5 SEO Trends To Prepare For In 2014

As the year comes to a close, it is a great time to stop and reflect on what has happened during the past year. From an SEO perspective, 2013 will definitely be remembered as a year of significant changes with all the Google updates. We have seen the major Hummingbird algorithm update and more Penguin and Panda updates that have changed the search engine results landscape.

SEO Trends – Looking forward

What will work in search engine optimization going forward into 2014? Although it is difficult to accurately predict what will actually work with absolute certainty, it is safe to assume that the current 2013 trends will continue to work and will be amplified in 2014. Let’s review 5 important SEO factors that should continue to be significant influences.

1. Content Marketing
   In 2013, many companies that embraced content marketing as a comprehensive search engine optimization strategy saw the results of their labor. Google appeared to be rewarding those companies providing fresh, unique and valuable content with specific audience targets. In 2014, Google will likely continue rewarding those websites that are growing, thriving and providing helpful information while following Google’s rules of the game.
2. Social Media
   Over the last few years, we have seen the increasing influence of social media marketing. From Facebook, Google Plus and Twitter to the more visual Pinterest and Instagram, social media has become an important player. As companies fine tune their social media marketing efforts to target their specific audience, expect social media to continue to be a considerable factor in 2014.
3. Google Plus
   Although Google Plus falls under the social media umbrella, it has earned the distinct honor of being highlighted for its impact in 2013 with Google Authorship and Google Publisher. There has been a great deal of debate whether or not Google Authorship is influencing search engine ranking positions, but those companies that are utilizing the golden Google Authorship / Publisher strategy will be putting themselves in the position of strengthening their social media marketing efforts. If you haven’t set up Google Authorship yet, you will want to do this now.
4. Mobile
   Mobile SEO has emerged as a significant factor in 2013 and should increase in 2014 as more and more people use their mobile devices to search the Internet. The way your website displays on a mobile device is going to impact your overall SEO initiative. Google’s recommendations are for websites to be responsive to the specific viewing device. If you have been putting off a responsive website redesign, now is the time to take it off the back burner.
5. Minimum Desirable Word Length
   Many people have had a goal of writing articles of at least 300 words in the past. In 2013, we have seen the emergence in the value of longer articles as Google continues its quest to provide valuable, unique and fresh content for its users.
   In the article for Search Engine Watch, Jason DeMers cites a year-old study that showed that “the top 10 results for a specific keyword search tended to be more than 2,000 words in length.” Although he does disclose that the validity of that study is being debated, there is a growing trend for longer – but valuable articles. He explains that, “As a result, we’ve seen a trend where the “minimum desirable length” for text-based content has shifted from something in the range of 550 words to articles in the range of 1000-plus words.”
   With Google’s continued goal to provide value, plan to have a goal of a minimum desirable word length for your articles to help with your SEO strategy.

As 2013 comes to an end, looking back to the SEO factors that have made a critical impact will help us with our marketing strategies as we enter 2014.

Your Turn: Were there any significant SEO factors on this list that surprised you? Going forward, will you be changing your SEO strategy to maximize those trends in 2014?