What SEO trends should small businesses watch out for?

As a small business owner, you may be wondering what SEO trends you should watch out for in the future. With the ever-changing digital world and the search engine algorithms that are constantly evolving, it is important to stay on top of the latest SEO trends. If you fail to do this, your website could easily fall behind your competitors. 

Why should small businesses follow SEO trends?

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is constantly changing, meaning it’s important for small business owners to stay on top of the latest trends if they want to get the most out of their websites. Without staying current with SEO trends, businesses may find themselves falling behind their competitors who are leveraging the latest strategies. Let’s take a look at some of the upcoming SEO trends that small business owners need to be aware of. 

Five SEO trends small businesses should watch out for

1. Voice search optimisation 

As voice-enabled devices like Amazon Alexa and Google Home become more popular, people are increasingly depending on them for their search needs. This means that if you want your business to be found by people using these devices, you need to optimise your website for voice search queries. To do this, focus on long-tail keywords (phrases three or more words long) and “natural language” phrases that are likely to be used when searching by voice. Additionally, make sure your content is optimised for mobile users, as they will account for most of your voice searches. 

2. Video optimisation 

Video marketing is quickly becoming one of the most important channels of digital marketing, so small businesses need to optimise their videos for SEO purposes. For starters, make sure you include relevant keywords in your title, description, and tags - this will help Google understand what your video is about. Additionally, don't forget to transcribe your videos; not only does transcription help with accessibility compliance but it also allows Google to crawl through the text on your page and index it appropriately. Finally, consider adding closed captions; this will help ensure viewers can watch even if they’re hard of hearing, in a noisy environment, or don't have access to sound. 

3. Mobile responsiveness

Many people rely on their phones as their primary devices for browsing and researching online products and services. If you want search engines like Google and Bing to prioritise your webpages in search results, then you need to make sure they are optimised for both desktop and mobile users alike - otherwise, you could find yourself missing out on valuable organic traffic from potential customers!  

4. Local SEO

Local SEO is crucial if you're a small business looking to target local customers online. After all, someone searching "restaurants near me" isn't likely to be looking for places on the other side of the country! Make sure your business is listed on local directories such as Yelp or TripAdvisor, as well as other search engines like Google My Business or Bing Places for Business which will help boost its rankings when someone does a localised search query related to the products or services you offer. Additionally, pay attention to local keywords related specifically to where you do business, including city names or neighbourhoods so that those searching locally can find you easily!  

5. Structured data markup

This helps search engines better understand the content on webpages by providing additional information about what each page covers beyond just basic HTML tags. By using structured data markups such as Schema or JSON-LD - which includes things like product reviews or event dates - you can increase your chances of appearing higher up in search engine results pages (SERPs). After all, if a user sees something interesting right away without having them click through loads of other pages first, then they're much more likely to engage with what's being offered!   

Check out more SEO-related tips by reading more of our Position1SEO blogs!

If you learned something in this search engine optimisation blog, check out another one of our blogs, How to choose the right SEO company for your business growth.

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Get more customers today with small business SEO help from Position1SEO!

Position1SEO is an SEO company that specialises in small business SEO. We're a team of experts who have helped plenty of UK businesses improve their search engine rankings and drive more traffic to their websites. Our goal is simple: to help you get more customers. We know how important it is for your business to be found by people who are looking for what you offer, so we work with you to create a custom strategy that will deliver results fast and effectively.

Get the answers to your frequently asked questions about SEO for small businesses!

How do you do SEO for a small business?

To start, it’s important to identify the goods and services you offer, as well as the terms associated with these products or services. Research what terms users key into search engines when they are searching for when looking for a product or service like yours, plus brainstorm any additional related topics people might search for. One great tool is Google Trends which allows you to compare different phrases and see their performance over time — key for optimising content today versus months from now!

Are SEO strategies effective for small businesses?

Yes, SEO strategies are highly effective for small businesses. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) involves optimising your website, content, and other online assets to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). Doing so increases the visibility of your business and can lead to more qualified website visitors as well as increased sales.

How long does it take for SEO to work for a small business?

The timeline for SEO to work for a small business depends on many different factors. It is impossible to give an exact timeframe as every website, search engine and business is unique. Generally speaking, when it comes to Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), the process of driving organic traffic through higher rankings in the SERPs can take weeks or even months to come into full effect. 

What happens if you don’t do SEO for your small business?

If you don't do SEO for your small business, you may be missing out on a lot of potential customers. Search Engine Optimisation, or SEO, is an essential part of digital marketing and online presence as it helps to increase visibility in organic search engine results, making it easier for customers to find your business. 

What are the common SEO mistakes that small businesses make?

When it comes to SEO, small businesses are often at a disadvantage. With fewer resources and manpower available, they can be more prone to making mistakes that can have serious repercussions when it comes to website rankings. Common mistakes are a lack of focus on content quality, ignoring keyword searches, neglecting link building, not optimising images, and overlooking local listings and directory submissions.