The hosts review their past predictions and make new ones for 2024. They discuss the impact of AI on SEO, successful digital PR campaigns, and the importance of brand and user experience. They also explore Google's evolution of search results and speculate on future strategies.
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Quick takeaways
SEO strategies will diverge, with some focusing on algorithms and others prioritizing brand and user experience.
Search engine rankings will experience volatility before stabilizing in the second half of the year.
Google will update its algorithm to give smaller, niche sites a chance to rank and reduce the dominance of big sites.
Deep dives
Prediction: Split in the SEO industry as it becomes more divided
There will be a split in the SEO industry as it becomes more divided. Some will continue to chase the algorithm while others focus on building a brand and prioritizing user experience signals. This divergence in strategies will lead to different advice being given by different experts in the industry.
Prediction: More volatility in rankings followed by a period of stability
There will be more volatility in search engine rankings, followed by a period of relative stability. This volatility will be driven by ongoing algorithm updates and changes in the industry. However, as the dust settles and strategies are adjusted, a period of stability will emerge in the second half of the year.
Prediction: Google makes an update addressing big sites ranking for everything
Google will make an update that addresses the issue of big sites ranking for a wide range of queries. This update will be aimed at providing more relevant and diverse search results by giving smaller, more niche sites a chance to rank for specific queries. This update will aim to level the playing field and reduce the dominance of big sites in search rankings.
The Dangers of Chasing Quick Wins and Quick Hacks
In this podcast episode, the speakers highlight the importance of avoiding the temptation to chase quick wins or quick hacks in various areas of life. They use an analogy of not chasing spikes but instead playing the long game. They emphasize that while quick wins may offer immediate benefits, they often lack lasting value. This message is particularly significant in relation to content creation using AI, where many people are opting for one-click AI article generators instead of investing time and effort into building quality content. The speakers caution against this approach, encouraging listeners to resist the allure of quick wins and focus on building assets that will provide long-term value and compound over time.
The Growing Importance of Authenticity and User Experience in SEO
The podcast discusses the shift in SEO towards valuing authenticity and prioritizing user experience. The speakers predict that as search engines like Google increasingly reward expertise, authority, and trustworthiness (EAT), building an authentic brand will become more crucial than ever. They emphasize that helpful and high-quality content, backed by firsthand experience and expertise, will be rewarded in search rankings. Additionally, they highlight the growing recognition of the significance of user experience in SEO, with well-designed websites that offer a good user experience ranking higher. The speakers encourage website owners to invest in UX design and organize and curate information effectively to enhance content visualization and display.
Predicting the future in this industry is NOT easy. But in this week's episode, Mark and Gael take a look at the predictions they made last year... and some of them are scarily accurate 😳 They also make a new set of predictions for 2024 of all the major changes they expect to see in the next few months, so buckle up!