Running a business can be difficult enough as it is, without the added struggle of keeping up with your online competition. Today, running a business is all about getting found online, with an increasing number of people turning to the internet as their first choice for any service or product that they are looking for. Whether you’re marketing to other businesses or consumers, selling products or services, ranking online is key to success in a modern, fast-paced digital world.
Because of this, staying up to date with the latest trends in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has never been so important for today’s business owners. Falling behind when it comes to SEO trends can have dangerous consequences for your company since customers want to spend their money on brands that are current and modern. In addition, failing to stay up to date with SEO could lead to disastrous effects on your search ranking. For example, a few years ago Google’s mobile-friendly update left several businesses in the lurch after their ranking went from fairly high up the results to the bottom, practically overnight. It’s not just the customers who want you to be up-to-date; it’s important to search engines too.
SEO professionals make keeping up to date with the latest trends a priority, but what if you’re doing SEO yourself? You should know by now that it’s not a ‘set it and forget it’ type of job; it’s something that requires a lot of time, energy and constant re-evaluation. Without further ado, we’ve come up with some of the best ways to stay up to date with the latest SEO trends.
#1. Read Reputable SEO Blogs:
Subscribing and regularly reading reputable SEO blogs and newsletters will help you ensure that you’re informed of the latest trends and trend changes as early as possible. Being active on SEO blogs and forums will keep you up to date with new and planned algorithm updates from Google and other search engines and help you learn tactics to adjust your SEO strategies accordingly. Some good examples include our blog right here, Moz.com’s MozBlog, the SEO Section at Search Engine Journal, the Kissmetrics blog, and the Search Marketing Section at Marketing Land. YouTube can also be a very valuable research platform, with many vloggers covering the topic of SEO on a regular basis.
#2. Network:
According to a top digital marketing consultant in Birmingham, networking is really essential for getting your business off the ground. Attending networking events, signing up to interactive webinars, joining business groups on social media and chatting to other small business owners in your area are all awesome ways to get to know people who can provide you with valuable advice and guidance. But, networking shouldn’t stop once your business is up and running. Attending networking events aimed at SEOs and search marketers is one of the best ways to find knowledgeable, influential people from whom you can learn a significant amount. You’ll find professional SEOs to people like yourself who conduct their own search engine optimization, so take advantage of their knowledge and experiences to help you improve your own.
#3. Use Social Media:
Today, social media is bigger than ever and it’s also one of the best ways to keep up to date with the latest trends in SEO. Twitter, for example, is awash with SEO experts and marketing professionals who will regularly share tips and advice online for the benefit of others. Following SEOs, agencies, and SEO blogs on Twitter is a great way to ensure that you are the first to know of any new trends or the impact that current trends are having. Additionally, it can be a great resource for learning even more; if you’ve heard of a recent trend that you’re struggling to understand, don’t be afraid to join in on a Twitter chat and ask some questions. Those in the know can help you by providing a break-down of the topic and even suggestions on how to implement it in your own business; all you have to do is ask. As a result, this could save you hours of research and head-scratching trying to figure it out all on your own.
#4. Keep an Eye on Your Competitors:
Chances are, if you’re trying to keep up to date with the latest SEO trends, then so are your biggest competitors. Anyone in business knows just how important it is to keep tabs on competitors, simply because knowing just what they are doing allows you to go one step further and do it better. Research your competitors on a regular basis to get a better idea of what they are doing in terms of SEO. If your competitor has changed something recently, ask yourself why. Do they appear to be faring better as a result?
#5. Browse SEO Threads on Quora, Reddit and Digg:
When it comes to getting information on almost any topic, Reddit is certainly one of the most popular websites out there, with sections for almost anything you could possibly want to learn about. But, it’s also hugely popular with those wanting to learn more about SEO. There are several different subreddits dedicated to SEO, where you can join in on discussions about the latest trends and updates or read to keep up with the latest SEO topics. Quora is a question and answer site that can also prove to be a very valuable resource. It is frequented by experts, who are usually more than happy to provide answers to any SEO questions that you may have. However, it’s a good idea to exercise caution when using Quora or Reddit since anybody can use these sites and your answers may not always be coming from an expert. Finally, Digg is an aggregated news site which will show you news that’s most relevant to who you follow on social media. If you follow a lot of SEO blogs and professionals, expect to get regular updates on the latest SEO trends and news.
Keeping up with the latest SEO trends is essential for staying ahead in business today.
