2. What to consider in 2014 SEO Strategy?
The most important algorithm change occurred with the rollout
of Google Hummingbird, which has significantly increased the
importance of both semantic search and the Knowledge Graph,
which I expect to grow in influence throughout 2014.
Specifically, search engines are looking to prepare themselves for
the impending rise of mobile voice search.
Therefore, detailed analysis of both the type and structure of the
content you produce is becoming extremely important in 2014
3. Why New SEO Strategy?
Search engines are becoming increasingly smarter at identifying
linkages between your website, social media profiles,
whitepapers, e-books and the graphics you’ve produced and
shared across the web.
It is these linkages that Google and other search engines will
prioritise when ranking your content in the search results, which
is why your future SEO strategy shouldn’t simply focus on
optimising your website.
It is now more important than ever for businesses to invest in a
long term digital marketing strategy in order to build gradually
improve their brand authority and online presence over time.
4. SEO Strategy 2014 which works well
Mobile SEO Content Optimization
Relevant Traffic Social Media
5. SEO Strategy 1. Mobile SEO
Some experts have been emphasising the importance of mobile
search throughout the past year, but there’s simply no way of
ignoring its importance in 2014. For local businesses, responsive
(or mobile) sites should no longer be seen as a bonus, they are
must haves for 2014. Indeed, mobile local search volume will
surpass desktop local search in 2015.
Your sites mobile performance now matters much more to your
SEO rankings. Put simply, if you don’t currently have a mobile
version of your website, or indeed a site featuring responsive
design, then don’t expect your desktop site to rank for mobile
search queries.
6. SEO Strategy 2. Content Optimization
Content has been the primary aspect of most businesses SEO
strategies for year. However, the type of content that ranks
well for certain search queries has been changing, and will
continue to change into 2014.
For example, Google’s Hummingbird update has improved their
ability to assess the intent of certain search queries, and there are
now different methods of optimising your content for
Hummingbird in 2014.
7. SEO Strategy 2. Content Optimization
Create conversational content
Specific conversation queries like ‘where is’, ‘what is’, ‘how to’
are precisely the types of question specific content that Google
Hummingbird is now going to promote much higher up the
rankings.
Eg: What is Content Optimization?
8. SEO Strategy 2. Content Optimization
Focus on long-tail queries
FAQ pages have always been a great method of targeting long
tail keywords, and will be increasingly important as Google
Hummingbird develops throughout 2014. You may look to
create detailed, industry specific content via an FAQ section on
your site, that answers the specific needs of users in your
industry.
9. SEO Strategy 3. Driving relevant traffic
You’ll also need to consider whether the type of content you’re
going to be producing will drive relevant traffic that will
eventually result in conversions. After all, there’s no use
targeting high volume conversational keywords if they’re
irrelevant to the products and services you offer.
There may not be as much volume in certain long tail keyword
phrases; but if you optimise for the right search query, the
traffic that it brings will convert much better.
With this in mind, it’s important that you look to answer
questions that potential customers may be asking, and look to
broaden your sites semantic field by using as many synonyms as
possible across your site to capture a wider variety of search
queries.
10. SEO Strategy 4. Structured Data
Structured data mark up (schema, microdata, microforms
etc.) can be used to mark up elements of your site in order to
help the search engines understand exactly what you do and the
types of products and services advertised on your website.
Google have been adding rich snippets within their search
results to provide the user with more information about the
listings provided on the SERP (search engine results page) itself,
which can be achieved by adding structured data to your website
and this is something that should be part of every local
businesses SEO strategy for 2014.
11. SEO Strategy 5. Social Media
Google are increasingly taking social media authority signals
into account when ranking websites. Social media engagement is
becoming increasingly important,
And social media should be used now only build your audience,
but as a primary communication channel with your
customers/potential customers.
12. Social Media Area we should consider
Google Authorship
Establishing Google Authorship of the content you will be
producing via your news area/blog, and tying it to your Google+
account. Authorship, which brings your body of content
together, will strengthen your appearance in the SERPs as well as
improving your Author Rank, which I believe will start to roll
out in 2014.
13. Social Media Area we should consider
Article Publisher Markup
Add publisher markup to your website, and look to increase
+1′s on your businesses Google+ profile. It’s fair to say that
Google +1′s are becoming a major factor in the “social signals”
component of Google’s algorithm, and I can only predict that
this will increase in the year/s ahead.
14. Conclusion
In order to stay ahead of your competition in 2014 and beyond,
you’ll need to pay attention to the priority areas which is outlined
above, which should increase your visibility for a wider range of
search queries across both desktop and mobile devices.