Are you looking to stay ahead of the competition in 2023 with the latest SEO trends?
Whether you’re a website owner or a digital marketer, you need to know what’s coming in search engine optimization so that you can plan ahead and remain competitive. The 18 biggest SEO trends in 2023 are here to help. These trends are based on data-driven predictions from leading experts in the industry, so you can be sure they’re reliable.
In this article, we’ll share insights on user experience and tech advancements, keyword optimization tactics, content strategies, backlinking techniques, and more. We’ll also provide resources for further reading and implementation tips.
Let’s dive into our list of the 18 biggest SEO trends for 2023!
AI and Automation in SEO
The way we do SEO is constantly changing, and in 2023, AI and automation will play a big role. That’s because these tools can help speed up processes like keyword research, content creation, link building and much more.
AI can help with tasks like competitive analysis and keyword research by providing more accurate data than manual methods, while automation can save time by performing repetitive tasks quickly and efficiently. Automation can also be used to automate link building tasks by automatically submitting content to relevant sites or identifying potential article topics that are trending on social media.
In addition, AI-powered chatbots are growing in popularity and becoming increasingly sophisticated. They can be used to answer customer questions quickly, saving the SEO team valuable time. These chatbots can even be integrated into other systems to support customer service through automated responses or notifications when someone has submitted a query or reservation request.
Structured Data Markup and Schema
Structured data markup and schema are rapidly becoming one of the most important algorithms factors in SEO. Schema, which is a special type of code you can add to your website, communicates directly to search engines like Google and Bing to tell them what it is your page is about. This allows search engines to better understand your page’s content, which will in turn help them index it for relevant searches.
When it comes to structured data markup and schema in 2023 there are several important trends you should be aware of. First off, more websites will be using more advanced types of Schema such as Local Business, Person and Bookmark. These allow you to capture the attention of more specific audiences with very specific search terms. Secondly, more websites are moving towards using JSON-LD for their structured data markup as compared to Microdata or RDFa formats. This allows for a much cleaner implementation of the Schema code onto a webpage along with ensuring a better user experience. Finally, tools like Google Search Console are becoming increasingly important as they help you keep track of which pages have Schema code installed on them and make sure that everything works properly within the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).
Mobile Optimization and Responsive Design
In the ever-evolving landscape of SEO, 2023 is sure to bring a slew of changes. One of the biggest SEO trends to look out for in 2023 is mobile optimization and responsive design. As more and more people access the web from their phones and tablets, it’s becoming increasingly important for websites to be optimized for mobile use. Responsive design will become even more vital in order to capture the majority of web traffic.
To maximize your website’s performance on mobile devices, consider these three strategies:
- Make sure your website is optimized for all screen sizes, from mobile to desktop
- Offer simple navigation – remove any unnecessary clutter and give users one-click access to their desired pages
- Utilize Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) – this will help pages load quickly on mobile devices, which can lead to higher engagement rates
Voice Search and Virtual Assistants
Voice search and virtual assistants are becoming increasingly popular among internet users, and this trend is only expected to continue into 2023. A voice search has the potential to revolutionize how users interact with websites, as they can now ask questions with natural language instead of entering keywords into a search field.
Additionally, with the help of virtual assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home, users can speak commands directly to their devices to access information quickly and conveniently. This opens up new opportunities for businesses to reach their target audience and engage them in meaningful dialog about their products and services.
In order for businesses to capitalize on these new opportunities, they will need to ensure their website content is optimized for voice search queries. That means focusing on long-tail keywords that reflect natural language questions people might ask when looking for information. Additionally, it’s important that businesses create content that provides helpful answers to commonly asked questions in order to better engage their audience. Taking these steps will ensure businesses stay ahead of the curve when it comes to SEO trends in 2023.
Local SEO and Voice Commerce
Gone are the days of searching for “near me” or “closest” services only; voice commerce has quickly become a mainstream trend, with many businesses relying on it to ensure their customers can find them with ease. In 2023, local SEO and voice commerce will be more important than ever.
