SEO went through some radical changes over the past ten years. The development of Google’s algorithm is bringing new stuff to the table, and all website owners should start thinking about the SEO ranking factors in 2021.

Being one of the most efficient ways to advertise your business and attract consumers online, SEO holds a high value on the list of essential website elements. Let’s see what changes await in the course of the next 11 months.

The role of Artificial Intelligence in SEO

AI is now present in many spheres of our lives. We can find it in the gaming industry, education, production, online services, and many other places.

Current AI systems are miles away from anything we had just a couple of years ago. The development is happening rapidly, and the newest thing we can expect is to see how AI will influence search engine optimization.

Google is developing RankBrain, an AI system that will use high-level technology to rank websites. No one knows what factors will be observed, but the most logical solution presents itself: customer experience was always, and still is, the number one aspect to improve for any business.

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It is only reasonable that this factor will be crucial for ranking websites in 2021. Furthermore, another possibility is to measure the time people spend on each page. The more time they spend on a website, the more it means it has important information.

However, no matter how logical these ideas are, they are all just speculation at the moment.

Backlinks will always hold value

No matter how much time passes, backlinks are still significant for any website. Implementing backlink strategies in 2021 is an efficient way to boost your website’s SEO.

The rules about what to do and what not to do have not changed much. With that in mind, focus on quality content, verified websites, and strong partnerships.

Everyone must become mobile-friendly

There is no doubt about it; mobile optimization is simply a must for any website. With people using mobile phones 90% of their time every day, it is simply amazing that we still have websites that are not mobile-friendly.

No one has the time to sit at home in front of a monitor, browsing through websites. Google ranks mobile optimization very high on the list of SEO ranking factors in 2021.

Google My Business is slowly claiming the market in 2021

Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, business owners turned towards GMB and local optimization to save their companies. Whenever people search for queries about an industry, Google will return GMB profiles of various companies.

The more information you have, the better. With that in mind, it is crucial to becoming a verified member on Google My Business, add price ranges, different tags, special events, open hours, and much more.

Black smartphone with map gps navigation application with pin point to current location isolated on white

Furthermore, research GMB well before opening a profile; that is an excellent way to avoid common mistakes on Google My Business that could cost your business a lot.

Content is still king

Even though many things have changed when it comes to SEO, one remains the same. While various factors are involved in the website ranking process, content is still an essential element of SEO.

What’s essential is to pass Google’s Expertise, Authority, and Trust principles (EAT). That is a foolproof way to have a quality website that will provide value for the visitors.

Hand writing content is king with black marker on transparent wipe board

As a part of building content, remember to add statistics, references, and verified sources for all information you provide.

The future of voice search optimization

We can’t talk about future internet technologies without mentioning voice search optimization. If we consider how many people use Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant, we can conclude that the numbers will only go up.

If we continue at this pace, over 55% of the population will have a voice-controlled device in their household in just a year.

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To optimize your website for voice search optimization, focus on finding the right keywords. Long phrases people often use in everyday speech will play a crucial role in this process.

Abbreviations are only good for typing, but people speak in longer words. That’s why you should focus on full sentences or parts of sentences as your go-to keywords.

Bring your page speed up

Statistics tell us that an average person does not want to wait more than 4-5 seconds for a page to load. High-speed connections help us connect to the internet in mere milliseconds.

Working on improving page speed is simply a must. When it comes to this strategy, a lot of factors will affect a website’s loading speed:

  • code optimization
  • images
  • database connection
  • hosting services
  • the size of the website

Every little detail counts, so hire an expert and let them help you fix any issues with your website’s loading speed.

Featured snippets are a huge deal

Featured snippets are small blocks of text that come up as a suggestion any time you do a Google search. These elements focus on finding content that matches a targeted group of people and their search queries.

The best way to get your website high on the ranking list is to focus on satisfying your targeted customers’ needs. To give you an example, a moving company might hire Movers Development to build a niche-oriented website filled with high-quality content.

As a result, anytime someone searches for moving companies, their website will pop in the featured snippet section as an established company with experience.

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Focus on these SEO ranking factors in 2021 and you will not be sorry!

SEO ranking factors in 2021 will play a significant role in improving website rankings. It is crucial to remember that a single strategy may not be enough.

Think from your competitors’ perspective; if they do more than you, they will beat you and rank higher. With that said, you should combine all the strategies from this list to get the best results. Good luck!