hurt your SERP ranking. Aim to provide unique insights with expert opinions. Thorough explanations that go beyond what competitors offer help build topical authority. Websites seen as authorities rank well for a wide range of related keywords.
User Engagement Metrics
How users interact with your content plays a big role in SEO—search engines factor in user engagement metrics when ranking your page for SERPs. User engagement is about more than just keeping users on your page longer.
Here are some metrics that play an outsize role in SEO in 2024.
- Click-through rate (CTR) from search results
- Time spent on page
- Bounce rate
- Interactions with page elements
You can improve user engagement by writing compelling title tags. Clear meta descriptions help to increase CTR. Write an engaging introduction to hook the reader’s interest. Have well-formatted headings and subheadings. Use bullet points or short paragraphs for readability. Optimize page load speed to reduce the bounce rate.
Internal linking can encourage your users to spend more time on the site. It shows search engines like Google that your content is valuable. You can also try “jump links” or a table of contents for long articles. It helps users navigate straight to the information they want.
Engagement should come naturally from high-quality, useful content. Don’t try to inflate metrics with clickbait or misleading tactics artificially. Focus on creating genuinely helpful content that answers user questions and solves problems.
Google also looks at whether users find the information they need. If someone clicks on your page and quickly returns to search results, it signals to the search engine that your content didn’t meet their needs.
Adapt your SEO strategy to position your website for success in the coming year. Stay informed about algorithm updates and emerging best practices to keep your SEO tactics current. You must move quickly to design the best strategy for your website and audience. Don’t be caught off guard; it can result in a poor ranking for your webpage.
Feel free to speak to our team at (203) 226-8795, fill out our contact form, or email us. Skyfield Digital has the expertise to improve your search engine rankings.
