The Latest SEO News and Trends You Need to Know

Trevor, a Publisher Success Manager at Ezoic, recently led an insightful webinar on relevant SEO news and trends. The webinar provided valuable tips and actionable advice to help participants navigate the complex landscape of SEO. This blog post delves into the key themes and tips discussed during the webinar.

SEO News and Trends

Trevor shared curated SEO news for the months of May and June 2024, highlighting several key articles he felt were important for publishers to be aware of and providing insight into what this news means for the industry and publishing businesses.

1. This Search Engine Land article represents a good example of a site that was ranking very well in search results and lost 91% of search traffic following the March core update. They didn’t even have ads!

2. These insights from John Muller signal that recovery from Google's algorithm updates can take months, and publishers shouldn't expect it to be just as before. Significant drops may require multiple update cycles to resolve. Adapting to the evolving web and user expectations is crucial for recovery.

3. Trevor highlighted SEO VP Lily Ray as an excellent resource and encourages readers to follow her on social to stay informed on the latest in SEO news. She recently published a very in-depth piece on the March core update: "While Google claims to have reduced 45% of the unhelpful content in its’ search results, the truth is that Google appeared to have gone a bit further than just that. While it’s true that many spammy, low-quality, fully AI-generated sites were penalized as part of the March Spam Update, thousands of websites lost visibility with the March Core Update”

4. Following recent updates in the Google Antitrust trail, Trevor shares that Google might lose some of its dominance in the market, leading the way for DuckDuckGo, Bing, and Ecosia.

5. Google Search documents were leaked, revealing the inner workings of the ranking algorithm. From this info leak, we learned that brand matters far more than anything else. Other things to note from this leaked information: No mention of ads. Google looks at dates in the byline, URL, and on-page content. Page titles matter (how well does your title match a query).

6. John Muller says that fixing small things, like removing ads or buying links, won't solve traffic loss.
   
   

Takeaways: Actionable Next Steps

One of the key themes Trevor emphasized was the importance of diversifying traffic sources. Relying solely on one source, such as Google, can be risky due to algorithm changes and other factors. Diversifying traffic sources can help mitigate these risks and ensure a steady flow of visitors to your site.

Trevor provided several actionable tips based on the insights learned in these trending news topics. Let's break down each tip in detail:

1. Don't Remove Ads

Trevor advised against removing ads from your site, as they can be a significant source of revenue. Instead, focus on optimizing ad placement and ensuring they do not negatively impact user experience. Consider using tools like Google AdSense to manage and optimize your ads effectively.

2. Analyze Google's Ranking for Targeted Keywords

Regularly analyze how your site ranks for targeted keywords. Use tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to track keyword performance and identify opportunities for improvement. Focus on optimizing content for high-performing keywords and addressing any issues that may be affecting your rankings.

3. Diversify Traffic Sources

As mentioned earlier, diversifying traffic sources is crucial. Explore various channels such as social media, email marketing, and referral traffic to ensure a steady flow of visitors. Tools like Buffer or Hootsuite can help manage and optimize your social media presence, while Mailchimp can be used for effective email marketing campaigns.

4. Focus on Backlinks

Backlinks remain a critical factor in SEO. Trevor emphasized the importance of building high-quality backlinks from reputable sites. Use tools like Moz or Majestic to analyze your backlink profile and identify opportunities for acquiring new backlinks. Consider guest blogging, creating shareable content, and reaching out to industry influencers to build your backlink portfolio.

5. Embrace Video Content

Video content is becoming increasingly important for SEO. Trevor highlighted the significance of incorporating video into your content strategy. Platforms like Humix and YouTube can be used to host and share your videos, while tools like Vidyard can help track video performance and engagement. Ensure your videos are optimized for SEO by including relevant keywords in titles, descriptions, and tags.

6. Build a Strong Brand Presence

Building a strong brand presence is essential for long-term SEO success. Focus on creating high-quality, valuable content that resonates with your audience. Engage with your audience on social media, respond to comments and feedback, and establish your brand as an authority in your industry. Tools like Brand24 can help monitor your brand's online presence and track mentions across various platforms.

Technologies to Aid SEO Implementation

Trevor introduced several technologies to aid in content creation and engagement, emphasizing their potential to enhance SEO strategies:

Humix and Flickify: Trevor emphasized Humix Video Network and Flickify article-to-video generator as technologies to aid in content creation and engagement. These tools can help streamline the video creation, distribution, and monetization process, making it easier to produce high-quality, engaging video content that reaches new audiences. 

The following screenshot shows videos in the Humix network ranking above YouTube in search results.

Emote: Emote is a tool designed to increase user engagement by enabling commenting and interaction on your site. Trevor emphasized the importance of user engagement and how tools like Emote can help increase return visitor rates, time on page, and collect valuable first-party data for advertiser targeting.

Conclusion

Trevor's webinar provided a wealth of valuable insights and actionable tips for mastering SEO. By focusing on diversifying traffic sources, building high-quality backlinks, embracing video content, and leveraging the right technologies, you can stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of SEO. Remember to engage with your audience, collect first-party data, and continuously adapt to changes in technology to ensure long-term success.

For more in-depth information and resources, be sure to access the recorded webinars in the webinar library. If you're an Ezoic customer, you can watch the full webinar recording here.