When it comes to the wonderful world of search engine optimization (SEO), one thing always holds true: you never know what to expect next. If you are going to achieve success in this area of your business, you need to be flexible enough to roll with the punches.
Just the same as 2013, we can expect some major (and minor) changes in 2014. As always, however, nobody knows for sure what to expect next.
The best thing you can do is prepare yourself for anything that comes your way. As we discussed in the past, there are many ways of doing so such as by reading some of the top SEO blogs in the industry.
While there is no way to predict the future, by looking back at 2013 it is possible to get a solid idea of what the search engines (Google in particular) will be looking for over the next 12 months.
Here are three things to be prepared for:
1. Social media will continue to play an important role. If you have yet to beef up your social media profiles and take these seriously, you are making a major mistake that could negatively impact your SEO success in the year to come.
From Twitter to Facebook to Pinterest, you need to focus time and resources on your social media strategy.
2. Content marketing is not going away. In 2013, more and more people began to realize the importance of content marketing. They soon found out that this was more than a “buzzword.”
In 2014, Google will be looking for companies that have a sound content marketing strategy. With the right approach, you can take advantage of many benefits including:
- A regularly updated website, showing authority within your industry
- Content that is shared socially, helping to drive traffic and increase engagement
- The ability to provide your audience with useful advice
3. Google+ is a must. There used to be a time when this was optional, but those days have come and gone. To go along with point #1 above, you need to realize the return associated with a strong Google+ presence.
Note: be sure to establish Google Authorship of your content as soon as possible.
Nobody knows for sure what to expect from the SEO world in 2014, but focusing on the areas above will definitely give you a head start.