When it comes to local SEO and voice commerce, businesses need to do more than simply optimize their websites:
- Get listed on all the key platforms like Google My Business, Yelp and Apple Maps.
- Make sure your website content is optimized for voice search engines, such as Alexa and Siri.
- Make sure you include location-specific keywords in your content
- Monitor review sites to ensure you are getting positive reviews from your customers
- Take advantage of new features such as local advertising campaigns and local link building efforts
By taking steps to optimize for local SEO and voice commerce, businesses can make sure their websites are properly engaged with potential customers, increasing visibility for a range of products and services in 2023.
Read more:
- What Is SEO? A Comprehensive Guide to Search Optimization
- Upgrade Your SEO Game With These Must-Have SEO Tools
- Link Building for SEO: Strategies for Building Quality Backlinks
Video Content for Improved Engagement
Video content is expected to become even more integral to SEO’s success, as consumers continue to increase their viewing on digital devices. According to research, videos are projected to account for 82% of all consumer internet traffic by 2022.
Videos can be used for several SEO strategies, such as:
- Enhancing search listings on SERPs, with video thumbnails standing out from congested pages
- Improving user engagement on the web page and the time visitors spend there
- Boosting the relevancy of the content by providing additional value
- Expanding organic reach through native and social video sharing
Organizations looking to benefit from this trend must create videos that are both attention-grabbing and content-driven; focus on delivering value through storytelling, images and sound in ways that captivate target audiences. This can be done through short-form videos or creating longer series with a narrative arc.
Google Ads gives in to organic search
Google Ads have long been competitive in the online space, but the rise of organic search has forced them to make a few changes.
In 2023, we can expect Google Ads to be even more integrated with organic search algorithms. This means that an ad is no longer necessary – organic search results can pull up relevant products without needing a paid advertisement.
Organic search will also become increasingly important for local businesses looking to rank in the local SERPs. Google has been gradually rolling out changes that give priority to local businesses over larger, more established ones – so if you’re a smaller business, now is the perfect time to start optimizing your website for local SEO and make sure you’re ranking well in 2023.
We can also expect to see changes in the way Google Ads display their results. Ads are already appearing alongside organic results on certain searches, and this trend is only expected to continue as Google begins to integrate more ads into its SERPs. The key is for businesses not to rely too heavily on paid advertising, but instead focus on creating engaging content and optimizing for organic search in order to reach customers in the most effective way possible.
First-hand experience on a topic (the new “E” in EEAT)
We’ve all heard of the acronym “EEAT” (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). As SEO continues to evolve and become more sophisticated, a new “E” is being added to the mix. We’re calling it “first-hand experience on a topic,” where the most authoritative content through EEAT alone is no longer enough to dominate the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages).
The algorithm has become much more advanced and now looks for content which is not just published by an authority, but which actually has first-hand experience in the subject. Content that provides a deeper level of understanding with personal anecdotes and details not just backed up by evidence from other sources are becoming more and more sought out by both users and search engine algorithms.
Creating content that is both EEAT approved but also provides first-hand experience on a topic requires an extra level of effort. It means diving deep into one’s personal knowledge bank on a given topic as well as doing extensive research from multiple sources to create content that stands out from your competitors. This will be essential to staying ahead in 2023.
Rich Snippets
Rich snippets are special pieces of code that make it simpler for search engines to better understand the content on your website. They provide additional information about the content that can help increase visibility on the SERPs (search engine results pages). In 2023, using rich snippets seems set to become even more important, with Google recently announcing that they are increasing their support for this type of content.
They’re especially useful in industries where there is a lot of data-driven information, such as stock market trends or travel website bookings. This is because they allow you to display a snippet of extra data next to your result in the SERPs, which helps to set you apart from other listings and draw attention.
Rich snippets can also be used to display things like review ratings and product pricing, which can help to further engage potential visitors and create trust with them while they’re browsing. As such, investing in rich snippets is sure to be essential for any website looking to stay ahead of the competition in 2023.
