SEO Forecast 2015 The Future Ahead

The Panda update this year drove us nuts. And the ever changing algorithms have been posing as quite a challenge for the digital marketers and especially the SEOs. With changing search engine patterns, the SEO code book has been shifting bases as well. Based on the SEO brouhaha that marked the year 2014, a lot has been derived and predicted. From what we have learnt and what it seems, here is the SEO forecast for the year 2015.

1. Content will rule: Yes! Content will Rule. Period. I guess we already knew it but, the year 2015 would be the year of execution and not just knowledge. Till now, it was mostly about uploading as much content as one could, but, now it’s going to be strictly original and unique content. Something, that provides value to the user. With the focus constantly shifting towards content marketing, content writing is slowly becoming a specialized business.
2. Keywords out, synonyms in: While the point in no way means that you absolutely leave out keywords, what it does mean is that after using keyword once (or maybe maximum twice) in your copy, chuck any other keyword that you might have in mind. Keyword stuffing is a punishable offence! The search engines are now smart and have a vast repository of synonyms and alike words. Use this to your advantage and use synonyms for the keywords and phrases you are targeting. That will help in ranking your page higher.
3. Mention, if not link: Remember the crazy times when everybody was dying for an inbound link from a reputed website? People could figuratively kill for link from a website with high DA/ PR/ Alexa. But now, search engines have recognized that and as expected, have tweaked certain rules that govern your relationship with a reputed site. Now, they have tightened their claws on the inbound link parameters but provided an alternative in the form of mentions. Now, a mention of your website, without any hyperlink to you, on a credible and reputed website can boost your ranking score. So, instead of running after links, focus on quality which may inspire some big wig into mentioning you.

4. Socially active: The algorithm patterns are changing in a way that makes it more user friendly. So, if you have been writing content or doing activities that were targeted at Google and other search engines, you are in for a bad news. Write for users and widen your social interaction base. Promote your brand on channels like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, You tube, etc.Ask your dedicated search engine optimization services provider to integrate social media optimization as well and give you as much social coverage as possible.To rank you, search engines are watching your social spheres closely.

5. Go mobile: If you haven’t still opted for a responsive website, do it. Do it. Do it. It’s extremely important for you to go responsive and target your mobile customers. The mobile base is growing even as we talk. Tap this channel that has unlimited potential. And since Google prefers versions of a website built on a single code base, you should go responsive instead of building a different mobile version. That will help you in SEO.

Emily is a gadget guru turned digital marketer who wants to go live in Himalayas once she gets old. She especially enjoys writing on impressive integrated digital marketing services.