Every year, Google’s algorithms change, making it mandatory for the SEO field to change. This means that some of the SEO tactics that worked in 2019 will not be applicable this year. As an SEO marketer, you have to be updated on some of the current trends in the market, to ensure higher rankings. For instance, you need to check out ultra-modern tools such as keyword.com to track the progress of your site and stay ahead of the competition.
In this blog, we will share ten of the essential SEO ranking factors that will shake the marketing field in 2020. This is more so important, especially after the latest introduction of Google BERT algorithm.
Let’s dive in on these crucial ranking factors.
- Meta description
Meta descriptions are an essential optimization point as they provide a vivid portrait of what your page is about. The Meta descriptions are mostly displayed in the SERPs, the text underneath the title of your page.
When you search in Google on the importance of Meta description, it insists that they do not play a role in ranking. However, this is false as continued use shows overwhelming evidence on the direct contribution of these descriptions.
- Image optimization
Images make your websites appealing. Unfortunately, not all of them are designed for these pages as they may slow down the site.
Optimizing images ensures that you have additional ranking opportunities and faster loading of pages. Remember not to fix pictures, make use of optimizing tools.
- Content audit
Content creators are majorly focused on creating new content, and as a result, they forget to audit the old content. However, this is a significant mistake as reviewing your existing content helps in many ways.
Auditing helps one to evaluate whether their existing content has achieved the desired goals. Secondly, one scrutinizes their content to ensure that it is still correct and not outdated. Lastly, one gets an opportunity to analyze what is best for them, and thus give it more focus.
- Internal linking
Internal links are links that link to other pages. These links are useful as they communicate to the search engines on some of the most important pages.
- Site structure
If you have a poor website architecture, it acts as a hindrance to search engines as they do not get the chance to crawl to all the other pages in your website. Failure to have a better structure may reduce the visibility of your site in search results.
- User-friendly layout
If you aim at ranking higher in Google, you ought to know that it has a page layout algorithm. The algorithm penalizes any website that has annoying pop-ups or distracting adverts.
- Content comprehensiveness and length
Your content should be exhaustive on your topic. This is because search engines consider the content quality before making your site trustworthy to users.
Although there is no optimal word count in article writing, evidence from continued blogging shows that longer and comprehensive content has a better possibility of higher ranking. So, if your subject is open, ensure that you exhaust all the essential points.
- Page speed
If your website has a slow pace, it will have a difficult time ranking at the top results. The primary purpose of search engines is to provide search results within the shortest time possible. They will therefore never recommend a page that wastes time loading.
- Schema code
SEO is now operating at the local level. If you are a small business that has to rank higher, you should consider using the schema markup code. The schema code helps search engines in understanding some of the texts such as reviews, addresses, phone numbers, etc.
If you have a local business, you should consider using this code as it is highly beneficial. You should, therefore, implement a schema code by informing Google on the address of your business.
- Keyword in the title tag
The title tags are responsible for informing the search engine concerning a particular page. When used in the right manner, keywords for a text snippet, thus ensuring your page appears in the search.
2020 is going to be an impactful year for SEO marketing. However, marketers have to embrace themselves with the right knowledge to ensure that their businesses prosper in the early months of the year.