UK SEO In 2013
The start of a new year clearly brings numerous opportunities, particularly in the world of business. For those operating online, this may be a time to look again at the time, effort and money that is being associated with the SEO process.
The role of Google
Google’s dominance of the UK search engine scene continues and shows few signs of diminishing. Although Microsoft have invested heavily in producing a higher profile for their Bing search engine, the reality is that such investment has made little more than a dent in Google’s position.
Most Brits turn to Google when they want to find something online and we may expect this to continue. For the time being, at least, it’s the search engine that will be at the centre of most SEO efforts.
Are there signs that things may be about to change? Authorities in the US and Europe have certainly been looking closely at Google’s business model and some hope that enforced changes may lead to a broadening of the search engine market.
But all of this has to be placed within the background of the onward progress of the search giant. More and more users are turning to Gmail and using the mobile search offering, thanks in no small part to the increasing sales of Android smartphones and tablets.
Mobile search
The rise of mobile search cannot be under-estimated. Consumers increasingly expect to find information on the go and this is a trend that is set to continue. There must, at the very least, be some consideration given to how a site looks within mobile browsers.
Social media is growing up
But what about social media networks? These received a lot of attention in 2012, with many people assuming that they represented the future of internet marketing. During the course of the year, however, there can be no doubt that the landscape has changed.
Twitter is now firmly in view as a public broadcast medium. While some users imagined that they were only Tweeting friends about harmless pieces of gossip, they soon found that they were entering into the public limelight. Court cases followed and the innocence of Twitter has been removed.
Facebook also appears to have entered the world of controversy. As the brand has grown, users have become more concerned about a range of issues surrounding privacy and the ownership of information.
What does all of this mean for businesses? It certainly means that social media networks need to be treated with a degree of caution. It was once tempting to think that they represented harmless fun, but it’s clear that an appropriate strategy is needed for managing engagement.
They will still have a place at the heart of many SEO campaigns, but they will not be appropriate for all.
Looking ahead
In essence, the primary elements of the SEO environment can be seen as being unchanged. Building a successful business is all about providing an excellent level of service to customers. SEO results tend to stem directly from such activity.
2013 will see many passing SEO fads that hold the promise of immediate links. In reality, however, success will be built on great websites, original content, old-fashioned networking and building a brand.
Are you set for success?
Related articles
- Authorship and AuthorRank in the Post Panda SEO Landscape (covario.com)
- Google’s Mobile SEO Announcement and Its Implications (greatfinds.icrossing.com)
- Required Reading For Enterprise SEOs: The Top 25 Posts Of The Year (searchengineland.com)
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