User + Search Intent = Helpful Content
As search engines strive to provide users with the most comprehensive, relevant results possible, content creators need to think beyond keyword optimization and focus instead on providing helpful content tailored to user needs. The concept of ‘user intent’ is key: understanding what the user expects from a query and tailoring content accordingly.
For example, if someone searches for ‘best summer vacation destinations’, the content they are likely looking for is a list of quality recommendations. So if you want to optimize your content ranking, focus on producing an article that answers their question with an easy-to-navigate list of detailed suggestions.
To make sure your content stands out from the competition, use original research and facts when applicable. Also consider creating useful visuals such as infographics or videos which demonstrate complex concepts in an engaging manner. When you combine user intent with helpful content that is optimized for search engine algorithms, you can be sure your page will rise through the ranks in search results.
Entities take over keywords
As search engine algorithms become increasingly sophisticated, it’s no surprise that entities are about to take over keywords as the primary method for marketers to optimize their websites. Entities are referring to items such as people, places, things or, more generally, concepts.
What this means is that marketing teams will need to shift their focus away from solely optimizing for traditional keyword research and start thinking about optimization with a more ‘entity-centric’ approach in mind. What this entails is to not just think of individual keywords, but try and find the broader entities they belong too. For example, taking an entity such as ‘movie reviews’ and not just focusing on keywords such as ‘horror movies’, or ‘family films’.
The benefits of taking an entity-centric approach are multifold. You’ll be able to take advantage of Google’s knowledge graph – which is constantly growing – and find new opportunities in the SERP that you may have missed out on before. Moreover, it will help improve your overall SEO ranking by allowing you to identify relationships between entities that were previously unknown. Finally, it will help your website become more visible on voice search platforms as well – something which is becoming increasingly important in today’s digital landscape.
Authentic Product Page Reviews
In 2023, any good SEO plan must incorporate authentic product page reviews.
Authentic product page reviews are customer reviews posted directly on product pages as opposed to third-party review sites. These reviews provide prospective customers with a snapshot of a product’s quality and can help influence them to make a purchase.
When it comes to leveraging the power of product page reviews, there are a few key elements you’ll want to include in your strategy:
- Incentivize customers: Encourage customers to leave honest feedback by offering an incentive such as discounts or loyalty points.
- Use rich snippets: Utilize rich snippets (structured data) to display review scores on SERP listings, making it easier for users to find what they’re looking for.
- Integrate with social media: Allow customers to post their reviews on social media for additional visibility and reach.
By encouraging customers to share their experiences and integrating those positive experiences into your SEO plan, you’re sure to see an increase in organic traffic and conversions in 2023!
Growth of Blogger Outreach and Personal Branding
With more competition in the SEO space, companies are now turning to blogger outreach and personal branding as a way to reach their customers. This involves reaching out to unique content creators who specialize in niche topics and leveraging their following to drive traffic to their site.
Blogger outreach efforts often include collaborations, sponsored posts and reviews that can help boost your visibility and grow organic search rankings. Additionally, personal branding works by creating a consistent image across multiple social media channels. This helps to strengthen your presence online, increase brand recognition and visibility, and gain trust from potential customers.
Here are some of the benefits of blogger outreach and personal branding when it comes to SEO:
- Increased Traffic: Partnering with bloggers increases your reach exponentially, as they can share your content with their large following.
- Enhanced Branding: Leveraging influencers with engaged audiences allows your brand to be seen by more people than traditional marketing efforts.
- Improved Rankings: Having links from trusted influencers can help improve your organic search rankings and increase conversions over time.
Links Are Important As of 2023
Links are a major factor when it comes to SEO success as of 2023, and that is unlikely to change anytime soon. Link building is essential to providing website visitors with the resources they need, and to helping search engines understand the relevance of a website.
