If you’ve been following the search engine optimization (SEO) industry lately, then you must have heard the experts stating with confidence that SEO is dying and will be dead in a few years. The experts are referring to the future of SEO in relation to its impact on the search engines and search engine results (SERPs). These kinds of statements can have a significant impact on small businesses within the industry, causing significant changes.
This is especially true for small businesses who rely on search engine optimization (SEO) traffic from search engines, such as Google, to improve their visibility in the search engine results pages (SERPs) and attract potential customers. So how far the claim of search engine optimization (SEO) disappearing from Google and other search engines' SERPs 5 years from now true? Let’s find out.
While the question of whether or not search engine optimization (SEO) is dead is open to debate, one thing most critics agree on is that old SEO strategies are dead. Search engines like Google have changed the game, and now it's crucial to adapt and optimize your website accordingly. These search engine optimization (SEO) techniques used to work wonders 5-10 years back when there weren't many websites on search engines like Google. They were effective in increasing click searches. But now they are no longer in use. Even worse, they end up hurting your current website's search engine optimization (SEO) health and search engines' page ranking, especially on Google.
Outdated tactics include the following:
Building or purchasing easy, low-quality links
Create multiple pages for keyword variation
Writing content with unnatural keyword usage
Stuffing keywords in the meta and alt tags
Spamming your website backlink in comment sections
None of these search engine optimization tactics work anymore, and search engines like Google have started penalizing websites that engage in these sorts of things. SEO specialists know that optimizing a page requires staying up-to-date with the latest guidelines.
To succeed in the future of search engine optimization (SEO), you'd need to use newer tactics that align with the evolving algorithms of search engines like Google. Instead of building links, you should earn links. Links from top authority websites. Instead of creating top pages for search engine optimization, each targeting a different keyword for search engines like Google, create 10 pages targeting 1-2 keywords for SEO. By doing these, you'll be on the safer side.
If you're laser-focused on the number one spot on search engines like Google, then yes, SEO is dead for your website. That's because search engines like Google don't always show a particular website or web page at the top of all users' searches. This is why SEO is important for people who want their websites to appear higher in search engine results. It shows different pages to different users.
So you might be seeing a different result on Google's search engine for "best book store near me" than your friend because of SEO. Google is taking into account more factors when it comes to search engines, including location, in order to improve the SEO of a website and increase its visibility in searches. So because of the difference in ZIP codes or cities or municipalities, the search results on Google differ for people searching for SEO tips for their website.
The difference in results is also because of machine learning and personalization in Google and other search engines. This is why SEO is important for your website. The google algorithm is designed to learn and adapt to a user’s search engine queries, improving the website's SEO. Therefore, it shows different results to different users.
So your SEO report should show more data than simply search engine rankings on Google. It should provide insights into the performance of your website and how it is reaching people. CTR or Click-through-rate is a better metric to track for SEO and search engine optimization than keyword rankings on Google. It provides valuable insights into the performance of your website.
Very few things remain constant in this world. They change and evolve. And so does the search. Slowly and steadily, SEO is evolving into content marketing, if it hasn't already. With the increasing importance of search engine optimization (SEO) for websites, it is essential to optimize your website to improve its visibility on search engines like Google.
So what is content marketing? SEO is a marketing methodology for creating and distributing valuable content to improve website visibility on Google search. Here, you focus on providing value rather than pitching the benefits of your products or service for SEO. This is important for your website to rank higher on Google search. SEO and content marketing go hand in hand when it comes to improving your website's visibility on Google search. Content marketing is all about creating valuable and engaging content that educates and entertains users, rather than directly selling them something.
So how does that relate to SEO, you ask? By optimizing these valuable pieces of content for search engines like Google, you can improve the visibility and ranking of your website.
By doing so, your website's content gets read by thousands of people when they search on Google for the topic, improving your SEO. If users find enough value in your website, they will give you their contact information by submitting a form or signing up for a newsletter. This is important for your website's SEO because it helps Google and other search engines understand that your website is relevant and valuable to users. This user is then marked as a lead which you can market to using other SEO methods on your website to improve your Google search ranking.
Presently, there’s a dividing line between SEO and content marketing when it comes to Google search. But as SEO evolves in 2021 and beyond, this line will disappear eventually in the world of Google search. When that happens, you’ll be asking for a content marketing report and not a Google search SEO report.
You’ve heard people say, “The bigger the number of pages and content on your website, the higher you’ll rank in Google's search results for SEO." But it isn’t the case anymore. You probably won’t rank for more than 3-4 focus keywords in SEO. The age of "more content equals higher SEO ranking" in Google search is over. Now that's changed to "more quality content equals higher ranking" in terms of SEO and Google search.
Instead of writing 10-15 different short articles, each focused on a specific topic, you should write one long-form content that covers everything for better Google SEO and search results. This is known as a "Content Pillar" in the world of Google SEO and search. The piece of content can range from 3,000 to over 10,000 words. Its objective is to provide every piece of information a user might be looking for on a specific topic, ensuring high visibility on Google search through effective SEO strategies.
By investing in a content pillar, you have optimized your website for SEO and improved your Google search rankings. This strategy has allowed you to reduce the number of blog posts on your website from 10-15 to just 1. But you’ve increased the quality. And that’s the way to move forward with SEO.
That isn't to say you shouldn't invest in short-form content for SEO and Google search. They’re essential and well suited for a quick read. But the foundation should be long-form, pillar content.
If you're relying solely on SEO for your marketing and asking the question of is Google search dead, then to most extent, "Yes."
Internet users aren’t restricted to a single platform. They do not only use Google to find information. They’re on Facebook, they’re on Twitter, they’re on Instagram, and they're on Google search. So you need to have your presence felt across all these platforms, including Google search, to maximize your investment from SEO.
Here's a simple example. You rank for certain keywords on Google, and they bring in a considerable amount of organic traffic. Let's say you have a conversion rate of 5%. If that's the case, you're doing nothing for the other 95% of visitors who come to your website through Google. But by installing a Facebook pixel on your website, you can track and market them on Facebook too. Additionally, with the help of Google, you can optimize your website for better search engine rankings.
This gives you another chance to convert that visitor into a paying customer on Google. Thus, with the help of Google, you can reduce the cost of acquisition per customer while maximizing profits.
SEO is not dead. It never was or never will. People will never stop searching for information. If not on Google, then on some other search engine. Google voice search is gaining traction, and it's here to stay.
So there will always be the requirement of optimizing your website for search, especially on Google. But to stay relevant, you have to adapt to the latest techniques while abandoning outdated ones.
