SEO Trends To Watch in 2024

Feb 07, 2024

It is well-documented that digital marketing is constantly evolving. SEO in particular is infamous for shifting the goalposts regularly! However, it could be argued that the past year has seen some of the most monumental changes in the SEO landscape making it more difficult than ever before to make sure your website is consistently ranking on page one of the Google search results With that in mind, we have put together some of the big SEO trends that you will want to watch in 2024 according to an SEO company in Knoxville.

AI Plays a Crucial Role in the Search Algorithm

In the past year, Artificial Intelligence, or AI, has exploded! We are seeing it everywhere so it should come as no surprise that Google and other search engines are increasingly making use of AI which has had a significant impact on SEO. Google has been a key player in the AI revolution for many years thanks to the introduction of Google Bard in early 2023. AI has also been incorporated into several other Google products, including the search algorithm.

The new AI-driven algorithm can analyze larger amounts of data and can effectively understand intent, context, and patterns in natural language. This has resulted in more accurate and more relevant search results for users which are personalized to their needs. However, it makes those top spots more competitive, so you will need support from an SEO company in Knoxville to ensure your website stands the best possible chance.

Increased Importance of Search Behavior

One of the big things to consider when it comes to SEO in 2024 is the changes in online search behavior. We automatically think of a search as someone typing a query into Google and pulling up a list of results. However, search behaviors are evolving. Over 54% of consumers are using a mobile phone for searching something online and younger generations especially expect a seamless mobile experience. There is also an increase in the number of people using social media as a search engine, again especially younger consumers who spend a lot of time on social media platforms. Those people cannot be reached through traditional SEO techniques, so you will need to work with an SEO company in Knoxville to develop a strategy that reaches those younger generations.

What Do Users Want to E-E-A-T?

SEO has emphasized authority for several years now, so it certainly isn’t a new concept for 2024, but it is set to become more important than ever. With more focus being put on schema markup and the Knowledge Graph on Google Search results pages, building your E-E-A-T score is essential. E-E-A-T stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness and a high score signals that you are providing helpful, user-centric content that offers something of value. Work with an SEO company in Knoxville to implement the proper schema markup on your website and craft content that serves the user.

Zero-Click Searches

You might not have heard of zero-click searches, but they are certainly on the increase in 2024! Zero-click searches refer to searches where the user does not click on any of the displayed results - because the information is already displayed on the results page. Around 57% of mobile users and 25% of desktop users make zero-click searches. Some examples of zero-click searches include the following:

  • Information on Local Businesses - Google will display key information such as contact details, operating hours, and address directly on the search results page as part of the map pack or knowledge graph panel, so users have no need to click on a result.
  • Quick Calculations or Conversions - When users search basic calculations or ask for conversions such as USD to GBP or miles to kilometers, the answer generally appears directly in the search results.
  • Public Figures & Celebrities - When searching a public figure or celebrity, there is often a knowledge panel providing basic facts like their age, occupation, spouse, children, birthday, or notable works. This will often answer the user’s query without having to click on one of the results for more information.

It is natural for you to assume that zero-click searches are not a positive for you. After all, for years we have been told that the click rate is what matters. However, in 2024 that isn’t necessarily the case. In terms of Google Visibility ‘position zero’ found above the results is the prime spot you want to capture. It may not help you gain more traffic to your website, but it is going to boost brand recognition and position you as an authority on the topic. That means if users do want to find out more, they are more likely to visit your website. They will then develop a habit of coming directly to you for answers in the future.

Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)

With the increasing popularity of AI and chatbots, the way internet users search for and find information is changing. That’s why it is important to keep Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) in mind when creating content and working on your SEO strategy. AEO is optimizing content for ‘answer engines’, which are AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT or Google SGE that gather data to answer conversational queries submitted by users. You can work with an SEO company in Knoxville to develop an AEO strategy that is going to work alongside your standard SEO strategy while also prioritizing answer-based queries. It’s all about creating concise, direct content that AI platforms can pick up. A great way to do this is to add an FAQ section to your web pages and blog posts to provide concise answers to some of the most common questions users might ask about your industry. SEO and AEO are different strategies but it is easy to align them when working with an experienced SEO company in Knoxville.

--

To Your Best Online!

--

Ingrid Maddox, Internet Marketing & Strategy Consultant. bluedress INTERNET MARKETING®, an Internet Marketing Company headquartered in Knoxville, TN. Internet Marketing Developed, Implemented, and Managed to Full Circle! Organic Internet Search Engine Guru. Turn-Key Internet Optimization Programs Placing You Everywhere and Anywhere You Need to Be Online.

ingrid@bluedressinc.com

865-378-7712