We are only in April, and we are already seeing some of the SEO predictions made at the end of 2010 come true, which is much earlier than expected but proves that most people knew what they were talking about. Here's what has been going on lately:
**Quality is better than quantity**
With recent changes in Google's algorithm, it was believed that only articles with more than 450 words could rank at the top of Google. However, as we have seen, quality and originality prevail regardless of the number of words or articles (content farms).
**The growth of mobile search**
Both local and global search will benefit from the increasing market for smartphones, meaning a new source of traffic for most websites. It also helps with the growth of Wi-Fi zones, allowing you to connect to the internet faster when you're out and about.
**The importance of social media**
2010 was the year for Facebook and Twitter, with many companies trying to get as many "likes" and "followers" as possible. It was also the year for online presence and brand management. Both platforms are now important advertising tools and essential for any SEO campaign, considering that the two major networks are decisive factors for the success of a campaign, and all major search engines have recognized that they do have an impact on organic rankings.
**Loading Speed**
It took some time for people to understand that website speed would be an important factor for Google, who had already announced these changes to its algorithm back in 2009. Last year, many online companies tried to reduce their loading speed to help with their SEO efforts, especially after seeing how many big companies lost rankings because they didn't bother to make any changes. The traffic your site receives is linked to the loading speed, and when you force your users to wait for long periods, they tend to choose another site from the thousands offered by Google.
**Other search engines**
Google remains the leader and will stay there for a while, which is why our obsession with keeping up to date with their many algorithm changes is more than justified. However, there are other search engines we should focus on and keep in mind when preparing an SEO strategy for a client. Yahoo!, which used to be the leading search engine for years, still has loyal users and we should not forget about them. We also have Bing, which attracts more and more visitors every month with its new tools and features.
**The rebirth of blogs**
Although they never went out of fashion, many SEOs left them out of their link-building and content strategies. But they are back! Demonstrating the true link-building value they possess and their vital importance for high rankings, especially the possibility to interact with users.
**The power of local search**
Usually, most users perform global searches, but local searches are becoming more and more common as they provide more specific results. Site authority and link-building efforts will become more obvious during the year as a ranking factor for local results. Many businesses are using local search as their main source of revenue.
Tug offers PPC management services, expert strategic consultancy, campaign planning, and management for major brands. Its search marketing team provides expertise in pay-per-click advertising, SEO, integrated search marketing, and social media. Contact an SEO marketing agency now.
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