First things first: Happy New Year from all of us at RUN2!
For the first blog of the year, we thought we’d take a look at the digital marketing and SEO landscape for 2024. What are the best practices you should be considering when it comes to your digital marketing this year? And what do recent algorithm changes mean for SEO? Let’s take a look…
1. Spotlight on UX
User Experience (UX) is nothing new in the world of digital marketing and SEO, but it’s currently poised to be more important than ever as we enter 2024. This year, Google is placing an even greater emphasis on user experience. Core Web Vitals, which include metrics like page loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability, have become crucial ranking factors.
As digital marketers, this means we need to focus on optimising websites to ensure a seamless, fast user experience.
2. E.A.T: Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness
Google’s E.A.T principle has been on our radar for a while: it’s something we always discuss with clients when they first come on board with us. What exactly is E.A.T? In a nutshell, the E-A-T principle is that any website content should not only be relevant, but also showcase expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness.
E-A-T has been a significant factor in ranking for some time, but its importance will continue to grow in 2024. Whatever industry you are in, E-A-T should play a vital part in your content strategy, but it’s particularly important for companies in industries where accurate information is paramount, such as healthcare or finance.
3. Voice Search Optimisation
Voice Search Optimisation is another factor which has been on the digital marketing radar for a while now, but thanks to the increasing prevalence of voice-activated devices and virtual assistants, its importance will continue to grow this year.
Optimising for voice search is no longer a “nice to have”: it’s something that everyone needs to take seriously now when it comes to SEO. Tailoring your content to answer conversational queries, and incorporating long-tail keywords, can enhance your visibility in voice search results.
4. Mobile-First Indexing Becomes Non-Negotiable
Mobile-first indexing is no longer a trend; it’s a standard. If your website isn’t mobile friendly, it’s time to make some changes in 2024. A good digital marketing agency can advise you on how best to ensure your website meets mobile-first standards.
The reason this is so important is that Google now prioritises the mobile version of a website for indexing and ranking. This means that ensuring that your website is mobile-friendly, with responsive design and quick loading times, is imperative for SEO success.
5. Schema Markup for Enhanced Rich Snippets
Rich Snippets are normal Google search results, but with additional data displayed. Common Rich Snippet types include reviews, recipes and events. As you might expect, Rich Snippet results are more eye-catching than normal search results which can lead to a higher organic click through rate. With this in mind, achieving a ‘rich snippet’ with your content is a definite plus!
Something that can help you to gain a rich snippet is schema markup. Schema markup provides search engines with additional information about the content on your website, resulting in enhanced rich snippets in search results. Leveraging schema markup can improve the visibility and click-through rates of your pages, and should certainly be on your digital marketing radar for 2024.
6. Hyperlocal SEO for Personalised Search Results
With the rise of personalised search results, hyperlocal SEO is gaining prominence for 2024. It’s important to ensure that your website is optimised for location-based searches, ensuring accurate business information is provided for platforms like Google My Business and other local directories.
SEO in 2024
Staying abreast of the latest SEO trends and algorithm changes is crucial for your digital marketing strategy in 2024. The search engines are continually refining their algorithms, which means we as digital marketers need to constantly apply best SEO practices to ensure maximum visibility and relevance in search results.
By prioritising user experience, embracing emerging technologies, and consistently producing high-quality, authoritative content, your website can thrive in the dynamic landscape of SEO in 2024. If you need a little help, give us a call: let’s work together to make 2024 a fantastic year for your business.