SEO will become more important in 2019. It is not going to be dead, in fact, SEO will become more important. Small businesses, as much as big brand names, need a solid SEO strategy. It is imperative, more than ever, for small businesses to stay visible in local search.

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When the Digital Success team worked with several local and small businesses, we uncovered a sad truth. Most of the SEO digital marketing agencies don’t guide the small and local businesses on SEO strategies that can work best for their business. Just to show results (almost instantaneously), these SEO agencies use infamous and dishonest SEO malpractices like shady and black hat strategies (that can even make the website of small business owners blacklisted). Unfortunately, the innocent small and local businesses don’t realize that they are being ripped of their precious dollars. The spurious SEO agencies take advantage of the fact that they are novices to judge the quality of the SEO services. At the end, these businesses are left with lost business, reputation and SEO investment as well.

Small business owners can educate themselves on the best practices to gain online traction with the latest SEO trends and grow their business in 2019.

1. Optimize content to cater to user needs

The consumers are changing. They need your website to cater to their specific requirements. You can start with identifying the most suitable buyers and analyze their needs. Search engines are getting smarter to display only relevant content to users. If you are targeting your small business to rank high on a search engine, conduct a search yourself with the most business relevant keywords. Ensure that your SEO agency analyzes what your competitors are doing, and include keywords and key phrases, videos and images, all the key components that your users are searching for.

2. Get responsive

Remember that your consumers are always on the move. Ensure that you cater to their requirements quickly with a responsive website. Don’t ever think that responsive websites are only for the big brands. With the ever-increasing number of consumers adopting multiple devices, you need to deliver the content fast.

3. Adopt social media channels

Small business owners often think that social media is for the big brands. Your consumers are constantly using social media channels and you can’t ignore these anymore. You need to connect with the consumers on social media channels and hear what they have to say about your brand (their concerns/feedback/queries are critical for your business).

4. Optimize Google My Business and local pages

Google My Business must be the focal point for any small business. It’s free and makes a huge impact. Optimize the Google My Business Listing and ensure that you fill all the relevant fields. Include photos, videos and complete contact information to make your business searchable.

Small businesses benefit hugely from their business in local places. Local listings are the new avenue that is as effective as word of mouth marketing. People trust in the recommendations of other users. These sites become the trusted source for online consumers.

5. Ensure that you have a smart SEO strategy

A smart SEO strategy for small business owners includes prioritizing some high-value keywords and purchasing a few budget-friendly ads. Building backlinks, creating regular blog posts and writing guest posts must also be an instrumental part of the Smart SEO Strategy of small business owners.

You might think that you can manage content and social media on your own, and perhaps you can. Educate yourself with the right tactics, try a trusted digital marketing agency to work on these aspects for a few months and train you simultaneously.

If you wish to lead the SEO game in 2019, allow us to help you. Let’s get stated.

Bonus content

SEO Trends in 2019 – 7 top SEO Trends to ensure that you stay ahead of the curve next year.

We’re heading towards the end of the year and it’s time to start making plans that can drive your online sales and business growth. It’s time you evaluated the upcoming trends for the year to come. You want to be ahead of the trend rather than get surprises that pushes you out of competition. Keep an eye on the upcoming SEO trends of 2019 to stay ahead of the curve.

I covered the top Digital Marketing trends in 2019 a few weeks back and, here I am, giving you the SEO trends in the next year.

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Here is a list of top 7 SEO trends that can help you get impressive search results in the next year.

1. Mobile First

After the mobile first index, it became important for enterprises to consider getting top positions on mobile search results. The ranking of mobile version of the websites is decisive for the desktop search results to get better. In one of our previous blogs, the secret behind getting top mobile search rankings were revealed. So, next year just go and conquer the mobile search rankings.

2. Voice Search

Voice search is big. Digital assistants are getting more intelligent and voice queries are being made more contextual. There is an increase in the number of people who are searching using digital assistants. Voice SEO optimization is a must for the future. Embrace voice search optimization to gain long-term results.

3. Blockchain

Blockchain might feel to be distantly related to SEO but it does have an impact since it will have an impact on Google’s authority. Blockchain will lessen click fraud as it can see through people based on their web presence and behavior.

4. Amazon Search

Amazon has assumed the position of a search engine and is competing with Google and Bing. Amazon displays reviews, comparison and similar products. With keyword and item description content optimization to improve the rankings. Amazon search gives a higher ranking to products that sever consumer intent better.

5. Augmented reality and VR

Since UX is the focus, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality is gaining popularity. Brands are using these technologies in their smartphones and mobile apps to provide amazing Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality user experiences.

6. Focus on Great UX

SEO targets search engines and UX targets website visitors. Once your SEO get visitors to your website, but then the UX that includes headings, easy navigation, site structure, site speed, mobile experience and call to action are critical for those visitors to convert.

7. Content Optimization

High-quality content is still the best strategy for improved SEO results. In one of our blogs published on Medium, the 10 content marketing tactics that you must adopt in 2019 were published. It covered the top content marketing tactics that can help you succeed next year. These tactics are Internet of Things (IoT), Live Video, Virtual Reality, content distribution strategy, social media strategy, lead magnet in content, use guest blogging and use of content curation tools.

SEO has been critical for your business and it will continue to be so in 2019. Besides the tactics that I have stated above, you can work (or your SEO firm must) work on improving your keyword analysis, keep up with the algorithm changes, focus on user intent and reputation management. If you want your SEO strategy to work or work better, you can speak to one of our SEO specialists who can up your game.