In a constantly changing world of search engine optimisation, it can be intimidating to know where to start. However, just like anything, SEO trends can be pinpointed to help you focus on what matters most so you can truly flourish, and start ranking on those SERPs. 

Even though we can’t guarantee you’ll be the top search result for everything you publish, by working on the top 10 SEO trends of 2021, you will be well on your way to a soaring success rate… 

What SEO Trends Should You Look Out For In 2021?

From video marketing to predictive search and everything in between, we explore the very best SEO trends to watch out for. Optimising for what we have mentioned below will have your content on top form. 

Top 10 SEO Trends

#1 Featured Snippets…

Featured snippets can provide a much-needed boost. Taking a small snippet from your page, Google places this at the very top of search results to answer a user’s query, without them even having to click through to anything. 

If you manage to earn a featured snippet, this demonstrates your knowledge and understanding of the topic you’re writing about, highlighting you as well-educated in your respective field. 

To earn a featured snippet, it’s important to think like your customers. Using websites such as Answer The Public will help you to find previously searched queries that you can focus on. 

You can then take a look at existing keywords and optimise for these, as well as looking at existing featured snippets. If you can improve on what’s already there by adding some missing valuable information, there is no reason why you can’t take over the snippet with your own content. 

#2 Original Content…

We’ve said it before, and we will say it again: original content is so important when it comes to SEO. 

Writing the same or similar content to what Google is already ranking will more than likely leave you further down the search results than desired. Instead of copying the Jones’, keyword stuffing, and hoping for the best, aim to write unique content which has something different to offer your potential readers. 

Adhere to Google’s EAT principle of Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness to ensure you’re meeting their quality standards. 

If you can, try and provide case studies, statistics and testimonials to exhibit your authority and naturally, your audience and Google will perceive your brand as one to be trusted. 

#3 Voice Search…

The development of voice search is staggering, with around 41% of adults now searching the web daily using voice search technology. This now makes it paramount to optimise for these types of searches to keep up with the ever-evolving SEO trends. 

Catering to long-tail, specific queries dramatically increases the chances of CTR and conversion. 

For example, typed searches tend to use abbreviations, whereas voice searches show a tendency to go into more detail. By answering full questions in your content, you’re much more likely to appear as an answer to these queries. 

#4 Video Marketing… 

The second most popular way to search is via YouTube, with over 1 billion users. YouTube is also owned by Google, and Google always try to present multimedia search results. This means that having a video on a subject gives you an extra chance to rank for it. 

Embedding a video version of your posts in content, or a relevant video that adds extra value is key.

So, if you have the opportunity to create video content, now is the time to do just that. 

Creating quirky, individual videos to target your audience is a great way to gain publicity, whilst also improving your trustworthiness. 

Ensure that your titles and descriptions are also naturally optimised with strong keywords and simple, yet effective key phrases, without going overboard. Just remember to keep everything user-friendly, attempt to jump on trending topics where possible and the views should flood in.

Video is probably the single most powerful thing you can do to boost your SEO, but it’s also incredibly high value content. Be sure you repurpose it across your social media channels, as video content gets far better engagement on social than anything else.  

#5 The Power of Influencers…

Influencers with lots of followers are definitely the ones to target. For example, if your favourite celebrity with similar interests to you recommended a product or event, would you be more inclined to buy into it? 

Getting your name onto their pages will increase your exposure and off the back of this, your income. If you can win the chosen influencer over to your brand, they can create strong backlinks to help with your SEO. 

The ROI for this can be huge, as well as the social media traffic, as long as the influencer you have chosen is the right one for your brand. 

#6 Page Experience Optimisation…

Google is becoming increasingly smarter at auditing web pages. This means that not just the content itself is considered anymore. 

Instead, factors such as page loading speed, ease of use and responsiveness are all key in where you’re ranked. To ensure you’re getting the best results, take time to check your site loading time and make edits to make this quicker. 

You can do this by compressing image files, removing any unnecessary javascript and generally making your website simpler to use. Once you’ve focused on your page experience optimization, you’re likely to see a boost in traffic. 

#7 Mobile Optimisation…

With the majority of internet searches now coming from mobile devices, it’s essential to ensure that your website is properly optimized for mobile. 

Even with the juiciest content, if your pages are outdated and only optimised for desktop, bounce rate will rise as the majority of users will not be able to properly navigate to the information they require. 

If you haven’t already, make the switch to a mobile responsive site and you should see your CTR soar. 

#8 Predictive Search…

Predictive search, otherwise known as autocomplete, is set to markedly improve in 2021. As users typically take around 9 seconds to search their queries, auto-filled searches reduce search time with instant suggested results. 

These dropdowns of proposed relevant searches can be a great way to introduce users to more of what you have to offer, without them even having to search for it. 

To optimise for these predictive searches, focus on what your customers may already be searching for and answer questions in your content. Naturally, you shouldn’t have to do too much to rank for these searches, as long as Google has indexed your pages. 

#9 Image Optimisation…

Rather than just using the internet to simply look at images, Google is expanding and experimenting so that users can interact with images to obtain information and even shop. Therefore, it is important to use high quality images with correct labelling. 

Ensure to use alt tags to help Google crawlers properly classify images and use accurate descriptions for any imagery to improve their rankings. 

#10 Long-Form Content…

Recently there has been a spike in traffic for longer blogs with 2,000-3,000 words. These longer pieces also tend to receive more shares and additional backlinks, which in turn increases rankings. 

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you can just write giant bulks of text and expect a positive outcome. 

Instead, establish sections by using H2 and H3 headings to improve scannability. This not only makes it easy for users to quickly look over your content to find what’s relevant to them, it also helps Google to understand what your writing is about when crawling the page. 

Still unsure on how to make the most of SEO? Book a free consultation with us and see how we can help you to fully utilise your content. 

Author Profile

Shannon Greenway
Shannon Greenway
Our Junior Copywriter Shann Greenway is a creative wordsmith. Blogging is her passion, and she spends most of her time writing and editing. As a self-confessed music addict, she loves reviewing albums and interviewing artists, a hobby and skill which transfers well into her role here.

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    Author Profile

    Shannon Greenway
    Shannon Greenway
    Our Junior Copywriter Shann Greenway is a creative wordsmith. Blogging is her passion, and she spends most of her time writing and editing. As a self-confessed music addict, she loves reviewing albums and interviewing artists, a hobby and skill which transfers well into her role here.