{"id":1760,"date":"2017-11-24T22:06:04","date_gmt":"2017-11-25T03:06:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jasminedirectory.com\/blog\/?p=1760"},"modified":"2025-03-03T00:18:50","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T05:18:50","slug":"value-seo-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jasminedirectory.com\/blog\/value-seo-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"The Value of SEO in 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"2017 is almost gone, and 2018 is around the corner. The internet is where everything happens today, and where everything will happen tomorrow. Businesses have realized this, and that is why SEO matters more than ever. Its value grows with every passing minute. The internet and its technologies are far from mature, so securing a place online is more important today than it will be tomorrow. Once 2018 arrives, you may find yourself left behind and confused if you are not familiar with the SEO trends that follow.<\/p>\n

“SEO is the only marketing method that’ll help your business grow, improve its value online over time, and return better ROI than any paid per search method can,, <\/em> says Paul Gordon<\/a>, an SEO expert from 720digital.co.uk.<\/p>\n

Google’s Algorithm<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you’re not up to speed, RankBrain<\/a> is what everyone has talked about since late 2015. It is Google’s machine learning AI (Artificial Intelligence), used to rank search results by user behavior. Yes, it is that smart. RankBrain watches the websites people spend the most time on, along with the ones they return to often. Once it works out which websites these are, it gives them a higher ranking based on how relevant their information is to the search a user makes. It is that simple.<\/p>\n

If you want your SEO strategies to work, you have to know everything there is to know about SEO. To have search engines prioritize your site, you have to learn how they function and think. Understanding RankBrain is the key to succeeding with the world’s number one search engine, Google.<\/p>\n

Mobile First<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most people spend less time on desktop computers because desktops go against human nature. We are social beings, we like to move about, and we prefer being able to do whatever we want wherever we are. The geeks realized this a long time ago, and that is why we have mobile devices like laptops, iPads, tablets, smartphones, and whatever else we will be obsessed with in the future. Because these devices are so convenient most of the time, most people use them for their daily activities. In recent years, the number of searches done through mobile devices has far surpassed the number done on desktop computers. That is why Google has declared that very soon its algorithm will consider mobile devices first whenever a search is made.<\/p>\n

From an SEO perspective, it makes sense to build websites with this in mind. The main content of a website should sit in both the mobile and desktop versions. This also means responsive web design will be a requirement, not just a preference. In 2018, SEO specialists will be insisting that web designers develop websites for mobile devices first, then make the necessary accommodations for desktop computers.<\/p>\n

Monkey See, Monkey Do<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the early stages of communication, particularly recording information<\/a>, we painted on walls, did hieroglyphics, wrote on paper, staged plays, and recorded those plays. Today we have technology that lets us add special effects to make whatever we communicate as real and original as possible. Watching things, and seeing images, has more impact on the human brain than reading lines of text. Websites with images leave a more lasting effect on the visitor than those with plain text. And websites with videos that give the visitor the information they are looking for have even more impact.<\/p>\n

Statistics show that most people would rather spend 5, 10, 30, or however many minutes watching a video than reading text with similar information. Most people prefer videos far more than plain text, even when some images are included. In fact, despite YouTube being the second most used search engine in the world, the searches made there are starting to compete with the searches done on Google. This trend suggests that in 2018 and onward, people will opt for websites that contain videos, and the number of video searches is likely to keep rising. Websites may soon carry a banner, a heading, and then a body made up entirely of videos. Go visual and you’ll do no one no wrong.<\/p>\n

In-depth Content<\/strong><\/p>\n

As I said earlier, you have to understand how a search engine works before you can tailor your website so it earns one of the highest ranks in search results. Much of SEO is about understanding a search engine’s algorithm. Without that understanding, you are likely to work blindly and your efforts will be in vain. One thing Google will emphasize in its search results is how relevant the content on a webpage is. I hinted at this earlier, if you noticed. Just using keywords will not be enough anymore. Websites have to use the best keywords in their content, and they must also make sure that content is relevant to whatever the purpose of the site is. Quality content is what makes a visitor stop and spend time on your site, and even come back to confirm something or check for updates. This is what RankBrain is after, and the secret is providing good in-depth content.<\/p>\n

Backlinks<\/strong><\/p>\n

It makes sense that the in-depth part is followed by backlinks. Visitors who see quality content on your site are likely to recommend it to their friends and to other networks. If you are using SEO strategies with good content, you can easily get other website owners to include your link on their sites and blogs, and you can return the favor. In 2018, quality content will be a necessity, and backlinks will be the proof that your site contains gold.<\/p>\n

Tips:<\/strong><\/p>\n