Best SEO Tips for 2024 – How to Stay Ahead in the Digital Game

As we move toward the end of 2024, the SEO landscape continues to change so in this post, 1st on the List SEO experts summarize our best SEO tips of 2024 to help you move forward.

To stay ahead, businesses must keep up with new trends and technologies. That includes current best SEO practices shaping the future of search engine optimization and directing organic traffic. Here we will review the most impactful SEO strategies for 2024. These helpful SEO tips will ensure your content ranks high and stays up-to-date and relevant in the increasingly competitive online space.

Best SEO Tips 2024 Key Findings

• AI and machine learning now drive search engine rankings. This makes it crucial to optimize for user intent and natural language processing.
• Time to Value is important in content marketing. You need to deliver useful information quickly to boost user engagement.
• Voice search is on the rise, requiring SEO content that targets conversational and question-based queries.
• E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) is critical for ranking content.  YMYL (Your Money, Your Life) topics like health and finance must satisfy Google’s E-E-A-T requirements.

 AI & Machine Learning – The New SEO Powerhouses

In 2024, we witnessed how AI and machine learning are solidifying their positions as essential elements in the world of SEO. These technologies are not just buzzwords. They are fundamentally transforming how search engines rank content and how marketers approach optimization. AI-driven algorithms, such as Google’s RankBrain and BERT,  prioritize content that aligns with user intent. That means understanding and optimizing for search intent is more critical than ever. Learning to leverage these tools is crucial for staying ahead in the ever-changing digital landscape.

The Role of AI & Machine Learning in SEO

Increased Understanding of User Intent

AI algorithms like Google’s RankBrain and BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) have completely changed how search engines interpret search questions. These algorithms focus on understanding the context and intent behind search terms rather than just matching keywords. Because of this, search engines, like Google Chrome and others, can provide more accurate information. This implies that content creators need to create content that directly answers questions in a conversational tone.

Personalized Search Results

Machine learning allows search engines to personalize search results based on a user’s behaviors, preferences, and past interactions. As search engines become more sophisticated, they can tailor search results to individual users, offering content that aligns with their specific needs and interests. This trend emphasizes the importance of understanding your audience and creating content that caters to various segments.

Content Optimization & Generation

AI-powered tools like ChatGPT and other natural language processors (NLP) are being used by professional SEO technicians to generate more content and optimize it for SEO. These tools even allow them to predict which topics will perform better and identify trends, keywords and other gaps. This provides marketers with insight into how they can better optimize their content.

Automate SEO Tasks

With the creation and implementation of AI and machine learning, many routine SEO tasks are being automated. Routine tasks like keyword research, on-page optimization and technical SEO audits help lessen the load on the SEO professionals. They now have more time to focus on other strategies like link-building and content creation. Other tools like Google Search Console Insights are also beginning to use AI to provide these professionals with useful insights into suggested optimizations.

Simple Strategies You Can Do to Leverage AI & Machine Learning

1. Focus on Content Relevance & Quality
   Make sure your SEO content targets the specific needs and questions of your target audience. Ask yourself, “What is the searcher’s intent? Are they looking for information, trying to make a purchase, or just browsing?” You can use AI-driven tools to analyze search intent and optimize your site content to meet those needs.
2. Use AI-Powered SEO Tools
   Incorporate AI tools into your SEO efforts to automate and enhance your optimization efforts. Useful tools like Surfer SEO, Clearscope, and SEMrush’s AI-powered features can help you find new opportunities and refine your content for optimum performance.
3. Use Conversational Language
   Write like you are speaking directly to your audience. This means using long-tail keywords that mimic natural speech patterns, which are becoming more common for both text and voice searches.
4. Monitor & Adapt
   In the digital world, AI and machine learning algorithms are constantly evolving, so it’s important to stay on top of the latest updates and trends. Regularly monitor your SEO performance using AI-powered analytics tools and be ready to adapt your strategy as needed.

Best SEO Tips 2024 for “Time to Value” – Deliver Value Faster

In a fast-paced digital world, users want to find value almost immediately when they land on your page. The “Time to Value” (TTV) refers to how quickly your content meets the user’s needs or answers their questions. It is important to reduce the TTV to improve user experience and satisfaction and improve search rankings.

Zach Paruch, a seasoned SEO expert, said, “Your content’s time to value should be short. Quick access to the information users seek is crucial, but many websites hinder this with lengthy intros, hero images, and author bios that delay delivering the core content.”

This is becoming especially crucial on a mobile device due to the longer scrolling time.

In the example below, notice the large hero image and the 700 words preceding any type of useful information.

Below is a great example of a fast TTV with a list of key findings at the top. example: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/laissezfaire.asp

How to Fix This

• Prioritize Clarity – Don’t waste anyone’s time! Make sure the most important information is easy to find and understand. Do this by using clear, concise headings, bullet points, and summaries to make your content skimmable. Keep the most important information above the fold.
• Hook Users Early – Start with a strong introduction that directly points to the reader’s question or pain point. Make it short and to the point. This signals to the reader that they’ve found what they’re looking for.

