2013 has turned out to be quite an interesting year for SEO and digital marketing. Here are three trends gaining momentum this year:
Mobile (really!) matters. More Americans are using their mobile phones to browse and shop for a variety of goods and services. By 2016, nearly three in five consumers in the U.S. will have a smartphone, according to eMarketer. By the end of the year, it’s predicted that there will be more mobile phones than people on Earth.
Social media matters more. Social media’s influence on SEO is growing, especially after Google had an algorithm update in May. During that update, Google made it clear that the old strategy of link-building just for links is no longer as effective, especially if the sites aren’t in your niche. Now sites are more likely to build links using content they share and create on social networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.
Content quality is key. Poorly written, spammy content? Don’t expect your web site to rank high. Quality is the name of the content game, not necessarily quantity. Your content must be unique, authoritative, and provide value to readers. What’s the other absolutely-necessary element for a successful SEO strategy? Regular updates with fresh news and other compelling content.