The State of SEO in 2019
Search engine optimization, or SEO, continues to grow in importance as more people become increasingly reliant on search engines for information. In 2019, SEO is in a state of evolution, as new technologies and strategies further refine the process of optimizing a website for higher rankings on search engine results pages (SERPs).
The first major change in SEO this year has been the introduction of mobile-first indexing. As the majority of searches now take place via a mobile device, search engines have shifted their focus to prioritize websites that are optimized for mobile. This includes ensuring pages load quickly and display correctly on a variety of devices, as well as incorporating features such as Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) and Progressive Web Apps (PWA) to enhance the mobile experience.
In addition, there has been a greater emphasis placed on quality content. Search engines are now more sophisticated than ever before, able to detect low-quality content, duplicate content, and keyword stuffing. As such, it is now more important than ever for website owners to focus on creating content that is both interesting and relevant to their target audience. Content should also be optimized for both search engine bots and human readers, taking into consideration factors such as keyword usage, formatting, and readability.
The importance of backlinks has also grown in 2019. A backlink is an incoming link from one website to another, and they are used by search engines to assess the quality and relevance of a website. The more backlinks a website has, the higher it is likely to rank on SERPs. As such, website owners should focus on building a strong and reputable backlink profile by creating useful content and promoting it on social media and other websites.
Finally, voice search has emerged as an important SEO tool. The increasing popularity of voice-activated personal assistants, such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa, has caused a shift in how people search for information. Voice search queries tend to be more conversational in nature, and they often involve long-tail keywords that are more specific than standard search queries. As such, website owners should ensure that their content is optimized for these types of queries in order to maximize their chances of appearing in voice search results.
Overall, SEO in 2019 is in a state of constant change and evolution. As new technologies and strategies emerge, website owners must stay up to date in order to remain competitive. By focusing on creating high-quality content, optimizing for mobile, building a strong backlink profile, and incorporating voice search optimization, website owners can ensure their websites are as visible as possible on SERPs.