Voice Search Optimization – Preparing for the Digital Future

Let’s look at the best SEO tips for voice search optimization. Voice search is becoming a mainstream way for people to find information with ease. Google claims that voice search has achieved a 95% accuracy rate. Users use this search method daily, with 65% of those searches coming between the ages of 25-45, according to PwC. Although this search method has been around for many years, it has only recently become more popular with recent technological improvements such as Siri, Alexa and Google’ Assistant. According to research done by Statista, the number of people using these devices is expected to continue to grow.

The chart above is courtesy of SEMrush.

As more users turn towards voice search, it is important to transform your site language into more natural and conversational phrases to help improve your online presence.

How to Optimize for Voice Search?

1. Use Conversational Keywords – Focus on long-tail keywords that reflect how people speak naturally. On a desktop computer, for example, you would most likely type a short keyword phrase like, “How to make banana bread.” However, with a voice search, you are more likely to say, “What is a good recipe for making banana bread?” Voice search tends to be more conversational.
2.  Use Question-based Keywords – Structure content to provide clear, concise answers. Many voice searches are phrased as questions (e.g., “What are the best SEO tips for quick rankings?”). Structure your content with question-based keywords to provide clear and concise answers (e.g., “How to…” or “What is…”).
3. Improve Local SEO: Many voice searches are local (“Where’s the nearest coffee shop?”), so optimizing for local search is crucial if your business serves a specific geographic area.

E-E-A-T – Building Trust & Authority

Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) have become crucial for content ranking, especially in YMYL (Your Money, Your Life) areas, which include finance, health, and safety topics. Google’s algorithms prioritize each piece of content coming from credible sources, meaning your site’s authority plays a significant role in its ranking potential.

Breaking Down E-E-A-T

Let’s take a closer look at what E-E-A-T means.

Experience

“E” stands for experience. Refers to the firsthand knowledge or involvement a person or organization has in a particular field or topic. This is often built through active participation in relevant tasks, projects, or roles. It could include working in a particular industry, engaging in specific practices, or handling real-world situations that provide insights beyond theoretical knowledge.

Expertise

“E” stands for expertise. This is the level of knowledge and skill displayed by the content creator. Content should be written by individuals who are recognized experts in their field, particularly for YMYL topics. This might include industry credentials, educational background, or demonstrated experience in the subject matter. For example, a health article should be ideally authored by a medical professional or someone with equal qualifications. If the author does not have the necessary qualifications, then the material must be taken from credible sources.

Authoritativeness

“A” stand for Authoritativeness. It indicates the credibility of the content, the author, and the website as a whole. Authority can only be built over time through consistent, high-quality content, backlinks from reputable sites, and recognition within the industry. An example of this is a website that is frequently cited by other key people in the industry, or by other authors who have been published in well-known publications.

Trustworthiness

“T” stands for Trustworthiness. It refers to the reliability and safety of the website, which includes clear policies, transparent business practices, and positive user reviews. This is particularly important for e-commerce sites and websites that collect personal information. An example of this is a website with clear HTTPS security, clear privacy policies, or positive customer reviews.

Why E-E-A-T Matters for SEO

With so much misinformation floating around the internet, Google now places a big emphasis on content that shows strong E-E-A-T. It’s important to note that E-E-A-T is not a ranking signal or ranking factor. It is simply a criterion that Google uses to check out your expertise and authority to speak about the topic you are presenting. Essentially, Google wants to make sure users get accurate, reliable info from credible sources. This means that if your content ticks all the E-E-A-T boxes, you’re more likely to see a boost in your rankings—especially for competitive or sensitive topics like health or finance, where user trust is everything.

Building E-E-A-T is also a great way to connect with your audience. When people trust your content, they’re more likely to stick around, engage with what you’re saying, and even become loyal followers or customers.

Best SEO Tips 2024 to Improve E-E-A-T

• Show Your Experience – Present your collaboration with industry experts, ensuring credibility through well-researched articles, author bios, and authoritative sources to enhance user trust and engagement.
• Become a Topic Expert – Make sure that your content is written or reviewed by experts in the field. This could involve including author bios with credentials, linking to professional profiles, or citing authoritative sources.
• Build Authoritativeness – Authority comes from consistency and credibility. Focus on getting backlinks from trusted sources and regularly producing top-notch content that others want to refer to. Build up reviews from third-party sites, Wikipedia, and from community and topic forums.
• Establish Trust – Trustworthiness can be built with transparency, which includes clear privacy policies, secure websites (HTTPS), and positive user reviews. Regularly update your content to reflect the most current and accurate information.

Final Thoughts

So are you ready to apply these best SEO tips for 2024 to level up your SEO strategy? SEO is about so much more than just keywords. It’s about:

• Delivering a great user experience.
• Aligning with search intent.
• And building trust with your audience.

To succeed with SEO, you’ll need to focus on the key strategies we discussed including:

• Leveraging AI and machine learning.
• Improving your content’s Time to Value (basically, how quickly users find what they need).
• Optimizing for conversational, voice-searched question-based queries.
• And satisfying Google’s E-E-A-T requirements, which is crucial for building credibility, especially for sensitive topics like health and finance.

Contact 1st on the List

As the digital world keeps evolving, staying on top of these trends will be key to growing your online presence and keeping your users happy.

If you still have questions about any of the best SEO tips 2024 presented, contact our SEO experts. We’d love to help you improve your rankings and leads.

Give us a call toll-free at 1-888-262-6687 or send us an email.