The State of SEO in 2018

The state of SEO in 2018 is one that is in a state of flux, with many changes being made to the way search engine optimization (SEO) is done and the tactics employed to reach the top of the rankings. 2018 has seen several major changes in the way SEO is done, including the introduction of mobile-first indexing, voice search optimization, and changes to the way structured data is handled. While there have been some serious changes, there are still industry standards and best practices that are still relevant and can be implemented in order to ensure that a website is properly optimized for search engine success.

Mobile-First Indexing

One of the biggest changes that has happened in 2018 is the adoption of mobile-first indexing. In the past, desktop versions of websites were indexed first, followed by the mobile versions. However, with mobile-first indexing, the mobile version of a website is now indexed first, followed by the desktop version. This means that the content, structure, and site speed of the mobile version of a website are all taken into account when ranking a website.

As such, it is now more important than ever to ensure that a website is properly optimized for mobile devices. This includes making sure that the mobile version of a website is as fast as possible, that the content and structure is optimized for the mobile version of the website, and that the website is properly optimized for mobile search queries.

Voice Search Optimization

Another major change that has happened in 2018 is the way that voice search optimization is done. With the rise of virtual assistant devices such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home, more and more people are using voice search to find the information they are looking for. This means that websites need to be optimized for voice search queries in order to reach the top of the rankings.

The way that voice search optimization is done is by optimizing for natural language queries. This means that the language used on the website should be more conversational, as this is more akin to the way that people speak when they are searching for information using their voice. Additionally, the content on the website should be formatted in such a way that it is optimized for voice search queries. This includes using shorter paragraphs, bullet points, and using more headers and subheaders to break up the content.

Structured Data

Another major change that has happened in 2018 is the way that structured data is handled. Structured data is data that is marked up in a specific way in order for search engines to be able to better understand it. This includes using schema markup, which is a specific type of structured data that is used to mark up content on a website.

By using schema markup, a website can more accurately describe its content to search engines. This allows search engines to better understand the content on a website, which makes it easier for them to index and rank the website. As such, it is important to make sure that all content on a website is properly marked up with schema markup in order to ensure that the website is properly indexed by search engines.

Conclusion

The state of SEO in 2018 is one that is constantly changing and evolving. In order to stay ahead of the curve and to continue to rank highly in search engines, it is important to make sure that a website is properly optimized for the latest changes. This includes making sure that the website is optimized for mobile-first indexing, voice search optimization, and structured data. By ensuring that these changes are implemented, a website can stay ahead of the competition and continue to rank highly in the search engine results.