The internet promises to be even more lucrative in 2019. However, cashing in on upcoming opportunities will not be easy considering the simmering levels of competition in the search engine space. Website owners are going all the way out and deploying the best tools and strategies to rank higher than the competition.
So, how do you stay on top of your game amidst all the ongoing SEO frenzy? There are many strategies, but you should go for only the best. Here are 7 tips to improve your ranking on search engines in 2019.
1. Web Design – Strengthen Your Foundation
Web design is the corner stone on which search engine optimization is built. It determines a lot of crucial factors scoping aesthetics, speed, functionality, and so much more. To this end, you cannot afford to fail in web design.
If you are planning to open another online platform, then ensure that it is designed by the best. If, on the other hand, you already have an existing platform, then make sure that you perform comprehensive analytics to identify any shortcomings and hire a web designed to iron everything out. Additionally, ensure that you always keep an eye out for new developments in the web design space. Remember, getting ahead of the competition entails being a step ahead in all crucial features.
2. Remember, Content is Still King
Content is and has always been king when it comes to SEO. Everyone on the internet is usually looking for a solution to something: where to buy what, what to eat today, how to fix something and virtually anything you can think of. Google and other major search engines expect you and other website owners to provide these solutions through the content on your sites.
All written content on your site should be truly informative. Most people make the mistake of riddling content with keywords,but this doesn’t work anymore. It should be intriguing and engaging enough to keep your visitors reading to the very end. Google keeps track of how much time visitors spend on any given web page. It will rank your content higher if it notes that your visitors are reading your content in its entirety and actually getting the help they need. You will also need to take other factors such as keywords into consideration.
3. Embrace Videos; Everyone Else Is
Content may be king, but it is not the only way to communicate with your website’s visitors. Videos are becoming increasingly popular as well. In fact, Google predicts that Videos will account for over 80% of all online traffic by the end of 2020.
Research shows that people’s attention span rates are falling, which means that the average person finds it difficult to read through an entire article. Videos, however, are self-expressive, your audience doesn’t have to read through each word and try to make something out of it. Videos are also interesting, engaging, and even enjoyable.
To this end, you should consider featuring more videos alongside your written content in 2019. Be creative with your videos to ensure that they are captivating.
4. Voice Searches are Taking Over
No one bothers typing search queries any more – Siri has you covered! Voice searches are taking over search engines. Internet users can now just utter command and Siri, Alexa, and other voice search algorithms will do the rest. Voice searches are more sophisticated than before. They are accurate, and developers are unveiling new features every other day.
Interestingly, Google takes only the top 3 search results when queries are made in voice command. As such, you will need to rank high in search engines to take advantage of this new trend. It would also help to take on an organic, native approach with your written content. Voice search queries are more elaborate and conversational than typing, so be sure to make your content conversational.
5. Use More of Social Media
It seems that everyone in the world is flocking to social media websites to stay in the loop on developments. Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites register billions in traffic on any given day, which makes them the ideal place for marketers to meet prospective buyers. As such, integrating social media sites into your website will grant you greater access to organic traffic and help increase your brand’s awareness.
There are many ways to leverage social media for SEO purposes. Start by integrating social media icons on your website with links to your social media pages.
6. Integrate Links Wisely
You cannot take on the internet alone – no one can. Granted, other websites selling services and products similar to yours are essentially competitors. However, you can turn them into partners by integrating out-bound links leading to their pages. This way, their reputation will rub off on your brand,and they may also return the favor by linking to your site.
Linking was and is still one of the best ways to improve your SEO. The reason why it is not so effective anymore is that most people do not know how to go about it. Google and other major search engines have been tightening the rules in a bid to crack down on spammy linking.
To stay on the safe side, make sure that you use contextually-relevant links – do not use links just for the sake of it. Additionally, link to reputable websites – linking on poor websites will make your website look poor too.
7. Finally, Perform Comprehensive Analytics Regularly
Google is always refining and adjusting its rules and regulations in a bid to bring more order to the internet. Some of the tools and strategies you are using for your SEO may be outlawed or improved upon soon. As such, it pays to keep up-to-date with developments and make the necessary changes as soon as new updates are rolled out.
The best way to determine whether your website is on Google’s safe (and favorable) side is by analyzing your site using Google Analytics tools. These tools will highlight your website’s shortcomings so that you can make the necessary changes and improve your ranking.
Bottom Line
There is something for everyone on the internet regardless of how big or small your business is. However, success on the internet depends on ranking, and you have to deploy the best SEO tools and strategies to get ahead of the competition. These recommendations are set to take over SEO 2019, so don’t miss out!
