What’s Next in SEO? A Look at the Future Trends You Can’t Ignore

Bruce Thompson - Brand Strategist

by Bruce Thompson
October 2024

If you’ve been in the digital world for more than five minutes, you’ve probably heard about SEO. Search Engine Optimization—the thing that makes sure people can actually find your website. But SEO is no longer just about keywords and backlinks. It’s a constantly evolving beast, shaped by new technologies and user habits. If you don’t keep up, you’ll get left behind. So, what’s coming down the pipe in SEO that you need to know about? Let’s take a look at the trends that are going to shake things up.

The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Search Algorithms

Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t just for robots and sci-fi movies anymore. It’s working behind the scenes in search engines, and it’s getting smarter by the day. Google, for instance, has already rolled out AI-driven algorithms like RankBrain and BERT that help the search engine better understand the intent behind a query.
What does that mean for you? Well, the days of stuffing keywords into your site and hoping for the best are long gone. AI is now smart enough to understand context, meaning it’s more important than ever to write content that’s actually useful and relevant to people. If your content doesn’t serve a purpose or answer real questions, AI will know—and it won’t send traffic your way.

Increased Focus on User Experience and Core Web Vitals

Ever been to a website that takes forever to load, or one where things are jumping around on the screen while you try to click a button? Yeah, nobody likes that—and Google knows it. That’s why they’re now looking at Core Web Vitals, a set of metrics that measure user experience, like loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability.
In simple terms: if your site is slow or hard to use, it’s not just annoying your visitors, it’s hurting your SEO rankings. The future of SEO is all about creating websites that are fast, smooth, and easy to navigate. Get on board, or your rankings are going to tank.

Voice Search Optimization Becoming Mainstream

“Hey Google, find me a pizza place nearby.” That’s a voice search, and more and more people are doing it. By 2025, half of all searches are expected to be voice-based. So, if you’re not optimizing your site for voice search, you’re leaving a big chunk of traffic on the table.
Here’s the catch: people don’t talk the way they type. So, instead of targeting “pizza place near me,” think about optimizing for more conversational phrases like “Where can I find pizza around here?” It’s a subtle shift, but one that’ll make a huge difference in how you show up in voice searches.

The Evolving Role of Video Content in SEO

You’ve probably noticed that videos are popping up all over search results these days. Whether it’s YouTube tutorials, product demos, or just funny cat clips, people love video content. And search engines are taking note.
To stay competitive, video needs to be part of your SEO strategy. But it’s not enough to just slap a video on your site and call it a day. You’ve got to optimize that video for search, meaning you need titles, descriptions, and tags that match up with what people are looking for. And don’t forget about transcription—those searchable text captions that make your video even more SEO-friendly.

Privacy Concerns Impacting Data-Driven SEO Strategies

We’re living in a world where privacy matters more than ever. With GDPR, California’s CCPA, and other privacy laws tightening their grip, collecting data on your audience isn’t as easy as it used to be. This shift is going to have a huge impact on how SEO strategies are built moving forward.
The days of relying on cookies and endless tracking data are coming to an end. As a result, businesses are going to have to get creative in how they gather insights about their audience. That means focusing more on first-party data (stuff you collect directly from your users) and being transparent about how you’re using it. It’s a new challenge, but one worth tackling if you want to keep up with evolving SEO practices.

The Bottom Line

SEO isn’t just a game of keywords anymore—it’s a constantly changing landscape influenced by AI, user experience, voice search, video, and even privacy laws. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, you’ve got to keep up with these trends and adapt as the digital world changes around you. Whether it’s optimizing for voice search or making sure your site runs as smooth as a well-oiled machine, the businesses that stay agile and informed will be the ones that win in the long run.

So, roll up your sleeves, stay curious, and get ready to adapt—because the future of SEO isn’t waiting around for anyone.

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