Welcome, 2019! As we move into the new year, it’s the perfect time to set goals for yourself and your business. How does SEO fit into your practice’s goals? Your online presence can be a powerful tool to attract new patients and grow your practice. SEO, or search engine optimization, is essential in ensuring that prospective patients can find you online. Make 2019 the year that you excel in SEO!
Doing well in search engine rankings and attracting new website visitors don’t happen by accident; you need to plan out how you’re going to make it happen. Here are some top SEO trends and strategies to keep in mind as you map out your SEO action plan for 2019:
- Mobile optimization – Having a mobile-friendly website has been important for several years now, but it’s becoming even more crucial for your website’s search engine rankings. In March 2018, Google began the process of migrating websites to a mobile-first indexing system, which means that Google uses the mobile version of your website for indexing and ranking. You still need a desktop version of your website as well, but having a mobile website that functions smoothly is essential in 2019.
- Site speed – Google is now considering the page speed for your mobile website as a factor in page ranking, in addition to the page loading speed of your desktop website. Google’s PageSpeed Insights analyzes your website’s loading speed by assessing both the Optimization and Speed of a page. Optimization evaluates the technical aspects that affect how quickly your website loads. Speed is based on real users’ experiences in loading your website. While you can’t control how fast a website visitor’s device will load your website, you can improve your site’s Optimization by taking care of any technical issues that might slow down your website.
- Content – Content will continue to be a big player in 2019 SEO. More than ever, content needs to be unique, relevant, and valuable to your audience. Google and other search engines are no longer assessing your content by keyword usage; they’re evaluating how good your website content is. Establish yourself as a thought leader in your field by providing original content that answers your website visitors’ questions and gives them the information they need. The days of “keyword stuffing” are over; use relevant keywords in a natural way for the best content.
- Voice search – Voice search is already popular, and its relevance is only going to increase. It’s projected that 50 percent of all searches will be done by voice search by 2020—which is only one year away! Most voice searches use natural, conversational dialogue rather than keyword phrases. Be sure that your content includes these long keyword phrases. It’s a good idea to include some of most common voice search queries in your content, whether these are broad questions about finding a hearing practice in your local area or more specific questions about the services you provide. Think about the basic questions of where, what, how, and why as you develop content that will make your website the best answer for a voice search.
SEO trends will continue to develop throughout 2019, and we’re here to help you navigate the upcoming changes. AudiologyPlus is dedicated to helping your online presence thrive so your practice can grow. To learn more, contact us today!
