Search engine optimization (SEO) is no child’s play. It’s been one infamous aspect of online marketing that has given a lot of marketers nightmares over the years. It has sent some businesses into oblivion as well as push some others to stardom – right out of irrelevance.
It always comes down to your SEO knowledge and how well you’re prepared for the next “blow”.
If you want to remain competitive in any industry, you must learn to evolve with industry trends. It’s the same with SEO. If you want your website or business to remain afloat, you must stay up-to-date with SEO trends. So, for example, whenever your ranking dips, you already know it’s because of an algorithm that was updated few days ago – and you also know how to salvage the situation.
You’ll be doing yourself a lot of good to perpetually remain up-to-date when it comes to SEO trends.
Here are 4 ways to stay abreast of SEO trends this 2017 -- and beyond:
1. SEO-specific blogs
One of the best ways to keep up with SEO in today’s fast-paced world is to read SEO blogs, like MOZ, SearchEngineLand, Backlinko, and so on. To make things easier, just subscribe to some of these blogs, so that SEO updates come to you in one place, instead of you having to run after them scattered.
If you’re going to choose just one blog however, let it be Google's Webmaster Central Blog. And that’s because…well, it’s owned by Google – the exact ones who pull the strings.
2. SEO agencies
Other than SEO and general digital marketing blogs that provide SEO-related information to readers, you can always keep up with the latest SEO trends when you have SEO experts to always talk to.
When you hire an SEO agency for your business, it’s their job to always keep your site in Google’s good books, notwithstanding unfavorable updates. And while consulting with them, you can always ask to be updated on SEO changes and get tips on using SEO to grow your business. For example, agencies can easily give you local SEO advice if you run a local business.
3. SEO tools
Sure every time you hear “tools”, there’s an undertone of “ease” that naturally follows. There are several tools to indeed make your keeping up with the SEOs very easy. I’ll discuss few of them here.
Google Analytics helps you keep a close eye on the effects the various new SEO rules have on your website, and what you can do to improve your stats.
Google Webmaster Tools (Search Console) helps you to track your website’s search performance and communicate to you major issues that will prevent you from being indexed by Google, or whether you have a manual action against your website.
Moz’s Google SERP Feature Graph keeps your SEO knowledge updated as it tracks changes in major SERP features over time – changes that can affect your business’ performance in search results.
4. MOZ’ Google Algorithm Change History
One great way to keep up with SEO trends is to be abreast of Google’s various and numerous algorithm updates. Exactly the question on my mind too: “how’s that possible?”
Well, it is, thanks to resources like MOZ’ Google Algorithm Change History.
This is a regularly updated record of all the major algorithm changes Google makes all year round, over the course of the last 17 years. Yes, you can learn about both old and new changes here.
It’s definitely a must-bookmark resource for every search marketer and business owners who want to remain abreast of SEO changes.
How else do you stay abreast of SEO trends? Share in the comments and let’s continue the discussion.
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