Google will continue to reward websites with quality content and links in order to rank it higher in its search engine results pages (SERPs). This can be achieved by producing content that is relevant, well-written, and helpful. Additionally, links should come from sites that are known for producing good content and have a strong presence on social media platforms.
In 2023, there will be an increased emphasis on quality over quantity when it comes to link building. It will be important for businesses to invest in acquiring authoritative backlinks from reliable sources or risk being penalized by Google’s algorithms. Links should also be diversified across various genres, including videos, images, press releases and infographics in order to make sure the page remains relevant for longer periods of time.
Search engines will reward subject authority
In the future, search engines will become smarter and more focused on awarding subject authority. This means that the content creators who own a particular subject or singular topic will be rewarded with higher rankings and more visibility.
Google is already doing this with its ‘Position 0’ (or ‘featured snippets’) results which give priority to content that is seen as an authority on the subject: in certain cases, providing answers directly from the featured result.
It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but it’s likely that other search engines will latch onto this idea and reward subject-specific expertise in the same way Google does. By focusing on topics rather than keywords, SEO experts will be able to craft content which is more valuable and more comprehensive.
Expect Fewer Organic CTR
Search engine result pages (SERP) have become increasingly competitive over the years, and with the introduction of featured snippets and other rich results, organic CTR has been lowered considerably. In 2023, expect a further decrease in organic CTR, as more and more SERPs will be packed with paid ad results.
To optimize your SEO campaigns to combat this, there are a few things to consider:
- Developing content around highly-targeted keyword phrases that have less competition
- Optimizing titles and meta descriptions for higher click-through rates
- Utilizing schema markup for better visibility on SERPs
- Finding creative ways to insert keywords within your content structure
- Creating content that earns organic links from other websites
By taking these steps, you can increase your chances of gaining exposure on SERPs and achieving higher organic CTRs in 2023.
Google about Passage Indexing
The world of SEO is ever-evolving, with new trends and technologies always on the horizon. One of the most exciting recent updates is Google about passage indexing. Google about passage indexing is a way for search engines to better understand the context behind content and to provide more precise results.
So how does this work? In short, passage indexing uses natural language processing to identify key parts of a web page or blog post and match them to user queries. By understanding the semantics behind each content element, search engines can better determine which page best answers a question and improve their search engine rankings accordingly.
Google has already started rolling out passage indexing in some countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. To make sure your website is properly optimized for this trend, use tools like Rank Ranger which provide detailed data on how search engine algorithms are currently ranking content. Additionally, consider using schema markup to identify key passages on your website that you want Google to focus on. Doing so will ensure that your pages are properly indexed by Google and that you don’t miss out on potential search engine traffic!
Localization of SEO
Local SEO is an important part of SEO, so much so that 2023 will see changes in the way it’s done.
As search engines become more sophisticated, localization will become an even more critical factor when it comes to optimizing a website for specific regions and countries. People looking for local services are no longer limited to one country, and they should receive results that match their geographical location as closely as possible.
What this means is that companies must take into account the local culture, language, customs and regulations when creating content for their website. They must also ensure that their content, keywords and other optimization efforts are tailored specifically to the area they want to target. This could include using local slang or idioms, or even working with a translator if necessary.
Additionally, local links should be used to show that the website is a part of the community. This means linking to local businesses and institutions who share similar values and interests, giving potential customers peace of mind when choosing your company’s services or products.
When done correctly, localization can help build trust with customers who are seeking out services and products in their geographic area – making localization an essential component of SEO for 2023 and beyond.
Conclusion
In summary, 2023 is going to be an incredibly exciting year for the SEO industry. With advancements in voice search, AI, and mobile, plus changes to how search engines rank websites, there’s a lot to learn and embrace. Companies who embrace the new trends and adapt to the new technologies have the opportunity to outrank their competition and stand out as innovators in their field. In order to stay ahead of the competition, businesses need to start implementing the top SEO trends today to improve their search performance in the future. By leveraging the power of search engine optimization techniques, businesses can remain competitive and ensure that their content is seen by the right people.
