SEO Trends of 2023
By Andy Tretow - eGuide Content Marketing Manager
Coming into 2023, I had a completely different set of ideas of what the SEO game might look like for a website. However, in just a few short months, things have been completely turned upside down due to the creation and rollout of AI systems like ChatGPT, with Google’s chatbot version, called Bard AI, not far behind. So does that mean that SEO will become obsolete? Not exactly, but how it is used will likely change the more AI is developed. What does the CURRENT landscape look like this year?
Here are a few things to pay attention to this year for your website SEO:
Updating Content
Regardless of what happens with the development of chatbots this year, first and foremost keep your website full of fresh and new content. The one surefire way you are able to keep your content at the top of Google search results is to make sure that your website (and blog) are constantly updated. This became even more important at the end of last year, as Google updated its algorithm to reward those making frequent updates to their site and their blog. Evergreen content is important but cannot be left to sit dormant, or it will slip into irrelevancy. Even if it means updating a blog you wrote a few years ago, you want to make sure that the hard work you put into it continues to be seen and used.
AI (Artificial Intelligence) is here to stay..and keeps growing.
Technology constantly surprises me even though I should know better by now. The way we “Google,” “Bing,” or search the web is going to change in a major way in 2023. ChatGPT has already changed the way we can create social content, write blogs, help you create a resume, answer questions, and find information in a fraction of the time it would take us to find even the quickest answers. With this development, we are not far away from this being the main way to ditch the tradition of searching as we have known it for years.
Bonus Points: While the development of this new-age technology is revolutionary, it still requires a human element to take advantage of its capabilities. ChatGPT is still just a machine that is not foolproof. While it can write blogs or craft social content, the write-ups it produces still need to be edited and given that “human” touch to work well.
Localization Station
Google is starting to emphasize localized searches, which could prove to be a huge benefit for local small businesses. While this is a great thing, it also means some work might have to be done to really take advantage of the benefit. First, ensure you have completely set up your Google My Business profile. This free tool allows you to claim ownership of your business online on Google, interact with customers, build trust based on positive reviews, and give your business better visibility. This is a huge benefit to your business as you are able to take advantage of positive customer reviews. What do you look at when you are in a new area looking for a restaurant, bar, or special kind of store? Chances are, it is reviewing the reviews that others have left. The higher and the more scores you have, the more likely you are to visit that establishment. With the push to more localized results, you want to ensure you are playing on a level playing field with the rest of your competition.
Mobile Friendly Means SEO Friendly
In one of my recent blogs, I mentioned how important it was to have your website be mobile-friendly. That is largely due to the fact that over half of users are accessing your website via the mobile platform. Well, add another log onto that fire, as your website SEO will soon be affected as well. Google’s algorithm may soon completely ignore your desktop layout and focus entirely on your mobile view to determine your ranking. If you have a very mobile-friendly site and are easy to use, you are already ahead of the curve. If not, this needs to be the year you make the upgrade to account for the majority of people who are online. What will happen if you wait? Well, if it is not ranked well, you could plummet down the rankings and potentially lose business to your competitors. Do yourself a favor and consider a website upgrade in Quarter 3 or 4 this year.
Conclusion
The world of SEO is something that you can never get too comfortable with because it continues to evolve and change with the advancement of technology. While the future is uncertain, what you can do is control how your business and website rank in the present. If you follow these trends this year, chances are you will be a bit ahead of the game. If you have any questions, please contact me today. I would love to talk to you about how I can help.
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