The only thing that’s permanent in the online realm is Google algorithm updates.

So, when you thought you were getting a handle on SEO strategy, Google decides to release a new update to its search operation. All of this is to give the most relevant search results to its users. Thus, downplaying the updates might cause you to undermine your SEO efforts and fall behind your competitors in no time.

Hence, the best way to generate greater returns on SEO investment and more revenue is to advance SEO strategies that better match the latest SEO trends.

Look no further if you’re looking to optimize your SEO strategy for 2023 to get the best ROI.

But before that, let’s understand this: SEO is a shape-shifter; hence, some of its strategies are now obsolete and no longer effective in helping websites rank highly on SERP.

Yet despite continual algorithmic improvements, some classics are still in use today. So make sure the strategies below are a vital part of your SEO action plan for 2023, in addition to our advanced SEO recommendations.

Evergreen SEO Strategies You Should Follow 

1. Create perennial content that is as effective tomorrow as it is today.
2. Optimize content for audience and search engines.
3. Specific keywords cater to specific search intent and are less competitive. Hence, target long-tail keywords.
4. Always maintain a fast and responsive or mobile-friendly website.
5. Offer a great user experience (UX).
6. Work towards boosting webpage loading speed.
7. Leverage internal links.
8. Build and diversify backlink profile.

And most importantly….

9. Measure the ROI of SEO campaigns by tracking SEO metrics. Also consider branding ROI — the value your SEO efforts bring to brand recognition, authority, and long-term trust with your audience, which indirectly contributes to overall revenue

Top 5 Techniques to Advance Your SEO Strategies in 2023

1. Optimize for Conversational and Voice Searches

The increasingly intuitive technology is reshaping the way users interact with it. Talk about search engine queries.

Compare these two search queries — “What type of haircut suits me?” vs “Different types of haircuts”. The former one is looking for personally relevant advice from search engines.

It is called a conversational query. Conversational queries are made up of natural-sounding verbal phrases and complete sentences.

As consumers become more tech-savvy, we see an upward trend of specific questions about the products and services they are interested in. Plus, the advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) are also driving the adoption of voice searches by users.

This has prompted Google to refine its algorithms using breakthrough language models such as LaMDA and MUM, and to better understand the context behind search queries.

Meaning it’s in your best interest to refine your SEO strategy to accommodate the turn of tides in search queries successfully.

How to optimize SEO tactics to adapt to conversational and voice queries:

• Write content that is conversational and speaks to readers more naturally.

For instance, people are more likely to ask, “How do you fix the light switch that won’t turn off?” rather than “What is the correct way to troubleshoot the light switch that won’t turn off?

• Optimize for conversational keywords by framing direct and concise answers to specific questions.
• Be sure to rephrase the query in several different forms in your answer.
• Keep your Google My Business listing up-to-date to rank for “near me” searches.
• Add FAQ pages.

2. Focus on Video Marketing

Now is the right time to invest in video content. Because Google’s May’22 broad core algorithm says so.

Yes, the algorithm update has now rolled out, prioritizing content with video over content sans video. Also, it is known that videos improve two of the most vital SEO metrics — time spent on your site and the number of backlinks pointing at your domain.

Understandably, digital marketers are fascinated by video marketing. According to Lito James, a digital marketing expert, short-form videos are among the most important branding tools since the rise of TikTok. A HubSpot survey shows that 68% of marketers feel video content showcasing their products and services generates the biggest ROI.

Done right, video content helps you convey your value proposition more effectively and build deeper connections with potential customers. It’s an essential part of your marketing plan. So, adding them to websites can drastically boost your SEO efforts. The takeaway: not focusing on video content is a lost opportunity in a revenue-shifting SEO strategy. While not the cheapest option out there, it is still worth the while. Also, remember that your audience can generate content for you if motivated properly.

Here, we would also ask you to leverage the two latest video content features – they increase your chances of appearing in search results and boost engagement.

• Clip markup – This markup timestamps your video, highlighting key moments and guiding users to specific parts of the video.
• Seek markup – This markup automatically communicates the same to Google, allowing you to link within the specific part of your video.

3. Prime Your Images to Get Found

Well-optimized and engaging images matter a lot in search engine ranking. They raise your chances of getting crawled, indexed, and finally displayed by search engines.

And the advent of “Blended Search” has meant that you care about ranking under image search, also.

As for Google, the indexed images can appear in the following search environments.

• Google Image Search– the vertical search engine specialized for visual searching.
• Google Web Search- Traditional SERP for keyword search.
• Google Discover: Google’s social media feed displays content on popular topics that align well with the user’s browsing history.

The following tips will help you with your image SEO game in 2023:

• Image-ranking algorithms weigh the web page authority to prevent displaying a great image on a not-so-great webpage to the user.
• High-quality visual content, original images, screenshots, and custom graphs and charts have potential SEO benefits. When people use that image in their blogs, it earns you more backlinks.

P.S. Despite the updates, factors like context, alt tags, image file name, title, and description continue to hold up.

4. Claim Your Featured Snippet

Expanded search results that appear as a direct answer to the search query at the top of SERP is called a featured snippet. They come in several stripes- bulleted lists, paragraphs, videos, or tables. Securing a featured snippet puts your website at the top of SERPs and earns a higher click-through rate (CTR).

Make sure of the following tips while optimizing for featured snippets:

• Understand the user query and intent to cover all the information the user expects in the content.
• Back up your content with as much statistical data, images, and examples as possible.
• Write content in Q & A format with relevant question keywords in headings.
• Provide a better answer than your competition.

5. Invest in Local SEO

Local SEO is aimed at boosting SERP rankings for specific geographical areas

97% of consumers turn to search engines first to find a local business online and check its online presence before deciding to visit them.

These statistics show that you are missing out on valuable, highly likely-to-convert traffic by not having a local SEO strategy.

Image Source: WebFX

To optimize for local search:

• Create a Google My Business page.
• Add schema markup to your website.
• Optimize your website for local keywords.
• Deliver content around local stories and events.
• Build and manage positive reviews.

6. Emphasize Guest Posting

Guest Posting is one of the best off-page SEO practices for an eCommerce business. Guest posting is an ideal way to provide high-quality backlinks and rank higher. You can find eligible prospects for outreach by using competitive analysis that provides great guest posting opportunities. Use tools like email marketing CRM for bulk emails and easy follow-ups without any manual tasks.

Conclusion

It’s no secret that with the right SEO strategy, ROI not only exists but also grows. Nonetheless, it is equally important to keep tabs on evolving SEO trends. That way, you can rest assured that your SEO strategy always supports the success of your business.