Hello, smart and savvy readers. We’re excited to bring you the latest and greatest in search engine optimisation (SEO) tips and tricks. As we head into 2024, it’s crucial to stay on top of the ever-changing world of SEO to ensure your website stays visible, relevant and ranking on Google.
Let’s not waste any more time; here are 22 modern and up-to-date SEO tips for 2024 that will help you boost your rankings and dominate the search results.
Optimise For Core Web Vitals
Google’s Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics that measure user experience, focusing on loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability. Make sure your site is optimised for these factors to improve both user experience and rankings.
Focus On Semantic Search
Semantic search is all about understanding the intent behind a query rather than just matching keywords. To optimise for semantic search as part of a broader SEO strategy, create content that answers users’ questions and provides value, using structured data markup to help search engines understand your content better.
Target Long-Tail Keywords
Long-tail keywords are more specific and less competitive, making them easier to rank for. Research and target long-tail keywords relevant to your niche to drive more targeted traffic to your site.
Utilise Voice Search Optimisation
With the rise of voice assistants like Siri and Alexa, optimising your content for voice search is crucial. Use conversational language, answer common questions, and include long-tail keywords to capture voice searches.
Create High-Quality, Engaging Content
Content is still king in 2024. Focus on creating high-quality, engaging content that provides value to your audience and keeps them coming back for more.
Optimise For Mobile-First Indexing
Google now uses mobile-first indexing, meaning it prioritises the mobile version of your site when ranking. Ensure your website is responsive and optimised for mobile devices to avoid losing out on valuable traffic.
Use Video Content Strategically
Video content is becoming increasingly important for SEO. Create engaging, informative videos and optimise them with keywords, titles, and descriptions to boost your rankings and increase user engagement.
Read: Looking for a career in video editing? Here are the basics explained
Leverage E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
Google values websites that demonstrate expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. To improve your E-A-T, create high-quality content, earn backlinks from reputable sources, and maintain a strong online reputation.
Matt Cayless, Director of Bubblegum Search, a Digital PR Agency in London, shares a valuable insight, “Incorporating the concept of E-E-A-T – Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness – is crucial for any digital strategy. At our agency, we emphasise real-world evidence of experience, from showcasing case studies that highlight successful campaigns to including customer testimonials, images, and videos. For example, we’ve helped brands increase their digital footprint by strategically placing real customer stories and data-driven results on their sites. This not only builds trust but also demonstrates tangible expertise and authority. The key is in showing, not just telling, your audience about your skills and successes.”
Optimise Your Site’s Internal Linking Structure
Internal links help search engines understand your site’s structure and can improve your rankings. Use descriptive anchor text and link to relevant pages within your site to create a strong internal linking structure.
Read: 5 tips for growing your business online, from SEO to social media
Optimise Your Website for Google Discover
Google Discover is a personalised feed that appears on Google’s homepage for mobile users. To optimise your website for Google Discover, focus on creating high-quality content with excellent visuals, catchy titles, and web-optimised videos. Additionally, ensure your site is optimised for Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) to improve mobile user experience.
Leverage Featured Snippets
Featured snippets are short, concise answers to search queries that appear at the top of Google’s search results. To optimise your content for featured snippets, focus on question-type search queries and use the inverted pyramid style. Keep your answers within 40-50 words to increase the chances of being featured.
Optimise On-Page SEO Elements
Pay attention to on-page SEO elements such as meta descriptions, title tags, H1 and H2 headings, and URL structures. These elements play a crucial role in helping search engines understand your content and rank it accordingly.
Embrace BERT Algorithm
The BERT algorithm focuses on understanding user intent and providing relevant search results. To optimise your content for BERT, write short, compact content that directly answers user queries and avoids unnecessary jargon.
Conduct Regular SEO Audits
Perform periodic SEO audits to identify and fix any issues that may be affecting your website’s performance. This will help you stay compliant with Google’s quality guidelines and maintain high search rankings.
Build Quality Backlinks
Backlinks are a crucial factor in determining your website’s authority and search rankings. Focus on building high-quality backlinks through guest blogging, influencer outreach, and creating shareable content.
Leverage Data & Analytics
Use the best link tracking tools – with ground zero being Google Analytics, of course – to gain insights into your website’s performance, including mobile traffic, bounce rates, user engagement, and more. Use this data to make informed decisions and improve your SEO strategy.
Implement Schema Markup
Schema markup is a form of structured data that helps search engines better understand your content. Implement schema markup on your website to enhance your search listings and increase click-through rates.
Optimise Images
Ensure all images on your website are properly optimised with descriptive file names, alt tags, and compressed file sizes. This will improve your site’s loading speed and overall user experience.
Improve Page Load Speed
A slow-loading website can hurt both user experience and rankings. Optimise your site’s load speed by compressing images, minifying code, and using a content delivery network (CDN).
Monitor & Optimise Your Site’s Crawl Budget
Crawl budget refers to the number of pages Google will crawl on your site within a given time. Optimise your crawl budget by fixing broken links, eliminating duplicate content, and using the “noindex” tag on low-value pages.
Keep An Eye on Competitors
Analyse your competitors’ SEO strategies and learn from their successes and failures. Use tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to monitor competitor keywords, backlinks, and content.
Stay Up-To-Date With SEO Trends
SEO is constantly evolving, so staying informed about the latest trends and algorithm updates is essential. Follow industry blogs, attend SEO conferences, and engage with the wider community to stay ahead of the game.
The Bottom Line
As we move into 2024, it’s more important than ever to stay on top of the latest SEO trends and strategies. By implementing these 22 modern and up-to-date SEO tips, you’ll be well on your way to boosting your rankings and driving more traffic to your website. Good luck!