There is an old adage that honesty is the best policy, but in the business world this saying hasn’t always gotten the credence it deserves. While putting the customer first is a driving force throughout the corporate world, at the end of the day the best business practice is the one that produces the greatest gain. In 2013, Google is making some changes to standard operating procedure in the world of search engine optimization. To capture top placement on Google, SEO experts are going to have to continue switching gears and focusing on the principals that Google dictates. Over the next year, you can expect these principals to revolve around transparency, quality and the optimal user experience.
Transparency
Shady practices that once drove search result placement to the top of the charts are no longer permitted. This change started happening years ago and has already taken affect, causing hardship in many corners of the SEO world. However, the changes are not done. As Google continues to update its algorithms websites that might have fallen through the cracks are going to be scooped up, and any unethical practices will be found and penalized.
To increase your websites placement you will need to focus on honest strategy. This entails presenting content that is relevant to what the webpage is offering. False claims, keyword and link stuffing will be sought out if they haven’t been found already. Now is your chance to optimize your website honestly so that there is nothing to hide.
Quality
Most SEO experts agree that quality content is one of the most fundamental aspects to optimizing websites. Users seek content when using search engines. Whether the user is seeking information about a local business, medical information or are seeking entertainment they will be sorting through content to find it. To get to the top of the search results page your content has to be top notch.
Keyword placement remains an integral aspect of creating web content, but that doesn’t mean you can stuff web pages with keywords and call it a day. Keywords should be naturally introduced into the text and worked seamlessly into the context of the webpage. Anything else will drive down the quality of the page.
User Experience
Ultimately, quality writing and transparent practices will increase the user experience. Google aims to provide users with the information they are looking for. That is what will make users come back again, both to your website and to Google. Focus on the ways you can improve your company’s placement through multiple avenues, like through the use of social media and directory websites.
It is impossible to say exactly what 2013 holds, but if the past couple of years are any indication than you can expect more movement in the same direction. By following the above guidelines you can help your website remain at the top of the search results as competitors potentially fall.