Insights 6 SEO best practices you need to know for 2024

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is an ever-evolving part of our industry that requires constant adaptation to stay ahead of the curve.

As we start to navigate 2024 and another journey around the sun, it's crucial to update your SEO strategies so you stay on top of emerging trends and constant algorithm changes. 

We know it can feel a little daunting at times, so don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. 

The importance of SEO in 2024

If you think that SEO is still just about keywords and backlinks then you’d be very much mistaken; SEO in today’s environment is all about providing valuable content and excellent user experience. With the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in search algorithms, the focus is shifting towards user intent and behaviour, and we need to make sure our strategies are geared towards this.

So what are some of the core SEO best practices you need for 2024?

We’re glad you asked…

1. Mobile-first indexing 

Let’s talk about indexing. We know it’s not the most exciting thing but it is definitely an important one. If you haven’t cottoned on yet, Google has fully transitioned to mobile-first indexing, so you need to ensure your website is mobile-friendly and optimised otherwise you may risk losing your rankings.

2. Page experience

Heading into 2024, Core Web Vitals are now becoming a major ranking factor. As a result, you need to make sure to focus on improving loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability on your website. These are all quality signal metrics that Google looks for to ensure your content is providing a great user experience.

3. Content is still king 

No change here. Content is and always has been king when it comes to SEO, but moving into 2024, you can’t just bash out any old thing on ChatGPT and leave it at that – your content needs to be consistent and high-quality. Creating valuable, original, relevant, and in-depth content that answers user queries will become evermore important. Make sure to take time to learn what questions your audience are asking so you can create quality content that will help them.

4. Voice search optimisation 

Now this shouldn’t come as any surprise, but with the rise of voice-activated devices like Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home and the like, you need to now consider optimising your content for voice search, as well as traditional SERPs. A good way to do this is to target long-tail keywords and use natural language throughout your content. While an AI will be the one reading it out, remember there’s a real person listening to it on the other end!

5. Local SEO

Local searches are becoming more prevalent. As a result, you need to make sure your Google My Business listing is up to date and optimised, and caters to local nuances, as well as focusing on local keywords.

6. Video SEO

With many platforms making the move away from static content and pushing video much more, it’s important to keep up with the times. With that in mind, your video descriptions, titles, and transcripts will require the same love and attention when it comes to their SEO optimisation as any other form of content if you want to improve visibility. Meta data and descriptions are not just for standard blog content!

In summary

SEO in 2024 will be all about adapting to new trends and focusing on providing the best user experience possible – kind of like every year we guess. But with emerging technologies coming to the forefront, it’s important to remain agile and continue to review your SEO strategy regularly.  The trends we’re seeing today will most likely have evolved again before we even get to 2025!

Regular audits will become increasingly important, so you can identify issues and opportunities and continue to provide the best possible user experience. By implementing these best practices and staying updated on algorithm changes, you can improve your website's visibility and drive more organic traffic which will, ultimately, help you meet your marketing and business goals.