Let’s look at some facts.
#1. SEO is more important now than ever, no matter what anyone tells you.
#2. The world of SEO and web optimization is changing more quickly than ever.
#3. 2016 is almost over and 2017 is coming soon.
Can we stop for a moment and realize that it’s almost 2017?
Like, where did 2016 go, people!?
Now that that mini-epiphany is over, let’s get back to the important stuff. Yes, we all know that SEO is still the best way to generate traffic to your site, with 93% of online experiences starting with search engines. But do you know how fast the big wide world of SEO is changing?
2017 is coming up soon and you need to be prepared for the coming trends to stay above the competition. It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, so don’t go into it without knowing your facts. After you read this article, be sure to find a link to a SEO news site to keep up to date.
1. Speed on Mobile Is the Name of The Game.
AMP, or Accelerated Mobile Pages, has only grown in importance since Google first put it out there a year or so ago. Speed is continuing to dominate and expand in the mobile realm and you need to be prepared for what that means for your business or brand.
Viewers searching on their iPhones when they’re supposed to be working or paying attention to the conversation at dinner really want fast loading times on sites. It’s the way of the world and Google recognizes that need.
What can you do to survive in this harsh world of mobile speed? Well, you can make sure the images on your site are scaled correctly and don’t slow down your site. Only use the images that are completely necessary when building your site or an individual post. This will ensure you’re prepped when Google ups the AMP game.
2. More Space in The Meta Description?
Google, being the sneaky giant it is, has been secretly experimenting with adding extra text to meta descriptions and they seem to enjoy it. Now, this has not been announced as a permanent change that is coming, but it’s something to keep on the radar as 2017 rolls around.
How do you deal with this uncertainty? Continue placing your top keywords near the beginning of your meta description so it’s not cut off in case you’re not one of the privileged users out there with expanded descriptions. If you are one of those sites with extra meat in your description, see about using more keywords or writing more information about your site or post. Don’t waste that privilege!
3. The Rising Importance Of Schema.
Schema, something you may or may not yet have heard of, is something you can use to help search engines recognize your site easier. And who doesn’t want that?
The best thing you can do in regards this Schema is to start using it now, so you can be prepared for what the future brings. With the rise of Google algorithms and artificial intelligence, you’re going to need all the weapons possible in your arsenal.
4. You’ve Got to Be Ready to Be Hybrid.
You would thing that as some point, the world would stop becoming more integrated. Like really, how much interconnected can things be?
Well, in 2017, apparently a lot more. More and more people are utilizing many channels and crossing them together, whether it is mobile, desktop, tablet, or even watch. If you have multiple teams within your marketing department, you’ll want to gather everyone together and figure out how your new hybrid campaigns are going to need to work.
5. UEO Starts to Become One With SEO.
We all know that to some extent, SEO is connected with user experience with the importance of website speed. In 2017, this is going may be ramped up to the next level.
You and your team need to be prepared for what this new world of User Experience Optimization looks like and how your website will need to be optimized for greater UEO. Stay tuned.
The best thing you can do when preparing your SEO strategy for 2017 is to keep your ears and eyes open. There are developments every day and you need to be a soldier in this respect- always prepared for whatever comes next. Good luck!