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Top Tips for Better SEO

Google “SEO trends” and you will get about 20 million results in about half a second. Rather than reading through even the top ten results, NOYO Web Development has compiled 5 SEO trends for 2020 that should help your business stand out from the crowd.

Page Speed is a Huge Influence on SEO

Google considers page speed, and it is a huge factor in how its algorithm ranks websites. However, many SMEs overlook this crucial element. This is a big mistake in terms of SEO and UX, especially since consumers get impatient with slow load speeds. They bounce off your site quickly if you make them wait.

Google Focuses on Intent

Google can, in fact, determine intent based on how people search the web. The search engine can offer different results if it thinks someone wants to purchase a product, find an answer to a question, or find a local business. This recent capability provides better UX and gives you more ways to improve SEO.

This should influence your website content. Is your target audience looking for an event? Do they need to solve a problem with your service or product? Are they looking for a local business? Keep audience intent at the forefront as you create web content, blog posts and social media posts.

Organic Search Traffic Outpaces Paid Strategies

Many businesses could work harder to improve organic search results. Paid ads are quicker and easier. Still, over 50% of all website traffic comes from organic searches. Harnessing that power takes a consistent, sustained strategy and execution.

One huge misconception about organic is that you must publish tons of content to rank well. This is no longer true. What Google looks for, and understands, is relevance. You need a content strategy that delivers structured and authoritative content. Google can tell if your content brings value to your target audience. Fluff from a cheap content mill will drive your SEO down.

Search Results Deliver the Information

As search results improve, many don’t result in clicks. This is the power behind the rich-featured results that Google delivers. Things like knowledge graphs, snippets, and local business listings deliver a lot of data at one time. Search results now provide much of the information without an individual clicking through to the website.

Content is Still King, Just in Updated Ways

Search algorithms are increasingly sophisticated. They prefer content that is well optimized, well organized, authoritative, and of value to the consumer. Old practices like keyword density, word count, and links still help. However, if the content doesn’t hit the bullseye, it won’t deliver on SEO.

In other words, Google understands intelligent, well-planned content. It understands structure and your website’s broader information architecture. Now is the time to audit your site structure. Evaluate your current sitemap. How are pages interconnected and what is their purpose? Analyze how visitors navigate through your site. You may decide to fully restructure your site as a result.

Final Thoughts on SEO for 2020

It’s hard to believe that 2020 is just weeks away. So, building up SEO on a strong foundation of SEO best practices is crucial to success next year. These five best practices will serve you well in 2020 and beyond until Google makes major changes in its algorithm or some innovative technology disrupts how SEO works.

Can you optimize your SME website for everything all at once? You can certainly try. Still, the best method to update your website and SEO best practices is to ensure your core framework and strategies are built on a sound foundation and regularly updated. Then you can exploit any new SEO trends that take hold in the global marketplace.