In the wake of COVID-19 pandemic last year, Search Engine Optimisation has become more critical than ever before. ‘Tis a different world we live in. While the employment rates have fallen low enough to give people flashbacks of the Great Depression, the world has also seen an unprecedented technological transformation. Economic growth was astronomical for digital services in 2020, and it is likely to increase in 2021.
Similar to fashion, infrastructure, and progress; UAE is also leading in technology. SEO Dubai or UAE based services must keep up with the latest trends to better exploit the market and continue to remain at the top of the digital world.
The trends for SEO in 2021 are likely to focus on creating easy-to-use and intuitive digital experience for the users. Here are the top 5 trends you need to watch out for;
1. Pursuit of Core Web Vitals
In May 2020, Google announced the three new metrics that would be used for measuring user experience in 2021. These three metrics, called Core Web Vitals, are;
- Loading
- Interactivity
- Visual Stability
Basically, all three metrics are related to only one thing, the speed of the page. Following parameters help determine page speed;
- Loading speed
- Interactive feature(s) activation speed
- Stability of the page
The above mentioned Core Web Vitals will become prominent factors in determining Google’s ranking by May 2021.
It means, if there are two pages with equally relevant data, then user experience metrics will assist the search engine algorithms in deciding which page should have a higher ranking.
The introduction of Core Web Vitals aims to improve the overall UX/UI and ranking of a website.
2. Popularity of Voice Search
Voice search feature is not necessarily new. However, the massive improvements in the algorithms are likely to push voice search to unprecedented levels in 2021. An ever increasing number of people are looking for ways to make quicker and easier searches. This feature has especially become integral with frequent cellphone users.
According to Google, almost 27% of all cell phone owners use the voice search feature. This percentage will see massive growth in 2021. It is estimated that nearly 50% of all searches through Google will be performed via voice search this year.
The smart home technology is also rapidly developing and spreading among the populace. It will also trigger an increase in the voice search.
For SEO consideration, you must optimise your content with conversational keywords. Consider adding FAQ sections in your content. Do not forget to add small snippets of content that are specifically designed to respond to voice searches.
3. Focus on Search Intent
Google has been focusing on AIs and predictive algorithms for some time. It is dedicated to better discern a user’s intent and display search results accordingly. This trend is likely to rise exponentially in 2021, especially with the Google AI “RankBrain” becoming smarter and faster.
The best way to get more visibility and a higher rating are by matching your content with the relevant search intent.
The easiest way of figuring out the search intent is a deeper analysis of the keyword itself. Such analysis will easily reveal whether your content corresponds with informational, marketing, transactional, or navigational type of search intent.
You must ensure that your page aligns with the relevant search intent. A mismatched page is likely to struggle with the ranking and never receive the attention it deserves.
4. Rise in Featured Snippets
Featured snippets display a brief summary in response to a search query. Google shows them at the top of the search results page, even above the paid ads or organic webpages.
Featured snippets have raised the profile of Google itself to a very high degree. Users can find the answers to their queries without getting bogged down in an organic search through a plethora of results. It is quick and efficient, hence highly popular.
Some searchers decide to read the detailed content by clicking on the results; however, the snippets receive more traffic than the organic results. This trend is likely to increase even more in 2021. You must structure your web content to gain a featured snippet in response to a relevant search. This will provide you with a massive boost in terms of SEO.
5. Surge of Long-Form Content
During the starting phase of search engines, an article or a blog only 500-words long was good enough to gain a competent ranking. Nowadays, lengthier content is preferable if you wish to land on the first page of Google search results.
Studies show that an average content length of top 10 ranking results is at least 2,000 words long. This trend is likely to continue in the year 2021. Web pages with comprehensive content not only improve user experience but also increase the ranking.
