November 12, 2024 4 mins read
Search Engine Optimisation and Artificial Intelligence SEO has been changing gradually, and AI plays a role in it; the impact will only expand. The new algorithm called RankBrain that belongs to Google is an artificial intelligence method for ranking search results based on the user experience and searching intent. SEO tools that are based on artificial intelligence enable experts to know what the users actually want and how they act. Machine learning brings an understanding of context to the search engines, making it easier to provide more relevant results. When algorithms will be smarter, they will prioritize playing up to stuff that is super useful to the user as opposed to scoring high just because of keyword density.
“The integration of AI in SEO will force marketers to adopt smarter, more intuitive strategies.” — Neil Patel, Digital Marketing Expert
Voice search has become an important trend using the help of advanced voice assistants like Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa. For these devices, people use actual phrases instead of keywords, and since people use voice recognition devices in different ways from others, long-tail keywords and NLP will be important SEO factors in the future.
Statistics projects that in the next 5 years, up to half of all searches made will be voice-based. This shift implies that organizations have to adapt to strategies that make them produce content that can answer straight questions as opposed to employing keyword optimisation. It’s one of the biggest SEO trends of 2024 you need to know about.
“Voice search will bring a shift from typing queries to speaking them, meaning the focus will be on how people talk rather than how they type.” — Brian Dean, Founder of Backlinko
Visual search is gaining popularity. Now there are platforms like Pinterest and Google Lens where you can search with images. Because of this, SEO experts must optimize their images and visual content in order to appear in these searches.
Although textual search is still the biggest, we are also seeing the rise of visual search. With platforms like Pinterest and Google Lens, people can now search using images. It will be necessary to continue the SEO services at the higher level in order to make the images and other visual content visible for such a search.
This search feature works best when high-quality images are used, proper alt tags are assigned, and image file sizes used should be small. This is a change in search behavior and expectations from search engines, and it changes how people use them.
Google’s Core Web Vitals metrics are now a significant factor in SEO rankings. These are aspects such as page loading time, interactivity, as well as perceived stability of content. Meaning, a website that could effectively and efficiently present the information to the users will be ranked higher than the other site even if the keywords match perfectly.
Hence, SEO agencies manage to look beyond technicalities as an essential requirement to achieve their goals. User experience goes beyond that—it all looks at how the users interact with the content, whether the site is mobile responsive or not, and other closely related factors. The focus on delivering solutions for users and their needs is only going to increase as search engines continue to optimize for their users.
“Optimizing user experience is the key to staying relevant in the SEO game.” — Barry Schwartz, SEO Expert
Google’s mobile-first indexing means that the mobile version of your site is now the primary version used for ranking. The more mobile usage grows, the better off websites that aren’t optimized for mobile will be in regards to staying on the search rankings. The trend is more of a non-negotiable to any digital marketing strategy.
A website optimized for mobile will have faster load times, better navigation, and more streamlined content. SEO strategies need to focus on mobile user experience, ensuring that the site is fully responsive and delivers high-quality content across devices.
Content is still king, but content is no longer all about writing, just as long as you accept that writing is one of the steps. You aim for the most relevant, high-quality content that makes your site an authority in its niche. E-A-T—Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness—is still important, especially as Google’s ranking continues to hinge on the quality of content published.
In 2024, SEO agencies will have to make sure content is informative, authoritative, and written specifically for users’ needs. Thin, irrelevant content just won’t rank anymore.
AI, voice and visual search, mobile-first strategies, user experience, and the future of SEO will be determined in the years to come. Staying updated on these emerging trends is very important for SEO marketing agencies like ThinkROI to be able to provide clients with a competitive advantage. With time, as SEO gets smarter, marketers will have to zero in on creating content with value that provides value to algorithms and also meets users’ expectations. Being forward-thinking and embracing these trends, ThinkROI is in a prime position to support businesses and rank at the top.
We’re a digital agency focused on creative and results-driven solutions.