The SEO world poses a real challenge in managing its dynamic and ever-changing environment, making it progressively more challenging to stay updated on the latest SEO trends and adhere to the best strategies. However, staying well-informed cannot be overstated, especially if your goal is to outperform competitors and build higher search engine ranks.
Search Engine Journal (SEJ) has released a state of SEO report about several SEO trends and predictions for 2024. In this report, they analyzed and scrutinized the expert perspectives and data to determine the trends that would significantly impact the SEO industry in 2024.
So, if you want a strong SEO strategy 2024 that will continue to stay relevant in the coming year, you need to account for the SEO statistics, trends, challenges, and expectations highlighted in this blog.
12 SEO Statistics You Must Know In 2024
The SEO landscape has undergone significant changes this year, and it’s crucial to grasp the emerging SEO trends that will impact how websites are discovered and ranked. From major search engine updates to the increasing significance of user experience and the growing role of AI, 2024 looks like a promising year for SEO.
So, let us explore the top 12 SEO statistics that are shaping strategies for 2024. They will help businesses optimize their digital marketing strategy and stay ahead of the curve.
Smartphone User Base Is Expected To Hit 5.1 Billion Users By 2028
The smartphone user base is estimated to be over 5.1 billion by 2028. And Google indexes mobile-friendly websites first. Therefore, optimizing websites for mobile users becomes crucial as search engines prioritize mobile-responsive websites in their rankings. Businesses must adopt a mobile-first approach to ensure a seamless user experience across all devices. Further, it can be the right answer to marketers who often question how to increase SEO traffic.
More Than 1 Billion Voice Search Queries Are Searched Every Month
Voice search continues to rise in popularity. Every month more than 1 billion voice searches occur. It means that instead of typing search queries, users prefer to dictate their queries using search by voice option in Google’s search bar.
Therefore, it becomes essential to optimize voice search for ecommerce site queries. You can use conversational keywords and creating content that directly answers user’s questions.
35.1% Clicks Come From Featured Snippets
Featured snippets, the coveted “position zero” in search results, are becoming more critical. Nearly 35.1% of clicks originate from featured snippets and 44% from regular organic listings on Google. Structure your content to provide concise and informative answers to commonly asked questions to increase your chances of appearing in featured snippets. You can also check out the competitors in your niche that have bagged a spot in the feature snippet.
88% Of Online Users Are Less Likely To Return To The Website With Bad UX
Google’s Core Web Vitals, which include metrics like page speed, inactivity, and user experience (UX), will play a significant role in rankings in 2024. In fact, nearly 88% of online users are less likely to return to the website with bad user experience. Core web vitals significantly impact your website’s ranking. Google uses these metrics to determine who ranks where. Increased rankings, visibility, and success are all associated with user-friendly websites.
52% Users Leave Website Due to Bad Mobile Experience
User experience is a critical factor in SEO success. As per Zippia, about 52% of mobile users abandon websites due to bad mobile experience. So, ensure your website offers a seamless navigation experience, intuitive design, and fast-loading pages.
To ensure visitors have a good experience on your site, pay attention to UX signals such as click-through rates, bounce rates, and time spent on a page regularly, as they indicate if a visitor is enjoying what your site has to offer or not. If your click-through rate and time spent on a page is high and bounce rate is less, then it means you are going in the right direction.
58% People Use AI For Content Creation
According to Search Engine Land, 58% of people used AI for content in 2023. Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being integrated into SEO strategies. AI-powered tools can analyze large volumes of data, identify trends, and optimize content. So, utilize AI tools for content creation and enhance your overall SEO performance.
Semantic Search And Natural Language Processing Market Is Expected To Grow 22.9 Billion By 2024
In 2024, the natural language processing market will be worth $22.9 billion. Google’s algorithms continue to improve in understanding user intent and natural language. Focus on creating high-quality, unique content that covers a topic comprehensively and uses semantic keyword variations to optimize for semantic search and increase relevance.
79% Of People Say That User-Generated Content Impacts Their Purchasing Choices
Did you know that 77% of people believe that user-generated content impacts their purchasing choices? In 2024, creating content that directly addresses user needs and desires will be crucial. Personalize content based on user intent, analyze customer behavior and provide valuable and engaging information to enhance user satisfaction and drive organic traffic.
94% Of Online Customers Say That Reviews Have Made Them Avoid a Business
Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-A-T) will remain important for SEO in 2024. As per Luisa Zhou, about 94% of online customers have avoided a business due to reviews. That’s why you must establish your expertise in your niche, build a robust backlink profile from authoritative sources, and showcase trustworthiness through high-quality content and positive user reviews.
4.74 Billion People In The World Use Social Media
Over 4.74 billion people in the world use social media channels. So, connecting with your audience on social media can be extremely beneficial. Create social profiles of your company and if you already have then optimize them. Interact with your followers, share regular updates or event that you host, encourage your audience to mention you if they use your product or service.
3.5 + Billion Video Content Consumers By 2024
According to Statista, around 3.37 billion internet users watched video content in 2022, and ultimately, it will reach 3.5 billion by 2024. Video content consumption is rising, accounting for significant online traffic. Therefore, focus on creating video content. Optimize your video content by providing relevant titles, descriptions, and transcripts to improve visibility and cater to users searching for video-based content.
98% of People Read Online Reviews For Local Businesses
For businesses targeting a local audience, optimizing for local SEO is paramount. In fact, 98% of users used internet to get information about local businesses in 2022. (source: BrightLocal). Thus, you must claim and optimize your Google My Business (GMB) listing, include local keywords in your content and encourage positive user reviews to improve your visibility in local search results.
What Can We Expect from Future SEO Trends in 2024?
Although it is impossible to predict precisely how Google SEO trends and tactics will change, one thing is sure: quality will always be preferred to over quantity!
So, instead of crafting half-baked and half-relevant content, focus more on investing in SEO to take advantage of unpaid organic reach rather than paid advertisements. Stay informed and start evaluating your SEO approach till additional fresh innovations surface on the SERPs and reinvent your SEO statistics. Contact us to know more!