SE-YOOoooo, it’s almost 2018. How was that for a segway?
Maybe we should have led with how Alexa plays a role in today’s Read, as well. It’s true. One of the trends you need to really understand next year is virtual assistance and voice search.
Less Google algorithm updates in 2017 meant a bigger focus on creating The Best user experience possible. That’s where machine learning, mobile optimization and virtual assistance lend a technological hand, and they’re not letting go anytime soon.
All right, let’s get to the meat of these concepts and trends:
Mobile-First Indexing — Yeah, we’re telling you to optimize your mobile SEO again. But! Your ranking signals don’t even come from the desktop version of your site; instead, they come from the mobile version. So, it’s absolutely crucial.
The article details several practical ways to improve your mobile SEO, including taking the Mobile-Friendly Test, compressing any uncompressed images, and removing unplayable content and blocked resources.
Semantic Search — The goal of semantic search is for search engines to understand natural language queries better. Say a user asks Google “what’s it rated?” and they’re standing in front of a French bistro. Ideally, Google would be able to know that in this context “it” refers to the bistro.
What that means for you: a page with one specific, in-depth topic will usually rank better than dozens of pages built around different keywords. Clearly, one comprehensive resource is better at giving Google all the context it needs for the searcher’s intent.
Virtual Assistance & Voice Searches — Google reports that 55% of teens and 40% of adults use voice search every day. (Which sounds crazy because iPhone microphones never get it right.) The rise in voice searches and virtual assistance ties back into the prevalence of mobile devices and people’s need for quick answers on the go.
The post outlines ways to optimize your content for voice search, such as claiming your Google My Business listing, prioritizing long-tail keywords, and optimizing for natural language queries.
“Gimme, gimme more” →
