Top 5 Best SEO Practices for 2016

Google has come a long way since its first baby steps as a search engine. If you haven’t used Google recently, give Google.com a whirl and you’ll see for yourself how sophisticated and refined Google search results have become while everyone was watching…

Google search result pages are now IP driven, featuring interactive “localized” components such as Maps, Videos, Images, News, Blogs, SoNets and more. Because it’s so intuitive, barely anyone notices!

With this in mind, the million dollar question is “what are the BEST ways to capitalize on the all new Google search result pages?”

Here’s my Million dollar answer…

Erin Everhart of Mashable shared earlier this week, “If you rely heavily on search engines for pageviews and sales, as many businesses do, Google search results will drastically affect how your customers find you.”

If you rely on Google for organic traffic, you will do well to follow the following practices immediately and through 2014:

1. Local/Geographical SEO Is Here To Stay!

Because it’s IP driven, and IPs reveal each person’s approximate location, Google search results now feature Google Places links relevant to your search. Google Places, formerly Google Local focuses and prioritize on local search results.

If your business caters to a local market, you must ensure yours are optimally converting ads or listings, created and managed aggressively by SEO savvy professionals.

2. Searching Socially

The gap between Google search and social networks has finally been bridged, with technology slowly catching up. Google search results now feature Google +1, Facebook likes and Twitter shares. Sharing is made simple, which boosts your viral marketing presence.

Then there are News, a Map and ads galore, all in place to facilitate user experience and, of course, generate a little revenue while we’re at it.

3. Optimize for People, Not Robots

One of the biggest mistakes people make when attempting to handle SEO themselves involves repetition – or the intelligent lack thereof.

Think of optimization as both the actual question AND plausible answers to a person’s question. Optimal SEO will cover a wide range of questions, and as many answers. This is why FAQs are among the best SEO components out there seeing how they are typically written in plain English, and feature keyword rich copy for Google and other search engines to index.

4. You Can NEVER Have Too Many Good Links

The Google spider is a complex algorithm made of data driven variables. You can count on the formula to intelligently index web pages according to content relevance. Also, you can be sure Google has measures in place to prevent abuse or exploitation. Abiding by Google’s terms and conditions has become quite an art…

Bulk linking or link farming are out. Blogging is in. When links are concerned, Quality is replacing Quantity.

5. Do It Right The First Time

This one is a no brainer. If your business matters to you, black hat SEO strategies are not an option. I’ve seen far too many business owners fork out huge loads of dirty money for SEO dominance, in their respective markets. Such miraculous top rankings, achieved via aggressive link building, will likely be in vain when Google bans your site’s URL  from its database – and partners web sites also.

Any way you slice it, SEO will continue to be a part of your Internet marketing for 2014 and beyond. The best advice i can give you is this: What ever you do, do it for God’s Glory!