If SEO is really dead and what comes next? first of all, SEO is only half dead and is still important however changes are required
What is it about SEO
The world of SEO is led by Google however they don't own all the traffic. Bing and Yahoo still remain faithful to SEO and exact-match keyword searching While Google, Yandex in Europe and Baidu in China have taken big steps into the new world.
The acronym E.A.T. has been applied to Google for some time being expertise, authority and trust. However, Google does not like to have you comfortable so they have thrown in another E for Experience.
Therefore unless you rate highly for these four puzzle pieces all the SEO tools matter for naught. You will get booted to the back of the room never to return.
If SEO is really dead and what comes next
Learning to write for consumers
I was going to head this learning to write for Google but the whole idea behind the new rules is to answer what the reader really wants. It is called user intent and moves well away from exact match Keywords. However, Bing has not yet gone this way so you need to satisfy two masters.
SEO is a lot more than just Keyword selection however there is an argument that using Yoast or AIO SEO is a waste of time. This is based on a premise that the Meta description is no longer needed nor is the slug or Keyword box.
I am a bit nervous to recommend this course of action and staying with Yoast though others have proven great results by going away from the rules.
The rules change so often that staying on top is a constant battle.
Content length
This has changed regularly over the years going from a humble 300 words out to over 3000 and recently back to an average of 1400 words as the ultimate. Now Google does not count words but recommends a five-minute read as an appropriate blog length.
Yoast premium now has this as a key ranking factor.
Do Keyphrases matter anymore
In ancient times we would splatter our writing with Keywords using it to please the Google gods but then they woke up that we were exploiting the system so they changed. Now the use of similarities is encouraged so that one blog may qualify for many Keywords and be found by search engines.
It was hard enough to find one good keyword now we need to find a half dozen and use them in our subheadings. A Google life is not meant to be easy. It is one of constant change and requires writers to use great dexterity and stay with the system or be left floundering.
Building your authority
First of all John Doe from the suburbs will be hard pushed to display a high level of authority. You need to compete with all sorts of qualified people that will be shoving their credentials in Google's face.
This is particularly so if you move out of your qualified area of expertise.
This Authority rule will hurt you more than anything else so we need to get on top of it
I am not a qualified writer but over time I have attracted many readers because of the bulk of work that has been done. This site alone has over 600 blogs and 20,000 readers a month so I have built some authority but still, Google treats me with disdain. I need to prove my worth consistently to grab these first-page positions.
I evidently have some experience and have even shown a level of expertise but the authority one is a battle for us all.
Page linking is debatable
Both internal and external links as well as Backlinks have always been a big part of SEO and still hold a position.
In fact, external links to authority sites to back up the premise of your writing are really encouraged. That however does not include those nofollow affiliate options which is more the pity.
Wikipedia is an authoritative site that is a cheap way to build your credentials. It can be used to back up your authority and provide a useful external link.
The use of Nofollow clauses
This is a modern Google demand that links to Affiliate sites and sales-associated positions should be advised to Google. They don't want to give these people extra juice.
However, there is an unexpected benefit to this little box. The open-in-a-new-tab request returns readers to the current blog after they have wandered off to other sites. Normally they would just log out.
SEO will last the distance
SEO is here to stay except that the rules will change and you need to follow along with them. Remaining still will be harmful and you will find your high-ranking pages being toppled by newcomers that understand the new game and use the factors to their advantage.
Experience
Expertise
Authority
That is the game until the next round of changes.
Conclusion
No one said it would be easy. However, if you stay ahead of the game you will be in front of 90% of people on the internet.
Remain in the past and that is where you will reside.
it really is the fast and furious right to the end.
